poniaj posted:
S may not have the extensive offerings of other scales, but that's not just its shortcoming, but its draw. What isn't offered can be either done without, scratch built, or kitbashed.
I'm going to have to disagree with you on the "it's a draw" comment, Jerry.
There's a small faction on the scale side of S that feel scratchbuilding or kitbashing to get what you want should be emphasized to attract more folks to S. I've always thought this is a dead-end proposition.
Unfortunately, many talented individuals are already scratchbuilding and/or kitbashing in G, O, HO and even N already, so doing it in yet another scale is of no real attraction or advantage. I'm constantly amazed at how many of the 3-rail O crowd scratchbuild and kitbash and do an excellent job of it. Add in the availability of "raw material" in O and it's easy to see why.
I've mentioned this before: As far as S is concerned, if it wasn't for the American Models FP7, I wouldn't be in S. Pure and simple. Otherwise, I wouldn't have changed from HO in 1985.
Now, I've done some scratchbuilding, kitbashing and redetailing in my time in various scales. I've also done a lot of painting, required if one is a freelance model railroad empire builder. But those aren't the reasons I'm in the hobby. I happen to have a life long fascination and interest with railroads and that's what sustains my interest in the model railroading hobby.
Much as I hate to admit it, but I think Lionel's FlyerChief locomotives will probably do more to interest folks in S than anything else today. We've already seen a falloff in S interest after SHS went away and MTH delays.
Rusty
