A New Dimension in Model Railroads

[n3vpolsen]

Hi everyone, just a quick content update from our side.

We receive permission from the creators who supply the content.
We don't really have any direct way to confirm whether what they've told us is correct.
It usually is correct, but there's a lot of content and people can make mistake.
Now that we've been informed that this content is included without permission, we have followed it up with the creator and they have approved it for use.
We're continuously working on improving our systems.

Cheers,
Paul

 

[Vern]

Another thread indicates the retail price for TMR is going to be US$49.99 - in the new shop front that uses US dollar currency.

Current issues with our lousy UK£ exchange rate notwithstanding that is, in my very humble opinion, way too expensive for what is effectively a spin off from TANE with a bit of extra content. I know it's a niche hobby but still (if true), that's taking the smelly yellow liquid just a tad.

I would respectfully suggest US$29.99 would be a far more realistic and customer friendly price, otherwise certainly so far as I'm concerned I can live without it or wait for it to pop up on Steam and one of their periodic sales.

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

Pretty much off topic here Vern. The pricing is only $7 per route which we feel is great value.

 

[Vern]

Pretty much off topic here Vern. The pricing is only $7 per route which we feel is great value.

A little attempt at redirection there, Tony? This would seem to confirm the TMR bundled package is indeed going to cost $49. Too rich for my tastes.

 

[pware]

Market forces will ultimately decide if the set price is too high. If, after the initial release when those who would buy at any price have done so, sales prove to be sluggish then I suspect N3V will re-evaluate. This is a common situation - the first buyers of any product usually pay a premium to get all the problems missed in the initial testing phase. Once the initial capital outlay has been returned then prices may drop.

I am undecided if TMR17 (at any price) is for me so I will wait until things settle down and sufficient user reports have come in. I am certain that there will be updates to the product.

 

[granthes]

Market forces will ultimately decide if the set price is too high. If, after the initial release when those who would buy at any price have done so, sales prove to be sluggish then I suspect N3V will re-evaluate. This is a common situation - the first buyers of any product usually pay a premium to get all the problems missed in the initial testing phase. Once the initial capital outlay has been returned then prices may drop.

Exactly!

I am undecided if TMR17 (at any price) is for me so I will wait until things settle down and sufficient user reports have come in. I am certain that there will be updates to the product.

I, on the other hand, find this a much more interesting usage of the Trainz engine. I am a physical model railroader first, and a simulation railroader only when forced to be by the absurdly high prices of model train parts. Therefore, assuming this works even somewhat well, I'll be using it quite a bit.

 

[itareus]

..I, on the other hand, find this a much more interesting usage of the Trainz engine. I am a physical model railroader first, and a simulation railroader only when forced to be by the absurdly high prices of model train parts. Therefore, assuming this works even somewhat well, I'll be using it quite a bit. ...

Spot on, I have G scale in the Garage/Shed/Garden and have recently decided to create a 00 railway indoors over the winter.

Even small DCC G scale locos cost £300 - 500 + and points (switches) cost £30 - 60 (or more) and I find it slightly unreal that some people moan and moan about the price of a piece of software that gives them all of this free ?

And as for a First Class Ticket, clearly Tony, Chris & Co are living a champagne lifestyle on the profit that generates .

 

[JCitron]

Considering that this package costs about the same if not less than most games, it's a good value here since most of us get far more out of Trainz than most software packages installed on our systems. This is also a much better deal when compared to the cost of an N-scale locomotive. When I was at the Big-E show a couple of years ago, I nearly fainted. The nice Kato locomotives are now in the $100-plus, ah I mean many, $100s range! A small package of a couple of boxcars went for about $35. There's not much you can get for a layout at those prices. When I think back to what my dad paid and I paid for stuff, we could have gotten a lot more stuff for the prices they charge today for a few items.

The other thing too is you can't break anything by dropping it either! I lost a beautiful Alco RS-3 due to a slip of my hand which sent the locomotive crashing on to my bedroom floor. The locomotive is now a pile of plastic bits in the parts box with nothing to salvage.

 

[amigacooke]

Of course real model railway assets have an obvious resale value and aren't potentially limited to a one product support cycle.

I have a small confession as well. If I want to run routes, I use the competitors product. Routes have no bearing on why I buy Trainz products, it's what new features are available to help me build routes for myself.

 

[JCitron]

Of course real model railway assets have an obvious resale value and aren't potentially limited to a one product support cycle.

I have a small confession as well. If I want to run routes, I use the competitors product. Routes have no bearing on why I buy Trainz products, it's what new features are available to help me build routes for myself.

Yup. The real physical models have a real value, though once the nephews get a hold of them they're not worth the plastic and metal they're made from. I had planned on setting up a small table for my nephews, but given how they destroy everything, I keep all of the stuff tucked away in a big plastic crate never to see the light of day on a physical model railroad. After I'm gone, they can do what they want with them.

Using a competitors products happens all the time. You use the tool or program to suit the needs. I'm running Solaris 10 on a server along with Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 10 clients. My brother uses Serif Soft design products as well as Corel Draw. It's whatever works.

