Rusty:
Yup, keep that light on. Great group of guys here and I will be tossing in some input as I can.
Alan:
Thanks for the kind words on my Photoflat backdrop structures! I intend to start all over again with the backdrop base. There's some areas where my joints/blending cracked/etc. Also, I'm going to take the plunge and cover that window opening that huge Photoflat is covering. That way I don't have to have a truly gigantic (in HO) 15 story building overpowering the yard scene to the point of distraction.
Speaking of the Photoflats:
I have every intention of creating a product line of them and offering them to the modeling public. I already own Photoflats.net domain for my future website for same. My goal is to be up and selling product within a year or two... definitely off the ground before retirement. Unless I get into technical difficulties, each item will be offered in O, S, HO, and N scale. I still have a few details to work out in regards to marketing/delivery... but it all looks "do-able"... it's just a matter of fitting it in among my current full schedule.
John:
Thanks to you also for such kind words. It is appreciated. I had hoped some on the Yahoo S scale list felt the same about that "friend" part, I guess I overestimated them. Oh well.
For me, the choice was simple logistics:
* I was having to start from scratch amassing enough S stuff to populate a layout. Many S scalers have 30 year collections to work from. I'm 62 years old, I can't wait years for a select items to come available, and scratch building locomotives/rolling stock is out of the question for me. No way I can sink that much time into ONE project.
* I didn't fully comprehend the amount of workbench time S scale requires. The 90/10 rule was out of whack for me. That is, in S scale, I learned I need to spend 90% of my available hobby time at the workbench altering, assembling, whatever, models and only 10% for other hobby-related things. At this point in my age, I need 90% RTR that only needs some weathering thrown on it, and only 10% of the time required at the workbench. Yes, I want SOME customized engines (about 10% of the engine roster), but not almost ALL of them (as in 90%).
As for being able to see the teeny-wienie trains: At this point I still have good vision. When the day comes that I can't see my wienie trains regardless of the strength of the reading glasses... then I guess it will come out, and a loop of 3 rail will go up in its place... and as long as I can operate the transformer handle I can have a train running!
As for keeping you (and others) posted:
I guess I ought not to post updates w/pics here. Perhaps I can fashion a blog of some sort and post progress pictures there? Alas, that wouldn't be as fun as interacting on a forum such as this one, though. (Hmmm. Guess I don't have to mention the scale, huh? 
)
All fer now!
