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The hostility and negativety here simply amazes me, and one unfortunately experiences it throughout this Forum lately. Why do you guys get all worked up, condemn each others particular preference for brass vs plastic, Kadee over Atlas, or even complain about LL Proto2K's marketing policies? Imagine model railroading without Proto 2K. LL's marketing policies are their policies, and how they have decided that they need to manage their business. Their out-of-production items can be found with a little dilligence. In this ready-to-run day and age, some folks expect instant gratification - in this case - a manufacturer, distributor, or a LHS to maintain stock on everything ever made. The business world doesn't function that way. Never has-never will. This is a great hobby, and we are blessed now with more high quality products that appeal to different price segments than ever before. Yes, brass is expensive, and many run poorly. If one doesn't paint them, they often tarnish and deteriorate over time, esp. in certain climates. Some brass folks condemn those who paint their brass equipment. And vice versa. Some model railroaders swear by Broadway Ltd. and scorn Proto2K, while others criticize Spectrum, Atlas, etc. Even the "blue-boxers" berate MDC, who snear at Model Power, and on and on. Why? Not everyone can afford brass models, or even can justify having just one. To them, a Proto 2K or Spectrum engine is a splurge, and something they have to save up to purchase, perhaps, even a used one. Model railroading isn't the exclusive domain of the independently wealthy, the elitest & snobby, or even those who choose to spend all their money on this hobby. Lots of us have other interests, hobbies, and financial limitations and responsibilities - like family, medical, possibly a fixed-income, and prudent investing for those needs, and eventual retirement. Some people get jazzed by just having a train set run around the tree at Christmas time. Is that okay? What do you think? Isn't this about having fun with trains, no matter what ones level of involvement, financial means, or interests are. Are Tinplaters bad people? Are rivet counters to be avoided, or do they set an unattainable standard that others should be judged by? Does the guy that runs an 80+ foot autorack behind a 4-6-4 irk you? Do you have to wear an engineer's hat when you run your trains? God forbid if you have but an oval, a continuous run, or even your main double-backs thru the same scene ! And everything costs more than it used to, but the quality and overall accuracy of most items blows away what was available only ten or fifteen years ago. Some items like the "blue boxes" are overpriced compared to other products, although they can be still picked up enmass at trainshows - in kit form - at very affordable prices. I had a bunch of them - incl. passenger cars priced in the $5. range - for sale at a show just last week, that I brought back home - again. There isn't a shortage out there - it's just been hyped-up beyond belief by the sky-is-falling crowd. That the "blue box" kits were originally offered for less than $1. is totally irrelevent, for that was when the minimum wage was $1.15, and that was when a new Chevy cost less than $2500. out the door. End of my monthly rant. Go play with your trains and have a good time - if you can. . . BILL
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