Hey listers, I am really enjoying all the input on 1/32-1/29? Especially all the ideas and suggestions. I think my beginnings in this hobby were much like Clarks-- after the Schools came a Mamod--later m Marcs alcohol burner, then a Hornby Rocket.-and on and on! The letters in order! Vance-here's a deal. If you win Power Ball lottery, build 70% USA stuff and 30% Brit stuff. If I win the California Lotto I'll finance you to build 30% USA and 70% Brit!. Better make sure it's mass production and cheap or we'll be up with those J&M and Finescale. They make beautiful Brit passenger stock-at a PRICE! Pete and Clarks comments on gauge 3--2-1/2" gauge are very tempting for me, -I'd love to do it! however in my case, with my Asters, my age, $$ and my 3-1/2" gauge, it would not be very practical. Too boot, locos in this scale are not easy to acquire and I'm not a scratchbuider of locos. I quote Vance; "// While I agree in theory, all you have to do is look at the current Gauge 3 (or 1:32 scale!) situation to see what kind of problems this is going to bring. Only a few specialty companies are going to provide commercial stock, and you'll end up having to scratchbuild everything yourself. Which improves on the current situation by ... nothing//"--A little better in 1/32 Vance.. Now if I'd started in this game 30 yrs ago--well! who knows! Marklin tin sets are good and reasonable priced. I own a Marklin 1/32 plastic set, but they are expensive. The German freight cars look over scale and detail is inversely proportional to the price. If the tin versions made Brit rolling stock I would buy a few, irregardless of lack of detail Aristocraft coaches are sturdy altho wrong scale. However as listers stated, they won't budge. A year or so ago, the old man's son emailed me back and he was very polite but--no 1/32! So listers are correct. My Brit case is a little different, but we have David Leech who fills gap for US and Brit passenger cars. Peter Comley with Brit stuff on occasion. The lack of reasonably priced 1/32 freight cars are the problem judging by listers comments. To compete--and produce on a par with the 1/29ers would take a tremendous investment. There is the huge market in the track powered garden railways and any 1/32 scale models produced that would be competitive with Aristocraft and other's prices, would be hard pressed to gain a foothold in that market. Yet I believe this volume would be very necessary to make a business venture profitable. So-win that Powerball, Vance Jim, Crabb--you wrote:(Referring to friend Clark)--and you are right! "I always enjoy your commentary (especially when you get wound up). It's guys like you and Vance and Marc which really help keep this group "on target". Then there are folks like Geoff and Trot and Salty (the other one up in Oregon) who add even more spice and stir the pot by asking those great questions which make us all ponder and rethink." Gee Whizz, Thanks for the compliment, Did that Rocket I sold you actually run or something??!! Geoff. I've had a new bright set for years. Before I even had a Bachman >starter set or a Mamod steamer. I keep saying that my first engine was >a Frank S but in fact it was a factory built 0 gauge Mamod. This was >back in the early 80's and Marc's mimeographed Sidestreet Bannerworks >newsletter's. I still have them all. He had an alcohol burner for a >Mamod and I built one. > >I could get the alcohol burner to work only when it was half full >because the filler neck would catch fire from the fumes coming out. In >any even I could get 10-12 minute runs on my metal O gauge oval of >track. I was happy as a clam. Maybe I'll get the re-gauge kit and >change it to gauge one and build a better burner. > >Because of Marc's newsletter I learned Shirlee safety valve that would >improve performance. And because of Marc we now have this wonderful >live steam hobby here in the USA. > >I really do give most of the credit to Marc Horovitz for nurturing us in >the early years. If you read the early Garden Railways that followed >the Sidestreet Bannerworks newsletter, most of the articles are about >live steam. Then LGB entered the scene in 1985 and we all know the rest >of that story. > >That's when AristoCraft had to decide which scale to market. 1:29 was >the compromise between LGB's 1:22.5 and Aster's 1:32 Bachman went with >1:22.5 early on and flooded the market with a battery powered 10 wheeler >and cars. Which became the basis of their large line of electric >trains. > >Bachman blew away us all with the 1:20.3 Shay and Climax. It gave >legitimacy to narrow gauge logging on 45 mm track. Here is an example >of establishing the correct standard for 3 ft track and narrow gauge >engines and rolling stock. Look at all the 1:20.3 stuff that is now >available. > >As Geoff, Tony and others are suggesting, a 1:32 market is possible. As >Geoff correctly points out 1:32 is the correct standard for 4'8.5" >standard gauge trains. We should be able to make the case for standard >gauge trains just like the now 1:20.3 standard for 3 ft gauge trains. > >Whew! That's a lot of talking but start emailing manufactureres and >inquire if they are planning on making 1:32 rolling stock. Tell them >you have a engine and can't afford J&N brass cars and was hopeing that >they could make plastic cars. OR something along those lines. > >I think I have most of the who begat who stuff correct but please >correct me or refine my comment as needed. > >Clark > > > > >Geoff Spenceley wrote: >> >> THanks for the confirmation, Jerry--There is hope for you, Clark!--and >> others! >> >> Geoff >> >> New Bright's caboose is 1/32nd, you would want some new trucks for it and >> >weather it some but it should look okay. >> > >> >Jerry >> > >> > >> >>
