I was going to post some of my reactions to my first S Fest, and this is the
first I could really come up for air, having had to leave mid-day Saturday to
drive back to
southeastern Minnesota in time to work yesterday morning. In addition to some
other tasks in the afternoon I unloaded all of my newly-acquired plunder, doing
a
quick inventory as I went (and unable to resist doing a little work on some of
them as they went either on the shelf or directly to the workbench).
First, I was really impressed at the efficiency of the host group, how smoothly
it all seemed to come together; my thanks to the St Louis workers. I'd have
liked to
stay for the banquet and do more socializing (see above) but between my day job
and visiting the grandchildren (who live in the St Louis area), I spent as much
time as I had available.
Second, some of the older hands in S scale in the Plains and Prairie Group had
told me when I missed last year's Chicago show that Chicago was stronger on
scale and St Louis on AF. Couldn't have proved it by me (although this year
may have been atypical), as I spent more over the weekend than I've ever spent
at
any major O scale show; could be I just have had plenty of O scale already, but
despite thinking I had most of the S scale I was going to acquire before I
went--
perhaps a dozen locomotives and several hundred freight cars in varying stages
of completion--I took home about four dozen more cars (four brass ones, others
from SHS, AM, SSA, PRS to Amity and Train Stuff kits to PermaBilts, perhaps
even a MidGage refrigerator car junker) and my first brass locomotive in S
scale--
it was on my shortlist of those I'd really want and the seller worked with me
for a price I couldn't resist. There were three or four estates with
exceptional breadth
and very fair prices, so despite lots of AF for collectors, I had no problem
exceeding my budget (no more S scale shows until next year, greatly reduced
ebay presence).
My problem was trying NOT to buy even more ("My name is Jace, and I am a train
addict..."). And the thought that waiting for me when I got home was a big
package from SHS from their fabulous sale.
Many of the major dealers in S scale were there: Doug Peck and Don Heimburger
among them--I don't think Hoquat was, and it would have been a long drive for
Harold
Sheffield--with truckloads of inventory for any taste. The only manufacturer I
noticed particularly was American Models, however. The operating displays were
all
AF-oriented, and most of the items in the silent auction were directed toward
that constituency, but, in fairness, the host group does bill itself as AF
operators.
Happy to have gone--at least until my bank statement arrives...
Jace Kahn
General Manager
Ceres & Canisteo RR Co./Champlain County Traction Co.
> From: [email protected]
> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:45:27 +0000
> Subject: {S-Scale List} S Fest Observations and stuff
>
> Went down to S Fest on Friday nite. My first time there.
> As I walked thru the Friday nite displays, I was taken by how much AF stuff
> was there, how very little scale. But I had been told that it was/is a Flyer
> show.
> On Saturday, it was packed, and seemed to have more stuff and naturally I
> found several items I couldn't live without and home they came with me. Even
> had the wife along to supervise me.
> My overall impression, not that anyone cares but...I loved the crowd. You
> wouldn't know it was S gauge. Good crowd, quite friendly and had several
> offers to "help me find locos, etc" from dealers. And, a lot of younger
> folks! Yeah! New blood into the scale! Having just come from an 2 rail O
> show in Indy, I think the S group is more "motivated" or more like family.
> Then, yesterday, Sunday, drove to Springfield IL to see Bob Jackson's layout
> and what a beauty it was! Very impressive. Stunning work.
> I came away totally enthused knowing I have made a good decision to go scale
> S and that it is all I thought it could be and then some!
> To top it all off, got a call from the Shabbona RR inviting me to stop by
> (which, unfortunately, we couldn't do)even though we had never met. Color me
> impressed with the openness and hospitality there!
> So, all in all, I'm glad I was in St. Louis and highly impressed with a great
> bunch of folks from all over the country!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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