Thank you, thank you, thank you. Dan, Tom, Pieter, Dick and all those who have kept this subject positive and focused have done us proud. My apologies for complicating the issue by taking it personally. I do believe some movement has been made in the right direction. My thoughts on the subject are much clearer now, and I feel better about the future of S. Don't underestimate the value of discussions like this. Ed Kozlowsky Sanford, Maine --- On Sun, 2/13/11, danvandermause <[email protected]> wrote: From: danvandermause <[email protected]> Subject: Re: {S-Scale List} Animosity To: [email protected] Date: Sunday, February 13, 2011, 5:50 PM I could not agree with Tom more. I was a little taken aback by some of the reaction to the posts on this topic, some of them mine. I think it shortchanges the discussion to simply declare that wanting to discuss what can be done to promote S SCALE model railroading is somehow a slight toward those who like AF trains and a recreation of 1950's train set ups. The AF guys have a great hobby, and I can appreciate the fun and socialization they derive from their hobby. However, all of that is beyond the point. The question is: going forward, how can S-scale modelers best present themselves to the model railroading public, to increase the likelihood that some conversions will come from scale modelers in other scales? The truism that S scale modelers and AF/hirail enthusiasts should stick together to ensure a large enough market for new products may be yesterday's truth. With the disruption to the Chinese manufacturing chain, and the aging of the S-scale population (including AF enthusiasts), is the age of mass-produced plastic ready to run products in S coming to an end? How many times do you hear modelers saying "I already have enough models to fill two layouts and projects to last weel beyond my lifespan"? How long has it been since S-Helper or American Models brought out a truly new product? What are the chances that these manufacturers will take the chance to retool with new manufacturers and invest in completely new products for the aging S population? The future of S-scale may well lie with smaller runs of product using laser and resin technology, rapid prototyping, etc. In this new world, S-scale modelers should be more interested in attracting a few converts from the HO and N scale worlds, which would enable a small-run manufacturer reach his break-even point of 100 models or so. How many AF/Hi-rail modelers purchase laser and resin kits? It is far more likely that a convert from HO, who has built many laser and resin kits in HO, will purchase an S scale resin or laser kit to try out this new modeling size. To make a very long story short, my only aim in posting my comments on this subject was to perhaps cause us S-scale modelers to rethink our approaches, and our natural modeling alliances, with the aim of ensuring new products that we can enjoy in our S-scale hobby. This is not about animosity. This is not about uncoupling the NASG train. But it is about recognizing that the world is changing, and rethinking how best to promote this great hobby of S-SCALE model railroading. Dan Vandermause Ellicott City, MD --- In [email protected], "Tom Hawley" <t.hawley@...> wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Monte > . . . . . . . . . . .I don't understand the animosity some scale guys have > for everyone else in the hobby. . . . . . . . . . . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The use of the word animosity is an unnecessary escalation of the > discussion. There is no animosity. We simply feel that our fellow > modellers are the scale modellers of all scales, and we just don't like to > be confused by them with people whose hobby is to accumulate everything AC > Gilbert made, even though it's more or less the same size as our trains. > Not feeling a sense of kinship with toy train collectors is not animosity. > > Tom Hawley -- Lansing Mich > [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/
