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Post by spsf on Nov 14, 2018 10:58:53 GMT -8
All I know is these things are banned from my club before they even show up. Dave Boo! Where's the fun in that?  |
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Post by carrman on Nov 14, 2018 11:14:44 GMT -8
All I know is these things are banned from my club before they even show up. Dave Boo! Where's the fun in that? You don't get your layout into GMR or Trackside Model Railroading running stuff like that. Dave |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 14, 2018 11:33:57 GMT -8
All I know is these things are banned from my club before they even show up. Dave Club bouncer - you shall not pass! Club members don't let friends .... |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2018 11:59:58 GMT -8
No ill will wished towards them, either. All I know is that the Athearn Blue Box/RTR/Roundhouse ACF Railbox car is still probably on par with the "best" out there for that car...after all these years. No definitive model for it exists to this date...one of the most common boxcars out there for years...too. The Walthers car is the same prototype and far better; Unlike the Athearn car, it has the proper dimensions, correct roof, and doesn't have an operating door with all the problems that entails. The only downside is everything is molded on; But the more I build, decal and weather freight cars, the more I wonder if seperate parts for all that stuff is worth the bother sometimes. I'll have to check them out. Two cars I would like...Ashley Drew and Northern and MP. |
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Post by riogrande on Nov 14, 2018 12:08:32 GMT -8
What about the Atlas Ashely Drew and Northern?
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Post by John Sheridan on Nov 14, 2018 12:10:30 GMT -8
All I know is these things are banned from my club before they even show up. Dave Club bouncer - you shall not pass! Approves!  |
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Post by brakie on Nov 14, 2018 20:06:41 GMT -8
Boo! Where's the fun in that? You don't get your layout into GMR or Trackside Model Railroading running stuff like that. Dave Dave,If your club is like the clubs I been a member of we needed dues to pay bills..What does it matter what equipment is ran on operation nights?
You can always have a special photo shoot night or afternoon for GMR or Trackside Model Railroading.
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Post by carrman on Nov 14, 2018 20:09:24 GMT -8
You don't get your layout into GMR or Trackside Model Railroading running stuff like that. Dave Dave,If your club is like the clubs I been a member of we needed dues to pay bills..What does it matter what equipment is ran on operation nights?
You can always have a special photo shoot night or afternoon for GMR or Trackside Model Railroading.
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Because our layout was constructed by prototype modelers to be operated with prototype equipment. It demeans our layout and the work put into it and other members equipment to have such stuff operated on it. I already had to make the NFL and NBA trains go away..... Dues are handy to pay the bills, but not at the expense of dumbing down our layout and our mission to do it. Dave |
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Post by stottman on Nov 14, 2018 22:42:04 GMT -8
The Walthers car is the same prototype and far better; Unlike the Athearn car, it has the proper dimensions, correct roof, and doesn't have an operating door with all the problems that entails. The only downside is everything is molded on; But the more I build, decal and weather freight cars, the more I wonder if seperate parts for all that stuff is worth the bother sometimes. I'll have to check them out. Two cars I would like...Ashley Drew and Northern and MP. I only bought one Railbox to check out... I figured its Walthers, so I figure the market will mostly be flooded and I can get more later. Since everything is molded on, it should be easy to strip the paint if I want to repaint. |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Nov 14, 2018 22:49:06 GMT -8
I posted this in another thread, but it seems more appropriate here:
Although it's good to see a new "player in the game", theirs was not the greatest debut. Unfortunately I don't see much value in a $29.99 freight car with molded detail and plastic wheels when Scale Trains and Accurail, for example, can provide a kit of equal or greater quality, with metal wheels for around $15. If Value Trains' debut freight car offering was introduced at $19.99, then yeah, maybe I would see the value, but this car is severely overpriced...
Donnell
Read more: atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/7125/360-days-trainfest-guessing-begin#ixzz5Wu4CiA3n
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Post by Donnell Wells on Nov 14, 2018 23:04:57 GMT -8
All I know is these things are banned from my club before they even show up. Dave  |
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Post by Colin 't Hart on Nov 14, 2018 23:42:14 GMT -8
Layouts in GMR routinely feature blue box cars and locomotives.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2018 4:19:47 GMT -8
I really don't see any value in a fantasy scheme 1980's tooled car myself. As others have pointed out, Accurail can provide a kit that is much better in quality and variety for less.
