Since I've been involved with making S scale rolling stock and diesel kits for several years, let me dip my toe in this conversation.
I view any potential project strictly from a business perspective. If there is sufficient interest to make XYZ-car or engine profitable and information is readily available (drawings are the hardest to find and are expensive to buy), then I'm all for it. The GP38/GP38-2 project stumbled from the gate; there were a lot of obstacles to overcome, not the least of which was lack of 40" wheels. Once those were found (custom machined), the mechanism cost passed the point of being profitable and there was not enough market interest to justify going further. I have dedicated 1 full page on my web site for "what if" S scale rolling stock. Each image has an up-to-date total of people who've expressed interest in seeing that car produced. None of the modern cars, listed at the bottom, have reached even 50% of the 80-kit minimum required before it would be considered (not necessarily a go-project). I don't make this up .. if modern modelers want modern cars, this is one place to vent your interest but there just isn't enough market or a lot more modern modelers simply are lurking on e-lists (or off the grid completely) and don't bother making their voices heard. >From my experience, the "typical" S scaler is at least 60 years old. Many are in their late 70s or 80s. These are the guys who have basements filled with stuff or, at the very least, have bought most of what they need and model pre-1960. The exceptions to this stereotype is the 40- or 50-somethings (like me) who model 1960s or 70s. I can count on 1 hand the modelers I know who model post-1980 and that's a LONG way from making any kit a viable project. I've suggested this before but nothing has come of it, so will state it again. Gather together like-minded modern modelers to select their Top 10 list of cars they'd like to see offered, keeping in mind that the more generic a car, the more popular it will likely be. Sort individual want-lists into the Top 3, then pool your money to fund the project. This becomes a "contract" job for me . no risk on my part, y'all get a car you really want and I don't get stuck with inventory. Seems pretty easy to me but not enough people have come forward with sufficient quantities. The guys wanting to produce a MILW rib-sided box tried this . twice . and only received about 50% of the 80-kit minimum interest. Maybe there just aren't enough modern modelers "out there" to pull this off. Can't blame a manufacturer for not wanting to lose money. Jim King Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc. Asheville, North Carolina Ph. (828) 777-5619 www.smokymountainmodelworks.com
