hminky wrote: ROFLOL. People need to get a life, most "minority scales" have their own magazines. Harold
ROFLOL. People need to get a life, most "minority scales" have their own magazines.
Harold
OKay, I'm guessing that my smiley faces didn't fully convey the completely tongue-in-cheek manner in which this was offered...
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
I am always offended that modeling the 1870's using OO scale on HO track doesn't get more coverage in MR. We are an active group in the hobby that should get more press.
I was glad to see "Great Model Railroads" including a three-rail O scale layout, as a former "hi-railer" (running 1:48 scale equipment on three-rail track) I've never understood why there's such a huge divide between the two. I could have all scale figures, autos, freight cars, loco's, buildings etc., and running a fully-scenicked layout, but as soon as someone found out I used three-rail track they assumed I was a toy train collector with a layout with eight trains whizzing around in circles with crossbucks ten times scale size and a little man dumping milk cans onto a platform.
That being said, I have to admit when I was in O (I'm in HO now) it was fun at train shows to go over and tease the N-gaugers. "Oh, those little trains are just SO cute!!"
Brothers and sisters, I have a dream. I have a dream that some day we will judge one another by the quality of our work, and not by the size of our trains.
The debate rages on about whether scale is a lifestyle choice or if we are born into it. Some of us became unhappy in our scale and switched over, finally finding fulfillment in a new scale. Others say that's unnatural, and an affront to decency.
People of the majority scale often treat the minority scales as a novelty. From that viewpoint come hurtful stereotypes. "N scale is for coffee tables." "O scale is for Christmas trees." "Z scale is for briefcases."
The minority scales must fight this repression! Fight it not with sticks and stones, but with operating schemes, good scenery, and prototype fidelity! Show them that while our trains may not be the same size, our hearts are! We must show the majority scale that we are a force that will not be silenced! We will not be kept off the pages of MR or excluded from the MR sweepstakes prizes! WE SHALL OVERCOME!
Oh well, lunch break over... Now back to something serious. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: This thread is in no way meant to make light of any real social inequities, of any well-known speeches, or of any real person, living or dead. Its intent is simply to make light of the issue of scale in model railroading from the context of a hypothetical struggle. There. Now my lawyer's happy!