Hello, I am one of those S scalers on this list and feel I have to mention
that although S Helper service is guilty of making an improper "rebuilt"
boxcar, the majority of their models are better than very good. It also has
to be pointed out that the very limited market for S scale (including Hi-rail
and/or tinplate) is fortunate indeed to have these injection molded plastic
models. Hey, I don't even complain that the cars come equipped with Hi-rail
wheels and AF compatible couplers, the code .110 scale wheelsets are included
and easy to install. Buying and installing the Kadee S scale 802's is also of
no major concern for me. I don't plan to have a several hundred car fleet,
maybe 150 when all is said and done. I don't even mind buying the occasional
"incorrect" car to help the cause. I also still build craftsman kits and the
plastic Pacific Rail Products kits along with a few of this list's beloved
resin kits (NYC Despatch hopper and Erie Dunmore, both F&C kits) An
occasional scratchbuilt car when I find the time (DL&W 42' wood milk car in
progress). Oh yes also working on one of Earl's Std Rwy Castings kits.
Without those SHS cars to help fill in the roster quickly, I'd be hard
pressed to get a lengthy train together. Thanks for reading guys, buy
yourself at least one S scale car for your display shelf, I don't think
you'll be disappointed. Bud Rindfleisch

Bud Rindfleisch wrote:

"Hello, I am one of those S scalers on this list and feel I have to mention
that although S Helper service is guilty of making an improper "rebuilt"
boxcar, the majority of their models are better than very good."

Yeah, but when they screw up, it's a doozy - the "rebuild" and USRA DS
cars are examples of what happens when you recycle tooling too many times -
each compromise that you make adds up until you have a model that's a
mishmash of several prototypes that doesn't represent anything. Think of it
like trying to drive a mountain road in a car with the windows painted over
with a stopwatch and road map. You'll do okay at first, but pretty soon
your errors add up and you end up going over a cliff.


"It also has to be pointed out that the very limited market for S scale
(including Hi-rail and/or tinplate) is fortunate indeed to have these
injection molded plastic models."

That's true, but a badly done kit of a previously unavailable prototype has
the effect of drawing off sales of better models that come later, especially
in a limited market such as S scale. The Kadee PS-1 broke this trend, so
maybe there's hope. Then again, HO is a much bigger market.


"Without those SHS cars to help fill in the roster quickly, I'd be hard
pressed to get a lengthy train together."

That was true 15 years ago in HO too, but we didn't get to where we are
today by accepting bad models. An inaccurate kit is an inaccurate kit, no
matter what the scale. $35 is a lot to spend on a train filler. Why should
you reward a manufacturer for making willful mistakes?


Ben Hom

Ben, You have some good points, but if you've never been an S scaler, you
just wouldn't understand the logic we sometimes subscribe to. Like the one
Harley Davidson ad states: "if I have to explain, you just wouldn't
understand" I too am picky on my choices of rolling stock and try to correct
any inaccuracies as time and ability permits, I find the 98% majority of
people who would see the layout wouldn't know the difference but I build to
satisfy my own standards. Having been forced to kitbash Am Flyer, build
wooden craftsman kits, etc over the years, I've realized that I ain't gonna
live forever and the eysight and manual dexterity are already not what they
once were (which is why I went into S years ago) So I'll buy only a few of
these inaccurate cars to hopefully be replaced by the more accurate kitbashes
as time permits (if I do end end up living long enough to enjoy the fruits of
the labor) You HO guys are fortunate to have so many choices but I wouldn't
trade places with you for anything. Bud