Subject:
|
Re: YOU be the designer
|
Newsgroups:
|
lugnet.trains
|
Date:
|
Tue, 27 Apr 1999 16:17:37 GMT
|
Viewed:
|
987 times
|
| |
|
|
On Mon, 26 Apr 1999 19:27:13 GMT, Larry Pieniazek <lar@voyager.net> wrote:
> Here's a thought experiment.
>
> Suppose you wanted to design a train set that would be good for drawing
> **USA** newcomers into trains. What would you put in it? How much would
> you target it costing? Realise that the pricing/profit has to be about
> the same margins as we have now, no fair saying "I think a 6 car
> Metroliner like set at 49.95 would be great", because that's too easy.
Hmmm. I'm not a trainhead by any stretch, so let's see what I come up
with.
I envision an Old West train, done right.[1] It would not have to be
prototypical, but the more prototypical it is, the better. I'll describe a
configuration, I hope I don't make anyone cringe too badly. The train
should have a black steam engine, green/brown passenger car, green/brown
freight/mail car and a red caboose (well, maybe the caboose could be
green/brown as well). A small black coal tender would be good, but
probably beyond budget. There should be good detailing, possibly some
exaggeration of features, such as an over-large smokestack (inverted cone,
of course).
For the cars, the brown elements should evoke finely finished wood
components, with a rich natural finish. The green should be used for
painted components--the roof, the frame.
Engine required elements:
- open-back engineer's station
- large, spoked wheels
- piston rods on wheels (could these connect two sets of wheels, what with
the wheelsets having to be free to turn?)
- cowcatcher
- bell
- inverted-cone smokestack
- 6x24 wagon plate for the base. At least enough length for two
independent wheelsets.
Passenger car elements:
- Large windows (well, duh)
- 6x20 footprint.
- at least 4 rows of bench seating (bench=2 seats side-by-side)
- front and rear entry platforms
- Removeable roof
Freight & Mail car would include:
- Stowage compartments along one side, passage on other
- Clerk's desk in back
- mail bags
- 6x20 footprint
- removeable roof
Caboose elements (I'm running out of steam here):
- Cupola
- table & chairs
- 6x16 base
- removable roof
The set would also include:
- 16 curved tracks, to make a circle.
- 4 straight tracks
- Speed regulator
I *think* this could be done at TLG's typical piece count & price level for
the train sets.
> Suppose you wanted to design it to pull mainstream model railroaders in?
> Would you change the design any?
Yes the design would change to grab mainstream model railroaders--it would
have to be fully prototypical. Both in individual car design, and in the
train configuration.
> Now suppose you have an 8 set budget which you can spend any way you
> want (starter sets, accessory packs, buildings, etc). What sets would
> you put in it?
>
> What if it was a 20 set budget?
Let me get back to you on these.
Steve
1 - The 3225 is OK, but the engine and cars are too small. They say to me
"toy train!" (as in a plastic toy for a two-year-old to push around the
floor), but they don't have the "cuteness" factor that should go with these
types of toys.
2 - You know, the more I look at 3225, the more I think "Someone did a
really great job designing a beautiful small train in red and black, and
then the corporate marketing hacks 'improved' it, probably dropping one or
more cars, and adding those awful tipper and flat cars."
|
|
Message is in Reply To:
 | | YOU be the designer
|
| Here's a thought experiment. Suppose you wanted to design a train set that would be good for drawing **USA** newcomers into trains. What would you put in it? How much would you target it costing? Realise that the pricing/profit has to be about the (...) (25 years ago, 26-Apr-99, to lugnet.trains)
|
19 Messages in This Thread:
  
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
