Hi Dave,
I spoke to the Lionel Rep at the WGH show this last weekend about prospects for
scale items. His basic response is that the scale guys are a very vocal
minority who don't buy their scale offerings. The U33 scale sales were an
indicator of this. They will build what the market will support. Look for a
Polar Express Set in the next catalog. They are not in the business of
advancing the hobby of scale model trains, it does not pay the rent and they
are not dedicated to teach their market the joys of scale modeling. We are
fortunate that the toy market is expanding to demand better product.
Alex
----- Original Message -----
From: ctxmf74
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 9:48 AM
Subject: {S-Scale List} Re: New Flyonel locos run fine.......
--- In [email protected], "Ed" wrote:
> From a practical perspective, I am not sure how 'better' due to a larger
motor would increase my satisfaction with the product.
Hi Ed, It would be better because the manufacturer would be focusing on the
performance and scale aspects of it instead of on the toy train aspects of it.
It would have slow speed gearing for a more useful speed range. It would have
body mounted pilot, couplers, and steps, it could have brass sprung trucks, it
would have enclosed , rugged, easily repairable gear train using easy to get
replacement parts, it would have an NMRA DCC plug, and scale wheels.
It wouldn't have crew talk or bullet train speed
( unless it actually a model of the bullet train)
It would show a commitment to advancing the hobby of model railroading more
than the hobby of toy train running and collecting. It would give us something
we could buy and use without spending more to modify it for scale use while
still giving the toy train guys a nice loco that would teach them about scale
modeling. The design of the SHS switcher was a great example of what I'm
talking about, it had all the compromises in the right spot, scale over toy but
worked with either.....DaveBranum
