--- In [email protected], "dhultay" <hul...@...> wrote:
>
> Maybe we shouldn't be trying to attract first time hobbyist, but instead
> concentrate on those looking for a change?
Dennis,
You've nailed the point of my question! Prior to modeling in S scale (and
getting on this list), I had no idea that S scale had any shortcomings. In
fact, all I ever heard about the guys who modeled in S was that they all had
nice layouts that were VERY well detailed. Visits to Ken Ehlers' layout, two
other layouts in Houston (one Sn3, one S standard, can't remember the owners'
names), and Chip Romig's layout certainly bore this out. I knew from the
modeling press that 3/16" to the foot was a nice size that really made
scratchbuilding easy. So I figured that S scale was the scale that folks
modeled in when they wanted an easier time scratchbuilding, wanted a little
more of a challenge in their modeling than simply pulling something out of a
box, and wanted a larger model that could still be operated in a reasonable
space.
I don't think I was misconceived. But if my perception is shared by modelers
in other scales, then I think we ought to pander to it. Jim King and Bill Wade
are putting together kits that live up to this billing. Don Thompson is
keeping up the perception while giving us some excellent RTR stuff to ease the
burden a bit. Ron Bashista, while not as detail-oriented as the others, has
provided some products that can be used as "stand-ins" until we get the exact
models built. We ought to be talking about them as the basis for kitbashed
models rather than bashing his kits...that would promote the perception even
more!
I find it interesting that, of all the responders, only two (maybe three) came
directly into S scale modeling. And those two came directly from American
Flyer. I tend to think that the non-collectible high-rail stuff is still the
best beginner's entry into S scale, but historically that hasn't been the
common path. Once someone is hooked on trains, they're likely going to
gravitate toward scale modeling as they get older. This will happen whether
they start with an HO set, a Lionel set or even an old Flyer set. If S scale
keeps up the perception that it is the scale of the serious modeler and that we
have FUN doing it, there'll be plenty of folks attracted to S scale modeling.
FWIW,
Rhett Graves
BTW - I think On30 is the direction that folks take when they decide that SCALE
model railroading is too serious. Most of their stuff is just caricatures of
trains, not models. That's not a bad thing...those guys have a ton of FUN!!
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