 Joined: 12/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,068 Location: In a building site in Yeppoon
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A article on the ABC web site, worth a READ |
Sad when its cheaper to buy a new 29640 starter set from Germany than a CS2 on its own in Oz, welcome to the joys of Marklin down under . |
 8 users liked this useful post by Shamu
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Joined: 04/06/2012(UTC) Posts: 320 Location: Adelaide
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Very factual article and worth a read. It is much the same here in South Australia.
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 Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,842 Location: Hybrid Home
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If this panel pictured at the end of the article really helps to attract youngsters?  |
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2 users liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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 Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC) Posts: 2,976 Location: CA, USA
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I was chatting with a friend about it today. Kids are interested, but how can you get them from the starter set level to a bit of a layout and an assortment of trains to keep them interested?
Thats the real problem if you ask me. Its already a bit of a limiting factor to get parents to spend ~$200-400 on a good starter set. (from any brand) And once they do that, its a commitment to spend $3-5 per extra piece of track.
That is where you really start loosing folks. New piece of rolling stock? $30-300 dollars for a freight or passenger car depending on scale and size. A new locomotive? $300-2000 depending on scale. nevermind the electronics etc...
Lionel operating accessories are PERFECT for kids, the problem is they start around a minimum of $100 for anything kids would want, and go up fast.
Manufacturers have addressed the need for a decent starter set, but can't seem to bridge the gap between a start set and models for a serious collector. The latter is obviously where the market and the money/demand is, but the entry funnel is stopping at a start set.
Yes used is an answer, but that is way too complicated for a beginner who isn't committed to the hobby or parents to start shopping on ebay/swap meets
Just my two cents... |
SBB Era 2-5 |
3 users liked this useful post by 5HorizonsRR
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 Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,870 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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Its important to have a selection of cheap locomotives and wagons in the start-up range so the parents can afford to add to the starter set for a variety of trains.
Kids don't need to have a huge number of trains. Three or four is probably enough so that they can change what's running, and they won't mind if they are undetailed, with no sound, etc. They will only expect that when they get older and their play becomes more sophisticated.
It's also important they get extra pieces of track so they can experiment with arranging them in different ways. For some of them this is the most important factor in their play. The track packs Marklin makes are a good way to expand the original train set. |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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3 users liked this useful post by RayF
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Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,165
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When I was a kid, I rebuilt my layout almost every Saturday morning... This was of course with M-track where you could "bend it" a little if your tracks didn't fit perfectly. A 3003, a 3029 and later on also a 3067 & 3000 made good playing fun during my childhood together with a mix of various wagons. Getting one more manual turnout or some more tracks (like 3 straights, 2 curves, a buffer stop or a stubby) now and then when you could afford it, extended the playing possibilities immensely. Personally, I think the C-track is a bit "kid unfriendly" since you have to fit ("click") it exactly to the geometry - not so much space for creative solutions with what you have, unless you have a shoe box filled with multiples of various C-track stumps of all kinds... Kind of more like "stick to the rules" than "creative freedom"... And how many kids really want the "stick to the rules" limitations while playing ???  |
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb] |
7 users liked this useful post by Webmaster
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Joined: 16/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 5,842 Location: Hybrid Home
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Originally Posted by: Webmaster  Personally, I think the C-track is a bit "kid unfriendly" since you have to fit ("click") it exactly to the geometry - not so much space for creative solutions with what you have,
unless you have a shoe box filled with multiples of various C-track stumps of all kinds... Kind of more like "stick to the rules" than "creative freedom"... Having had a similar M-track childhood and having become a devoted C-trakkie, I disagree: To the contrary - being notorious for ignoring the prescribed C-track geometry - I feel to have more freedom, creativity plus reliability with C-track than with M-track: C-track sticks together, but does not oblige to stick to the rules. ;o) |
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1 user liked this useful post by Alsterstreek
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