Scott -- Regardless of accuracy, there are modelers in all scales that tinker, adding or modifying details to represent particular variations found on particular railroads at particular points in time. In general, S models are accurate. That said, particular paint schemes may not be accurate for particular cars. As a specific example, Pacific Rail Shops/S Scale America's steel reefers are accurate for Pacific Fruit Express, but not for any of the other paint schemes offered. Offering a wider range of liveries than appeared in real life is common practice among model manufacturers.
There are other specific instances of intentional non-scale compromises, most notably as foreshortened streamlined Budd passenger cars from AM, and too-narrow USRA double-sheathed boxcars from SHS. The first example is to allow operation on sharper curves; the second in order to use the end mold components from single-sheathed USRA cars. Such compromises can be found in other scales as well. Another obvious example is the lack of cut levers on most models -- in any scale. Dick Karnes
