New to G Scale

[Andrew Evans]

Hi,
My name is Andrew Evans, I produce a range of O gauge modern wagon kits. I have been asked a couple of times if i would produce some kits in the larger scales.

I have joined the group to get a better knowledge of the scale.

 

[royale]

Welcome, Andrew.

 

[Gizzy]

Welcome to the forum Andrew....

 

[stockers]

Welcome aboard.

 

[David1226]

Hi Andrew and Welcome.

If you want to dip your toes into G Scale kits, one way of testing the market, with minimal tooling, may be to try a few conversion kits. Garden Railway Specialists of Princess Risborough used to produce a range of conversion kits to Anglicise LGB Toy Train wagons, which I for one have used to good effect. These kits have been discontinued for some time. A big issue for many was the fact that that although sold as kits, they were in effect a bag of raw materials which still required a fair bit of cutting and shaping to produce an acceptable model. They were not really for a beginner as they required a fair level of modelling ability. I am sure there is still a market for conversion kits that are more detailed and user friendly.

I have taken the liberty of attaching some links to some of my Toy Train conversions to give you a flavour of what I am talking about. There are other conversion threads in the Kit Bashing Section of this Forum. All of my conversions have had detail parts added over and above those that came in the original kits. I hope this may give you some food for thought.

https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/a-tank-wagon-for-the-claptowte-railway.301425
https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/the-claptowte-railway-puts-the-brakes-on.301855/#post-479145
https://www.gscalecentral.net/threads/van-conversions-on-the-claptowte-rauilway.301282/#post-462270



David

 

[Zerogee]

Welcome to GSC, Andrew - it will be very interesting to see what you come up with!

Jon.

 

[maxi-model]

You will find that "scale" is a bit flexible around here at GSC. Anything between 1:13.7 to 1:29 and all stops between. What narrows it down is most here run on 45 mm gauge track, with some on 32 mm.

The most popular scale for kits on these track gauges seems to be 16 mm (c 1:19) and encompasses both "finescale" and "freelance" subjects. Most kit makers produce version to operate on both track gauges but to the same scale. Confused, you will be.

As a manufacturer your best bet would be to attend both the 16 mm NGM and G Scale society shows, around start April each year, to get a feel of where the gaps in the market are. Otherwise I'm sure we can give you plenty of ideas for subject matter

 

[Madman]

Welcome aboard, Andrew.

 

[PhilP]

Well, if you want to make G1-ish MGR wagons.. I want about 15!

Oh, and welcome to the Forum!

 

[The Tinker]

Welcome Andrew. Glad to see u on board. Conversion kits would be good but most of us worry about costs when spending on our rail roads.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Hi,
My name is Andrew Evans, I produce a range of O gauge modern wagon kits. I have been asked a couple of times if i would produce some kits in the larger scales.

I have joined the group to get a better knowledge of the scale.

Ha, we only talk rubbish here

I suppose that, apart from the issue of G scale not being a scale, it is an exceptionally broad interest area, spanning UK 2ft, 2ft 3ins, 2ft 6ins, Isle of Man 3ft, European 2ft 6ins, 3 ft, US 3ft, Australian 2ft 6ins, NZ 3ft 6 ins and various standard gauge railways ............................. plus a lot of other things that I will have missed out.

So the inevitable question is, where to start?

Having said that - welcome to the madhouse

 

[Henri]

Welcome! European/Dutch tramway kits more than welcome!

 

[Paul M]

Welcome Andrew, Asking this forum as to which kits they would like to see available is asking for trouble! Everyone has a wishlist that's different to everyone else's. But what David wrote earlier sounds a great idea.

 

[Rhinochugger]

Welcome! European/Dutch tramway kits more than welcome!

Oh, blooming heck, I hadn't even thought of the trams - there's quite a lot of interest in Dutch trams, Belgian vicinale, Majorca's Soller trams, Oz's Melbourne trams ................

You get the drift

Actually, all of this variety, and very wide area of interest creates its own problem - someone makes a model or a kit and it doesn't sell, because, no matter where you start, there are comparatively few people interested in that particular thing.

 

[maxi-model]

I learned the hard way (well, it wasn't a total disaster) about letting your heart rule your head where producing a model.



I thought it would be a stone bonker to sell. An iconic race car that nobody had produced in that scale - 1:32, and that format - it's powered like Scalextric car. It was the only one in the range difficult to shift. With origination costs in the order of £2,000 to be amortised, never mind cost of production per unit, it just about broke even. My typical production run was 300 units, kit and RTR. The resin moldings were made by the same company that did ones for the Baldwin shark nose you would have seen on here.

The problem with such a diffuse and niche market as "G" scale it is difficult to spot the subject where you cover your costs, let alone turn a profit. I have oft thought of getting involved again, if only to just cover my costs so I can have something I wanted that is not out there yet - WHR modern rake (ex' saloons) and a decently scaled, 16 mm, W&L Zillertalbahn set. Max

 

[Madman]

I learned the hard way (well, it wasn't a total disaster) about letting your heart rule your head where producing a model.

View attachment 228673

I thought it would be a stone bonker to sell. An iconic race car that nobody had produced in that scale - 1:32, and that format - it's powered like Scalextric car. It was the only one in the range difficult to shift. With origination costs in the order of £2,000 to be amortised, never mind cost of production per unit, it just about broke even. My typical production run was 300 units, kit and RTR. The resin moldings were made by the same company that did ones for the Baldwin shark nose you would have seen on here.

The problem with such a diffuse and niche market as "G" scale it is difficult to spot the subject where you cover your costs, let alone turn a profit. I have oft thought of getting involved again, if only to just cover my costs so I can have something I wanted that is not out there yet - WHR modern rake (ex' saloons) and a decently scaled, 16 mm, W&L Zillertalbahn set. Max

In the past I made feeble attempts at making products for the "O" gauge market. These were built by me and sold at train meets and in Classic Toy Trains magazine. This was back in my younger days when I was still employed and raising a family. Like you, the products I made were things that I wanted for myself.

One of the products was wood ties (sleepers) for Lionel's tubular track, both "O" and "O27". These I sold through the magazine ads.

The other product was a simple display shelf for "O" gauge trains. Made from oak or white pine, stained and either in kit form or assembled. It consisted of three shelves about 36" in length, supported by two vertical members which also had provisions for hanging the assembly on a wall. These I tried selling at train meets. I sold one. Again, this was 35 years ago.

You can imagine my reaction when, in the latest issue of Classic Toy Trains, I saw an ad for a nearly identical shelf, made with stained white pine, about the same size as the one I designed, selling for $200.00. I can make these in my sleep.

Maybe my timing was off. Maybe I didn't market myself properly. Who knows. I haven't done anything since that time with regards to making and selling things related to the toy train market. I might possibly try again.

My apologies to Andrew for going off topic.

 

[Paul M]

In 16mm modelling, "generic" kits are very popular, most people start with these and modify them to there wishes.

 

[Andrew Evans]

Thank to everyone that made me feel welcome.

Also thank you to everyone helping me with ideas for kits. One of the items people asked for wagons to go with the class 66. A idea for a first kit would be a MEA wagon picture attached, but i am interested in some tram kits.

I think i will need to attend a G scale show to help me no more.

Many thanks
Andrew