Misleading Magazine Title

[3railguy]

CTT covers more O gauge than Lionel. S Gaugian is a good mag to subscribe to if you're into S gauge. It seems half is dedicated to Flyer hi rail and toy.

For some reason S gauge isn't as popular and plentiful as O gauge. Maybe because O gauge was first, or O gauge is larger. I don't know.

[Bob Keller]

ogage - my world consists of the product departments of the magazine. Feature stories above my pay grade. Send your ideas and images to Neil at [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

So O.........lord, would a new layout built to "model builder" standards maybe even with b&w photos be interesting enough to find its way into your pages???

[Anonymous]

I think the breakdown by participation/volume of sales is

HO-80+%
N -is second and is as large or slightly larger than everthing else that is left combined, i.e. N is larger than O plus three rail O, plus S, plus Garden, plus Z, TT, ... etc.

[ben10ben]

I don't know...I found the story about the correct pronunciation of Lionel to be one of my favorite CTT articles so far. Mostly because I've had plenty of good natured debate about that very topic with several people, and the article gave some more fuel to both sides of the fire.

[Frank53]

I probably wouldn't have wasted the space on such a story, but that's just me.

I remember seeing the cover in the hobby shop and immediately thinking it was about some under handed dealings by Lionel, which seemed pretty edgy.

[Bob Keller]

And what would your cover blurb for the story have been, Frank?

And to ogage, the Anderson story (in the Jan 99 issue) worked because his dad, who took the photos, was a professional photographer. While we've received a few snapshots of people's vintage layouts, none have been as complete a view of their layout, and most are typical (me included) over/under exposed, out of focus, bad depth of field and aren't really publishable.

[Anonymous]

And in 50 years the 100 year old F-3 will still run and you will be trying to figure out how to retro fit a different motor into your modern model and also trying to figure out if you can make your TMCC board work when the technology is 49 years long gone (BTW I do like TMCC and Railsounds). Of course that is providing we are both still around in another 50 years..............

Bob, since you picked my reply to comment on(this is a form after all) maybe you could answer a question............... Is the John Anderson Layout from Dec 99 the only article on a real 40's/50's layout really the only one you have ever recieved? I seem to recall there were letters posted in the next few issues that complimented the article suggesting that it was indeed popular=> suggesting more such articles would also be popular? Doh I forgot about the other similar story about the kid who had his layout on the cover of Toy Trains in 54 or something..........................

Come on, DIG up some stories like that! Come back??

[Frank53]

I don't have the issue before me, but the one with Lyin-el (or some derivative thereof emblazoned on the cover didn't exactly lead me to believe there was no anti-Lionel bias, even though the "article" was about correct pronounciation.

[Bob Keller]

Envision a rather beat up (if loved) 2344.

Set it next to a scale model like Lionel's newer F3.

You will see a difference between the two. In spite of the loving glow I project around the 2344, it doesn't look as good as a new one. The vintage 2344 is never going to look as good as the brand new product.

And yes, they are all toys. Some look more like childrens playthings than others. I don't have a problem with that - my default brand of choice is Williams.

[palallin]

"Shabby and toy-like." What a pair! Gee, Bob: isn't "toy" trains what this segment of the hobby is all about? You make it sound like a problem.

Mild sarcasm aside, I do not understand that review. Of course the engine is "toy-like": it's a toy!

[Bob Keller]

Hey ogage, asking a premium price for a train made with worn-out, 50-year old tooling is one thing. Producing a model of the same thing, but from new tooling, is notable.

You will note that when Lionel re-issued the F3 (Lead review, May 2003, title "There's a new sheriff in Lionelville") I wrote "I quickly turned my eyes because the new F3 made my beloved postwar model look - well - shabby and toy-like."

