S Scale News From Scale Trains

Great news. The picture show truck mounted high rail couplers on the samples. Might be just what they had on hand. I had three of the MTH EV cabooses on order but they were not made. I hope Scale Trains makes them.

Here are two of my MTH fish belly hoppers, they are nice cars.

Looking forward to seeing what roads / graphics they release in the steel rebuilts. 

I was hoping for something MTH hadn't got around to releasing yet for a reboot, but as the boxcar and hopper were the some of the most recently used tooling it makes sense.   Also MTH's cancellation of the EV caboose was a disappointment.

Plus the fish-belly hopper proved to be very popular.  Perhaps there will be a re-release of the N&W.  They look pretty good behind the Y3.

Rusty

Well thank God something is happening in S.  I just hope the retail price is below $60 a car, but that's not gonna happen.

Looks good Rusty.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the comment about S gauge track. My most wanted item from Scale Trains is the EV caboose that was cancelled. It sounds like it is still at least a year until a few can be on my layout.

@AmFlyer posted:

Looks good Rusty.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the comment about S gauge track. My most wanted item from Scale Trains is the EV caboose that was cancelled. It sounds like it is still at least a year until a few can be on my layout.

They don't mentioned the code for the track.  I'm tempted to ask them via their 'contact us' for more details, but I can wait until they announce...  Though I haven't used the FV flex track yet, from what I've seen, it looks to be every bit as good as the original SHS. code 138 Hi-rail flex.  Which makes me wonder if Scale Trains would venture into that market track wise.  OTOH, the cars pictured sure look to be Hi-rail and, at present, that is the biggest market share.

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Tom, Scale Trains bought all the designs, tooling and rights for the SHS Showcase Line track from MTH. I doubt they will be making significant design changes. The tooling may be incomplete or damaged so everything must be checked to verify acceptance. I do not think there would be a significant market for code 100 rail on the SHS plastic roadbed. There would be a market for code 100 flex. It would be nice if the 29"R turnouts were finally made.

As I said above, I was surprised Scale Trains is already looking at the S gauge track. As they stated, it makes sense in HO because they are thinking about making sets. In S gauge there can be no sets until there are engines which is farther in the future. I am happy just to see more rolling stock available.

Good news. I'm thinking about getting into H O. 

I'm going in for several N&W fish-belly cars..........How about some Clinchfield rebuilt box cars.......

My clinchfield challenger is lonely for some more clinchfield box cars..........

Jackie

@feet posted:

Good news. I'm thinking about getting into H O.

Been there. Done that. Ain't fun to be in that dilemma.

Some thoughts:

* If you like the heft/size of S scale, HO will take some getting used to. The stuff will look tiny at first. Your eyes and dexterity may not like HO as well as S. Here's the same type of model in S and HO:

* If you're looking for more layout in the same space, you can count on about 30% - 35% more layout in HO compared to S.

* If you enjoy detailing diesels, S is more user friendly (size), but that is tempered by the lack of details compared to what is in HO. (However... Detail Associates appears to be fading away and common Detail Associates detailing parts are getting harder to come by.)

* The best of S runs good. Almost all HO runs excellent now.

* S is far easier to place on the track and/or re-rail. However, derailments seem less frequent in S than HO. (Mass.)

* If you like creating things yourself, there is more need of that in S.

* If you're after variety, HO gets the nod.

* If you're wanting to get up and going fast, then there's an overwhelming selection of quality RTR in HO. (IF your budget can stand the pressure!)

* In some ways, for a shelf switching type layout, I think S scale lends itself to such better than HO on account of S scale's visual impact.

There are other points, but this is getting too long.

I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide.

