S Question for Lionel at York

Ed, I strongly suspect Lionel has gone as far as they will go to accommodate the S scale modeler, just as they have for the O scale modeler. 

I suspect while DCC compatibility and Kadee mounting pads will continue, we will only see S scale equipment based on their O scale line equipped with Flyer wheels and couplers. 

Might seem bad for the true scale crowd, but not for the scale overall.

My opinion, for what it's worth.

Rusty

An outside option could be that if you scale people are OK with the Lionel rolling stock with regards to detail, is it worth asking them if they could produce a number of shells only at a reduced price which would give you the option to put what trucks you prefer on  to them.

If AM are the ones that suit your needs then there is a win win or both sides. Then of course if Lionel don't feel that it is in their interest to do that then they would need to step up and do something that is?

I think you've answered your own question.

Besides, selling things less trucks and couplers is not in Lionel's business model.

Rusty

Yes, it was a thinking out loud moment, but then sometimes if you don't ask, you don't get. 

Perhaps Lionel needs to go through a step change light bulb moment and actually see what the possible sales could be to satisfy both groups without creating tension between them.

At the end of the day it has the ability to potentially increase sales for their bottom line and strengthen the interest in the scale.

Anyone can certainly ask for their S wants, needs, desires.  But, one has to step back and see how the likes of Lionel (and MTH) are currently operating.

Right now, everyone's knocking themselves out to develop ways of controlling their proprietary command systems via smart device.  That seems to be the next golden ring, the answer to expanding the market. 

That's also R&D that doesn't go into the nuts and bolts of the models.  It's almost as if the manufacture of model trains have become secondary to apps.

Rusty

if command systems are the primary development, it's a pity they can't combine resources and come up with a common system that has open source future development and as you mention, it may then allow them to focus on the trains themselves.