Too much detail...?

[tutenkhamunsleeping]

Responding to PLD's post, is it that important that other modellers take N gauge seriously?

Very much so.  I was just such an "other modeller" until N gauge models started to appear that I personally could take "seriously"

[PaulCheffus]

Hi

Unless the detail/quality improves then how are you going to entice people to switch scales? So it is very relevant.

Cheers

Paul

[red_death]

is it that important that other modellers take N gauge seriously?

Definitely - it helps the market grow. If the market grows then we all get more models of things we want.

Alternatively, we (as in the N gauge market) stagnate or regress in detail and accuracy and start to see the market slip away as other scales see improvements (or even the status quo).

Cheers, Mike

[talisman56]

There is always a balance between detail and price. Hattons have the estimated price for these vans at £10 - is that excessive? I honestly don't know, though I think in general it is probably around the price we will have to get used to for 4 wheel wagons.

I suppose the real question is - how much of a saving would a reduction of the detail make?

I'm sure there are cases where some parts can be moulded as one piece rather than separate parts, but I'd be loathe to see too much "dumbing down".  Its taken a long time for modellers to take N as seriously as OO and it would be a crying shame to see that lost.

Cheers, Mike

According to the insert with the Farish 2014 Catalogue, MRP on the SR vans is £15.75 each  - is that excessive? I think I'll order a few more kits from the NGS...

[red_death]

According to the insert with the Farish 2014 Catalogue, MRP on the SR vans is £15.75 each  - is that excessive? I think I'll order a few more kits from the NGS...

Good for you (with my NGS hat on)! But MRP is often not what people actually pay hence why I quoted Hattons.

Cheers, M

[talisman56]

According to the insert with the Farish 2014 Catalogue, MRP on the SR vans is £15.75 each  - is that excessive? I think I'll order a few more kits from the NGS...

Good for you (with my NGS hat on)! But MRP is often not what people actually pay hence why I quoted Hattons.

Cheers, M

...but your quote was Hatton's 'estimate', which may be revised (upwards?) when they get a hold of their trade price based on the MRP...

[ScottyStitch]

I would say, in my opinion, that the level of detail n gauge now enjoys from the main manufacturers is about right. I'm intrigued as to how far the level of detail can improve, save for see through vents for cooing fans, etc., and that is more dependant on the space inside the bodyshell.

Regarding price, I feel we get good value (reliability issues notwithstanding, that's a different matter - we're talking about detail here) for the level of detail we now enjoy.

If I was being picky, I'd like to see a batch of each locomotive or rolling stock items manufactured without numbering/naming, to allow us to number them ourselves. I don't necessarily see how this can be that much different from producing a batch of weathered  items........

I'd also like to see Farish issue dummy locomotives, like Dapol do

Other than that (and reliability) I've no real complaints.

[Karhedron]

If I was being picky, I'd like to see a batch of each locomotive or rolling stock items manufactured without numbering/naming, to allow us to number them ourselves. I don't necessarily see how this can be that much different from producing a batch of weathered  items........

Past experience from Heljan in 00 has suggested that unnumbered models sell poorly and so most manufacturers don't want to do it anymore. Anyone confident enough to renumber a model is likely to be able to remove the existing numbers.

[red_death]

...but your quote was Hatton's 'estimate', which may be revised (upwards?) when they get a hold of their trade price based on the MRP...

I don't understand the point you are trying to make??? I made it clear that the Hattons price was an estimate...(though it is based on the MRP at the time).

[ScottyStitch]

If I was being picky, I'd like to see a batch of each locomotive or rolling stock items manufactured without numbering/naming, to allow us to number them ourselves. I don't necessarily see how this can be that much different from producing a batch of weathered  items........

Past experience from Heljan in 00 has suggested that unnumbered models sell poorly and so most manufacturers don't want to do it anymore. Anyone confident enough to renumber a model is likely to be able to remove the existing numbers.

That was the outcome of a previous discussion, and is probably quite right. I was just mentioning it as part of my ramble.....

[Bigric]

I'm not sure where I stand on this at all.....I'm a VERY keen supporter of driving the N Gauge part of our hobby forward by bringing in more detail , being more demanding about what we will & won't put up with (from manufacturers) , going for more realism . BUT (like Red Death) a little voice in the back of my head keeps asking , "ten quid for a van ? Nearly ten quid for an open wagon ??" Expletive deleted . I'm glad I've got pretty much all the rolling stock I need at the moment . Mind you , that didn't stop me buying 6 Stanier & new Bulleid coaches last month , to bring a bit of variety to the coaching stock ! Did I need them ? Absolutely not - but then again.......Hmmmmm .

[Roy L S]

According to the insert with the Farish 2014 Catalogue, MRP on the SR vans is £15.75 each  - is that excessive? I think I'll order a few more kits from the NGS...

Good for you (with my NGS hat on)! But MRP is often not what people actually pay hence why I quoted Hattons.

Cheers, M

True, looking at Hattons it looks like the discounted price will be about £13 at release (max allowed discount 15% for a period at launch) . For that you get a superbly detailed wagon with such features as NEM pockets. I think it is simply the price we have to pay now. Have fewer, sometimes when they are of this quality less is more..

Take another example, the Farish SR "Pillbox" Brake. This has all the features of the SR van plus (I have read not checked it myself) apparently even a close-coupling mechanism! Sure, you can buy a "wanabe" SR brakevan kit - Peco have done one for years, and it will only cost you about  fiver plus glue, paint and transfers but it will never be anywhere near as accurate or well finished as the Farish one. It just depends what people want.

Roy

[Karhedron]

The other thing to bear in mind is that it is not only increases in detail that are driving prices up. Bachmann's explanations of the rising costs in China are well documented and I suspect existing models will be going up as well.

Better to look at the situation as being, "prices are rising, but at least we get nice detailed new models out of it".

[ScottyStitch]

Better to look at the situation as being, "prices are rising, but at least we get nice detailed new models out of it".

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[PLD]

Responding to PLD's post, is it that important that other modellers take N gauge seriously? I'm an N gauge modeller and this is a forum dedicated to such.

I don't care what modellers in other scales think, and I have stated many times here that I find 00 gauge models look like plastic toys.

Grunt. 

Sadly that blinkered "my scale (or region or era or control system etc) is best and I don't care about anything else" attitude is far too prevalent in this hobby, and unless yours happen to be the dominant sector is a dangerous and self defeating stance to take.

Good modelling is good modelling whatever the scale or subject and it is dissapointing that some don't appreciate it...


Would you not like to see more N gauge layouts featured in the Magazines, or more N gauge layouts appear at exhibitions, or more trade support for N gauge, or more talented modellers take up the scale???

The wider the exposure and the greater the market, the more chance there is of manufacturers expanding their output and the more chance of all our 'wish lists' being fulfilled.

None of this will happen unless N gauge is viewed a serious modeling scale and viewed on a level playing field with other sectors.

Clearly you have a passion for the scale, which is laudable, but what is needed is to spread that passion outside the closed shop of those already modelling in the scale

Paul