Hi guys --
I had six guys come up from Phoenix yesterday, all except one was AF. We
had a grand time, and they got to see what scale is all about. At least
one was starting to convert to scale, though he had a lot of things to
learn. And that is the deal – we can’t expect the AF guys to move to
scale without a bit of help, and the same for converts from other scales.
I agree with Rich’s assessment, but I am not sure having major suppliers
will make that much difference in our current generation of young model
railroaders. To run scale S in the same manner that smaller scales are
able takes a bit more room – something that younger people haven’t got. It
all takes money, and I think that if you look at the overall situation, a
person’s scale selection has a LOT to do with their assets – more money =
larger scales in general, and that usually comes with age. Hi-rail / AF
and 3 rail O have the advantage of being able to fit into smaller spaces
comparatively speaking as well as not requiring the finer modeling skills
needed to make scale work well, and so are better suited to a lot more
modelers. All this points to AF / hi-rail being a significant part of S
for as long as model railroading remains a hobby.
As I have said before, ALL the trains and their accessories are just toys,
scale or not, costly or not, big or small. Let’s just have fun playing
with our toys. Time to get off this topic!
Bill Winans
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Simple question then. If S SCALE could survive and grow WITHOUT the toy
train aspect, it should've/would've have done so a long time ago.
If we use this anti-toy train logic, folks SHOULD have been moving raiply to
S when American Models started and SHOULD have been practically stampeding
to S when SHS started up. Pacific Rail Shops SHOULD have drawn in even more
modelers.
Overland came and went. Sunset came and went. What would have happened if
Des Plaines hadn't picked up Pacific Rail Shops? Anybody remember Modern
Models???
What happened? Where are the masses? What are they afraid of? We can't just
blame the American Flyer connection.
When I got into S, folks in the scale were still thumping their chests
saying you'd better d*mn well like scratchbuilding because S is "the
scratchbuilder's scale." Apparently, it was considered like it was a badge
of honor to be so exclusive.
Simple fact. S has been stagnent because of the LACK of a major, big-name
manufacturer to provide some cover for the likes of AM and the former SHS.
BTW, Atlas O still sells more 3-rail than 2-rail. And there's still quite a
bit of low-end HO and N being manufactured out there.
The club I used to belong to is primarily a Flyer club and they were FAR
friendlier to the few lonely S Scalers than we seem to be towards the Flyer
folks here.
Pogo had it right...
Rich G(ajnak)
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