Charlie Getz (NMRA President and long time narrow gauger) has an interesting column in the latest Narrow Gauge Gazette (March/April) that reflects the changes between 1970 and today in minority scales. The evolution of narrow gauge modeling (all scales) from 1970 that he describes is quite like that of our beloved S scale.
Charlie notes that, "the 1970's was the era when model railroading reached its apex as a hobby in the United States. Magazines were plentiful and thick with ads. The number of scale model railroaders then has been estimated to be almost DOUBLE what it is TODAY". The quality of the models (kit or RTR) today is far superior to those available back in 1970. Despite that, the number of modelers has dropped in half. Growing S scale has always been and remains an uphill battle...and we don't have the benefit of a Bachman On30 program to create renewed interest and bring in new "converts". This column is worth a read. The fact that we have half as many model railroaders (in all scales) today is sobering stuff. Bob Hogan --- In [email protected], "Ed" <Loizeaux@...> wrote: > > > I was thinking about the piece in the new NASG Dispatch about getting young > > people into the hobby. I don't feel the complexity built into this > > locomotive is going to help much, but I would like to hope I'm wrong. > > I think you have hit upon a new explanation for the demise of model > railroading. At least new to me since I have not heard or thought of the > complexity factor before. Speaking as a former 7-year-old, I could > understand two wires to the track and two wires to the motor and two wires to > the headlight. I never did figure out how the whistle worked until a year or > two later. It eventually came to me. I was a 3-rail Lionel kid. Didn't > have to worry about reverse loops and figure eights or insulating pins at all. > > > much of the hobby press today, in that it appears to be, not intentionally, > > I believe, to get new modelers in "over their heads" with DCC and other > > advanced model railroad features, > > May I disagree somewhat. I think the scale model railroading hobby today > (NOT the RTR tinplate hobby) is an adult hobby with very little to offer > children. The objective of the major magazines is to make a profit from lots > of advertising promoting expensive adult toys. Not much in MODEL RAILROADER > for kids who are 7 or 8 years old. > > As a former 9-year-old, I remember a magazine called MODEL TRAINS which > featured RTR tinplate trains from Lionel and maybe AF/Marx/others. I could > relate to that magazine and devoured every issue. Sadly, it has gone down a > branch line and run off a spur into a weed-infested field never to be seen > again. > > > study the display layouts and see where the most attention is focused. > > I agree the kids really like running the trains, blowing the whistle and > watching the grade crossing signals. But are they getting hooked on trains? > Or merely watching a visual magic show? Soon to be replaced with another > visual magic show on TV? Or on the computer? Life becomes one visual magic > show after another without meaning for some children. Is this a reasonable > way to attract new folks to the hobby? > > I'd rather take junior on a train ride -- even if it is a lowly commuter > train -- and walk around the station and yards a bit to show him things. And > explain how a coupler works, what spikes are, feel the ground vibrate, smell > the oil (diesel oil), etc. Of course, these days I will probably get > arrested for doing that, but still that is where my heart beats faster. Call > me strange and you'd be correct. > > Cheers....Ed Loizeaux > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
