Hi Raleigh (again) -- I can agree with most of that, but I doubt that there are but a VERY FEW scale S guys that "look down" on their Hi-rail counterpart. It's just a different line of interest, but they are ALL toys. Let's play trains!
Bill Winans and he notes - --- That sentiment seems to persist today where a pecking order is established whereby those adherents to scale modeling tend to look down their noses at less proficient modelers. Gone is the modeling for effect, now it is accuracy, accuracy and more accuracy. The 1943 era model railroaders dealt with a wartime shortage amidst growing field different scales and didn't concern themselves with defining and redefining various disciplines, they simply named the Gauge and welcomed anybody interested in it be it scale, tinplate or any combination thereof. In today's world, the toy train has been overtaken by computer games as the gift under the Christmas tree, leaving little more than a trickle of kids growing into adult model railroaders. There is still growth in the industry but it can only be attributed to population growth. The U. S. had 136 million people in 1943. It has since more than doubled to 303 million but it is slowing and is predicted to eventually level off and begin to decline. Had this remarkable growth not occurred, the hobby would be a relic in the hands of us old farts and scale or gauge wouldn't mean diddly. It seems counterproductive to expect the Gauge to grow with some members criticizing others over a mere a trifle as rail height. Though I may not live long enough to see it, a decline in population would mean a decline in the hobby and members of this forum (if they're still around in 2043) will be wondering where everybody went! Raleigh in Maine waiting for Spring! www.emporiumpictures.com. At 09:17 PM 2/16/2008, Ed Kozlowsky wrote: >If we're stuck in 1943 I see where our problem lies. > >Ed Kozlowsky >Sitting by the wood stove in the same cold Maine > > >raleigh <<mailto:raleigh%40ttlc.net>[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >and he notes - > >The correct designation for 3/16ths scale modeling is S Gauge, not S >Scale. It was so named at the 1943 NMRA convention where a committee >headed by 'Tex' Guess with members Louis Hertz, Willis Stewart and >Rolllin Lobaugh, and others I can't recall, designated the names for >the various scales. As the story goes it was hot and the meeting was >held in a non air conditioned room. Zero or 0 Gauge (not 'Oh', >although it pronounced as such) was established as 1/2 of 2 1/2" >Gauge or 'Standard Gauge' which was also preferred of 2 1/4" track >gauge (also called Standard Gauge by some manufacturers). When it >came to "S", Louis Hertz wanted it called "H1" Gauge as it was 1/2 of >No.1 Gauge which was popular in Europe. He also proposed, as an >alternate, 'Theta Gauge' , the symbol for which represented a >geometric value. It was getting hotter and smokier as lengthy >discussions went on, so Tex called for a vote and Willis Stewart's >suggestion for 'S' was adopted due to the fact that the letter 'S' >appears several times in the scale (i. e. three sixteenths, one >sixty-fourth, seven eighths etc.). With that accomplished the meeting >ended and everyone headed for the bar! > >The term 'S Scale' is a colloquialism used by those who feel that >there should be a distinction between those who use accurate rail >height and those who use the more common heights for 'Hi-Rail' or >'Tinplate'. In English grammar, 'scale' as applied to a drawing or >model requires dimensional data such as 1/4", 3/16", 1/8" etc. Since >there is no universally accepted letter designation for a dimension, >'S Scale' has no meaning to anyone but a select few hobbyists. > >To most S Gaugers the term is adequate and acceptable, but there is a >certain faction that do not like it and go to great ends to make the >distinction. But in the long run, calling S Gauge 'S Scale' doesn't >make the hobby less enjoyable. Anyway, that's how I sees it... > >Raleigh in cold Maine >www.emporiumpictures.com > >At 04:37 PM 2/16/2008, rebendever wrote: > > >Are you S Guage or S Standard Gauge and does the height of the rail > >determine whether you are or are not scale? The below text (actually > >taken out of context) caused me to think, why do S-folks use the term S > >Guage? FWIM HO Scalers do not call other HO Scalers who run their model > >trains on Code 100 (or bigger) track "Hi-Railers" like the S-folks do. > >Yes, I understand that the flanges are really wide on them AF , but > >have you seen the flanges on a Model Power unit? > >Perhaps this is indigenous to S-scale (& O scale, too?). Why do folks > >use the term S Guage? I have been called on the carpet for using S > >Guage in reference to AF modelers and if I have offended anyone, I > >sincerely apologize. After all, the majority of our "1:64 Modeling > >Guide" subscribers come from an AF background with aspirations of > >evolving to a more "scale-like" empire. > >And if you decide that the term "S Guage should no longer be used, > >would Don H. need to changer his magazine to the S Scaleian? I realize > >that all this may sould rediculous to many of you, but think how > >confusing it is to us newbies who come to S-ville from another scale > >only to find out that now up means down and so on. > >Structure determines behavior. > > > >Sincerely, Richard E Bendever, Editor > >"1:64 Modeling Guide" magazine | www.ModelingGuide.com > > > >--- In > <mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com><mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com>[email protected], > > >"ctxmf74" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > >Hi Ed, That's the question and answer. "Necessary" not for us to > > > enjoy S scale but for S scale to become an equal to HO scale. > > > > > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >[Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 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! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> 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/
