"To all,
This is a hard message to write without sounding condescending and I'll probably fail miserably but I think some things need to be said. Because I don't have enough sense to shut up it might as well be me.
There is a big difference between stating our preferences by pointing out the failings of the status quo re: scales and gauge in LS, and personal attacks. I have seen people flamed merely for expressing their desire for one type of equipment or another. I have also seen others flamed for adhering to "incorrect" scales.
In the first place, there is no "incorrect" scale only out of scale products. All the models offered are out of scale one way or another. The only differences are the particular compromises being made.
Perhaps I'm more pragmatic than many because I've been in and out of almost every scale imaginable at one time or another and no scale is better than any other.
First take 1:29 scale. Yes the gauge is quite a ways out. Personally if I were modeling standard gauge and had a choice I would definately choose 1:32 but look at who is in 1:29. The vast majority are fans of modern diesels. Where else are they to go unless they can afford to pay thousands of dollars for 1:32 brass diesels? Too who can deny the fidelity to scale otherwise of Aristo's and USA's beautiful diesels? Is a person to be considered "evil" because he takes advantage of what comes closest to meeting his needs? All I can say is that if they're evil then I'm the Devil himself because I'm still using 1:24 to represent 3 foot gauge and that's a lot further out of whack than 1:29!
Conversely, is it wrong to want closer to scale models in 1:32 scale or any other scale for that matter? If largescale and model railroading is to survive the envelope must be pushed to achieve greater realism whenever possible. As a small child I had big bright Lionel trains. In a catalog I had was advertised the NYC Hudson 5344. In it Lionel bragged that the tender on the locomotive had the same number of rivets as the real one. Lionel a rivet counter? Yep! They pushed the envelope! The loco cost $65 though, out of reach of most at the time. My whole train set only cost about $30.
The early scale "O" clubs prevalent in the East used solid rails and outside third rail for better looking track meaning my Lionel out of the box couldn't run on club tracks without conversion. I wonder how many folks were quite upset at that change? Must have been promoted by some troublemaker that wanted to spoil everyone's fun! I can only imagine the gnashing of teeth when American Flyer changed from 3 rail "O" track to 2 rail "S" gauge!
In the middle to late thirties a scale war went on between HO and OO gauges. HO being 3.5mm to the foot and OO being 4mm to the foot. Of course you Brits had to confound everybody by running 4mm models on HO track! Lionel introduced a line of OO trains similar to those offered already in O72. American Flyer backed HO scale later with their own line. Sound familiar? Neither ultimately became a major player in either of the two scales although I recall American Flyer HO still available in the fifties.
The whole point is that any technology that stands still is ultimately doomed. Change is inevitable.
There is more to scale railroading than merely the models. I've known several master builders that exceeded my poor abilities a hundred fold that never quite had the time or inclination to pull it all together and build a railroad finished enough to provide operating opportunities. They were quite happy doing their own thing. It's not my place to say that they were wrong because they only ran on a test track or displayed their models on a shelf.
There are some beautiful railroads built in every scale imaginable and there are also modelers that never have actually operated their creations in a prototypical manner. So what?
We have a choice here. We can either use these forums to make friends and enjoy fellowship with those of like ilk or as a platform to insult and put down everyone that disagrees with us. A real "ego" trip! Personally I prefer the former. I will continue to state my opinions whenever I feel it appropriate to do so and I encourage others to do the same. Just remember that because the other fellow marches to the beat of a different drum doesn't make him an enemy.
It's not wrong to want something better nor is it wrong to like what you've got. Honest argument and opinion should not be considered an attack on anyone's whole way of life. This is only a hobby not life and death. I welcome 1:32 scale just as I welcomed 1:20.3 because it is another step forward but I will never criticize your choice whatever it is. We don't have to agree or even like one another if that's your choice but we do need to respect one another.
My Nickel and a halfs worth,
Richard"
