Quote from: newportnobby on July 21, 2014, 12:14:18 PM

Quote from: scruff on July 21, 2014, 11:31:16 AM
Resistance is futile...
Use the force Mick.. or maybe even the credit card!
After all.. if you don't preorder the price WILL go up or there will be none left! :'(

Mark

My shop of choice (Rails) only hold their price for pre-orders for 1 year after the order date.
I believe Hattons have no time limit - can anyone confirm this please?
Sods law states if I pre-order those 2 they won't appear for 12 months and 1 minute

Hattons do not limit it time wise as far as I know.

Certainly my Farish Ivatt 2-6-0, pre-ordered years before release was delivered at the original order price and significantly below the discounted shop price when it finally arrived.

Roy

Resistance was futile...................I have been assimilated
I blame that Richie

Supplier decision made for me as Rails don't even list those 2 items

Hello all,

(This is also posted on RM Web)

I attended the Bachmann Open Day today and while there wasn't that much announced for N, I thought I'd post some photos of what was on show.   Apologies for the poor quality but they were snapped on a camera phone through glass.  I know Model Rail's photographer attended yesterday and got some much better shots of some of the items.

The event was hosted by Bachmann Europe MD Graham Hubbard, but guest of honour was Kenneth Ting, the president of Kader Industries, the company that owns Bachmann.  I understand it's only the second time in 25 years that Mr Ting has visited the UK offices, and he paid tribute to Bachmann's 48 UK-based staff.



Highlight for me of the N-gauge display were the factory-painted Polybulks, which are coming soon.  However, it looks as though these will be the first N-gauge wagons to be hit with the price increases designed to reflect the cost of individual products; their high levels of separately fitted detail meaning an RRP of £39.



The Tartan Arrow CCT is lovely, but looked a little odd in the (correct) white finish as I think I've become conditioned to expect the cream colour as modelled years ago by Lima!



Of the forthcoming locomotives, the pick of the bunch looked to me to be the DRS 37/4, though the Network Rail 57 wth Dellner couplers looks pretty good too.  I understand these models have all been cleared for production and should be here soon....









Perhaps the most interesting news was in the Scenecraft section; although the power station components have not yet been sampled there were models of the static caravan, shunter's cabin and some low relief retaining walls and shops etc on show that looked rather good.  These buildings may not be "chocolate box" attractive, but they are nicely rendered models of authentic and workmanlike strutcures....







There are plenty of other models in the pipleline that we know about, such as the Mk2f coaches, and a few we don't, but there are not likely to be any more new N Gauge announcements until next March, when I understand Bachmann will hold their usual Hobby show.  It was explained to those attending that with so many items outstanding this catalogue is intended to be one of consolidation and catch-up - which probably makes sense.



Having said that, my impression was that while Bachmann continue to support N there is a little disappointment that sales seem to have plateaued at around 20% of OO, and I suspect the glory days of 8 new Farish locos per year are unlikely to return any time soon.



cheers



Ben A.

Quote from: Ben A on July 21, 2014, 06:50:53 PMHaving said that, my impression was that while Bachmann continue to support N there is a little disappointment that sales seem to have plateaued at around 20% of OO

Do you know if that's Farish N sales as a whole are 20% of Bachmann OO sales as a whole?  Or is this a model-model-comparison where something is released in both OO and N?

Perhaps sales will pick up again once the prices have plateaued...

Thanks Ben

Some cracking photo's there.

Could it be that N gauge sales have reached a saturation point and we need to promote the gauge more?

Just a thought...

Mark

Quote from: Only Me on July 20, 2014, 08:44:18 PM
Railcar will have lights I hear..

Lights would be much more appropriate for the Cl.158 and Cl.170 than a GWR railcar where, even if they were on, they were hardly visible.

Thanks for posting those pictures Ben. I especially enjoyed the DRS 37 + NR 57's. These will be a welcome addition to the modern image range.

Wise decision playing catch up, shame to read about not so good N Gauge sales........

Thanks again for the pictures.

Hi Steve

What they said was that in the last few years Farish sales climbed noticeably from 15% of Bachmann's business to approaching 20%, but then that climb seems to have petered out and that's where sales have remained.

I get the impression that they are a little perplexed that some very good quality models - esp the EMUs such as the Desiro and 4-CEP - still have not sold out from the warehouse and there is a bit of headscratching going on about what can be done to entice more into N and get the growth resuming.

There may be a role for the NGS in this, and we try to be supportive of all manufacturers, but I'd be very interested in ideas for growing the scale that do not involve simply wishlisting additional or different models...

cheers

Ben A.
(NGS VP)

Quote from: Ben A on July 21, 2014, 09:16:16 PM
I get the impression that they are a little perplexed that some very good quality models - esp the EMUs such as the Desiro and 4-CEP - still have not sold out from the warehouse and there is a bit of headscratching going on about what can be done to entice more into N and get the growth resuming.

A good question following an interesting observation. Definitely worthy of its own thread! But since it's here...

One thing that could help would be knowing whether the N-gauge RTR market is driven by 'casual' collectors or 'serious' modellers. I mean that a 'casual' railway modeller would be someone who buys certain locos or wagons because they like the look of them and won't pass over something nice because it doesn't fit a particular era or location. A 'serious' modeller wants models that match their chosen timeframe and won't buy stuff that doesn't fit onto their layout.

