"MLW", maybe => Montreal Locomotive Works
The current video on the NASG website features steam and diesel:
http://www.nasg.org/Site/FeaturedVideo.htm
And this brief video on an S scale shortline is sweet:
Here's the link to the video author's website:
http://pmrr.org/Layouts/Chartiers/Videos.htm
Matt
"MLW", maybe => Montreal Locomotive Works
The current video on the NASG website features steam and diesel:
http://www.nasg.org/Site/FeaturedVideo.htm
And this brief video on an S scale shortline is sweet:
Here's the link to the video author's website:
http://pmrr.org/Layouts/Chartiers/Videos.htm
Matt
I had the link on my home computer, I didn't want to answer until I knew for sure:
S Scale, Canadian style.
Rusty
Well I'd like to thank Phil for kicking this topic off and all the others who provided input. I had pretty much the same questions/concerns Phil did about s-scale. I became interested in S-Scale a couple years back when I started into On30 ...using AM & SHS cars to supplement my rolling stock fleet. I started noticing the details such as using real wood for decking on flat cars or lining OB gondolas, etc.. I looked seriously into O-scale 2 rail but the price of turnouts really discouraged me. I've signed up for a couple S-scale newsletters and I'm anxiously awaiting to see what MTH comes out with. Thanks again for all the well timed info.
Mark
I can post some pictures of a reworked Pacific tonight, but here's a picture of the Northern, also slightly reworked with an MV lens, graphite paint, numberboard decals and crew figures:
There's also a little pixel magic with the sky...
This appeared on the cover of the NASG Dispatch a year or two ago.
Rusty
That looks great Did you strip the original paint first or just paint over it? I just bought one of these and I do NOT like the factory high gloss finish.
Cheers,
Ken
Over the past week the hot topic on the S-Scalelist at Yahoo has been the American Flyer Y3. Me being a dedicated S Scaler and not knowing one thing about American Flyer, I decided that I would look into this wonder of wonders. I checked out the nice photos that Rusty posted and it is indeed a very nice looking model! Nothing like that ugly, over sized and out of scale Challenger they did a few years ago. I then tried to find a price or dealer on the internet. I found no mention of it even at the LIONEL SITE. I have also notice no one has mention what this thing sells for on any of the forums. It that because it is so expensive?
Another Rusty
Over the past week the hot topic on the S-Scalelist at Yahoo has been the American Flyer Y3. Me being a dedicated S Scaler and not knowing one thing about American Flyer, I decided that I would look into this wonder of wonders. I checked out the nice photos that Rusty posted and it is indeed a very nice looking model! Nothing like that ugly, over sized and out of scale Challenger they did a few years ago. I then tried to find a price or dealer on the internet. I found no mention of it even at the LIONEL SITE. I have also notice no one has mention what this thing sells for on any of the forums. It that because it is so expensive?
Another Rusty
Hi Rusty,
Welcome to the Forum.
Retail for the the Y3 is $999.99 in the 2012 Flyer catalog. Charles Ro lists them for $839. I got mine from my LSH who knocks 10% off and eats the city and state taxes.
I think you're confusing the Challenger with the Big Boy that was derived from K-Line tooling. The Big Boy was somewhere around 1:60 proportion.
The Challenger was built with all new tooling, is to 1:64 proportion, and is a very good model in itself.
The Y3 is even better.
Lionel really seems to be making a commitment to S. It started very slowly in 2003 with the Mikado's. They've expanded beyond "traditional" Flyer now. They're doing things like scale wheels and including Kadee mounting brackets on diesels, DCC compatibility on the SD70's, something they haven't done for the O gaugers.
Rusty
I can post some pictures of a reworked Pacific tonight, but here's a picture of the Northern, also slightly reworked with an MV lens, graphite paint, numberboard decals and crew figures:
There's also a little pixel magic with the sky... This appeared on the cover of the NASG Dispatch a year or two ago.
Rusty
That looks great Did you strip the original paint first or just paint over it? I just bought one of these and I do NOT like the factory high gloss finish.
Cheers,
Ken
Hi, Ken.
Sorry I didn't respond earlier. Been juggling a couple of things and haven't checked in on this thread lately.
With the exception of the graphite smokebox front and some minor rework , the 2920 is in AM's "factory finish." I never got around to applying an overcoat of any kind. This one is from AM's first run of Northerns.
