Strummer posted:Again, this is something I've never understood about what they call in N scale "Foobies": trains decorated in made-up schemes just because they may sell. This seems to be particularly common when it come to 3-rail. I get it, in that these are part of the "toy train" field, but seriously? Aren't there enough "real" paint schemes (both past and present) to satisfy?
On the one hand, we see threads about how the latest diesel release doesn't have the proper intake grids (or whatever); the sound or smoke isn't "right"; or the color of the tender deck doesn't match the cab roof. We want/demand prototype detail, but then are also willing to populate our layouts with rolling stock which has no basis in reality whatsoever. I just don't get it.
I know, this is only a hobby, and hobbies are meant to be "fun", and "to each his own", but I would rather see shrinking resources go towards making models of previously unavailable "real" trains. Think of what could have been done with the $$$ it took to develop and produce that "Batman" train: .....................
I'll say it's 2 different approaches to the hobby that define the 2 types of items you are discussing. (Believe it or not, not all O Gauge hobbyists have the exact same tastes and interests! 
)
Obviously the prototypical ,scale, rivet counting is the camp where any remotely different prototypical item is welcomed, but most "fantasy" items are shunned.
The other approach is just "lets have fun, and I don't care if it's prototypical, I think a boxcar with this graphic on it is fun".
The "I'd rather see the resources applied to scale stuff" and " I don't get it" comments (quite prevalent on this board in past discussions) obviously is the scale/prototype/rivet counting line of thought. Many times it seems this line of thought is exclusionary of the "fantasy" stuff. (thinking that somehow if the "fantasy" stuff is not made it will lead to more prototypical items making it to market in their place, which may not be true - the train companies actually do know markets, believe it or not. If they never sold, they would not make them!)
I think most people into the "lets have fun" approach are more accepting of the other prototypical stuff, and just don't order the scale stuff if they don't have interest in it. I don't recall too many people saying "I wish Lionel never offered that N&W K engine, (it's so similar to the J!), they could have offered a Star Wars train (or whatever the favored commemorative or graphic boxcar might be) if they didn't waste resources designing the K".
There are some of us who appreciate both aspects to some extent. I'm not a rivet counter by any means, but appreciate scale type trains (nice steamer with passenger cars, logging trains, the new Golden Spike offerings, etc), but I also have a boatload of "special run" non-prototypical boxcars and the like.
-Dave
