I've just seen the figure of 10% mentioned but I always thought N gauge was about 20% of the model railway market.
Has anyone got figures from the manufacturers that differ?
:NGaugersRule:
By value or unit sales? ;D
Who is going to own up to that sort of market intel?
Personally I would say, on the basis of commitment to the market from the major players, 10% is closer to truth than 20%, at least for British N scale. Will be different for European/US/Japanese markets.
Bob
My understanding was that British N was about 1/5 the size of 00 market but that was a while back. Bachmann announced as many new locos in N as 00 this year, and there are products coming from others too (e.g. DJM Clayton plus RevolutioN's products and NGS commissions) so there is clearly growth in N, in fact if I recall correctly Bachmann recently said as much, but I doubt it will at all easy to establish the true ratio with any accuracy.
Roy
Last year MRH magazine did a survey that included a question about scale preferences. HO came out at 72% and N at 17% so HO is 4-5 times more popular than N. This is a US based magazine so this result would mostly reflect the American situation. The third most popular scale was O with about 7% of the total.
Webbo
My guess is that there are more rolling stock sales in N as there is more scope for bigger trains.
that is why I was asking if it was by sales or unit numbers.
Quote from: Snowwolflair on April 18, 2017, 01:11:02 AM
My guess is that there are more rolling stock sales in N as there is more scope for bigger trains.
that is why I was asking if it was by sales or unit numbers.
I would tend to agree with this.
The "N Gauge Market" is about 20% of the whole market, but the number of "
NGaugers" is slightly lower, maybe 15% or a touch less.
It would be natural to buy more units of stuff in the smaller scale.......
Exactly what I was going to say. I imagine the average n gauge layout has significantly more items of rolling stock than your average OO gauge layout, double wouldn't surprise me, given the tendency towards small shunting layouts in OO versus more 'tail chaser' layouts in N.
Quote from: njee20 on April 18, 2017, 07:17:15 AM
Exactly what I was going to say. I imagine the average n gauge layout has significantly more items of rolling stock than your average OO gauge layout, double wouldn't surprise me, given the tendency towards small shunting layouts in OO versus more 'tail chaser' layouts in N.
When I look at my stock register I sense these sentiments are true!! Far far more stock than needed at any one time either on steam/green diesel Portpatrick Town or the emerging post privatisation Allanbrae (which is nearly ready for a launch on the show circuit).
Shouldn't have started working that out. Scary numbers. :o
I'm having daymares now about the cost of a house which could accommodate a layout in 00 which could take trains the length I run in N :worried:
Better not look at Pete Waterman's O gauge Leamington Spa, then! ;D
Quote from: Bealman on April 18, 2017, 10:39:44 AM
Better not look at Pete Waterman's O gauge Leamington Spa, then! ;D
Or Rod Stewarts HO scale layout here
http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/toys-in-the-attic-rod-stewart.aspx (http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/toys-in-the-attic-rod-stewart.aspx)
Yeah.... always been a bit disappointed with Rod going USA, but he's spent a long time there. :thumbsup:
Unless the traders give detailed figures of sales by gauge it
will be difficult to give an answer. Would it not be easier
to look at layouts at shows and see the proportions
of O, OO and N, of course excluding those which only
have a particular gauge.
Quote from: Bealman on April 18, 2017, 11:21:07 AM
Yeah.... always been a bit disappointed with Rod going USA, but he's spent a long time there. :thumbsup:
Should it not be Sir Rod, honour where honour is due.... :D
No show invitations don't reflect numbers of modelers in different scales.
Advertising space bought by Hattons, Rails of Sheffield would be closer.
Back on topic, yes stats like that could be a reasonably actuate reflection.
Quote from: Snowwolflair on April 18, 2017, 11:24:40 AM
No show invitations don't reflect numbers of modelers in different scales.
Advertising space bought by Hattons, Rails of Sheffield would be closer.
Then you would need access to their financial records to see what they
spent, most unlikely.
There could be a poll of N gauge enthusiasts as to where they buy their stuff.
Not that I'd ever encourage such a thing.
There is and always will be, a diverse range of opinions on this topic.
Quote from: broadsword on April 18, 2017, 11:47:53 AM
Quote from: Snowwolflair on April 18, 2017, 11:24:40 AM
No show invitations don't reflect numbers of modelers in different scales.