Andre

@laming posted:

* If you like the heft/size of S scale, HO will take some getting used to. The stuff will look tiny at first. Your eyes and dexterity may not like HO as well as S. Here's the same type of model in S and HO:

Andre

That right there says it all for me Andre!   After failing to complete a massive O scale layout, I did a brief attempt at HO.  After constructing a few buildings and a few car kits, I had to check out.  It's just too small.  S is the tipping point for me -  some cars are fine and others in S have fragile parts I simply can't deal with  (S-helper wood reefers for example) and you can guarantee I will break them.     

@Jacobpaul81 posted:

That right there says it all for me Andre!   After failing to complete a massive O scale layout, I did a brief attempt at HO.  After constructing a few buildings and a few car kits, I had to check out.  It's just too small.  S is the tipping point for me -  some cars are fine and others in S have fragile parts I simply can't deal wibutth  (S-helper wood reefers for example) and you can guarantee I will break them.     

I, as I have stated a number of times am Flyer, but I do have a good deal of both American Models and S Helper/MTH. I don't see those being to fragile, at least in the RTR versions. I just recently built an AM boxcar kit which was donated to our club along with some scalized Flyer. That car may have been somewhat vintage AM, and it had some parts which seemed somewhat fragile but not to the extent of the Pacific Rail Shop kits.

My hands are kind of clumsy and tend to damage very fragile things but I don't have much of a problem with the RTR S/Helper/MTH or AM  cars.

Ray

@laming posted:

Been there. Done that. Ain't fun to be in that dilemma.

Some thoughts:

* If you enjoy detailing diesels, S is more user friendly (size), but that is tempered by the lack of details compared to what is in HO. (However... Detail Associates appears to be fading away and common Detail Associates detailing parts are getting harder to come by.)

Andre

I Googled for an online catalog for Detail Associates, but found nothing.  The listings I did find were not user friendly and didn't appear to be very organized making looking of a part rather laborious.

Am I missing something?

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

@Tom Stoltz posted:

I Googled for an online catalog for Detail Associates, but found nothing.  The listings I did find were not user friendly and didn't appear to be very organized making looking of a part rather laborious.

Am I missing something?

Tom Stoltz

in Maine

Check Walthers for Detail Associates.  However, there are no parts for S.  Only N, HO and O.  Way back in the day when I was in HO, I always used the Walthers catalog to look up DA parts.

I think whatever S parts there may have been were sold off to DesPlaines Hobbies long ago.

Rusty

Scale Trains Purchases Fox Valley Models

https://www.scaletrains.com/fox-valley-models

Just over a year ago, ScaleTrains™ welcomed Matt Gaudynski, owner of Fox Valley Models™, as a full-time Senior Product Developer. In his short time with ScaleTrains, Matt has played a key role in helping bring the ex-MTH HO and S scale tooling back to market as well as expanding ScaleTrains N Scale offerings with several all-new locomotives and freight cars.

Shane Wilson, President at ScaleTrains, commented on Matt’s position within the company. “We’re thankful to have Matt on the ScaleTrains Product Development team. Matt brings several decades of experience with a wide range of skills from retail to distribution to manufacturing. He’s also a passionate N and S Scale modeler which is important because we really see tremendous growth for our company in these areas.”

As Matt and ScaleTrains’ relationship grew, it became apparent ScaleTrains would make a good home for the Fox Valley Models line of HO and N Scale locomotives and freight cars. Today, we’re excited to announce ScaleTrains has purchased Fox Valley Models.

Scale Trains also acquired S Scale America.

Rusty

A new player!

Rich

Matt posted a letter on Facebook outlining what's going where:

https://www.facebook.com/92694...6/10160058997734797/

In the letter, he states this includes the FVM lines from the last 15 years.  The purchase does not include Red Caboose, Deluxe, Centralia Car Shops, N and HO parts, S Scale America (parts and rolling stock), and O Scale America parts.   These will all be merged under a single line - Scale America - and will be continued to be manufactured through Des Plaines Hobbies.

* I'd presume that this means FVM track and switches would be included in the sale to Scale Trains.  Neither Scale Trains nor FVM have stated where that is going - but if Scale Trains, that could be good news for S.