Rusty
A few thoughts from someone who has had 'S' and "0" for awhile. And really, not a technical or artistic person. Keep in mind I love both scales. I have about 400 S rolling stock and probably 800 in O3, O2 and some on30. Unfortunately, S has not had the availability that O experiences today. I am not sure S is really cheaper if that is important. Just this week I ordered 8 RC O 3 rail switches, 18 pcs of gargraves track, a few insulators, and track nails and a case of cork roadbed, and 1 bb structure to approximately replace some O 2 rail track. Cost:approx.$600. A lot of money for a retiree., And as long as us old geezers stick around there will be enuff manufacturers around. Gargraves makes really nice track and is working on their switches. S Helper Service, now MTH is beautiful. You will not find the vast selection of structures in S that you do in O right now. That can all change. You might want to visit one of the local S meets to see and talk to others. I personally haven't been to one in about 10 years, but I really enjoyed them and learned from them. As you can see from your other writers these S guys are really dedicated, knowledgeable, and passionate about S. Lay your hands on back issues of S gaugian magazine. Also, you might want to hold onto your O stuff while exploring S. I have regretted selling stuff in the past. It appears Lionel and MTH are ready to go to war for the High end prototypical S market. There are only so many train guys to go around, but maybe they see a lot of HO guys moving up to a larger scale. Time will tell. Have fun exploring S and absolutely the best of luck in your modelrailroading, whatever that may be.
Good points. I think many of us are seeing our incomes start to fall short.
As for HO, you might want to check out prices on the new stuff...wow...
Brady
The other thing I didn't like about S scale was the track. If you go with scale track then you need the wheels with the smaller flanges. Many locomotives are not made with the smaller flanges thus making a small selection even smaller.
If S scale was cheap like HO then maybe if finances got really bad I might be forced into it but even HO is not cheap anymore.
Ah well, the dilemma continues. I sincerely hope that S scale does grow.
Woah there, pardner...
The HiRail side of S has a much better selection than the scale side.
Admittedly, the one and only current brass manufacturer, River Raisin, doesn't offer HiRail wheeled steam, Lionel/Flyer, AM and the former S Helper Service do, (and I assume MTH will eventually.)
Lionel HiRail offerings were a USRA Light 2-8-2, 4-6-2, UP 4-6-6-4 and N&W 2-8-8-2 (OK and the oversized UP 4-8-8-4.) There is also the re-released Gilbert bast UP FEF-1 4-8-4. Scale wheeled steam is not an option at this time from Lionel, except for an after-market conversion on the 2-8-8-2.
S-Helper offered their B&O 2-8-0 with Hirail or scale wheels.
American Models offers a USRA Heavy 4-6-2, Streamlined PRR K4 4-6-2, NYC Empire State Express 4-6-4 and Santa Fe 2900 Class 4-8-4 with either Hirail or scale wheels.
I freely admit S scale isn't for everyone and the selection, availablility and pricing may seem daunting, but there's been a surprising amount of stuff made over the past decade. Unfortunately, it can be somewhat of a "treasure hunt" to located some items.
S is at a crossroads right now, we're all eagerly waiting to see how Lionel continues with the expansion of the American Flyer brand and how MTH is going to reboot the former S-Helper Service line.
Plus, the LCCA is hinting at some S offerings.
Even if you don't choose to be in S, stay tuned. Things are getting interesting!
Rusty
Yea that is true, but you know it is pretty darn easy to make a statement like that without actually looking into things. #1) The PRR is one of the most popular railroads modeled in any scale, if not the most popular railroad modeled so of course there will be more available for that road. #2) If you actually read his website you would have gotten the impression that he has been doing S scale for many years. One can't go to a few shows come up with that kind of collection in S scale in a short period of time unless you are Donald Trump and he even might have trouble doing it. #3) He (not Trump) obviously has a much larger budget than me as almost all of his steam locomotives are brass and S scale brass ain't cheap.
I've always said that model railroading isn't a race or a competition. For the most part I've enjoyed the ride so far. I've built up my modest collection in the 15 years I have been in O scale. One other thing that turned me off to S scale is that I would be virtually starting all over with almost nothing. It would be kind of like going back to the beginning but if it is the only way I can stay in the hobby I will do it.
