>> I think this scale is by far better than HO otherwise I wouldn't have come to it.
We sure can agree with that. No doubt about it. >> Yes, the S scale sig is a great start. We can agree with that also. A needed boost in exposure to non-S modelers everywhere. Every single registrant at the recent national NMRA convention received our informational flyer in his registration package. >> but more need to be done. Yes, we agree on this as well. Merely having a web site is not enough. The S Sig now wants to start an advertising campaign in magazines. >> I for one am not ok with just saying this is enough, nor should any modeler out there that is passionate about this scale. Again, we agree! Have you contemplated SERIOUSLY what the S Sig is attempting to do regarding promotion? Volunteers are encouraged to join and help. >> otherwise the scale will be doomed to fall into oblivion Not sure I agree with this dire prediction. S has survived a lot of things over the years a lot worse than not having modern covered hoppers. Being an old Geezer, I remember when S scale did not have any wheels. Yep, the goode olde daze -- no 33" wheels available at all from anyone. Every kit came without trucks. And trucks came without wheelsets. And S scale survived. But you are entitled to your opinion. By the way, have you checked out the new sort-of-modern cylindrical hopper announced by Lionel? http://www.lionel.com/products/finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-4864 6 <http://www.lionel.com/products/finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-486 46&CatalogUID=DDAE43C2-1016-347D-DC5ECF578C58070A&PageID=2075> &CatalogUID=DDAE43C2-1016-347D-DC5ECF578C58070A&PageID=2075 Not being a modern guy myself, I have no idea when the prototype was produced, but it looks newer than most to my eyes. >> S scale is the perfect scale. Welcome to the club. We all can agree with that. >> Why must it be kept a secret? The S Sig is trying darned hard to change that. Perhaps I should repeat our plans for an ad campaign in magazines. Not to mention we could use a contribution or two to help out. Do you have a PayPal account? Or a checkbook? >> Good enough, isn't good enough anymore. "S" used to stand for "secret". Maybe we can change that false impression with some collective effort. Forty years ago when I entered S scale, the local hobby shops told me that S scale died in the 1950s along with ACGilbert. That erroneous belief is slowly changing. Now the local hobby shop simply says they don't carry it. Mighty slow progress if you ask me. If that is 40 years of progress, I cannot wait to see what the next 40 years will bring. Hopefully, MTH and Lionel will cause things to speed up a bit. Merely having an S catalog will be a big help - although SHS had a darn nice catalog in years past. >> If it weren't for Jim King and now maybe Railflyer Model Prototypes, and a few other, nothing would be being produced. >> Michael Ostertag We are back to the chicken vs. the egg situation. Are there enough of us to buy the high-end products you want? Conversely, are there enough S products available to entice folks to move away from HO? That dilemma has been with us for at least 40 years and probably longer. What to do? The S Sig has dedicated itself to promoting S scale to non-S folks. Our web site is specifically intended and designed to be an information resource for those contemplating a switch to another scale. Scale switching happens a lot. More than most of us realize. There is a steady stream of folks exiting HO and going to O, narrow gauge, N, etc. But few come to S. Conveniently learning about all that S scale offers has not been easy. We hope to improve on that situation. If S could snag just 5% of all those who exit HO, we'd have a growth spurt like never before. Now that the internet is here to stay, the costs of promotion are greatly reduced. Numerous web sites, like the new improved NASG web site and the S Sig web site, will all add valuable pieces to the S puzzle. But merely having a web site is not enough. Most model railroading folks simply do not know these S-oriented web sites exist. The next step is to expose non-S folks to these web sites and hope the exposure results in conversions from other scales. Reaching out to other model railroaders via magazine ads is the next logical step to take. Ads cost money. And the S Sig could use your contribution. Everything done so far has been totally free to everyone. Unfortunately, advertisements in magazines are not free. In case you are actually reading this epistle all the way down to this point, here is a promo press release (below) soon to go out. Your comments and contributions are very much welcomed at this point. Remember: merely writing emails to a Yahoo Group will not change things much. We have been proving that for several years now. Great for conversation amongst the S insiders, but not so great for spreading the word that we exist. Pen out yet..?? "S"incerely...Ed Loizeaux PROPOSED PRESS RELEASE (comments invited) Now that the S Sig web site has a respectable amount of content, it is time for us to inform the outside non-S world that it exists. Our goal here is not to merely have a web site. The objective is to encourage folks to switch to S. In order for that to happen, we need to motivate non-S'ers to come visit the web site and read the material. We are contemplating the details of an ongoing advertising campaign in various model railroad magazines. Small ads with great frequency. Sort of like the Kadee ads which are always in every issue no matter what. Ads cost money. The S Sig has many hard-working volunteers, but not a lot of money. As you already know, there are no dues, no subscription fees, nothing financially is required of anyone. But we want to begin an advertising campaign. So what to do.....?? I'd like to ask everyone to consider making a contribution to this effort. We all will benefit -- no matter if you are a manufacturer, hobbyist, magazine publisher, club member, or whatever. If we all make a contribution, the total collective amount available for this ad campaign will be large enough that S will be noticed -- BIG TIME! The easiest way to help out is to click on the large green spoked wheel on our Home Page at http://sscale.org/ . Using PayPal is quick and easy. Or, you can send a check to our Treasurer, John Gibson. We are not fussy about how the funds arrive. 100% of all contributions will be used strictly for S scale promotional purposes. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.... Ed Loizeaux, S Sig Coordinator http://sscale.org/
