Dear Sirs,

I need your help! Do you, or anybody you know, have or know where I can get S scale people? They are about 1-1/8 inches high. I have looked high and low with no luck. Any help would be appericated.

Harold Potter
St. Louis, MO

There are several firms making S scale figures. If you can access the internet, here are their web sites:

Aritista:
www.arttista.qpg.com

Fun and Games:
members.nbci.com/fun_games/Sscale.htm

Railmaster:
www.railmaster.co.nz

MTH Rail King:
www.mth-railking.com (Note: the figures are listed as O, but are in reality S scale.)

American Models:
www.americanmodels.com/misc/figures.html

Preiser:
www.discount-train.com/trains/reiser/s/preiser_s_1.html

We would be happy to provide any other information regarding S scale. — Roy Hoffman

Hi,

I am currently getting into the actual model railroading hobby of building a real layout instead of the tracks around the Christmas tree. I have my track layed (more or less) and would like some information on highway width.

I am building in Z scale. I purchased a sheet of road bed and want to know what the scale width in either inches or cm would be for a two lane road. With that information I can expand upon it if I want to go to a wider road surface. Can you help a new model builder out?

David Kramer
Lacey, WA

Typically what we do is take the item to be modeled and measure it. Then divide that measure by 220 as Z scale is 1/220 of the real thing. Commercial two lane Z scale roads are 1-1/4" wide. I do use commercial roads from Busch and Noch (available through Walthers). Making your own is easy enough, but dividing lines can be tricky. I hope this helps. — Rob Kluz

Ztrack Magazine, Ltd.
6142 Northcliff Blvd.
Dublin, OH 43016
Phone/Fax (614) 764-1703
www.ztrack.com

Dear Mr. Sipple,

In your review in the Aug. 2001 MRN of the USA Trains 50' boxcars, you mentioned, and I quote, “To protect the cars from the Styrofoam, they are enclosed in clear plastic bags” end quote. Could you expand on this? Does the Styrofoam over time damage the paint and plastic parts? Until I learn more I have repacked the cars in the bags just to be on the safe side. Any info on this from you or anyone else would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Gordon Donaldson
via the internet

Those of us who unpack models for a living have noticed that when they are packed in Styrofoam and allowed to flex a little, they tend to get rub marks. The paint may be rubbed off or made shiny or dull as a result. In recent years, model makers have gone to great lengths to avoid this, yet Styrofoam remains one of the most protective materials in which to pack a model. The solution — and readers want to know about this in every review — is to wrap the model first in a plastic bag, as USA Trains and many other manufacturers do. Walthers HO cars are packed into clear plastic that holds the model as Styrofoam does without any rubbing. MRN reviewers are always concerned with packaging, reflecting the interest of both the maker and the hobbyist. Thanks for asking about this, and please feel free to ask about anything else you see in a review.

— John Sipple

Mr. Pratt,

An additional type of peer pressure is the lack of support in the public at large for playing with trains. While sports and the movie industry enjoy an unprecedented level of acceptability, I would say that Model Railroading isn’t as acceptable and is seen as a sort of retro hobby. I know that through the years the level of participation has risen and fallen. But it seems in this age, when one rarely sees a train unless there is a major accident for the media to cover, that it has become almost a fringe element.

I have been considering starting again with this hobby that I have been away from for at least 16 years (first daughter), but I find myself hesitating over the cost of the hobby, as well as my own inability to explain why I want to take it up again. It certainly has a lot to do with the call of simpler times and the lure of the memories of a happy childhood pastime! But I also pause to consider the more practical uses for the money as well as my own perception that society at large has moved on to other pursuits.

Thanks for reading and the very good editorial.

David Henderson
via the internet

John,

I read your article about using trains in the classroom. I know of other teachers that use trains in the classroom from reading Model Railroader. I am starting a new career as a teacher. I have been in cultural resource management. Last school year I worked as a substitute, and this September I am starting on getting my credential. I have considered using trains myself in the classroom. I would like to know how you manage using the trains in the classroom. (I notice that you use large scale. I know nothing about large scale, except for the names LGB, Bachmann and Märklin.

I don’t even know if they’re interchangeable). I can see the advantages to large scale: small hands can manipulate the trains, and it’s hard to sneak rolling stock off in a backpack. The disadvantage is the cost. Don’t these trains run $500 for a locomotive and $100 for cars? And where do you put them? The classrooms that I have been in don’t have the space for storage. I could see using HO; it’s less expensive and easier to store, but then what about pilferage?

As for lesson plans, model trains would be useful for teaching history economics, mathematics (ratios and scale), art (advertising), and who knows what else. Plus, trains would make for a good rainy day activity. Any tips you can give me, and what your experience has been, would be appreciated.

Jay Michalsky
via the internet

I don't spend $100 for cars or $500 for locomotives. In the back of Model Railroader, Garden Railway, and other magazines are ads for mail order sales, discounters, and so on. I rarely pay over $25 for a car or $l50 for a locomotive.

The cars are generally interchangeable, although couplers can be a trying issue. LGB and Märklin tend to be higher priced. Check out Aristo-Craft, Bachmann, and USA Trains. Also, see about linking up with modelers who have the toys already and would be willing to let them come to school.

It should be worth noting that my trains never spent a great deal of time at school. Security in public schools tends to be lousy. I got cheap plastic boxes for storing wrapping paper after Christmas and used them to transport the trains. I only set up the track and brought the trains when I had a defined lesson plan that required them as instructional realia. If you want something inexpensive to keep in the classroom, try a very low-priced train set. The Hartland Locomotive Works Value Line has inexpensive cars and locomotives that could probably survive some rough handling. LGB has some great, low-priced sets in their line now.

Remember that the State Fire Marshal and others may place some serious restrictions on the use of transformers in the classroom. Talk to the principal and make sure you have the administration on board before you start. That will mean having your lesson plan ducks in a row. Plan to use a quick disconnect for the power pack, perhaps employing a two connector auto trailer plug set available in auto parts stores.

As to HO scale, pilferage would be a problem if you left the trains just sitting around. Putting them away carefully after each use could be a better way to work it. Frankly, my experience with HO and kids says that the stuff gets broken rather easily unless you have one-on-one supervision (such as a parent or grandparent). But my choice regarding Large Scale had more to do with developmental appropriateness in the classroom setting; as you say, little hands can handle the big stuff better.

Good luck and stay in touch. — John Sipple

Hi,

I am looking for some models of Container Ships that can be used on my HO scale pike. Can you help me?

Richard Leff
via the internet

— Ed