Advertising space bought by Hattons, Rails of Sheffield would be closer.
Then you would need access to their financial records to see what they
spent, most unlikely.
square inches in the big magazines is all you need.
Accurate Stats of sales of any kind are notoriously hard to find. The only detail I've found so far - not looked for too long - is total turnover by a manufacturer dealing in N, HO and TT, the Fleischmann and Roco group :
QuoteThe Modelleisenbahn Group based in Bergheim near Salzburg (Austria) is the European market leader in the DC segment and number two in the European model railway business with a market share of around 25 percent. Sales volume in 2016 amounted to 49 million euros.
- quote is from a Press release dated February 2017.
Finding a breakdown by scale of this major player will be impossible, I suspect, but maybe a direct info request might bare fruit. I'll give it a try.
All we need then is all the other major players to reveal the same and we'll have an answer. :D
Is that flying pork I see? :hmmm:
That would assume that expenditure on advertising
equates with sales or the size of the targeted market
which doesn't always apply.However unless someone
on the forum gets a job in a model shop's accounts
section it shall remain a mystery of the universe.
Ps , I can state with certainty that UM models sales
consist of 100% N , soon as I say that they'll
probably announce they're going into O gauge...
Quote from: broadsword on April 18, 2017, 12:04:36 PM
Ps , I can state with certainty that UM models sales
consist of 100% N , soon as I say that they'll
probably announce they're going into O gauge...
Can you imagine the weight of an O UM model. :goggleeyes:
Quote from: newportnobby on April 18, 2017, 10:20:05 AM
I'm having daymares now about the cost of a house which could accommodate a layout in 00 which could take trains the length I run in N :worried:
At risk of a bit of heresy I would probably go OO if I had the space for (near) scale length trains. But I don't!
The reason for the original question was prompted by a remark from a magazine stating that as N was only 10% of the market they were justified in having no N gauge layouts in a particular issue.
As I'm able to get inspiration from good layouts in any scale the lack of N in certain magazines isn't the end of the world but I did wonder about the percentage given as I'd always thought it was nearer to 20%.
:NGaugersRule:
Quote from: silly moo on April 18, 2017, 12:30:56 PM
The reason for the original question was prompted by a remark from a magazine stating that as N was only 10% of the market they were justified in having no N gauge layouts in a particular issue.
As I'm able to get inspiration from good layouts in any scale the lack of N in certain magazines isn't the end of the world but I did wonder about the percentage given as I'd always thought it was nearer to 20%.
I've always heard figures from Bachmann (who are probably one of the best sources apart from the large model shops) of about 15-20%.
The issue for a magazine (and an exhibition) is not necessarily about do you feature X% of a particular scale/era etc but is there enough quality representations of those scales/eras etc. I know from looking for 7mm D&E layouts for a show that it was always really difficult! So an editor might want to feature an N GWR broad gauge layout but if he doesn't know of any or doesn't get any offer to write an article then he can only work with what is available.
Cheers, Mike
Dare I suggest N gauge layouts at shows overall tend to be smaller than 00 or 0 counterparts meaning you could squeeze more N gauge layouts in but that means paying for more operators accommodation and meals? :angel:
Quote from: njee20 on April 18, 2017, 12:20:30 PM
Quote from: newportnobby on April 18, 2017, 10:20:05 AM
I'm having daymares now about the cost of a house which could accommodate a layout in 00 which could take trains the length I run in N :worried:
At risk of a bit of heresy I would probably go OO if I had the space for (near) scale length trains. But I don't!
Tut. Tut. You should be thinking of all that N gauge stuff you could put in the extra space :telloff:
Seeing as I'll never have the money Pete Waterman and Rod Stewart have then it doesn't even cross my mind what they do :no:
As a show organiser I will say that N-gauge accounts for about 30% of the available exhibition layouts, and maybe almost 50% of the layouts that will fit comfortably in a smaller hall.
Les
I have heard 10 - 20% so taking the middle ground I will say 15%, but as long as that small percentage is good enough to warant companies bringing out new models for us thats the main thing.
On the flip side to that with the way the average house size for new builds are going these days wont be that long before OO gauge modellers see they can get more out of the room and maybe move across and give N gauge a bigger bite at the cherry!!