Why I think this matters is this: Casual collectors and serious modellers will be discerning in different ways. Casual collectors value variety of liveries, perceived value for money, and the fundamental charisma of the prototype. A suburban EMU, however well made, doesn't (I submit) score well in at least two of regards: perceived value (they're expensive) and charisma (compared to locomotives, anyway). They can score well in terms of liveries though, it just so happens the Desiro and the 4-CEP both happened to be towards the duller end of the spectrum. But I'd imagine something more colourful, perhaps SWT or Virgin liveried, might have appealed more strongly.

Still, it is curious that DMUs seem to sell quite well, because they'd seem to suffer in the same ways as EMUs when compared to locomotives. This is where the serious modellers come in. The lack of third rail and overhead wire options has historically meant that serious modellers tended not to produce layouts requiring those features. So any multiple units they needed for their layouts would be DMUs, not EMUs.

In short: EMUs don't appeal to casual collectors, and without third rail or catenary, they aren't popular enough to be strong sellers among the (probably smaller) serious modeller end of the market.

My thinking, anyway!

Cheers, NeMo

PS. I did get the London Midland 350/1, and a cracking model it is. I didn't need it, but ride them every day, so just wanted one to play with -- does that make me a casual collector?!

Talking of advertising and promoting, I have never seen an N Gauge TV/internet advertisement??

I remember Hornby did commercials, so why not N Gauge?

Just a thought......

That Tartan Arrow CCT looks fantastic but as you say Ben the white is very different.  The photos I have do show them being white rather than cream.  I wonder if Bachman might produce an LMS period 3 BG in the same livery at some point?

Thank you for the interesting post.

Best

Paddy

One thought about sales of N gauge...  Is it a case that the majority of people chose N gauge due to space restrictions?  If so, then possibly our layouts are smaller and require less rolling stock?  HOLLERTON JUNCTION is 6x3 feet and I already have much more stock than can be accommodated on it.  Personally this has made me take stock (excuse the pun) and moderate my purchases.

Just a thought...

Paddy

Quote from: Ben A on July 21, 2014, 09:16:16 PM
I get the impression that they are a little perplexed that some very good quality models - esp the EMUs such as the Desiro and 4-CEP - still have not sold out from the warehouse and there is a bit of headscratching going on about what can be done to entice more into N and get the growth resuming.

There may be a role for the NGS in this, and we try to be supportive of all manufacturers, but I'd be very interested in ideas for growing the scale that do not involve simply wishlisting additional or different models...

I agree that this subject probably deserves a thread in its own right.

My feeling is that Farish were focussed on building a coherent "scene" during their growth phase. The items that were released contributed to this by being focussed. Their initial attention on the LMS included the Jubilee, Royal Scot, Stanier coaches (as well as the promise of more recent release like the Black 5, Ivatt Mogul etc).

Since then they have become a bit more haphazard and I think that this has affected sales. The 4-CEP and desiro are lovely models but what else has been released to run alongside them? The 2-EPB has been in their 00 gauge range for a couple of years but has not been shrunk down. The 2-HAP is an obvious easy win from the work they have done on the Thumper but seems to have been ignored.

Now I don't model 3rd rail so there is no element if wishlisting on my part but I can see that in order to drive sales, you need enough stuff that would run together. Collectors and casual modellers may buy the big shiny steam engines. But modellers who would want a 4-CEP would also want the other units you would need to represent the Eastern section of the Southern Region.

On a subject that is closer to my heart, their GWR models seem to be languishing in the drawing room with the Castle and Auto-coach no nearer than they were when they were announced 15 months ago. These are potentially low-hanging fruit for Farish as Dapol have released a lot of GWR stuff meaning that people are hungry for a bog express loco like the Castle to run alongside their mixed-traffic engines and pannier tanks.

Farish need to consider their releases in the context of what else is available to run with it, particularly for the less glamorous but more work-a-day stock like multiple units.

The 4-CEP and Desiro are lovely models, but you cannot base a layout around them at the moment.

Quote from: Ben A on July 21, 2014, 09:16:16 PM

I get the impression that they are a little perplexed that some very good quality models - esp the EMUs such as the Desiro and 4-CEP - still have not sold out from the warehouse and there is a bit of headscratching going on about what can be done to entice more into N and get the growth resuming.

There may be a role for the NGS in this, and we try to be supportive of all manufacturers, but I'd be very interested in ideas for growing the scale that do not involve simply wishlisting additional or different models...

cheers

Ben A.
(NGS VP)

One idea to kick-start the sales of 4CEPs - produce the version with a Buffet car in it (4BEP) - instant sales to those who have a pair of CEPs and have room to model the full 12-car train, or those who have been holding back from a multiple purchase because of the lack of the complementary unit type. A shrink-rayed MLV wouldn't come amiss, either.

Alternatively make the Buffet car available as a swap-out for the TSK in a 4CEP so people can make a 4BEP themselves. This latter can either be a Farish production or a project for an enterprising third-party manufacturer (RTR or kit/scratchaid)...

This is not just wishlisting, Farish produced the three different types of Desiro, so people could choose the type that matches the train they wanted to run. Run two or more together and it's still a complete train. Perhaps the CEPs haven't sold because people can't run a complete train. Why Desiros haven't sold... a mystery to me.

What hasn't helped sales of Farish product is the recent 20% price increase, and promise of further increases of that magnitude in years to come. Many times I've seen the phrase 'rethinking my spending plans', or words to that effect on Forum posts because of the savage increases in prices applied this year and promised in the future.