Well, I'm gonna be honest here. I'm not as optimistic as I once was.
As I'm in the still working through the early phases of relocating, MTH closing down is giving me pause about what I will do when it's time to build a new railroad.
I've actually given some thought to doing retro-HO: Forsaking the high-detail, high-tech HO world for the likes of working with Athearn Blue Box, MDC Roundhouse, Mantua-Tyco, etc. I still have some "leftovers" from 30+ years ago, plus good used stuff abounds.
Of course, I could accomplish pretty much the same thing with American Models and original SHS. Or I could even go Hi-rail.
Part of this reasoning is, assuming someone does buy the Showcase Line from Mike Wolf, it would probably be another two years before production would resume as the new manufacturer figures out how to fit S into their operations. It was a bumpy ride when MTH took over the Showcase Line, never reaching it's full potential. I look at the way the former K-Line and Williams products have been handled in O and it's not a pretty sight.
Also, Ron at AM is no spring chicken, who knows what will happen when he decides to retire. Things are also pretty fuzzy about the goings on at S Scale America/Des Plaines Hobbies and Fox Valley Models (track.)
The future is written in Silly-Putty for both S Scale and my involvement in it.
Rusty