Well, what the meaning seemed to be to me was hey it is so easy to do why can't you do it? I guess you didn't mean it that way but when you make a one sentence statement like that without really explaining yourself you must realize it can be taken in many different ways. In my recent posts I never mentioned anything about diesels. I agree there are plenty of diesels available in S scale.
Since this thread had been moved above the line I presumed it was available for more broad discussion. My mistake.
Since this thread had been moved above the line I presumed it was available for more broad discussion. My mistake.
Brady, of course this thread is available for broad discussion. I took what you said the wrong way. Obviously, you didn't mean it that way. That was my mistake. I apologize. I'm cool with it. Let's move on.
Hi, Phil. You raise some valid points. I’m hardly the fount of all S knowledge, but I’ll try to respond as best I can. I did most of this off-line so the format's a little different.
But, the past offerings doesn’t really help someone who’s looking at S today. I won’t deny there’s even a small band of scale folk that feel if something was offered once, even if it was 20-30 years ago, it doesn’t need to be offered again.
I’m hoping MTH’s new and Lionel’s increased involvement in S resolves some of the issues you’ve mentioned.
Drop by anytime and feel free to ask more questions.
Rusty
Rusty,
You may not be the fount of all S knowledge but you know a real lot and your answers are a big help to me or anyone else considering S scale. Thank you and I like your format better than what this forum offers. It's more like what the original forum was like.
Your post has a lot of good information in it. I appreciate it and I did not know about those other NYC steam models. I do have one more question: Why would any S Gauger not want to see a new updated model produced that hasn't been made in 20 years? We all know that as technology has progressed models have gotten more realistic. Would not a new model of something desirable help S scale to grow? This line of thinking makes no sense to me.
The former S-Helper Service S-Trax was next, but lacked crossings and turnout variety and Lionel is surprisingly behind in expandingS FasTrack.
Hi Rusty,
Don’t forget there was at least on ‘cottage industry’ manufacturer of Hi-rail turnouts and crossings using SHS rail. I would think there would be room for more turnout builders; however neither Lionel nor MTH seems willing to be a supplier of rail at present. Let’s hope that’s because they are going to copy some of the Hi-rail designs.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
I do have one more question: Why would any S Gauger not want to see a new updated model produced that hasn't been made in 20 years? We all know that as technology has progressed models have gotten more realistic. Would not a new model of something desirable help S scale to grow? This line of thinking makes no sense to me.
Some of the long time S Scalers are a funny lot. My main criticism of some of my fellow S Scalers is they've been living in the S Scale bubble so long, they don't realize there's an outside model railroad world.
Almost every time some suggestions are mentioned for certain new locos, a few always pop up and say "But so and so already did one! You can still find them!"
Yeah, I've stumbled across a unique old time piece occasionally, but I for one don't feel like searching under various rocks or do a scavenger hunt to find my equipment. That's not how you get new folks interested in S (or any other scale for that matter.)
Fortunately, Don Thompson of SHS and Ron Bashista of AM didn't listen to these folks, otherwise, S Scale would still be stuck in the 50's and 60's. For me, the AM FP7 was part of that "perfect storm" I mentioned earlier.
As I mentioned before, Lionel's SD70 and Y3 really shook the S Scaler bushes like no other previous scale proportioned Flyer loco. I think it was the addition of DCC and Kadee brackets more than anything else. The fact that both models are darn nice helps, too. Attitudes are finally changing.
Believe it or not, I frequently point to the growth of the 3-rail O market over the past 20 or so years as an inspiration for growth in S. In the 1980's, the 3-rail market was nowhere near what it is today. And I think it's even helped the 2-rail O scale guys out a little.
Rusty
The former S-Helper Service S-Trax was next, but lacked crossings and turnout variety and Lionel is surprisingly behind in expandingS FasTrack.
Hi Rusty,
Don’t forget there was at least on ‘cottage industry’ manufacturer of Hi-rail turnouts and crossings using SHS rail. I would think there would be room for more turnout builders; however neither Lionel nor MTH seems willing to be a supplier of rail at present. Let’s hope that’s because they are going to copy some of the Hi-rail designs.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
Sorry, Tom. Didn't mean to omit your turnouts.
Rusty
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