Ahh, it's time once again to debate "what we need (or need to do) in S". Where has the time gone!
Ed gives a pretty good list of all the "if only's" that have come and gone over the years. We got a lot of them, although maybe a bit late to have the expected effect. My random thoughts, worth every penny you are paying for them: Narrow gauge has it's own special interest group, generally drawn by the "different" appearance of narrow gauge lines. Model Railroading magazine used to promote standard gauge that was like narrow gauge (i.e.: older, funky shortlines like Colorado Midland). These folks aren't much interested in large steam or diesels, and will go to Sn3 or Sn2 but not generally S standard gauge. Most of the G gauge is either narrow gauge, or closer to AF than fine scale. The big draw is On30, which has been around since the late 1950's as a poor-mans narrow gauge, but took off when Bachmann made some very nice RTR equipment. Again, narrow gauge draws a different interest, so those folks probably wouldn't have gone to S anyway. S specific conventions and magazines are probably not too helpful for converting the masses. When was the last time you went to a convention devoted to a different scale, or bought a magazine specific to N or O scale? I know a lot of folks on the list appear not to read the even the major hobby press unless there is an S specific article, so why would an N scale modeler pick up an S Gaugian or 1/64 Scale magazine? My personal view is the best thing we can do is MODEL and show off the work in multi-scale venues. Build some nice cars and bring them to an RPM meet. Attend the clinics, learn something from the other modelers and show them what you have built in S. They really are not populated with roving bands of prototype-police looking for fresh victims! Bring scale modules or a small S scale switching setup to shows. Join non-S groups for operating or a round robin for building. Avoid throwing "S is Best" around, just be ready to show what you have when appropriate. Oh yes, support the folks who make things in S. Yes, it is more expensive than many other scales. Instead of complaining or scoring another batch of old kits on Ebay, buy some new product as it's offered, as long as it fits your period and layout. Pieter E. Roos --- On Wed, 11/10/10, Ed <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Ed <[email protected]> > Subject: {S-Scale List} Future Growth of S (scale) > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 8:33 PM > > Tony Koester (of RMC) was the > featured > > banquet speaker. One of his main points > > is that we (model railroaders in general) > > should stop dwelling on youth as a primary > > potential source of new hobbyists > > > My personal belief is that there is a large > > subset of older people who are already model > > railroaders for whom switching to S would be > > to their benefit. These include HO and N > > people whose eyesights are not what they used > > to be, and O and G people who have to downsize > > their living quarters. > > > Dick Karnes > > Dick's thoughts are very close to mine. Must be > because we both go to the same barber...... > > Back in the goode olde daze of 3/16 "S"cale Railroading > magazine I formed the distinct impression that there is a > constant stream of folks exiting HO scale. Back in > those years and slightly before, N scale got off the ground > and mushroomed in popularity. Then G gauge was born > and exploded in numbers almost over night. Meanwhile S > struggled along and grew slowly and without much > notice. Could S have done better? > > I am a believer in marketing and salesmanship. S > scale, in my view, has not had a worthwhile overall > marketing campaign to snag a percentage of the many folks > exiting HO. Meanwhile, narrow gauge in all scales > grows, N scale grows and G scale grows. Why the > difference? > > RTR equipment was one postulated answer. S now has > it. > > RTR track systems was another postulated answer. S > now has it. > > Train sets was also a postulated answer. S now has > it. > > A S scale-specific magazine was needed. S has had and > now has it. > > An annual publication with advertisements from all S scale > manufacturers was another whined-for need. S does not > have this. > > Modern equipment was a postulated answer. S now has > some. > > A full bore scale-specific national convention would be > helpful. S is close, but not yet there in my > opinion. There are more Sn3 folks at the Sn3 Symposium > than there are S scale standard gauge purists at some NASG > conventions. The National Narrow Gauge Convention > consistently outdraws the NMRA Annual Convention year after > year. > > A national organization dedicated to promoting S > scale. Not sure we have that at this time. Maybe > we never had one. Dribbles and drabs of effort here > and there are not adequate. Would a more significant > program have made a difference? Not sure, but might be > worth a try. > > Eliminating the connection with AF was a postulated > answer. Might be true, but nobody wants to do > that. Maybe it isn't true after all since we get much > of our equipment from companies that make AF-compatible > stuff from which our scale stuff is derived. Should we > remain joined at the hip or not? Anyone know? > > Meanwhile, as we contemplate our navels, folks steadily > drift away from HO and end up elsewhere outside of the S > camp. Is there a way to capture some of this stream > and steer it into the S world? As long as they are > departing HO anyway, why not promote S as the logical place > to arrive? > > Just some thoughts.....no panacea to be sure. Might > not even be astute, but at least it is worth discussing. > > Cheers....Ed L. ------------------------------------ Yahoo! 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