No offense taken AMCDave. The train magazines have done interviews with train company personnel or CEO's, and when those people make disclosures about the business, they're doing that willingly. Sometimes they might not share the whole story, but what they want people to know. Still, that's their right and prerogative. The OGR magazine article from some years ago, "A Visit To Sanda Kan" is an article some need to go back and re-read concerning the manufacturing of trains overseas.
Some train makers are a little more open than others, which is their decision. One of the HO train makers said over 10 years ago, that the complete cost of R&D and tooling up a new HO locomotive was near $200,000.00. Since O gauge trains are larger in size, the dies are even more costly. And costs have certainly gone up in the last decade. It's easy to post requests on a train forum for new products, sometimes repeatedly. Having them made is another story entirely.
I've had conversations with people inside the industry. If I'm told to not share it, I don't. In the last year I had a conversation with someone in the business, and thought it was worthwhile info and asked if they didn't mind if I posted the info on this forum, and was nicely asked not to. So I didn't. Credibility and respect aren't asked for, they're earned!
Menards is doing a great job, that no one expected. Mark has stated here that he likes the suggestions, however unrealistic I personally think some of them are... Mark didn't say that... I did. And Mark has already stated that there are other planned products in the pipeline, so folks just need to sit back and be patient.
And folks also need to read what has already been posted and repeated here many times: It's amusing how many times the same exact questions about Menards products get asked over and over again when they've already been answered many times before. I have to say, I admire Mark's grace and patience posting here.
