--- In [email protected], Michael Ostertag <wsmwrr@...> wrote:
>
> The scale needs to loose the
> "toy train" persona, before we start to see any serious growth though.
>
> Thanks
> Michael Ostertag
I used to think that way 20 some odd years ago, but it's not the way of the
world. The simple fact is S Scale is going to have to co-exist with
Flyer/Hirail, Toy Trains or whatever for growth.
If the "toy train" aspect of S shriveled up and blew away, S Scale would not
survive, except for the hardy few huddled deep away in their basements.
O Scale has benefited from the goings on in the 3-rail world. And the O Gauge
manufacturers have a more difficult time catering to both markets because of
the third rail aspect. MTH offers locomotives with scale wheels and fixed
pilots, so does Atlas O. Sunset/3rd Rail offers brass to both markets.
And what's to say a structure is "toy train" or scale.
MTH Proto 3.0 is DCC compatible, Lionel's working on DC/DCC compatibility, so
even if you don't have their proprietary rigs, you'll still be able to run the
new stuff with what you have. And Lionel's even taken to offering scale wheels
and Kadee mounting pads on some equipment. They don't do that for the 3-rail O
Gauge guys...
Some of the folks in O Gaugeland are giving S a second look nowadays, not
because they they want to sit down and model things down to the last rivet, but
because of the newer Flyer offerings and the promise MTH brings. We ignore them
at our peril.
Uber-modeling can be done in any scale, from Z to G, so that's not going to be
the source of growth.
To the folks that have the desire to uber-model, no problem. Everyone
approaches the hobby differently. But, I'd wager you'll be able to grow the
scale more by attracting the average modeler or yes, even the "toy train" folks.
I plan on welcoming any and all model railroaders into S, be they toy train
folks or master model builders.
It's the right thing to do.
Rich G(ajnak)
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