I gave credit where it was due. [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxt30

It's not uncommon for a lot of our fellow O-gauge guys to mention how they get magazines like Model Railroader, an HO magazine, for great reading & ideas. If I was into S-gauge, I surely would be picking a copy of CTT & others now & then to see what I could build, or get ideas or help with mountain building, etc. Well Indian, It's good you came over & told us your problem, cause now we can counsel you on it . I've noticed a lot of very highly educated people here & not too many rivet counters ! I will continue to enjoy my clumsy, unrealistic Toy trains ! Thanks, John

I'm with you, John. Guess Indian isn't in tune with his imagination and inner child like the 3-railers are......playing with my trains takes me back to when imagination is about all it took to have fun, gasoline was 33 cents a gallon and most of us in the South could leave home all day for a trip to town with the doors open and unlocked, etc......

[FJ and G]

geee. I strayed so far off topic forgot to welcome Indian R. to the forum.

WELCOME ABOARD!

We'll keep a pot of coffee warm for ya.[:D]

Sorry we keep losing our train of thought

[Anonymous]

After reading the first post only, you error is that the title should read classic MTH is the best Trains, since CTT seems more willing to bash all of lionel and no one else!

I mean, when a lionel reissue F-3 was tested, CTT bashed it saying stuff like the details were old and the design junky, but when williams issued their copies with can motors, they were hailed as the greatest thing since sliced bread...............something a little out of sinq there.

It is unfortunate that there are not more S guage articles, on the other hand, there are 100+times more S gauge probucts on the market than there ever have been before and maybe it will get better????

You don't see any standard gauge articles do you?
You don't see many small layout's do you?
All the new small designs are remakes showing how to use fasttrack or MTH equivqlent( not for me, but its not a bad thing either)

The layouts seem to be catering to the fellow that pays big bucks to have a layout built for him that is a closer to scale than highrail giant........ good for those guys, but I am NOT one who only likes to see those layouts because thats what someone thinks I dream for!

My favorite altime CTT layout article still is the Dec 99 one about John Anderson's late 40's basemnt layouts with history and great pics........... Thats what I want to build......... More like that please?????

[Tom1947]

I also run and collect Flyer. I also look forward to Classic Toy Trains coming each month. I have every issue except the very first issue. I do not know how many times over the past years that I have pulled out a back issue of Classic Toy Trains to look at past articles. The information contained in many of the articles applies to more than one specific scale. Platform construction, scenery, and wiring applies to all scales not just one. I cannot remember an issue that has not had at least one article on Flyer. I do remember when I saw the first issue of Classic Toy Trains. I was really glad that someone had decided to publish a magizine with the older trains of the 50's and 60's in mind. Up until that time most of the magizines cover HO primarly. Each month I look forward to the arivial of the magizine and those and those months that no magizine is published seem long. To the staff of Classic Toy Trains keep up the good work.

[laz 57]

Hey some GIZ like 0 Gauge and some like FLYER.
Just shut up and read the magazine if you don't like it don't get it.
Simple as that.
laz57

[hugoroundhouse]

I'm a died-in-the-wool American Flyer guy. I've always thought that three-rail Lionel stuff looked a little funky, but at the same time, I realize that what I prefer is in the minority. Flyer was always in the minority. When I get my copy of CTT, I fully expect it to be primarily about Lionel-type products, but applicable to other gauges and O brands.

Just about all articles have application to Flyer as well as Lionel. Remember the article about straightening out a bent loco cab?

I do appreciate seeing articles specific to American Flyer, like the recent one on rebuilding and maintaining swtiches.

I think we sometimes get too obsessed with our own preferences. We need to relax and enjoy the ride. Let's not take the fun out of this! If we do it becomes WORK (yuck!) not a hobby !

Ridin' that 2-rail Flyer into the sunset.....

Jim E.

[1688torpedo]

I do not believe That CTT is misleading anybody as to the content of what is in its pages. I find it to be a very informative and fine magazine to boot. CTT has had articles in the past dealing with S gauge layouts,American Flyer S Gauge Collections and collectors, And. even Ads from companies that cater to the S Gauge Crowd with products and services. Sir, I do not understand your complaint at all.

[Warburton]

FWIW, I'd like to see more articles in CTT on Marx layouts. There is something irresistible to me about the toylike look of Marx trains and accessories. But there is precious little Marx stuff in the mag because there is precious little interest in it (compared to o gauge).
I think CTT does a fairly good job of covering s gauge and I enjoy the articles about it even though I'm a Lionel guy.

