2016 Fall S Fest Friday (and Saturday, too.)

Rusty Traque posted:

A quick note from Friday at the S Fest.

The MTH S Fest Sprecher reefers didn't make it for the Fest and are due in December.  They have sold well.  (Maybe the F3's are in the same container?)  Registrations for Friday, including walk in's was around 250.

Couple of empty tables, but some folks can only make it on Saturday.  Pretty much the usual suspects for the Fest.  Mostly Flyer and Hi-Rail, but some gems for the scale guys, too.

Fox Valley Models was showing off samples of their new track: (Cell phone shots)

35.4" Flex track, #5 turnouts (available as Hi-Rail or Scale) insulated and regular rail joiners.  Bundle of 6 sections of Flex $65.00, turnouts $34.00.

Most interesting items seen so far: A custom painted AM GG1 in Milwaukee Road (well done, too...)

And at the model contest: Take 2 K5's an an AM tender, stir, bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours and Presto!  A freelance Cab Forward:

Well, it's a little more complicated than that, but it's a pretty nice model.

That's it for now.  Gotta get ready to go back.

Rusty

 

Thanks Rusty, I always enjoy your reviews and your photos. They give me hope for the future

Don 

That track system is a very important product for S scale. Track like that would have gone a long ways toward keeping me in S scale.

Too bad those switches don't have a movable point in the frog so Scale and hi-rail can both use it.

Hit the road back to S Fest on Saturday.  A couple of more cell phone shots from the model contest.  Seems my phone isn't fond of meeting hall shots.  Next time I'm bringing my pocket camera.

A pair of modified AM E8's for Rock Island:

And the kinda neat mining loco for the Gilbert dump cars:

Next year's Fest is being hosted by the Stateline group.  Here's what the 2017 S Fest car will be:

I'm in...

And now, my Fest finds:

First up, this American Models boxcar was a Spring S Spree car for the Cuyahoga Valley S Gaugers, sometime in the late 80's as I recall.  It's on my list to be scalified.

Next, I picked up this custom painted AM covered Hopper by Ken Zeiska.

And finally, I've been orbiting around AM Superliner sets for the past couple of Fests, wondering whether or not to pick up a set.   I finally bit the bullet and at the best price I've seen for one.  Scale, phase III paint and with the extra diner, no box, no track for much less than a boxed set.  Good things come to those who wait.

Also, this set came to the Fest via the Empire Builder!

Anyways...  There was a good mix of old and new Flyer, Hirail  and Scale at this Fest.  AM must be cleaning house, they had a couple of AC Hirail SD60's available and even a PA or two.  Sadly, it seems were beginning to see more collections of those that have passed on or are leaving the scale for various reasons in general.  Still, folks seemed pretty upbeat.

I didn't hear any buzz about MTH (except for the delay of Fest cars) one way or the other.

Overall, it's always good to be where S folks gather.  Whether a Fest is good or bad is pretty much an individual perspective.  Of course, there's the social aspect, seeing many folks one hasn't seen in a year.   Then there's the stuff.  Old, new, unique and commonplace.  The occasional surprise.  It's all there.

Adding up the total experience, at least from my perspective, the Fest was a success.

Rusty

The SLSG's car is a winner. Definitely getting one. Are multiple numbers going to be available?

Don't know.  Didn't ask.  We'll find out when the next Fest mailing comes out.

Rusty

I too like to fest car for next year. I wish I would have realized that fox valley models was there, it would have been nice to prod them to see if there is anything from their HO/N line in the future will be scaled up.  

All in all it was a good time, and I look forward to next year.  Now in one weekend I will be at Trainfest, chasing down Lionel and MTH.  

A view to the left and right walking in.

Some additional pick ups. 

Ben

Ben, looks like you came prepared to buy. I wish I could ave been there. The UP E8 is one of the engines Ed just finished modifying for me. 

On the other posts I think anyone making scale appearing high rail turnouts for S is a positive development. The turnouts pictured do not have wing rails or guide rails. Those could be added so the turnouts could accommodate both high rail and scale. The frog depth may need to be modified as well.  

The Fox Valley turnouts do have guard rails.  They're hard to see, but molded plastic with the ties.

Rusty