In message 
          Greg Procter  wrote:

> :Jerry: wrote:
> > 
> > "Greg Procter"  wrote in message
> > news:480D250B.5AA62D1D@ihug.co.nz...
> > > :Jerry: wrote:
> > >>
> > >> "Greg Procter"  wrote in message
> > >> news:480CF7DF.94BBE156@ihug.co.nz...
> > >> <snip>
> > >> >
> > >> > There are numerous European ferry wagons which are of suitable
> > >> > loading
> > >> > gauge to run into Britain, British ferry wagons which run into
> > >> > Europe
> > >> > and not a few British locos that have run in Europe, the US,
> > >> > Australia
> > >> > etc.
> > >> >
> > >> <snip more trolling>
> > >>
> > >> Yes, built to the UK loading gauge and not the Bern gauge you
> > >> trolling
> > >> idiot.
> > >>
> > >> Now kindly f*ck off, troll.
> > >
> > >
> > > So why don't you run Hornby tinplate M/MO rolling stock on your
> > > layout
> > > with OO wheels fitted - they must be near enough to OO loading
> > > gauge.
> > >
> > 
> > You really can't grasp the fact that if the UK used H0 (3.5mm) scale
> > and built bridges etc to the UK loading gauge no H0 model of European
> > or USA stock would fit through them!
> 
> 
> Blame George Stephenson - not actually a relative of mine, but one of
> his aunts married my great-great... grandfather.
> 
> What _you_ are failing to understand is that there is a potential market
> for HO UK models outside the UK, just as there is a real market for
> non-UK models in the UK.

Empirical evidence suggests not - Trix, Jeouf and Lima again. I have
no idea what percentage of non-UK modellers go for UK outline, but
I'd expect that it would be similar to the number of UK modellers
doing non-UK outline (I'm talking Standard Gauge prototype here),
i.e very small. Judging by on-line and magazine adverts for want 
of any better measure, I'd hazard less than 5% - well below any
commercially viable level excpept possibly for specialist makers
(basically kits). And even they aren't interested to date!

> The increase in total sales of any given model lowers the unit price.
> I fully realize that a wholesale UK change from 4mm to 1:87 isn't going
> to happen - I'm merely pointing out that it needs to happen.
> 

I don't think it needs to happen - the vast majority are quite 
content with things as they are. Those that aren't have plenty of 
options, EM etc. IF that market grew substantially then I'm sure
Peco and then Hornby etc would be delighted to supply it, but the
very fact that Peco produce 009 etc track and not EM/P4 just 
demonstrates that 16.5mm is not a real issue to the vast majority
of users.

> Regards,
> Greg.P.

Cheers
Richard

-- 
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk       sales@beamends-lrspares.co.uk
              I have become... comfortably numb