This car would be more appropriately priced at $9.99. It's very close to old Tyco offerings, IMO. I know this is a bit harsh...but the hobby is better served with Atlas Trainman, Walthers Mainline, Accurail, and Athearn Roundhouse for entry point models.
Is there actually a market for these types of cars? I used to see advertisements for the "Super Bowl Train" and such in Reader's Digest..and stuff like that.
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Post by grahamline on Nov 15, 2018 6:34:22 GMT -8
I really don't see any value in a fantasy scheme 1980's tooled car myself. As others have pointed out, Accurail can provide a kit that is much better in quality and variety for less. This car would be more appropriately priced at $9.99. It's very close to old Tyco offerings, IMO. I know this is a bit harsh...but the hobby is better served with Atlas Trainman, Walthers Mainline, Accurail, and Athearn Roundhouse for entry point models. Is there actually a market for these types of cars? I used to see advertisements for the "Super Bowl Train" and such in Reader's Digest..and stuff like that. Yes, there's a market for "these types of cars" but it isn't the sort of modeler you find at an RPM meet. It's a different hobby. Some are collectors of many kinds of things, some are nostalgic for the train sets of the '50s and '60s. There is a reason many of these sets and commemoratives are easy to find in original packaging. There are probably a half dozen companies painting cars and engines that never were in schemes that never were. |
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Post by roadkill on Nov 15, 2018 6:40:32 GMT -8
You don't get your layout into GMR or Trackside Model Railroading running stuff like that. Dave Dave,If your club is like the clubs I been a member of we needed dues to pay bills..What does it matter what equipment is ran on operation nights?
You can always have a special photo shoot night or afternoon for GMR or Trackside Model Railroading.
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You think clubs like the La Mesa club would allow tribe like this on their layout because "we need the dues, man"? |
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Post by spsf on Nov 15, 2018 7:56:05 GMT -8
Dave,If your club is like the clubs I been a member of we needed dues to pay bills..What does it matter what equipment is ran on operation nights?
You can always have a special photo shoot night or afternoon for GMR or Trackside Model Railroading.
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You think clubs like the La Mesa club would allow tribe like this on their layout because "we need the dues, man"? Eh, depends on who is the OIC, and whether they're having an operating session or not. Some are more relaxed than others. I've seen plenty of trains that have no business actually running on Tehachapi. But admittedly those are usually guest operators. |
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Post by brakie on Nov 15, 2018 8:06:20 GMT -8
Dave,If your club is like the clubs I been a member of we needed dues to pay bills..What does it matter what equipment is ran on operation nights?
You can always have a special photo shoot night or afternoon for GMR or Trackside Model Railroading.
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You think clubs like the La Mesa club would allow tribe like this on their layout because "we need the dues, man"? I don't know of any club rich enough not to charge dues in order to pay bills.. Members comes and goes as well. |
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Post by TBird1958 on Nov 15, 2018 11:01:07 GMT -8
Here's the thing about this P.O.S.
They could have chosen to make a simple, bare bones accurate model that folks could add parts to if they choose to, thereby getting a piece of the scale model market and still go ahead with their Craptastic stuff too. It would have cost them the same money, it's just stupid.
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Post by upcsx on Nov 15, 2018 13:04:08 GMT -8
You think clubs like the La Mesa club would allow tribe like this on their layout because "we need the dues, man"? I don't know of any club rich enough not to charge dues in order to pay bills.. Members comes and goes as well. Brakie,the club in Cherryville you can get away from paying dues because the city pays the bills and own the depot. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2018 13:13:57 GMT -8
Here's the thing about this P.O.S. They could have chosen to make a simple, bare bones accurate model that folks could add parts to if they choose to, thereby getting a piece of the scale model market and still go ahead with their Craptastic stuff too. It would have cost them the same money, it's just stupid. Yes. |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Nov 15, 2018 18:31:46 GMT -8
Anybody wanna buy one just to see if its overall length is too short like the LBF?  |
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Post by stottman on Nov 15, 2018 22:18:19 GMT -8
Here's the thing about this P.O.S. They could have chosen to make a simple, bare bones accurate model that folks could add parts to if they choose to, thereby getting a piece of the scale model market and still go ahead with their Craptastic stuff too. It would have cost them the same money, it's just stupid. Actually, it would have been more expensive. Even things like the ends were fudged to save money on drafting and tooling costs. And even if they had done as you were saying, people would complain that its not 84 pieces, all separately applied and that the paint colors are not 100% accurate for X railroad. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2018 22:44:54 GMT -8
Oh the wailing and nashing of teeth!
