3 ms·
I understand why model trains used to be expensive - they had hundreds of handmade parts. But every other toy industry has taken on mass production and most to
by londons_explore 3y ago
I understand why model trains used to be expensive - they had hundreds of handmade parts.
But every other toy industry has taken on mass production and most toys can now be produced mostly by machine for cents.
Yet still model trains are beyond the budget of most 8 year olds.
- crote 3y agoPart of me feels like this is simply the result of it being an aged hobby. When most of the people involved in the hobby are of retirement age with plenty of money to spare, why would anyone try to compete on price?
- londons_explore 3y agoWhen those people die, model railway companies better be quick to start releasing sub-$10 models to entice the next generation... And while we're at it, lets add moving block signalling, app-control, departure boards and other 20th century features...
- bombcar 3y agoModel trains aren't toys, that's the problem. Toy trains are available and cheap(ish) - but they are often not really the same as models. https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/freight-train-60336 https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/freight-train-60336 is a toy train that's $200 for a "full kit" But I haven't seen an HO-scale toy train in ages, sometimes around Christmas you see the "larger toy train around the train" style thing for $50-150.
- IshKebab 3y agoThat may have been why they were expensive in the past, but now it's pretty clear that they're expensive because they are niche and their buyers are old people with money.