@Jacobpaul81 posted:

Matt posted a letter on Facebook outlining what's going where:

https://www.facebook.com/92694...6/10160058997734797/

In the letter, he states this includes the FVM lines from the last 15 years.  The purchase does not include Red Caboose, Deluxe, Centralia Car Shops, N and HO parts, S Scale America (parts and rolling stock), and O Scale America parts.   These will all be merged under a single line - Scale America - and will be continued to be manufactured through Des Plaines Hobbies.

* I'd presume that this means FVM track and switches would be included in the sale to Scale Trains.  Neither Scale Trains nor FVM have stated where that is going - but if Scale Trains, that could be good news for S.

The graphic from the FOX Valley website, I guess I interpreted it wrong:

Rusty

@Rusty Traque posted:

The graphic from the FOX Valley website, I guess I interpreted it:

Rusty

Yea, Des Plaines is keeping all of that and merging it into one line. 

Hopefully this means S scale track production will be brought to the US and ramped up to support Scale Trains investment in MTH. 

@Jacobpaul81 posted:

Yea, Des Plaines is keeping all of that and merging it into one line.

Hopefully this means S scale track production will be brought to the US and ramped up to support Scale Trains investment in MTH.

If the track tooling was cut in China, it stays in China.  Unless a tribute is paid.

Scale Trains and S Scale America products are produced in China.

Rusty

A little clarification copied from the NASG Recent News web page:

@Rusty Traque posted:

A little clarification copied from the NASG Recent News web page:

"June 17, 2022

Announcements from ScaleTrains, Fox Valley Models, Scale America

Today was a busy day for complex announcements. After reading through all the material, here's what we can conclude.

Matt Gaudynski, son-in-law of the late Ron Sebastian (of Des Plaines Hobbies and S Scale America), started working at ScaleTrains about a year ago to oversee the transistion of the MTH HO- and S-scale product lines to ScaleTrains (MTH closed in May of 2021, and ScaleTrains announced the purchase in January 2021). Matt is the founder of Fox Valley Models.

After a year of working at ScaleTrains, they agreed that ScaleTrains buys out Fox Valley Models. They only specifically mention the HO- and N-scale product lines that Fox Valley Models owns, but Fox Valley Models has S-scale track components. At this point, it is unclear which company owns the track components.

Matt has decided to continue to stay with ScaleTrains as a product developer, as he enjoys designing and creating engines and cars. ScaleTrains now owns the Fox Valley Models brand name, and they plan to continue to release HO- and N-scale products under that name. The Fox Valley Web site is under transition, which they estimate will take the rest of the year.

However, at the same time, Matt has started a new company called "Scale America". This is effectively what Ron Sebastian used to call "the manufacturing arm of Des Plaines Hobbies". This new company will own the following brand names:
- Red Caboose
- Deluxe Lines
- Des Plaines Hobbies HO- and N-scale parts
- Centralia Car Shops
- S Scale America
- O Scale America

Matt stated in his Facebook announcement that Des Plaines Hobbies, the hobby store itself, is now working well since Ron's passing. So, it appears that he has taken over and removed the manufacturing side of the store, so that the store is just the hobby store itself."

So, the only thing not clearly defined is where the Fox Valley track is winding up.

Rusty

Scale trains clarified on Facebook the following:

"Just to clarify, unlike the MTH HO and S Scale tooling, we've acquired the entire company. -Drayton"

The definitive word about FVM track from Matt's post on S-Scale.io:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@Rusty Traque posted:

I am still keeping a bunch of stuff, including all the DPH stuff and the S scale track.

Rusty

Well there ya go.  No "real" impact on S gauge. 

@Jacobpaul81 posted:

Well there ya go.  No "real" impact on S gauge.

I believe the real impact is Matt will now be free to concentrate on the Scale America products along with being the S consultant for Scale Trains and not have worry about the hobby shop.

Rusty