Some comments from a narrow gauger's perspective and Dick, I like your comments in general. I mean no offense to anyone in AF or hi-rail with the following; this is just the way I see it. I still have a modest AF collection from my youth, but none of it ever was or will be on my layout.
The average narrow gauger still associates S standard gauge with AF/hi-rail, which is at the opposite end of most narrow gauge modeling. By meeting with mostly "scale" S scalers, the narrow gauger should feel more comfortable. Most narrow gaugers appreciate good model building, good scenery, and well detailed scenes no matter what the scale. After all, most of them started with model railroading in standard gauge if not a different scale. The following are some examples of why I think narrow gaugers are turned off by AF and hi-rail: (1) The original narrow gaugers started by using the track and wheel standards for a smaller gauge. For example Sn3 essentially used the HO RP25 wheel standards with the correct gauge and On3 uses the OO standards using the same gauge. Because the scale being modeled is larger, this resulted in narrow gauge being "fine scale" by default. In fact if you look for the HOn3 standards, you have to look under the HO fine scale standards; they don't exist under the common HO standards. I believe this "fine scale" issue was one of the reasons the NASG standards were at one time different from the NMRA S standards; that is, until the NMRA standards were changed to be the same as the NASG standards. Sn2 modelers for the most part are using HOn3 track and wheel standards even though the gauge is too wide by 2.4" so they are actually using HO "fine scale" standards in S scale. To a narrow gauger, a hi-rail wheel I just plain ugly and reminds them of toys. (2) Narrow gaugers also tend to err on the side of smaller rail, not larger. In Sn3, flex track is available in Code 70 and Code 55, which are roughly 65 lb. and 40 lb rail. Parts of the D&RGW mainline and also parts of the EBT mainline should be modeled with Code 83, but that size is hand lay only. There are even examples of using Code 40 in Sn3. So to a narrow gauger, anything larger than Code 100 doesn't really look right. (3) Take a look at the narrow gauge locomotive and rolling stock. Brass locomotive imports are models of specific locomotives within a specific time frame. It it's not just the paint scheme or number, the details change per the prototype and the era. The same is true of rolling stock. The brass models are models of specific cars. So are some of the resin kits. Imagine that, a kit with only one prototype. Most of the plastic kits (and RTR) are of a class of cars. However, with the exception of some of the On30 and large scale models, you won't find any coming with non-prototype lettering. They just don't make one car body and paint and letter it for the railroads that didn't have that car. (I do that for my freelance railroad, but then all freelancers do that.) On the negative side, if a manufacturer is viewed as not making something accurate, he will endure much wrath. If you have a chance, go to a narrow gauge meet or convention. You will see some excellent model building. Narrow gaugers are probably one of the last groups of true model builders. The closest standard gauge equivalent is probably the prototype modelers. You will probably also see some extreme weathering (sometimes to the point of caricature), but you may also pick up some new techniques. I have also known of Sn3 modelers looking for models for a standard gauge interchange. They usually are expecting something of the quality of a P-B-L kit. (Yes, Dick, they do have coupler cut levers and retaining valves.) Narrow gaugers are generally thought of as good model builders, but more and more are also into operating. So watch out, the standard set will be very high. (For an example, check out Paul Scoles Sn3 layout in a recent RMC or at http://www.paulscoles.com/, which besides looking good, hosts regular operating sessions.) Just as the expected standards of HO equipment are going higher, S needs to keep up and use its size advantage. Dave Heine "Narrow minded and proud of it" Easton, PA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Karnes Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 12:38 PM To: s-scale Subject: {S-Scale List} The S Scale SIG <snip> Personally, I'd like to see an effort to educate the standard-gaugers about the benefits of attending narrow-gauge meets. The standard gaugers can learn a lot at these meets. 4. Where does HiRail fit into the SIG? See answer to #2 above. 5. Currently, I'm primarily a narrow gauge modeler, what does the SIG provide for this? The SIG provides cross-education for both narrow gaugers and standard gaugers on the products and techniques known to each but not the other. Two examples: A. The large array of structure and scenery products commonly used by narrow gaugers of which standard-gaugers know little. B. The growing number of quality kit and ready-to-run standard-gauge rolling stock that would be right at home on a narrow-gauge layout's standard-gauge interchange. 7. S standard gauge suffers from having 3 sectors (Hi-rail, Scale, and FineScale). Multiple facets causes confusion, making a barrier for HO modelers to make the jump to S. Will the presence of the new SIG make it easier for modeling in other scales to learn about the benefits of S-scale? Yes. The absence of AF/hirail from the SIG assures exclusive focus on scale. And by the way, the NASG standards and the NMRA standards for scale track and wheelsets are now identical, and are compatible with fine scale. The track standards tolerate exact-scale (P:64) wheelsets. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! 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