On30 ignored in "Selecting a Scale" Editorial in Dec '04 Model Railroader

[hminky]

Why was On30 ignored[:(] in the "Selecting a Scale" editorial in the December 2004 Model Railroader[?]. It is more than a minority subset of O scale. We have an inexpensive train set for beginners[:D]. A railroad can be built in the area of HO. Pacific Coast Air Line is presenting the building of a small 4x8 layout that has as much operation as HO on a 4x8.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/

It is a very viable size for beginners and narrow gauge in it's heyday offered as much operation as standard gauge in a more managable format.
Just a morning rant
Harold

PS: It is not On2-1/2, get with the program Model Railroader[:o)]

[Anonymous]

SO?

[dave9999]

Because On30 is not is own "scale", but narrow "gauge" O scale. Now if Model
Railroader had said "Selecting a Gauge".... Dave

And, On30/ On2 1/2, same difference.

[hminky]

I felt it should have been mentioned as an alternative under O scale. It is a very good option if you want to model O scale. When I was in S scale they ignored mentioning the wide range of products available for S standard gauge and only showed or mentioned Sn3.
Living in a minority world
Harold

I know it is not it's own scale, I am not that stupid.

[Anonymous]

It's a legimate gripe, honestly i wouldn't have a clue if someone said they model ON 2 1/2, ON-30 just roles off the tongue better. And i do believe it is a rapidly growing choice for many people. A lot of older people want the ease of runnign trains and the size to enable them to work on scenery better. Rightn now we only relaly have one major player in the field, Bachmann, and one minor, Broadway limited. But bachmann has brought out and is bringing out some great new stuff, heisler and 2-8-0 comes to mind.
Now if lionel wants a scale they could dominate, then need to get busy in ON-30. Of course i'm not going to pay 800.00 for an on-30 engine. LOL
Bill

[railman]

It should be mentioned...

[MRTerry]

Dear Harold,
The answer to why I chose the scales I did is pretty simple, and pretty mundane - there is space for only about 650 words in the editorial, give or take a few. I just didn't have the space to mention the narrow gauge variants of each scale. As it was, we had to cut some scales and combine the listings for others.
Thanks for reading MR,
Terry

[hminky]

Terry,
The only reason I mentioned the omission was the editorial was geared for the beginner. On30 is the only narrow gauge that has a train set. You could have cut out the tinplate history portion about American Flyer. That was somewhat unimportant to the average newcomer.
Gently throwing a brickbat
Harold

[cwclark]

that's what I would have done...mentioned the most popular gauges for beginners...when you start talking narrow gauge to first time potential modelers in any of the gauges it takes a lot of skill and know how to pull it off that they haven't acquired yet...i believe the editors are trying to get people in the hobby and mentioning narrow gauge right off the bat could scare lots of potential model railroaders away ...you have to learn to crawl first before you can walk..Chuck[:D]

[hminky]

Chuck,
Buying a Bachmann On30 train set and setting up an oval of track in narrow gauge seems rather easy. The world's largest home layout really seems like the type article for the issue that most newcomer's first buy. Talk about scaring people off. Narrow gauge is no more complicated than any other type railroading, less complicated than duplicating the Pennsy on your 4x8.
Just a thought
Harold

[areibel]

Well he didn't even MENTION TT scale! Let alone TTn42!!
(Sorry Terry, couldn't resist!)
I thought it was a good editorial, regardless of the space allotted. Come on, it's the December issue, I'll bet a lot of "off the rack" sales are to persons that are looking at their first Christmas train set. If they're smart enough to buy a magazine first, they'll look at the ads, figure out what size they like, what's age appropriate, etc.. They don't need a big PR campaign for one gauge or scale. Let's just hope they buy a quality product, so they decide to stick with it instead of packing it away and forgetting it.

[IRONROOSTER]

I thought he did very well to cover the major scales. Covering the narrow gauges would require another whole editorial. Plus with On30 you have to explain that it is not representative of the U.S. but a compromise to use HO track.
I was glad to see that S scale was treated as a viable alternative and not some weird stepsister.
Now if we can get coverage of Sn2....
Enjoy
Paul