From: Alan Lambert Fort Worth, Texas Rich, I have to agree with Bill. Now we have to sit back and wait on MTH and see what they will offer. With enough input on what we would like to see "new" it could happen. Alan Lambert
________________________________ From: richgajnak <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 9:27 AM Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: something old - something new --- In mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com, "Bill Lane" <bill@...> wrote: > > Rich, > > > > I mostly but not completely disagree with you based on 2 things. There are > by far more long time S Scalers than newbies with shelves and possibly > layouts full of stuff. They (which includes me) might not be as likely to > buy something they already have 2+ of. I get wanting to attract newbies. But > as a sometime manufacturer, I am much more likely to invest in and make > something never made before because NO one has it, hopefully better > guaranteeing sales. In spite of also having the shelves full of stuff I also > have the constant "want something new" drive. We all have it. I just try and > be realistic and practical in my requests of others making things - or I > make it myself. > > > > Thank You, > Bill Lane Bill, I can see your point to some extent, but one of the things that frustrates me as an S scaler IS the lack of newbies. Granted, it's something I have little control over other than my meager efforts at conversion I attempt elsewhere. I got in during a growth spurt created by American Models, followed by SHS opening up shop. But, even then there were the headwinds of "the scratchbuilders scale" mentality(people do scratchbuild in other scales, or so I hear...) and the "well it was done before by XYZ some years ago..." It was, and still is, a formula for isolation and stagnation. While sending a newbie on a quest "to find what has come before" may have been acceptable B.I. (Before Internet) it's something that doesn't wash well in today's modeling world. The newbie instead will say "so long, it's been fun" and gravitate to a scale with greater availability. One of my fears is that the newer, scale proportioned American Flyer products and SHS by MTH will not draw in the amount of newbies or satisfy the "old guard" enough to help the scale grow enough for these two companies to continue their efforts. Then, S Scale (and HiRail/Flyer) will be almost right back where it was 25-30 odd years ago. Rich G(ajnak)
