Want it or not here's my two cents on these subjects and others.
At present S scale has a friend at Lionel. It would be nice to
appreciate what they are actually doing without thousands of words of
speculation about what they will or won't be doing. Could some things be
better? Yes, but it takes time, effort and PATIENCE to influence a
corporate machine. Don't bitch about what MIGHT be.
I would guess ( MY speculation.) that Lionel's add writers go by an
outline given to them by marketing or others and they may not have the
same idea of what scale is that most of us do. Could it be that to them
scale means the bodies without regard to wheels at all?
Before there is also too much speculation about SSL&S wheels here are
the facts. All of my wheelsets and driver tires are NMRA / NASG
compliant using the RP 25 contour, code 110 (0.110" wide)
specifications. My wheels and tires are made of nonmagnetic stainless
steel as to not affect magnetic uncoupling. They are more expensive to
machine but nothing looks more like steel than steel! I have 33" and 36"
wheels and many sizes of driver tires.
My axles are normally also nonmagnetic stainless steel. The machine that
makes them is down at present so we are using NWSL axles for now. I am
using pointed axles made to SHS length and also shouldered axles to fit
ACE, SSL&S and others.
We will be able to make wheelsets and axles in most any configuration
when we are up to speed. If Lionel or others make scale cars with decent
trucks and with only large flange wheels we can make the scale wheels or
wheelsets as long as there is sufficient demand.
If you want examples of my drivers with these tires take a look at the
CN Moguls and Ten-wheelers by SPCM used on the fine S Scale Workshop
layout. Along with Simon Parent we also produced the kits for those
engines.
Disparaging remarks about the AF operators,hi-railers (Whatever that
really is.) or anyone with rail higher that 0.125" serves no one. Roger
Nulton, Brooks Stover, Frank Titman and many other fine modelers started
in this best of all scales with taller rail. Don't be the cat in our
sandbox. When you get the urge to say something uncomplimentary go build
something instead.
I have customers that want detail parts to make their AF engines look
more "real" like the products out now. It takes a lot of time to figure
out what they are trying to do but I always try to help them as they may
become the next Roger ,Brooks or Frank.
I belong to the NASG and the NMRA and they are complimentary not
mutually exclusive. How many don't realize that the present standards
are the same?
Fred RouseSSL&S
