Bill Chaplik posted:
Having spent years in the hobby removing tiny plastic parts from sprues I would say one good way to market O-Scale products might be to return to kits or semi-kits. Consumers might also appreciate an engine in the $250 range instead of the $450 range even if it meant a lot of detailing would have to be added by the purchaser. Even if a manufacturer/importer were to offer engines both ways- ready to go out of the box and semi-kit, it might increase overall product sales to help recover development costs while allowing more modelers to have the engine. Win-win?
I'd love rolling stock kits along the line of old Blue box Athearn HO kits. I'd even build great quality locos minus electronics.....easy to buy from folks like Dallee.
Disclaimer: I've been accused of being on the lunatic fringe of both the model train and model car hobby.....so who knows.