While I am sure that Roy and John can make a much better report than I, here are a few observations from the trip Steve Doyle and I took to the NMRA National in Cincinnati. It was very clear that DCC has come of age and that DCC is everything the NMRA wished it to become. Last year we looked for sound units for S, QSI wasn't offer them to the open market, Soundtrax Tsnaumi was "S"omeday, silence from Digitrax. Lenz and NCE. This year the noise is overwhelming. While Soundtrax was still in the "S"omeday mode, QSI showed their units for the S aftermarket installed in a Trainmaster. But of course, that was with the existing technology. Even bigger news was that all of the other existing vendors had a new generation of sound and there were at least two new manufacturers also showing the next generation of sound. Now we can buy a sound chip decoder and download any sound into our unit. Have an steam engine with a sound unit ready for the scrap yard? Just take the sound unit out and download EMD, ALCO or any other choice sound into the decoder, and now it is ready to growl into the future. Because most of these use WAV files, and you have extra channels, you can program a function that will play when you hit a key. I can see it now, stage the scene where Snidely Whiplash ties sweet Nell to the tracks. Your fast freight comes tearing around the cornor, you hit the emergency brakes and the brakes on every car squeel in their resistance. You hit the next button and Nell screems.... then stops. The next button is Snidely Whiplash's evil laugh.... Yahaaha, better luck next time Dudley DoRight..... Like the man says, "S" isn't your Father's American Flyer any more.
OK, back to reality, S Scale America showed their X29 boxcar that is due out this fall. They are doing the car in Chicago Great Western and some Eastern railroad that I can't recall. S Helper had the latest pre-production model of their steam engine and a couple of new paint schemes on existing products. Dan from River Raisin was there and all he would share is vague hints of the next project. BTS was showing their great laster kits, there was scenery supplies and electrical supplies S Scale figures and anything else your little heart could want. While I am sure that Altoona will have much of this and more, business takes me west and I will have to let the NMRA be my train fix for the summer. By the way, on your next visit to Steve Doyle's, take a peak into the room at the top of the stairs, above the tavern. Not your Father's S Scale anymore.. Ken Zieska [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To REPLY to the list, use REPLY ALL; to reply to the sender, use REPLY. For those of you on DIGEST mode, all REPLY messages go to the list. Change message settings, use our CALENDAR or LINKS, view shared files or photos, view the list archives, GO TO http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
