Are There Any S-scale Modelers in Your Area?

[Anonymous]

Are there any s-scale modelers in your area? Other than collectors of AF. I hear that it is getting more popular, especially Sn3, but I have seen no change in my area, Fresno, CA. Mostly HO and some O scale. Lots of G also.
Cheers, Keith
http://www.pinecanyonscalemodels.com
Manufacturer of HO and S scale structures and kits.

[orsonroy]

Lots. Virtually all of them are AF modelers, but they run theirs, not just collect. S scalers don't make a distinction between tinplate, scale and N3 (usually). It's such a minority scale that they ALL have to stick together!

If the selection of standard gauge steam was better, I'd probably be in S now. It's a goo compromise between the mass of O and the space constraints of HO.

[cacole]

Not really in my area, but Roger Russell in Tucson, 70 miles away, is an award winning Sn3 modeler who was featured in Allen Keller's Great Model Railroads Volume 22.

[IRONROOSTER]

I'm in S. There seems to be more dealers at the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, Md. that carry S. Most of the hobby stores around here (Northern Virginia) don't carry any S. A couple have some Flyer and some S Helper. Personally I'm doing S scale and Sn2 - no tinplate.
Enjoy
Paul

[wrobwrob]

In the San Francisco Bay area there are perhaps two dozen S scalers. I am not sure about Flyer fans or narrow gaugers.

As to growing numbers, I am not sure. New guys appear in S scale. They have to be attracted by the size, which is perfect, but I don't know what causes them to make the leap. The National Assocation of S Gaugers devotes a lot of resources to promotion. How successful it is in creating new 1/64 modelers, again I am not sure.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the Houston area and S is doing rather well here. We have one great hobby shop that stocks S scale items and will always willingly order anything else for you. S is a wonderful size to work in, operates well and is highly visible compared to HO or N.

I believe more folks would be modeling in S if they were able to purchase items in their local shops. Unfortunately floor space is costly and a shelf of Athearn will turn more profit than a shelf of American Models or S Helper Service cars. Facts are facts and the shops need to make money.

For those interested in S, Sn2 & Sn3 there is a lot available.
Roger

[Anonymous]

Hi Gang,
I asked the question because on the S forums, the activity is low. We produce some nice structure kits for S, but it is hard to keep the momentum going because the promised sales just never follow through. Here is a link to the page of S that we produce. http://www.pinecanyonscalemodels.com/S-scale-kits-parts.htm You can see that it is a great line of structures. And as Roger states, we do sell several in the Houston area. It just seems that per capita, S gaugers don't purchase much. This probably adds to the delima at the local shops. If it wasn't for the 1/64 scale car collectors, we would not be able to produce the line. In the near future, we will be making some of these structures in HO and O scales to make up for the investment. As for modeling S, I love the automobiles that can be picked up at low cost and have tons of detail. I can create a whole scene with the 50's custom culture feeling.
Happy Railroading,
Keith