NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 170, Issue 2

Wed Jul 12 10:18:22 EDT 2017

All,

We've had some great dialogue on this topic. I apologize that it has taken me a little longer than I had hoped to provide my thoughts but I was en route to Strasburg yesterday.

Russ and Todd are right in the ballpark with their estimates on production costs of new models. It is my opinion that these are not projects that the society can or should undertake. I believe that our role as members of the modeling committee is to provide subject matter expertise and access to data from our archives to assist manufacturers in producing accurate models that are of benefit to the N&W/VGN modeling community and to raise awareness of the society and the N&W/VGN with those purchasing these models.

As Russ pointed out, there have been past successes in working with manufacturers to develop special runs of existing products to raise funds for the society. I believe that we should continue to do these types of projects where we can make a clear business case showing a favorable return on investment and with board approval.

One post in this thread had mentioned surveys. That's an excellent point and something that we have been working on. We have collated data specific to modeling from the last member survey and I will be reviewing the results with the committee at Strasburg. My goal here is to work with one or two other members of the modeling committee to develop a more comprehensive survey to gather data on society member's interests that we can share with manufacturers. We'll do this on a regular basis to keep the data fresh but I'm not yet sure of the right cadence.

Someone else had mentioned communications on this list regarding potential models. My thoughts here are that we should not send any communication asking for input or informing the membership about projects without clearly identifying ourselves as members of the modeling committee and stating our purpose. In the short term, you'll likely see all official communication from the modeling committee coming from me.

I'll be at Strasburg and will be attending the membership meeting if you have any questions. Feel free to stop me during the week if you'd like to talk about models, the convention or just say hi.

Thanks,

Greg Davis

VP, N&W HS

Modeling Committee Chair

Strasburg Convention Chair

________________________________
From: NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org> on behalf of NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2017 12:22 PM
To: NW Modeling List
Subject: Re: NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 170, Issue 2

All,

  The final preparations for the convention has perhaps caused some stress for some so I will opine regarding this topic in order to smooth things out.

  Several of us have spoken to various manufacturers about particular models just to test the waters. The most important issue of producing any given model is economics. A manufacturer has to determine the demand of a particular model and if such a demand would yield a profit. To better illustrate this point, the production of an RTR freight car can cost up to $100,000 and an RTR locomotive can cost up to $300,000. These figures are the total from concept to the store shelf according to a manufacturer that I have contacted. Please do not misread this. The society has not, to my knowledge, inquired about funding any model project.

  What our society is proposing to the manufacturers is assistance from the archives in the form of data and drawings. The issue with this is the manufacturers often has a schedule that is of a faster pace than that of any archives of any society since said archives are operated by volunteers. The modeling committee desires to have conversations with the manufacturers to remind them of our volunteers and to perhaps slow the pace a bit.

  As for the BLI issue, I am not aware of any underlying issues that causes hesitation with my counterpart.  This said, I am open to discussions with any manufacturer that expresses interest in producing N&W and Virginian models that benefit the public and our society. I hope to see all of you at the convention.

Regards,

Todd Arnett
Director

________________________________
From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2017 9:25 AM
Subject: Re: NW-Modeling-List Digest, Vol 170, Issue 2

On 7/10/2017 5:16 PM, NW Modeling List wrote:

> We are not going to be talking to BLI ever. With that said the ones
> that I Dean Taylor have been talking to on my own (Alex) are talking
> are interested with that said.THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN HISTORICAL
> SOCIETY IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR PRODUCTION. So it may be awhile we
> need to so there is a market and that we have been lacking in. DEAN
> TAYLOR at NWHS<mailto:TAYLOR at NWHS>
>
Did I miss something? Where was it said about paying for production?

Jimmy Lisle

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