S Scale Remorse...?

You are probably not the only one, but being in S all my life, I've seen things worse. I will agree, the prices nowadays will take your breath away. Which is why I have low tolerance on this fantasy paint scheme B.S. Prices too dear to embrace someone's idea of a fantasy scheme. (As in most of the cylindrical hoppers. We could have gotten more real road names.) But the models have never been more loaded with features. So the apples/oranges scenario is in play here.

I'm staying of course. In most ways, things have never been better. 

If you don't like the prices for the newer Flyonel with all the electronics, there is a lot of "traditional" Flyonel around at reasonable prices. New freightcars including MTH, can be had at lower prices if one shops around at some of the larger dealers. An alternative which operates efficiently and at lower prices overall, is AM rolling stock and locos. Older SHS cars are still available at reasonable prices. It's out there, you just have to look.

Check out the American Models product line. There are a lot of models that are under

$350 for a locomotive and $50-$75 for rolling stock.

A friend sent me a flyer from Charles Ro and he has some nice discounts on the new Lionel and MTH releases.

Roy

I really kind of you envy you S guys.  I really wanted to do something completely different and unique.  However, in the end, I wimped out and got O scale because of the continuing improving selection and quality.

Still there are days I think that I wish I would have.  When the day comes that the giant layout in the basement is gone because of my age I think I'll have S at my next small place.  Seriously.  Please post some photos/videos of your layouts.  You never see or hear about S. 

I've been in S since 1985 and sometimes even I still feel like a newcomer.  I've even thought of going back to HO once or twice.

Yeah, sometimes you have to have the patience of a saint or be Indiana Jones to locate stuff, but that makes being in S that much more rewarding.

The prices can seem high, but looking around at all the other scales, they ain't cheap anymore either. Heck, the new Kato N-scale IC passenger set caught my eye recently, and it totals up to $580.00 for the whole train.(E8 A-B-A and 8 cars)  Yikes...

It's been a tough couple of years recently, but I think S is finally emerging from the recent reboot phase and the future is looking brighter.

Rusty

Gargraves has a nice looking S track.

Well, if I were you I'd think twice before throwing in the towel. The S gauge market is now and in the future will be a better place than it has been for a long time.

A little research on the web shows a variety of prices, for example:

--A great looking and running FM Trainmaster for under $200.00

--A variety of rolling stock tank cars for under $25.00

--A variety of entire train SETS (less track) for under $300.00

--Search mt35  for a large listing of rolling stock under $45.00

But all this is assuming that the only place to get S gauge items is from Dealers.

The online giant auction house we all know is loaded with new and used S gauge product. And don't forget this forum's For Sale section as well as local model train shows in your area.

On a tight budget? (And who isn't?)  Make your own cars!

I have bought many $3.00 and less American Flyer gondolas at train shows and repainted and decaled them into road names American Flyer never made.

I've teased friends who don't have train layouts with gondolas lettered.....

L A C K A L A Y O U T    and     W A N N A L A Y O U T

All I'm saying is while this hobby can be about money it doesn't have to be if you're willing to try to put some fun back into it.

I too have some of those $400.00+ engines and cringed when I bought them.

But I get just as much fun out of those $3.00 cars when I see that pricey engine pull them down the track.

Hang in there. You're not in the hobby to fret the $$$ but to have fun.

Mark

Please don't misinterpret my original post. I am most certainly going to stay with S, and I do know of the less expensive options that exist. In fact,I think part of the allure of S scale is the "thrill of the hunt"; you really gotta look for this stuff!

I guess my intent was to make an observation about the current state of affairs regarding the "new" releases,and to maybe get some other points of view.

I do find it interesting that, so far anyway, no one has mentioned any QC issues; maybe it's not as bad as I thought...

Mark in Oregon

I have had 3 QC issues with the new Flyer.  An erratic chuff on my B&O 2-8-2(when it was new,) a Y3 with the "smoke in firebox" option and a decoration issue with my Erie Lackawanna U33C.

Disappointing to be sure, but perhaps because I'm fortunate to buy through an LHS (and it costs more than going through a web or mail order discounter) that's willing to deal with Lionel on my behalf, the problems were dealth with to my satisfaction with no fuss.

