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S scale comments........
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On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 05:30 AM, Pieter Roos wrote:
I would bet that the molds/tooling for the pieces under discussion reside in China. (after 50 years I expect the idea of ¡°growing¡± S into a major scale is one to forget). Lionel has several factories in China which produce products for them.? At one time, the number was at least 10+ different factories.? Lionel obtained competitive bids for production from various factories in their attempts to keep the numbers reasonable.? I do not know how many factories Lionel uses these days.? I am quite sure Lionel did not own these factories but had exclusive use of their capabilities.
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I really appreciate Pieter's thinking outside the box regarding S scale not becoming a major scale.? As two old-tymers in S, we have both worked hard in our individual ways to accomplish that goal.? I, for one, feel it is impossible unless a big Sugar Daddy steps up to the task.? So far, I have not seen a Sugar Daddy on the horizon heading our way.?
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Perhaps S scale marketing should emphasize that S is the best niche scale to enjoy.? Creatively making things might be an appeal to many rather than simply buying things.? (Note:? "might" is not the same as "will".)? Promoting all the different ways folks could make things in S scale for themselves would be a new approach.? Perhaps it would be better to be known as the BEST NICHE SCALE rather than the long-lost? formerly-major scale?? No matter how much S advertises, the lack of products remains the biggest single obstacle to attracting those from other scales to S.?
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Just my thoughts.? Worth what you paid for them.? Enjoy.........
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Cheers..........Ed Loizeaux?
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Ed Loizeaux Los Altos, CA |
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On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 10:50 AM, Ed Loizeaux wrote:
Perhaps S scale marketing should emphasize that S is the best niche scale to enjoy.? Creatively making things might be an appeal to many rather than simply buying things.The thing is: People also creatively make things in the other scales.? There still has to be a baseline of available support infrastructure.? Remaining a curiosity and sticking to the "builders scale" will eventually lead to S's demise. ?
Rich G(ajnak) |
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Ed, ? I like your thinking!? We need to share a realistic picture of the challenges and opportunities in S through our 'promotional' efforts, and I think generally we have.? We're not HO or O or N...'never have been and we never will be.? We shouldn't pretend otherwise.? In the November 2024 issue of Model Railroader (the infamous "Explore S Scale" issue), I ended my article entitled "S Scale Today" with the following paragraph...complete with a quote from you!?? ? "To summarize, while there might not be as much RTR equipment available in S as in the more popular scales, those of us who model in S find its advantages more than outweigh the challenges. Roger Nulton¡¯s beautiful Monon layout and the photos accompanying this article demonstrate what can be done in 1:64.? The models created by Paul Washburn show that techniques for modeling in other scales are applicable in S.? Modeling in 1:64 isn¡¯t for everyone but it might be for you if you want to have something a bit different in an ideal size and you¡¯re willing to do the extra work to achieve it.? As veteran S modeler Ed Loizeaux says, ¡°The joy of accomplishment is hard to beat.¡±? Involvement in today¡¯s world of S scale model railroading is very rewarding!" ? And in an article which will appear in an upcoming issue of one of the multi-scale magazines I included the following: ? "Modeling in S (1:64 scale) is not for the faint of heart.? The amount of equipment available new is limited compared to more popular scales, although there is a very active secondary market.? But those of us in S are passionate about it.? An S model is just 36% larger in any dimension than an HO model but this results in a volume 250% that of an equivalent HO model.? The larger size gives S models a visual presence not matched in smaller scales.? It also means more durable details and more room for electronics and speakers.? The mass of the larger models also means better electrical reliability and stability while rolling along the track.? Finally, for those of us getting up there in age, it¡¯s just easier to see and work on the larger S models.? For more information on scale modeling in S, go to the website of the National Association of S Gaugers ()." ? I'm with you, Ed.? Let's enjoy what we are and not bemoan what we're not.? Onward! ? ?Brooks Stover |
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I think Don Thompson and his partner came as close to a sugar uncle as we are ever likely to see.? They developed a complete line of full-scale (but operable on AF track) line of cars, locomotives, and track system at affordable prices.? ?Why it didn't take
off even more than it did before the Chinese production was pulled out from under them, I cannot quite understand.
Jace Kahn
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Ed Loizeaux <Loizeaux@...>
Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 1:50 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [S-Scale] S scale comments........ ?
On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 05:30 AM, Pieter Roos wrote:
I would bet that the molds/tooling for the pieces under discussion reside in China. (after 50 years I expect the idea of ¡°growing¡± S into a major scale is one to forget). Lionel has several factories in China which produce products for them.? At one time, the number was at least 10+ different factories.? Lionel obtained competitive bids for production from various factories in their attempts to keep the numbers reasonable.?
I do not know how many factories Lionel uses these days.? I am quite sure Lionel did not own these factories but had exclusive use of their capabilities.
?
I really appreciate Pieter's thinking outside the box regarding S scale not becoming a major scale.? As two old-tymers in S, we have both worked hard in our individual ways to accomplish that goal.? I, for one, feel it is impossible unless a big Sugar
Daddy steps up to the task.? So far, I have not seen a Sugar Daddy on the horizon heading our way.?
?
Perhaps S scale marketing should emphasize that S is the best niche scale to enjoy.? Creatively making things might be an appeal to many rather than simply buying things.? (Note:? "might" is not the same as "will".)? Promoting all the different ways folks
could make things in S scale for themselves would be a new approach.? Perhaps it would be better to be known as the
BEST NICHE SCALE rather than the long-lost? formerly-major scale?? No matter how much S advertises, the lack of products remains the biggest single obstacle to attracting those from other scales to S.?
?
Just my thoughts.? Worth what you paid for them.? Enjoy.........
?
Cheers..........Ed Loizeaux?
--
Ed Loizeaux
Los Altos, CA |
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Very true Brian, if you look at our history, at one time or another 400 hobby shops purchased from us. Never more than 50 stocked our product at one time (around 2000). Although Walthers was our distributor, most hobby shops purchased directly ( I¡¯m guessing the Robin effect!). We tried hard with hobby shops, liberal terms, 40% discount, free 4 color catalogs, ?etc. when we had sales, the hobby shops could take advantage. In 1993 we were on of the first S Scale companies to include UPS codes on our packaging¡ |
Ben
Don Thompson