Again, I think Dick hits the nail on the head. The S-scale community as a whole has done a poor job of looking out for their own interests. This is not about being dismissive of someone else's hobby -- I applaud the AF fans for all the fun they are apparently having persuing their hobby of choice. But, what does that have to do with those of us who are having fun building scale models and building layouts that are designed for realistic operation?
And, this is not even about rail size or coupler choice. Certainly, Brooks Stover's hi-rail layout is one of the best-known and most fantastic S model railroads in existence today -- but, Brooks IS a scale model railroader. I appreciate that the ranks of the AF/hi-rail community have made many products economically feasible, particularly S-Helper and American Models products. But, for the few that take these hi-rail products and use them to construct scale model railroads, the commonality between our two hobbies ends there. But we in the scale community have accepted this mixing of the two hobbies in our publications, often with negative results. As Dick points out, if you show a prospective convert a copy of the S-Gaugian or even the Dispatch, the AF coverage is a turn-off, reinforcing the impression that S-gauge is not a serious size for scale modeling. I do not question the economic need for NASG and the S-Gaugian to try to cater to the widest possible audience. But I for one am a little weary of receiving the latest issue in the mail, and quickly devouring the scale content. I don't know about you, but I never read the pages of listing about which AF club is setting up their layouts at which Mall, etc. Nor do I care about an AF caboose that was cast in green plastic, but was painted yellow. Nor do I need to know how to repair a 1950's toy train. Again, these are all wonderful items for those that find enjoyment in that hobby -- but this is NOT my hobby. S-scale modelers would be better off if we concentrated our dollars and articles in a vehicle that could adequately convey the real excitement of scale modeling in S. We are unlikely to gain many scale converts via an S-Gaugian type magazine on the newsstand, simply because most serious scale modelers in N or HO, who might be seriously considering a switch to a larger scale as they age, will logically conclude that O-scale, or Bachman On2 has more potential than S as a serious size to model in. So, I am NOT bashing AF/Hi-Rail hobbyists. All I am saying is that the S-scale community, most of which participate in this Yahoo list, may want to rethink how best we can promote and enjoy OUR hobby -- scale model railroading to 1:64. Dan Vandermause Ellicott City, MD --- In [email protected], Richard Karnes <rnk2202@...> wrote: > > All -- > > Roy Hoffman's extolling S Gaugian as the proper representative of all that is > S > is the primary reason that I volunteered to take over as his S Curves column > successor in Model Railroad News. You see, I thoroughly disagree with him. > I > believe his scatter-shot philosophy is a severe impediment to S promotion. > > The Gaugian and the Dispatch do a fine job of catering to the fans of just > running colorful trains. But they do nothing for promoting S to non-S > people. > They preach only to the choir. As AF fans gradually go to the Great > Trainyard > in the Sky, where are their replacements going to come from? AF means > nothing > to the potential convert from some other scale. > > My whole point is that potential converts need to feel comfortable that > anything > they would purchase in S will be compatible with anything else they buy. One > of > my goals in my MRN column is to promote NMRA/NASG standards for wheels and > track > so as to ensure interoperabiity. Only those who specifically wish to run > their > cherished AF equipment need to compromise these standards -- there is no > other > rationale for going the non-standard route. > > Granted, there are some missing items, notably flex-track-compatible > motorized > turnouts. At the direction of the NASG Board of Trustees some years ago, I > put > toether a draft Request for Proposal for just such a product, to be > stimulated > with NASG seed funds, but President Sam McCoy chose not to go forward with > this. To me, the unvailability of such a product hanging on a hobby shop > sales > rack, so to speak, is the single most glaring need in S. > > Dick Karnes > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. > Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. > http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html > > [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: [email protected] [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/
