Innovation?

[Belmont Road]

In the editorial of Model Rail the editor reports on new innovations from continental manufacturers.

He has asked the question of how far can we go with this and has asked for comments.

All of these new ideas come with a high price tag, which it would appear that many continental modellers are prepared to pay - but is the British market different?

Are we prepared to pay in three figures for latest gismo on a locomotive or do we prefer fine detail? Also, as the editor points out, some are very nostalgic about model railways and enjoy dioramas of past locations, without all singing and dancing lighting and other gimmicks. True???

[Gordon]

On a personal level, I'm happy with the detail on new releases - it's way beyond anything we could have expected 15 years ago. I certainly don't want to pay any more for any new (probably superfluous) features - prices are getting too high in my opinion - even with retailer discounts, it's almost £100 for a pacific these days. And as for the price of DCC sound...

I mostly model steam, and the only thing missing from models at the moment is realistic smoke. However, would I be willing to pay substantially extra for that? Probably not. Detail levels are good (possibly too good for a working model? That's another matter...), prices are getting quite high, concentrate on keeping them under control IMHO.

[John H-T]

The level of detail now is fantastic but much of it is very fragile. OK if you keep your models in a display case but not if they are run regularly. I have given up taking my newer models to run on the club layout as inevitably something falls off.

We are now having to pay much more because prices are going up in China. We have been spoilt over the last few years. It looks like larger tender locos: O4 from Bachmann and 28XX from Hornby are going to come through at around £125 before discount which represents an increase of about 50% over the last 6-7 years"

I personally don't want to see anymore detail or gimmicks. I would prefer to see prices rise less quickly, although I realise that this is in evitable as living standards in China rise.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[Belmont Road]

John that is very true, some detail is not well fixed and flimsy.

Just as an extra to this discussion how many of you use DCC? I am a self confessed Luddite and don't want to go to the huge expense of fitting up my stock with chips etc.

I would quite like to have diesel sound though, but most steam simulation sounds to me like an aerosol can in short bursts.

[John H-T]

The layout I am building will be DCC. I have one sound steam loco which I think is quite convincing.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

[DSY011]

John H-T Which steam loco have you got with sound? I now have
BR Class 55 D9007 Pinza,
BR Class 47 D1746,
BR Class 24 D5038,
BR Class 20 D8158.
BR Class 20 D8113.

All DCC Sound Fitted. I don't have any Steam sound fitted as I haven't found one that sounds right.

[John H-T]

Thats quite an impressive selection Syd. I find the sound from the 20 gets quite iritating after a few hours, just like the real one. After a full day opperating a layout next to one with a 20 with sound, I could have cheerfully thrown it through the window (the 20!) However the owner is a friend!

My one sound fitted loco is in 0n30: a two truck shay. The sound even works in DC which is quite impressive!

Best wishes,

John H-T.