Quote from: Newportnobby on October 01, 2021, 02:38:56 PM
It was only months ago folks were saying model railway sales were booming while so many were in lockdown. Prices have not changed much since then so all the newcomers must be fairly used to what we now perceive as high price items.
I have a very poor opinion of much of the younger generation who seem only to have an interest in their mobile phones and would no doubt just curl up and die if it was taken off them.
For sure, those with more disposable income tend to be the older of the age groups as maybe the mortgage has been paid off, kids flown the nest and, in my case, state pension + small private pension being received (not, I hasten to add, final salaried by any stretch )
When I kick the bucket no one in the family will want my model railway stuff so my will decrees it be sold and the proceeds go to my chosen charity (in my case, Help 4 Heroes).
Going by the success of RevolutioN, Kato, Sonic, Accurascale and Rapido in the UK market with the models they are bringing to us, the only decline seems to be in BachFar/Dapol's choices.

I think perhaps that you have missed the main point - which is that people who have retired relatively early with reasonable pensions are not going to be replaced by the next few generations to retire - who are likely to retire later and have less disposable income. That hasn't happened yet, but it will.

I don't think model railways are dying out, but as others have said, the demographic has certainly changed. I don't think disposable income has a huge bearing either - you can build a model railway on a shoestring if you want, or you can spend thousands on it.

Many years ago, it was thought that cinema would prove the downfall of live theatre, but it  didn't; similarly television vs. cinema a generation ago. Still thriving! The death of railway modelling has been predicted many times before but we're still here!

Cheers,

Chris

even the smart phone obsessed youngsters will grow up eventually (I hope). But more bad news for the doom mongers------------Roco/Fleischmann are raising all prices on Monday, some by as much as 10%.

This is an interesting topic.
I don't believe that railway modelling is dying out. It is, however, evolving.
In my opinion there is a trend towards computer control, DCC and modern electronics. Far from deterring younger entrants to the hobby, I believe that this trend is enticing younger people many of whom have an interest in such matters.
So, maybe things are gradually moving away from the more traditional scenic model railways towards less scenically driven but more fully automated layouts.
I'm sure that at least some of the big players eg Kato and Revolution for example, are aware of this metamorphosis.
Other manufacturers may ignore the gradual change of direction at their peril as will many of the "traditional" model railway clubs.
The hobby has a very bright future but as with everything in life, it must be prepared to adapt to change.

I left (took a long break from) the hobby in the late 1990's and would have said at that time, there seemed to be a decline in model railway interest based on the lack of releases and very basic models. You could wait years for Farish to release a new loco, or wagon. Options were limited. To me this suggested a smaller market, by comparison to today.

Today, we are spoiled for choice, with Revolution, Farish, Dapol, Sonic, Accurascale, Cavalex, EFE Rail, N Gauge Society, C-Rail, Rapido, to name a few. All regularly releasing and announcing new products, built to a high standard and representing a remarkable level of detail. This would suggest an increase in popularity, compared to say 25 years ago?!

It was the range of products, the detail, the technology available, improved running reliability, DCC, sound fitted locos, working tail lamps, LED's, interactive crowd funded projects, online shopping, internet forums etc.... that enticed me back into the hobby. All virtually non-existent when I took a break in 1999. Yes, some people will leave the hobby, but there will always be new interest from others.

Tim