Otherwise, my other new Flyer stuff has been trouble free.

Rusty

Sounds like you might have buyer's remorse in reverse. <G>

I can provide you with a link to my S scale layout, but it's a scale layout, not highrail.

I do have some AF running with scale wheelsets and Kadee couplers.

http://royhoffman.com/pwrr

There's some really nice highrail layouts out there, Carl Tuveson's come to mind.

he has a website at http://www.tuveson.com/ with lots of good pictures.

Roy

John C.

You don't have to be "super rich" to have all the scales.

I'm relatively poor, getting by on SS since my retirement account ended up in some Wall Street SOB's bank account.  According to some on this site, I shouldn't even have trains because I can't afford the latest, "scale models".

I play with Large scale in 1:22.5& 1:24, O/O27 (mechanical & electric by various manufacturers, all either vintage or antique), N scale & now S trains.  I've had HO's and traded them off or gave them away.

 Yes, I'd love to have an Accucraft Live Steam Dreyfuss Hudson in 1:29, but I can't justify spending $4000.00 plus on a toy.

I've played with trains for 55+ years and will continue to play with them.

Just show's you don't have to be rich to play with trains in all scales, excepting Large Scale high end live steam.

Happy Rails!

Dave

I made the move or should I say addition of S. I have thinned a lot of my 3 rail O scale to make room for more S. I like S so much I will probably sell off more 3 rail except Lionel Postwar. I have found S to be very reasonable price wise, especially if you stay with traditional lines. I have been collecting Gilbert American Flyer (which the quality is awesome) American Models,(also excellent quality), and Earlier American Flyer by Lionel. I really enjoy the size of the scale and the variety. You can fit so much more railroad into your available space. Don't look back stick with S.

I think at one time or another people in every scale get "buyer's remorse". I like O gauge but when I look at those G engines I am envious.

I've switched scales at least five times since last Tuesday....

Jeff C

I love my S Scale and always will. What I do is collect seasonally. Meaning that I only hunt S scale at certain times of the year when a TCA train show hits town. I focus on HO in Jan-July maybe and S scale in early Fall and O27 postwar in Nov. I have determined how to get the most bang for the buck so to speak. And yes I would and have sell most if not all of my Lionel if forced to, but would fight to keep the Gilbert S scale stuff. 

quote:

I've switched scales at least five times since last Tuesday....

LOL!  That is WAY TOO true of my model train hobby the past 15 years or so!!!

And it ain't over yet!

I saw a few S scale items at the last train show I attended.  I think that one day I'll have a small S line somewhere because it is kind of a little used scale.  

Kind of ironic that I was looking over here because S is so appealing to me and I find this thread. I have an older American Flyer set amidst my boxes of O , HO, N and even some G.  Went to the Lionel LCCA event last year and the S layout looked so sweet it definitely put a bug in my ear.  

Right now I have to finish the room in the basement (as well as the rest of the house) before anything goes up.

S is OK, but it just looks too small after running my O train.

My locos cost $350-$450 (with sound), and my well-detailed Atlas rolling stock runs the same as you quoted for S.

Bad Order

I don't deny there's few advantages of S pricewise. 

The best thing S has going for it is it's size, being approximately halfway between O and HO.

S is a tough Scale to be in, there's no denying it.  Even in the "good days" of the mid-1980's - 2000's, S couldn't really compete on price, variety or availability.

S isn't for every one, no scale is. 

However, S is an acquired taste, much like fine wine.

Rusty

Rusty Traque,

Maybe some of us are "born" with the taste in the sense that we were raised with S.  I still have my 1st Royal Blue set from the 1940s (which still runs).  Best decision I made regarding trains was in 1957 or '58 when all my (mostly Lionel) buddies were getting into HO.  I chose to stay with S and asked for a new train set for Christmas.  Ended up with a relatively uncommon 21084 (which also runs).

Mark

Some has "S"ness within them, some have "S"ness thrust upon them...

Rusty

Roy, I am very impressed with your S scale layout! It's a true masterpiece!