Posted by WJAYW (205.188.116.138) on August 14, 2007 at 09:40:32:
All any model can do is help in creating or recapturing an image of either the look, the era or the simple fun of the prototype. To me, all models are merely different points on the same continuum. In fact, miniaturizing all fine details to a very small scale might result in a very unrealistic model to many, as all traces of riveted sides or wood sheathing might vanish when viewed from a normal distance of a few feet away. The "art" part of modeling would have us include slightly oversize rivets or boards to recapture the look and feel of the prototype. So there is never one simple "correct" answer for all of us.
Obviously, the Proto 1000 company hit an extremely successful note with their NY subway car line. Six years ago, many doubted that any major HO scale manufacturer would risk producing a subway car model for our a small part of the hobby, including some on this site, too! But we were looking only at ourselves. Proto was looking at a much larger market. Creating new subway modelers as well. Exactly what happened a few years earlier with the introduction of mass-produced subway models in O scale.
We all wish they might have been able to do it with car dimensions that were in scale, but obviously they could not accomplish their goal without a little adjustment. But the result has been thousands, yes thousands, of new HO subway models eagerly purchased by those who only dreamed of having any subway models at all. And many of them were also purchased enthusiastically by established modelers who realized that they could have a larger roster, quicker than ever imagined.
IHP now has the idea of piggybacking subway car shells, some only previously made in brass or not at all, on the slightly oversize Proto chassis. From the limited response here and to those I've talked to the response is about evenly split. IHP will have a number of modelers supporting his project if he sizes the shells to the Proto chassis.
...continued below!