Quote from: kusojiji on June 08, 2026, 06:24:32 AMHaha, at least the wife didn't leave with the dog this time...

I believe the current theme is their AI date leaving with the self-drive Tesla

Quote from: Mr Sprue on June 08, 2026, 05:30:59 PMAnd of course with new tooling there are new prices. I don't know if its a new tooling run, but Graham Farish coaches are now nearly £50 each!

This is a large part of why my spend on N gauge in the past four years has been almost zero and I doubt I'm unusual in that.

Quote from: Dr Al on June 08, 2026, 05:13:43 PMThe OO market is saturated. Close to everything is already pretty much available - which is why there are now multiple manufacturers making new toolings of the same thing, and trying to use features to prompt sales - and the differences in said features and detail is getting smaller and smaller.

We will see a few more fail soon I think, the duplication reduces volume for everyone and each tooling with a lower volume drives prices up. Volume is a massive factor in these kind of models and there probably have to be a few mergers or bought for a pound acquisitions of smoking remains. We've now got companies scrabbling to get volume off one another by making less and less relevant, or more and more duplicated products.

The UK is also now extremely polarised. More people over 65 own a home than under 50, only 25% of people under 45 own a home rather than renting and thus often moving around. Many under 40 only have a room in an HMO.

Unfortunately for volume production you need a lot of buyers of the same model, not a small number of very rich people as they simply don't buy enough. Fine for 5 grand etched brass O gauge masterpieces but not for mainstream RTR.

What we actually need is more of less models at lower prices, but that's not in the interest of any market player short term.

Quote from: Dr Al on June 08, 2026, 05:13:43 PM

Quote from: Woodenhead on June 08, 2026, 10:41:15 AMTT120 was Hornby's escape plan - it couldn't compete with what was coming in OO and was losing market share fast,

The OO market is saturated. Close to everything is already pretty much available - which is why there are now multiple manufacturers making new toolings of the same thing, and trying to use features to prompt sales - and the differences in said features and detail is getting smaller and smaller.

Cheers,
Alan

And of course with new tooling there are new prices. I don't know if its a new tooling run, but Graham Farish coaches are now nearly £50 each!

My impression of UK prices is that they are actually well down.

A lot of older stuff is not holding the values it used to, and even new tooling stuff seems down. As Roy says, there's some 'in demand' items, like 1st gen DMUs that always do well and command high prices, but stuff that used to command higher values is well down in my observations.

Reflection of our decimated bankrupt economy, and tax squeezed population IMHO - these are discretionary purchases, so are likely to be the first for folk to cut back.

Cheers,
Alan

Quote from: Woodenhead on June 08, 2026, 10:41:15 AMTT120 was Hornby's escape plan - it couldn't compete with what was coming in OO and was losing market share fast,

The OO market is saturated. Close to everything is already pretty much available - which is why there are now multiple manufacturers making new toolings of the same thing, and trying to use features to prompt sales - and the differences in said features and detail is getting smaller and smaller.

Cheers,
Alan

Based on some requests, and probably some overlap in interest, I will use this thread to post photos of fire life in West Texas.

I've got over 26 years on. The last 16 at the fitness station as fitness specialist: my true passion. I joke that I'm a fitness specialist who happens to drive a fire truck.

As a cadet. I'm the pudgy guy in front. 
 


My station - #3




My two rides.



As driver, I'm at the pump panel, so I'm able to get some pics. The lads putting wet stuff on the red stuff.






I won't send a flood of pics. A few at a time.

Quote from: Foxhound on June 08, 2026, 01:59:12 PM

Quote from: scottmitchell74 on June 06, 2026, 12:46:01 AMWhether I'm searching for British or American image N Gauge/Scale items, these days buying new from shops is cheaper than 2nd-hand from Ebay.

What's happening!? 

Is there such a dearth in N? And if there is, why aren't manufacturers filling the gap?

I'm missing something. 

I must admit I am looking to eBay less and less with people like Clarks Railworks and Footplate being so reliable and reasonable. Prices are getting silly, particularly British outline.

I envy your proximity to those places. 

Quote from: scottmitchell74 on June 06, 2026, 12:46:01 AMWhether I'm searching for British or American image N Gauge/Scale items, these days buying new from shops is cheaper than 2nd-hand from Ebay.

What's happening!? 

Is there such a dearth in N? And if there is, why aren't manufacturers filling the gap?

I'm missing something. 

I must admit I am looking to eBay less and less with people like Clarks Railworks and Footplate being so reliable and reasonable. Prices are getting silly, particularly British outline.

Livery samples have now arrived and photos of the VSOE coaches are now up here

They look stunning!



Tom.