If you don't like it don't buy it; it is that simple.
Mantua sold a ton of NFL related freight cars back in the day. People actually came into the train store looking specifically for them, and we didn't have them, and they were very disappointed. You just can't inventory everything!
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Post by riogrande on Nov 16, 2018 4:31:17 GMT -8
If you don't like it don't buy it; it is that simple. Probably right about one thing - it is that simple. |
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Post by bnsf971 on Nov 16, 2018 4:31:44 GMT -8
"We want model trains built in the USA. No more Chinese crap!"
Manufacturer builds the best car they can in the USA, while keeping production costs at a level to let them sell at the same price as the Chinese-built models.
"What a P.O.S.! It's junk! I'll never buy one of those!"
Manufacturer goes out of business due to lack of sales.
Other manufacturers take a look at what happened, and run screaming away from building model trains in the USA.
"We need more trains made in the USA, instead of this Chinese crap!"
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Post by 12bridge on Nov 16, 2018 7:45:41 GMT -8
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Post by NS4122 on Nov 16, 2018 8:31:14 GMT -8
For what it is worth...Contrary to James' video from Trainfest, the wheels are metal. I'm assuming they are Kadee wheels. I posted this in another thread, but it seems more appropriate here:
Although it's good to see a new "player in the game", theirs was not the greatest debut. Unfortunately I don't see much value in a $29.99 freight car with molded detail and plastic wheels when Scale Trains and Accurail, for example, can provide a kit of equal or greater quality, with metal wheels for around $15. If Value Trains' debut freight car offering was introduced at $19.99, then yeah, maybe I would see the value, but this car is severely overpriced...
Donnell
Read more: atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/7125/360-days-trainfest-guessing-begin#ixzz5Wu4CiA3n |
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Post by Donnell Wells on Nov 16, 2018 10:35:00 GMT -8
For what it is worth...Contrary to James' video from Trainfest, the wheels are metal. I'm assuming they are Kadee wheels.
Product differentiation is often key to the successful launch of a new product. While the UP Heritage schemes do give the VT car some advantage (as no other HO-scale manufacturer is *currently* offering them), is this a sustainable competitive advantage? I would venture to say no, because at any time Accurail, Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, and Walthers could all release a similar product.
I'm not rooting for Value Trains to fail; I actually applaud VT for taking a risk that many us would not even consider, in trying to break their way into this industry. I do think they should adjust their pricing strategy to match what they are offering. VT jumped into a market selling an item similar to items that are already being sold at a better price point. A low-cost strategy would broaden their market share because it would appeal to more modelers, as we are always looking for "lower cost" options and less-expensive ways to fill out our freight car rosters.
Donnell |
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Post by carrman on Nov 16, 2018 11:23:53 GMT -8
"We want model trains built in the USA. No more Chinese crap!" Manufacturer builds the best car they can in the USA, while keeping production costs at a level to let them sell at the same price as the Chinese-built models. "What a P.O.S.! It's junk! I'll never buy one of those!" Manufacturer goes out of business due to lack of sales. Other manufacturers take a look at what happened, and run screaming away from building model trains in the USA. "We need more trains made in the USA, instead of this Chinese crap!" Oh I get it, we should buy crudely tooled, foobie painted product just because its made in the US. Got it. Dave |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 16, 2018 11:25:57 GMT -8
Well, we can debate price point all day long, but there's one huge difference between "us" here on these forums and "them".
Their business and livelihood are on the line, and we are just armchair critics at best. Most of us on here, even combined, do not constitute a big enough block of actual sales to really affect them one way or the other.
Odds being what they are, they might even sell enough to do ok. Some of the paint jobs are hot and would appeal to...the same market that Tyco once appealed to...
We could be dead wrong and they could have the next "LifeLike" on their hands. That in the end worked out pretty well.
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