My local dealer sells many times more Lionel product than Am Flyer although he stocks both. He says for some reason there is not the interest in Flyer that there is in Lionel. Also, that Flyer guys are more prone to buy postwar Flyer in very good condition and fix it up themselves rather than spring for new production stuff. He finds this discrepancy between L and AF fans very puzzling, as do I!

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by indian river
[brWhy did I subscribe in the first place? That is simple too. The title of CLASSIC TOY TRAINS implied ALL gauges, which as time went on proved to be an utter falsehood.

so you're looking to blame your lack of research on the content on just the title of the magazine.

I picked up a copy of Time Magazine the other day, because I thought it was about watches and clocks. It' wasn't. I'm ticked off. I'm going to sue.

I've got an ex-wife who can provide me with enough mindless drama and narrow thinking to last a lifetime, good thing I could pick up a little extra here.

[FJ and G]

Thank's Buckeye,

Great research and although not scientific, would seem to be a good yardstick of popularity.

It's sad about S scale never catching on big. I think it's much much better than HO, heftwise and yet small enough.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

Just curious, but I wonder what the actual market is for:
N
HO
S
O
G

In other words, if we put 100 "train" people in a room, what percent primarily models a particular scale. I would assume that HO would lead the pack based upon my reading and my observation at train shows.

I thought about this overnight and checked EBAY this morning to see what scales were selling. Here is the number of auctions, rounded to the nearest hundred for each size:

Z - 600
N - 7,900
HO - 24, 900
OO - 300
S - 1,700
O - 18, 300
Stand - 800
G - 2,400
Using the numbers above as a guide we could speculate that popularity of the scales are:
HO - 1st
O - 2nd
N - 3rd
G - 4th
S - 5th
Stand - 6th
Z - 7th
OO - 8th

Of course this does not give us a perfect sampling, because maybe the N scale folks for instance don't sell their cars on Ebay but rather toss them in a shoe box. Wouldn't 50 N Scale cars fit in a shoe box?

I guess it does explain why we don't see many articles in CTT about OO scale. There are very few people who would or could write articles about this scale.

And that is my [2c] BTW, I'm still looking for all those Lionel ads in CTT. [:)] I bet CTT is looking, too. [:D]

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. 

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

• Reply

[FJ and G]

Indian River,

I AGREE with you!

I too think that the title Classic Toy Trains should change. The new title should be:

"Modern and Classic Toy Trains in O and S Gauge, Featuring Lionel, MTH, American Flyer, K-Line, Williams, 3rd Rail, Weaver, & Several Others."

Do you think that would fit on the cover?

[:D][^][8D][}:)][:O][:P][:P][:P][:P][;)]

[nblum]

This has got to be the most questionable complaint of the year, IMO. Inaccurate, petulant and self-serving, not to mention unfair. CTT cannot publish stuff they don't receive and the magazine is the only one that covers a broad range of toy train topics, including historical information, other than the TCA Quarterly, which requires TCA membership. Suggest you reconsider both your position and level of hostility. And write an article about S gauge trains for CTT. There will be more S gauge stuff and you'll get paid for it too ;).

[Anonymous]

I could better understand your problem if "S" did not have it's own publication. I do NOT understand your problem with the title of CTT unless you took out a 5 year subscription before you realised it was'nt "S heavy". Most of the "how to" articles are not scale-specific (S-scale snow???). I "started" with O as a kid, re-started with postwar AF S, now mainly into newer O, and recently built a small N layout. Because I love trains, I love ALL publications that deal with them.

[Jumijo]

I've got many back issues of CTT and they are are filled with S-scale articles.

Jim

[Anonymous]

HO, N, O, G, S--in that order from most popular in terms of overall sales to least popular--would be my guess.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Just curious, but I wonder what the actual market is for:
N
HO
S
O
G

In other words, if we put 100 "train" people in a room, what percent primarily models a particular scale. I would assume that HO would lead the pack based upon my reading and my observation at train shows.

[ChiefEagles]

well put guys, for my [2c] Notice it did not get deleted here and got an answer from CTT. [;)]