Quote from: Bob G on March 26, 2026, 06:31:47 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on March 26, 2026, 05:04:39 PMDapol weren't really trying to change the rules of the game, more run some marginally viable projects the same way they've had been tackled if it was a small business trying to scrape together orders.

I would not be surprised if Dapol/Lionheart O gauge models went the same way as Heljan and became Manufacturer's retail website only. Their O gauge models always seem to be heavily discounted, in comparison to N and OO.

A quick look at the Rails website (chosen as a large retailer - others are available) actually tells a different story. Admittedly it depends on your definition of "heavily discounted" but while there are a small proportion of Dapol O gauge models with very deep discounts, the majority are in the 15 - 20% range which appears fairly consistent with other scales.

What will happen to the O gauge market going forward is harder to predict, there are those who say that as the "boomer" generation with a greater number of generous and/or final salary pensions and larger houses diminishes so will demand for models in the scale and maybe that could transpire.

Roy

Quote from: cmason on March 26, 2026, 03:38:29 AMYes - excellent news! And the email says NER hoppers are here as well! ( @icairns )

Ordered!

Ian

I have just had this inflicted on me and feel duty bound to share the suffering

Quote from: EtchedPixels on March 26, 2026, 05:04:39 PMDapol weren't really trying to change the rules of the game, more run some marginally viable projects the same way they've had been tackled if it was a small business trying to scrape together orders.

I would not be surprised if Dapol/Lionheart O gauge models went the same way as Heljan and became Manufacturer's retail website only. Their O gauge models always seem to be heavily discounted, in comparison to N and OO.

Quote from: Roy L S on March 26, 2026, 04:56:10 PMI think it is pretty clear from what Accurascale have said that Heljan will now only be sold direct to consumer, and all retailer orders have been cancelled - pretty brutal.

Personally I would have said there is quite a lot of difference as regards Dapol because we are talking about a few comparatively "niche" products that were said to be on the margin of viability and this is the only way they could proceed. It doesn't represent Dapol's general business model which is to supply their retailer base and also sell direct to consumer but as a choice and at RRP.

Roy

The consequences are also different. If I was a retailer right now I'd be very worried because the message is essentially "this is the new pricing model" and it means Hornby and Bachmann and co have to compete with it. Will people pay that much extra for a Bachmann model via a retailer, I suspect the answer in many cases will be a no. If they lose a load of business to cheaper AcurraHeljan models then they'll have to compete on price, and there's probably only one way to do that.

Dapol weren't really trying to change the rules of the game, more run some marginally viable projects the same way they've had been tackled if it was a small business trying to scrape together orders.

Quote from: Bob G on March 26, 2026, 04:21:17 PM

Quote from: EtchedPixels on March 26, 2026, 04:01:08 PMRetailers have apparently been told their pre-orders are all cancelled, so I guess accurascale are pretty sure they never want a retailer market again.

I'm assuming you mean Accurascale don't want the Heljan side of the business to go out to retail, and I guess yes that's probably right.

Rails of Sheffield have reduced their Heljan class 47s to the Heljan website price of £99.95 to make sure they don't end up with a load of unsold stock.

Shame the 33s are not discounted yet (but there are five more containers coming over from Denmark in the next few weeks, I believe...


Realistically, it's not far off Dapol only considering direct sales for certain Dapol products though, is it? And we didn't get too excited about Gresley buffets and Stanier coaches cutting retailers out of the market.

Bob

I think it is pretty clear from what Accurascale have said that Heljan will now only be sold direct to consumer, and all retailer orders have been cancelled - pretty brutal.

Personally I would have said there is quite a lot of difference as regards Dapol because we are talking about a few comparatively "niche" products that were said to be on the margin of viability and this is the only way they could proceed. It doesn't represent Dapol's general business model which is to supply their retailer base and also sell direct to consumer but as a choice and at RRP.

Roy

Quote from: EtchedPixels on March 26, 2026, 04:01:08 PMRetailers have apparently been told their pre-orders are all cancelled, so I guess accurascale are pretty sure they never want a retailer market again.

I'm assuming you mean Accurascale don't want the Heljan side of the business to go out to retail, and I guess yes that's probably right.

Rails of Sheffield have reduced their Heljan class 47s to the Heljan website price of £99.95 to make sure they don't end up with a load of unsold stock.

Shame the 33s are not discounted yet (but there are five more containers coming over from Denmark in the next few weeks, I believe...


Realistically, it's not far off Dapol only considering direct sales for certain Dapol products though, is it? And we didn't get too excited about Gresley buffets and Stanier coaches cutting retailers out of the market.

Bob

Retailers have apparently been told their pre-orders are all cancelled, so I guess accurascale are pretty sure they never want a retailer market again.

I suspect it's a matter of time before all the vendors go this way except for kiddies toy train intro set type stuff.

@Papyrus   Heljan kits were ok.  Not the best but perfectly usable.

Lots of activity in the TT:120 world, with folk cancelling pre-orders with retailers in favour of ordering direct at the new lower prices (and with extra 10% on first orders too)    I hadn't ordered before but now have a 55 and a 122 coming,  should be July/August I think.

Heljan used to do some excellent building kits in N. All right, they were mostly American/European style models but could be successfully adapted for UK layouts. I often wondered why they stopped selling them, and whether the moulds are still in existence.

Cheers,

Chris