Tom, my idea is half just intended to eliminate 25% of the things that
divide us. Really the AF term is on the Dispatch masthead, it's on our
NASG sponsored banners, and on some of the other publications. But
mostly it's been on the tongues of many of those guys who left our scale
when it didn't grow in the 60's. To me it is like using the term Kodak
(back in the day) for every camera made
In today's world I would bet only where somebody is trying to create
a museum is it kept pure AF. If you operating much you mostly likely
have let some other products run on the rails. Indeed many guys to
claim to be AF have been using Gargraves and other brands of track, +
Plasticville--so they contaminated the AF world many years ago. AF is
just another brand of S Scale that mostly uses hi-rail rail and
flanges. All the differences are mostly a matter of choice. Some of us
gravitate toward better detailed items, some hate building kits, some
are happy with a Christmas tree type layout while others will try and
search out the exact time the DRG&W raised the sideboards on their
gondolas. Will the guy studying the gondolas hang with the Christmas
tree guy--probably not, will one make fun of the other--maybe but that's
just a bit of life. In my personal modeling I tend to be interested in
what the gondola guy is saying rather than the guy who wants to talk
about the differences between a 307 and a 302!
I think the legit disagreement might come about with what shows S Best
and where is S going in the future. Lionel and MTH think they have a
market in S because they have invested new money in these projects.
It's quiet clear that what we've done in the past would probably rate a
D or C- at best. Money spent in the right direction might have helped.
Am I criticizing somebody else--yes and myself too!
Bob Werre
PhotoTraxx
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Werre
I have suggested before that we change our termonology somewhat and rid
ourselves of the AF catagory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
> > > > > > > > > > > >
I absolutely agree - but before we go charging off, what are we
changing? I
just ran the NASG constitution & by-laws thru a word search in my word
processor, and neither the word American nor Flyer occur in either
document.
Where you do find the term "American Flyer" is on the cover of the
Dispatch.
But anyone who says S Gauge have a scale versus highrail (includes AF)
conflict has not given the matter much thought. We are a "house divided,"
but the real cleft is between railroad modelling and toy train
collecting,
not differing track & wheel standards. In other words, if my prototype is
the 2013 Norfolk Southern and his prototype is the 1950 American Flyer
catalog, we are not going to have much in common.
We all need to be a little nicer to each other these days, in many ways.
And we can try to accommodate each other in our organizations. But
denying
the existence of differences, or misidentifying them, will get us no
where.
Tom Hawley -- Lansing Michigan
