John Degnan wrote: if any manufacturer (new or
old) makes ANYTHING in S scale, as far as I'm concerned, they have arguably
become an official member of the ranks of "our own S manufacturers."
Ed L writes: John has an interesting point here. Every one of the current
major S manufacturers was not an S manufacturer back when I jumped off the
HO ship and wandered over to S. Those were the days of Kinsman, Enhorning,
Delaware Valley, ACE, Miller Engineering, and Lehigh Valley Models. Yep,
time has taken it's toll on Bob Blois, Arthur Enhorning, John Bortz, Walter
Graeff, Mr. Miller and Frank Titman. In some cases, the company's products
are still available from other folks and different companies, but -- and
here is the main point -- the MAJOR S firms of yesteryear are not the MAJOR
S firms of today. AM, SHS, BTS, Banta, River Raisin, etc. did not exist
back then, but are the leaders of our favorite scale today. PBL being a
possible exception since they have been around seemingly forever.
As much as it hurts, I think John Degnan is correct with his encouragement
of new firms to join the ranks of "S manufacturers" and bring us
new/improved products that would not otherwise be here. The counter
argument to Mr. Degnan is that by spreading the money too thinly among too
many companies, none of them will survive. Better perhaps, to spread the
money only among the chosen few and keep the competition away so that our
friends can make a buck. Whichever philosophy appeals to you should
generate at least 500 messages in the next two days. I vote for
unrestricted entry into the S market! If the products are better, they
deserve success. If the products are lesser, they can always go back to
making HO stuff.
John Degnan wrote: The presence of Smoky Mountain Model Works in S is due
SOLELY to my efforts and presence at a Prototype Modeler's Meet one year
near Savannah, at which Jim King just happened to see my S display.
Ed replies: Now John, have you not already received your "Atta Boy" button
for that? Time to move on to your next accomplishment. Standing on past
achievements will not move S forward. What is next for you?
John Degnan wrote: I've been pondering a move BACK into HO.
Ed sez: Whoops.....where did that decision come from? Y'caught me by
surprise there. Of course we all will want to know the reasons why.
John wrote: This would be a good move for me since I'm still young enough
(and
able) enough to handle and work with smaller scale stuff which I know for a
fact (no thanks to genetic hand-me-downs that run strong in my family) I
won't be able to do as well, if at all in later years.
Ed writes: My theory on smallness is that a #00-80 screw is the same size
regardless of the scale of train it is holding together. Same comment for a
#00-90 screw. HO flanges are about the same size as S flanges. Some of us
even use HO couplers in S. Manual dexterity and acuity of vision will
deteriorate with age, but so what? The sizes of the smallest parts is
pretty much the same. Replacing a knuckle spring is tough in either scale
if you do not have an Optivisor, tweezers, patience and a steady hand.
Sorry to disagree, but growing old is no reason for changing scales IF (big
"if" here) your interest is in finescale modeling. Toy trains are a
different matter entirely. Yes, Lionel 0-27 is easier to live with compared
to Tyco HO. Any other reasons for contemplating the switch?
John wrote: Walthers announced the impending release of a TRANSFER TABLE in
HO. <snip> NEVER see offered in S.
Ed sez: S didn't have a transfer table when you decided to join us. So now
you are possibly departing because S does not have a transfer table? As I
said before "S is illogical", but this defies logic. Why not build one?
Maybe the HO transfer table could be modified? Or two of them spliced
together? Or scratchbuild one? Or pay some custom builder guy to make one
for you? Leaving S is not the answer to the "I want" cravings. After all,
seeing a transfer table in HO is much less satisfying than seeing one in S.
Every Tom, Dick, and Harry in HO will have one. But you could be the only S
guy in the world with one. Think of the fame and magazine articles that
could be written about your layout.
John said: I really can't say what I'm going to do,
Ed says: Might I mention an observation made over several decades of model
railroading. Hang onto yer hats, here goes: RUBBER GAUGERS RARELY IF EVER
HAVE NICE LAYOUTS. D'ja hear that? 'Tis true! I am sure there are
exceptions out there, but I have not personally met any. Every rubber
gauger I know has had a variety of so-called layouts that got half done and
then the gauge-switch was made. Another layout is half-done and another
gauge-switch is made. And so forth for a couple of decades. And then they
wonder why some of us have really nice nearly-finished layouts. As if it is
a big mystery. Maybe I am weird (or worse), but I have wanted a large
finished NYC S scale layout since 1969 and I am just now about to achieve my
dream. Dick Karnes had a similar dream even earlier and is about to reach
his goal as well. The secret? Don't change your mind in midstream.
Y'might as well toss in the towel and take up stamp collecting. USA stamps
this year, South American stamps next year, European stamps the year after
that. At least it is only paper and it doesn't need to work. So if your
model railroading goal is a nice finished layout, forget about changing
scales. You changed scales to enter S and you will be changing again to
depart S. Lots of sideways movement should not be confused with forward
progress. Nice layouts only come from forward progress which is a result of
staying focused on that specific singular goal. Nice layouts do not happen
when armchairing the hobby or taking in all the conventions possible or
scratchbuilding perfect individual models or by frequently changing scales.
If having nice models on display is the goal, then by all means build them
in all the different scales from Z to G. And put them behind glass display
cases so the cat cannot scratch them. But nice layouts require dedication
and perseverance over a long period of time.
Ed concludes: And finally, friend John, you wouldn't want to earn the
reputation of not having what it takes to be a true S scale guy. No sir,
that is not something you would want at all. Hang in there with the rest of
us. Find a machine shop to make you a transfer table mechanism and
scratchbuild the cosmetic stuff using the HO model as a guide. Jim King
knows a machine shop in town. You can do it. Then you will be a true S
scale guy forever more and never look back. That is the stuff S heroes are
made from.
"S"incerely....Ed L.
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