I've already stated clearly that I'm not compromising my scale detail to accommodate hi-rail wheels or couplers. Making the current bolster a separate part does not address the truck swap issue. There are still draft gear, centersill and floor details, aside from increased car height, to deal with. Removing the bolster then requiring either modeler to glue it back on makes for a weaker underframe in the area that needs strength most. There are not enough hi-rail modelers to warrant making separate underframes, either.
I was on the S Trains list for a few years but many of the S Scale members are, too. Over time, nearly all of the comments came from the Scale list, and I got tired of reading AF stuff all the time, so I dropped off. As I've said many times before, I will not modify my kits to accommodate hi-rail equipment. That's not my market, hi-railers are not typically kit builders and making AF-compatible mods to my kits would reduce the quality expected from my current customers. If anyone wants to remove cast-on or other details from my cars to allow operation on hi-rail, go for it. Like Sylvester Stallone said to the Sheriff when he ambushed him in the forest in the movie "Rambo First Blood", LET IT GO. Jim King President, Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc. Ph. (828) 777-5619 www.smokymountainmodelworks.com Trainmaster, Craggy Mountain Line RR www.craggymountainline.com
