Comments on: Which model locomotives get mass produced and the affect on the hobby http://www.polyweb.com/dans_rr/blog/index.php/archives/49 Stories about building my model railroad and other things found along the tracks Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:06:22 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Daniel Swearingen http://www.polyweb.com/dans_rr/blog/index.php/archives/49/comment-page-1#comment-3088 Daniel Swearingen Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:45:06 +0000 http://www.polyweb.com/dans_rr/blog/index.php/archives/49#comment-3088 Fred Wright in the HOn3 group had an interesting thought on why so many Big Boys and few 4-6-0s. A summary would be: "most modelers think Bigger is Better" Here's what he wrote: "[...] The profit margins are much larger on the bigger engines, and model railroaders prefer bigger steam engines. The engineering and manufacturing talent to produce a good-running 4-4-0 is considerably greater than a good K series in HOn3 or USRA 2-8-2 in standard gauge. The choice of motor, weighting, balance, finding room for flywheels, etc is all far more critical in the 4-4-0, especially in HOn3. Yet until recently (and I'm not sure it's even true today), mr's were not willing to pay as much for a 4-4-0 as a K-27. There was (and is?) a general feeling that the cost of an engine should be somewhat related to the number of drivers. Hence, the profits are greater with the bigger engines. This is not unlike our native auto industry - the profits are in the trucks, not the compact cars. The production costs are not nearly as different as the price charged. Secondly, most Americans prefer their cars and steam engines big. How else can you explain the number of Big Boys and Challengers in the model market? The numbers are way out of proportion. A K series almost always sells well because it is the Big Boy equivalent in HOn3. Look at the reception of the Bachmann On30 outside frame 2-8-0 compared to their 2-6-0s. Unless a small model has a certain "cuteness" factor, it generally doesn't sell all that well. Docksiders, Generals, geared locos, and occasionally Porters are examples of the "cuteness" factor. But an everyday HOn3 logging 2-6-2, common 2-6-0 or 4-4-0 will get yawns despite their ubiquity in the prototype world. Ask Bowser which of their steam engines sell best. I'm willing to bet it's the Docksider on one end, and the larger engines on the other end. The Atlantics and Ten Wheelers get ignored. Put these 2 factors together, larger engines are more profitable to make, and sell in bigger quantities to boot, and the manufacturer's 1st choice becomes rather obvious. [...] Fred Wright" Fred Wright in the HOn3 group had an interesting thought on why so many Big Boys and few 4-6-0s. A summary would be: “most modelers think Bigger is Better”

Here’s what he wrote:
“[...] The profit margins are much larger on the bigger engines, and model railroaders prefer bigger steam engines.

The engineering and manufacturing talent to produce a good-running 4-4-0 is considerably greater than a good K series in HOn3 or USRA
2-8-2 in standard gauge. The choice of motor, weighting, balance, finding room for flywheels, etc is all far more critical in the 4-4-0, especially in HOn3. Yet until recently (and I’m not sure it’s even true today), mr’s were not willing to pay as much for a 4-4-0 as a K-27. There was (and is?) a general feeling that the cost of an engine should be somewhat related to the number of drivers. Hence, the profits are greater with the bigger engines. This is not unlike our native auto industry – the profits are in the trucks, not the compact cars. The production costs are not nearly as different as the price charged.

Secondly, most Americans prefer their cars and steam engines big. How else can you explain the number of Big Boys and Challengers in the model market? The numbers are way out of proportion. A K series almost always sells well because it is the Big Boy equivalent in HOn3.
Look at the reception of the Bachmann On30 outside frame 2-8-0 compared to their 2-6-0s. Unless a small model has a certain “cuteness” factor, it generally doesn’t sell all that well.
Docksiders, Generals, geared locos, and occasionally Porters are examples of the “cuteness” factor. But an everyday HOn3 logging 2-6-2, common 2-6-0 or 4-4-0 will get yawns despite their ubiquity in the prototype world. Ask Bowser which of their steam engines sell best. I’m willing to bet it’s the Docksider on one end, and the larger engines on the other end. The Atlantics and Ten Wheelers get ignored.

Put these 2 factors together, larger engines are more profitable to make, and sell in bigger quantities to boot, and the manufacturer’s 1st choice becomes rather obvious.
[...]

Fred Wright”

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