Cost of OO against 16mm

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listerboy
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Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by listerboy » Thu Jan 25, 2018 5:20 pm

I had some time to kill today so I had a look at the various model railway magazines. What struck me was how expensive OO has become! Granted 16mm kits are cheaper, and have to be built, but the majority are easy to assemble.

I appreciate a RH Lady Ann isn't exactly cheap, but it's a proper live steam loco!

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by Big Jim » Thu Jan 25, 2018 11:53 pm

I quite agree, the further up the scales you go, you often find you get more bang for your buck.

Having said that, the stuff that hornby etc are producing is incredibly good these days. The detail is amazing compared to only a few years ago. I can see why the bottom has fallen out of the OO kit loco market when you can buy off the shelf something that would take a very long time and much skill to produce.
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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by tom_tom_go » Fri Jan 26, 2018 5:55 am

I sold all my OO stuff years ago but when I bought my last one it was DCC with sound for well under £200 and now the same loco today (same tooling, motor and ESU) is £250+

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by bazzer42 » Fri Jan 26, 2018 8:09 am

I guess the fact that everything is made in China and the fall in the pound won't have helped the price of 4mm. I have been toying with the idea of a 4mm China clay layout. Reading up I see Kernow models produce a Tiger tanker that was originally targeted at £35 but hitting the street at £49. As Tom said a loco with sound will set you back a tidy £250. However, the detail on the modern stuff is leaps and bounds upon my old Lima rebuilds of the 80s.

I have to say prior to looking again at 4mm I had always thought that they were on a par but beginning to feel that you can get more bang for your buck with 16mm (or 7/8 :D )

Given I prefer to build rather than operate, is the price of stock a barrier to me. Perhaps I should build the clay layout and give it to my nephew (railway hoarder)?

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by cncmodeller » Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:02 pm

What interests me is the availability of the L and B in 009 and now WD locos like the Badwin 4-6-0 and 2-6-2 ready to run! Its just about 4 decades too late for me having moved on to 16mm years ago. Having said that the 009 prices are pretty hefty but probably reflects the microscopic Narrow Gauge market.

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by Killian Keane » Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:37 pm

cncmodeller wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2018 6:02 pm What interests me is the availability of the L and B in 009 and now WD locos like the Badwin 4-6-0 and 2-6-2 ready to run! Its just about 4 decades too late for me having moved on to 16mm years ago. Having said that the 009 prices are pretty hefty but probably reflects the microscopic Narrow Gauge market.

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Not to mention the forthcoming ready to run quarry hunslet in 009
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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by markoteal » Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:59 pm

Not to mention the forthcoming ready to run quarry hunslet in 009
I know - I could be tempted back into mini narrow gauge again with a Hunslet!
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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by FWLR » Thu May 03, 2018 8:52 am

I don’t think I would ever go back to the smaller stuff, mainly because of my eyesight, but also because it is getting so much more expensive and the CEO does not like me hoarding to much stuff….I have a garage full of useless stuff in her eyes… :lol: :lol:

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by IanC » Thu May 03, 2018 9:02 am

I agree with all that's been said here up to now. I still do a bit of 4mm. Mainly commissions. Sometimes small projects that take my fancy. Although steam is my main interest I have some class 86's and a 90 to detail and repaint. I no longer plan on a 4mm scale layout as I once did.

Most of us probably start off in the small scales and move up (as we grow up?) to the bigger scales. I've found that although ready to run 16mm stuff is more expensive per item, I need much less than in 4mm so in the long run could end up cheaper.

As I enjoy building, at the moment my 16mm work is focused on scratch building wagons which I aim to do for less than £20 each. (the price of wheels, axle boxes and couplings). Not because of cost, but for the pleasure and satisfaction. I should start a thread!

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by philipy » Thu May 03, 2018 5:30 pm

IanC wrote: Thu May 03, 2018 9:02 am Not because of cost, but for the pleasure and satisfaction. I should start a thread!

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by IanC » Fri May 04, 2018 12:32 pm

philipy wrote: Thu May 03, 2018 5:30 pm
IanC wrote: Thu May 03, 2018 9:02 am Not because of cost, but for the pleasure and satisfaction. I should start a thread!

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OK I might. :) If I do it won't be anything revolutionary and ther'll be nothing that hasn't been done before.

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by bazzer42 » Fri May 04, 2018 12:54 pm

Always interesting to see how others build and what tricks they use (that can be borrowed :D )...

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by IanC » Fri May 04, 2018 5:49 pm

bazzer42 wrote: Fri May 04, 2018 12:54 pm Always interesting to see how others build and what tricks they use (that can be borrowed :D )...
Any "tricks" will have been borrowed and probably posted before. :D

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by FWLR » Sat May 05, 2018 10:37 am

That’s what we all do isn’t….borrow ideas, no matter what scale we run. :lol: :lol:

Even smaller or bigger scale ideas can be used vice versa. :) :)

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Re: Cost of OO against 16mm

Post by IanC » Sat May 05, 2018 9:36 pm

FWLR wrote: Sat May 05, 2018 10:37 am That’s what we all do isn’t….borrow ideas, no matter what scale we run. :lol: :lol:

Even smaller or bigger scale ideas can be used vice versa. :) :)
Agreed. That's what I was trying to say. But you make the point much better.

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