 

[martinvk]

Of course real model railway assets have an obvious resale value and aren't potentially limited to a one product support cycle.

True but you only get one model for the price whereas each virtual model is available in unlimited quantities. As for resale value, if it was rarely used or a rare model, perhaps. Most physical models I've seen eventually get rather worse for wear with time. The one unique feature they have is that they can be physically held which also means they can be physically dropped.

I have a small confession as well. If I want to run routes, I use the competitors product. Routes have no bearing on why I buy Trainz products, it's what new features are available to help me build routes for myself.

Me too. I still occasionally run Bahn when I want to model an urban transit system. Looks are rather rudimentary but the routing controls are great.

 

[JCitron]

This is one of the driving factors that has put the physical models out of the picture for many of us.

From Model Railroader Magazine:

HO scale freight cars
40-foot three-bay offset hopper. Boston & Maine, Chessie System (with Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks), Canadian National, Chesapeake & Ohio, Illinois Central, and Rock Island. Nine road numbers per scheme (single car and two 4-packs). Wire and plastic handrails, stirrup steps, ladders, and underbody details; 70-ton trucks with 33” metal wheels; and McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $29.98; four-pack, $109.98. September 2017. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains...

http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/...-model-trains-for-the-week-of-november-3-2016

 

[itareus]

...I have a small confession as well. If I want to run routes, I use the competitors product. Routes have no bearing on why I buy Trainz products, it's what new features are available to help me build routes for myself.

No need to confess, do what you enjoy mate ! I bet quite a few of us have tried 'the dark side' and enjoyed driving their routes BUT could we create our own routes using their package ? I very much doubt it.

I seldom drive from the cab but I do enjoy creating routes, small routes are my favourites and the model railway style suits me well and they can be finished (by one person) in a relatively short time (although my 'Appen' route took 2 years, mainly because of all the new and custom assets I built for it).

Whatever you like to do enjoy it, it's a hobby not a battlefield.

Cheers

Chris M

 

[simulatortrain]

This is one of the driving factors that has put the physical models out of the picture for many of us.

From Model Railroader Magazine:

HO scale freight cars
40-foot three-bay offset hopper. Boston & Maine, Chessie System (with Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks), Canadian National, Chesapeake & Ohio, Illinois Central, and Rock Island. Nine road numbers per scheme (single car and two 4-packs). Wire and plastic handrails, stirrup steps, ladders, and underbody details; 70-ton trucks with 33” metal wheels; and McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $29.98; four-pack, $109.98. September 2017. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains...

http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/...-model-trains-for-the-week-of-november-3-2016

Yes, but to be fair, you'd be a fool to pay MSRP for much of what's out there--almost everybody gives dealer discounts, and those get steeper with time (but then there's the risk of products selling out.) Even preordered items are usually discounted. Also, you're paying more for a much better starting point than you used to get, freeing up time for other things.

 

[JCitron]

Yes, but to be fair, you'd be a fool to pay MSRP for much of what's out there--almost everybody gives dealer discounts, and those get steeper with time (but then there's the risk of products selling out.) Even preordered items are usually discounted. Also, you're paying more for a much better starting point than you used to get, freeing up time for other things.

That is true, but these prices are the norm for N-scale and that's one sale! A couple of years ago I went to the Big-E show, the one that Kevin Yutz goes to, and the sale prices weren't such a big savings yet people were walking out with cartloads of goods. I suppose if people have the money to spend on the stuff it doesn't matter. Being on a limited fixed income budget, means many of us either spend nothing or very little on hobbies and the rest on living. This is where Trainz is a blessing. I can spend what I want which is very little and still get many, many hours out of the purchase so the ROI is super.

 

[hminky]

Why is water and coal consumption above the tender and how do I get rid of it:

Built this in Trainz:

Harold

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

Hi Harold. This commodity overlay bug has been fixed for the release version.

 

[hminky]

Hi Harold. This commodity overlay bug has been fixed for the release version.

Set the values to zero and the overlay disappeared and the locomotive worked.

Harold

 

[martinvk]

...
From Model Railroader Magazine:

HO scale freight cars
40-foot three-bay offset hopper. Boston & Maine, Chessie System (with Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks), Canadian National, Chesapeake & Ohio, Illinois Central, and Rock Island. Nine road numbers per scheme (single car and two 4-packs). Wire and plastic handrails, stirrup steps, ladders, and underbody details; 70-ton trucks with 33” metal wheels; and McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $29.98; four-pack, $109.98. September 2017. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains...

http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/...-model-trains-for-the-week-of-november-3-2016

Just to put the cost of our hobby in perspective, those $29.98 freight cars might not be that expensive, until you want a 20 car consist. Another is this engine on display and selling at an NMRA convention a few years ago.

$1299.95 is NOT small change. And that is only one engine.

 

[Tony_Hilliam]

Set the values to zero and the overlay disappeared and the locomotive worked.

Harold

DCC controls do not require coal or water so that's a good work-around. Well done.