John, I consider myself a hi-rail modeler. But I do not collect much AF, except for a few of the newer items, like the very realistic ATSF crane and crane car. I change out the Flyer or Flyer compatible couplers on all my rolling stock, and replace with KD or SHS or AM because to my eye, the AF are little too clunky-looking. But I run hi-rail wheel sets because they seem to operate better with my track and turnouts. I especially like the detail in SHS and AM engines and rolling stock. I am in the process of designing a layout that will include AF operating accessories but also scale structures, such as a depot, coal loader, cattle pen, downtown buildings, etc. I also like to kitbash Plasticville, adding details here and there, painting and weathering. This will be a layout for the grandkids as well as myself. I am not a "rivet counter," if that means being concerned with making every tiny detail on the rolling equipment as close to prototypical as possible. And besides, from my experience working between semesters on the ATSF as a road fireman in the 1960's, virtually all engines and rolling stock were modified some way, some how by the railroad. So it seemed to me that the only way one could perfectly model a given railroad was to (a) obtain photographs of all the engines and rolling stock (that I might use) modified by the railroad and also obtain photographs of the particular structures (or authentic kits) of a particular town or (b) model equipment only "as delivered". Since this is a hobby for me, that all sounded too much like work, so I decided that "close enough was good enough." Let me hasten to add that I have great respect for those who have the patience, time and ability to follow such a scale regimen. And more power to them. I will stand in awe at their creations at train shows. I like to watch a well-put-together Flyer layout, with all the chuffing and station announcements, the funny, quirky operating accessories, and the "toy train" appearance of it all. Bottom line is, I like anything that runs on rails. But when it comes to my putting my hands on it, building a layout and making it work, I go for what I have described above. From lurking about on the S trains list, I occasionally others who take a similar approach. Cheers :) Roy
> From: John Degnan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: John Degnan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: Sun, 02 Oct 2005 14:18:45 -0500 > To: "POST : S-Scale Group" <[email protected]>, "POST : S Scale Model > Railroading Group"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [S-Scale Modeling] Question of ignorance... > > Since I became interested in S scale, I have been under the impression that > the terms "American Flyer" and "Hi-Rail" were references to the same > standards... toys with pizza-cutter wheel flanges and low levels of detail and > accuracy. but a recent comment by someone has me curious if my understanding > is off-base a bit. So if there are, indeed any differences, can someone > please relieve me of my apparent ignorance and educate me on the differences > between the standards, type and make of models these terms refer to and to > what type of models and the menufacturer(s) thereof either term refers? > > Confused and befuddled (as usual?)... > > > John Degnan > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Announcing : Seaboard Air Line's B-7 Box Cars In S Scale! > http://www.trainweb.org/seaboard/SALRoundRoofBoxCarProject.htm > > > [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 (remember to > edit the SUBJECT of your message). > > 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 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 (remember to edit the SUBJECT of your message). 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/
