I've enjoyed reading the back and forth on couplers -- it just goes to show we all have different interests & priorities on the various aspects of our hobby.
I too happened to see the FMC boxcar photo in Oct 2008 Model Railroader. My initial reaction was that it was really very nice to see an S scale car in the MR New Products gallery. A rare occurrence! As for the couplers, well perhaps I am jaded by my many years of N scale modeling and the Rapido couplers that came on the cars. Even though most N scale modelers never used them -- first action was to replace them with Micro Trains couplers -- all the cars (except MT) came with them for many many years. So swapping couplers became the norm. For me anyway if all I have to do to a car is the swap wheelsets (nicely provided in the box) and couplers (of my choice), then that is very easy to do. And if installing AF compatible couplers on the model helps a manufacturer justify production because it increases sales, then I say go for it! Particularly when they make it so easy to changeover. I compare the 10 minutes for installing wheelsets and couplers to the hours that would be required to research, scratch build & paint a car! Would I rather photos show a different coupler in a publication like MR -- sure. Perceptions make a big difference. But it's the car that is more important IMHO... I'm just very grateful to Ron and the other nice folks at Des Plaines for bringing all these new ready-to-run cars to the market (and in some of may favorite paint schemes -- BAR, MEC, B&M)! Regards Michael PS And since we are blessed with all the coupler choices (and preferences) in S, it probably wouldn't make sense for the manufacturers to include alternative couplers in the box. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael Greene Dunstable, MA, USA Member: NMRA(Life), NASG, Bristol S Gaugers, The 470 Railroad Club National Assoc. of S Gaugers http://www.nasg.org DCC Corner http://www.dccinfo.com Maine Railroads http://www.mainerailroads.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ 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/
