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Mark Goodge - 03 Jul 2005 17:27 GMT
Once upon a time, I was a fairly avid railway modeller. I had a decent
layout, was a member of my local club, visited every exhibition within
reasonable driving distance and spent much of my spare time fiddling
with trains and scenery.

However, a change of job meant a change of location, and I ended up in
a rented flat with no room to swing a cat, let alone set up a decent
model layout. Plus, i wasn't expecting to be there very long (and I
was doing contract work, so I wasn't expecting to be anywhere for very
long!). So I packed the whole lot up into boxes and delivered it to my
parents with instructions to look after it until I wanted it back.

That was just under 20 years ago. In the meantime, I haven't touched
the stuff, other than attending the occasional exhibition. However,
recently my other half has been pestering me, in her words, to "get a
hobby that will get you off the computer", and I do now have a nice
house with plenty of space. So I've been toying with the idea of
reposessing all the stuff I put into storage (although how much will
still be usable after 20 years is anyone's guess) and starting a new
layout.

So, what I'm wondering is how much the hobby has changed since then.
In particular, how have prices shifted - is it more, or less expensive
(in real terms) than it was then? Also, what about new technology -
one thing that had just come onto the scene not long before I got out
of it was digital control (Hornby's Zero One system is the brand name
that I remember, although there were others), and I recall seeing a
few layouts at exhibitions with computerised control (using a Sinclair
Spectrum or similar!). Is digital control the norm now, or is it sill
a minority thing? What brands should I be looking for if I wanted to
go down that route?

Despite the fact that SWMBO wants me to spend less time with the
computer, I rather like the idea of combining two hobbies and
programming a timetable into a new layout so that it effectively
operates itself. Are there people doing this sort of thing? Does any
software exist for it?

Any comments welcome.

Mark
Signature

http://www.CorporateContact.info - for when you need to get in touch
"When your thoughts are too expensive to ever want to keep"

Nigel Cliffe - 03 Jul 2005 18:50 GMT
> Once upon a time, I was a fairly avid railway modeller. I had a decent
> layout, was a member of my local club, visited every exhibition within
> reasonable driving distance and spent much of my spare time fiddling
> with trains and scenery.

> That was just under 20 years ago. In the meantime, I haven't touched
> the stuff,......
>
> So, what I'm wondering is how much the hobby has changed since then.
> In particular, how have prices shifted - is it more, or less expensive
> (in real terms) than it was then?

Lets assume you're talking about OO, 4mm scale, mostly using read to run
models (as opposed to kit building and scratchbuilding, finescale (P4/EM,
etc) which have also changed a lot).

OO ready to run has transformed; the best models are now very good. They run
well, and the detailing is excellent. There are still some old-dog models
from every manufacturer, so it pays to ask around about any particular loco
or piece of stock you had in mind.

Cost wise, I think its cheaper than it was. Mostly down to the export of
production to China. However, its swings and roundabouts, some things are
going to be more expensive.  If you factor in the improved loco quality, its
definitely cheaper.

> Also, what about new technology -
> one thing that had just come onto the scene not long before I got out
> of it was digital control (Hornby's Zero One system is the brand name
> that I remember, although there were others),

Zero-one is now obselete, along with the other systems which were available
20 years ago.

There is an international standard called DCC. Conceptually the same thing -
chip in each locomotive controlled by a digital master unit.
Its slowly gaining popularity in the UK, and probably worth moving into
because it does seem to give better control once the chipset in the loco is
tuned to the motor and loco's characteristics.  Major makers found readily
in the UK are Lenz and ZTC, though there are many other makers of kit, both
controllers and loco chips. In theory, everything interworks at the track
level, though the control systems do not necessarily interwork (ie. if you
buy Lenz controllers, don't expect to be able to easily add a ZTC controller
and visa-versa (there are at least two different controller bus systems),
but the chips from any maker work on any controller).
However, it is a fairly expensive thing to start out with; an entry control
unit is around £100, and more advanced ones (with scope for expansion,
computer interfaces, etc) are around £250. Chips for locos are from £10 to
£30, with more features and better control on the more expensive ones.

> and I recall seeing a
> few layouts at exhibitions with computerised control (using a Sinclair
> Spectrum or similar!). Is digital control the norm now, or is it sill
> a minority thing?

Very minority still, though possible. Probably best to join the MERG group
in the UK.  Start with a decent quality DCC system which supports computer
interfaces (middle and upper end Lenz for example).

> Despite the fact that SWMBO wants me to spend less time with the
> computer, I rather like the idea of combining two hobbies and
> programming a timetable into a new layout so that it effectively
> operates itself. Are there people doing this sort of thing? Does any
> software exist for it?

There is, though the commercial stuff is very expensive (several hundred
pounds a copy). Probably some DIY stuff if you can setup programs yourself.

Unless you've a very clear idea what you're trying to do, I wouldn't bother
with a computer driven layout for starters. Its enough work to get the thing
running on its own.  However, the computer does come into its own for
programming DCC chipsets; there is software around which can keep the
settings for each loco in a data table; this makes adjustments much quicker
and easier (and its very quick to go back to a previous setting if you
decide the changes made the loco behave worse).

- Nigel

Signature

Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/ 

kim - 03 Jul 2005 19:11 GMT
>> Once upon a time, I was a fairly avid railway modeller. I had a decent
>> layout, was a member of my local club, visited every exhibition within
[quoted text clipped - 73 lines]
> quicker and easier (and its very quick to go back to a previous setting if
> you decide the changes made the loco behave worse).

Alternatively, you could continue to model to the older standards at the
older prices or "retro modelling" as we call it. As a general rule the older
and newer models don't mix very well so it's best to stick to one or the
other. You can find tons of old stuff on eBay and elsewhere.

(kim)
Dick Ganderton - 03 Jul 2005 20:43 GMT
Being pedantic :o))
EM and P4 are not 4mm finescale - finescale refered to the old, and now
defunct, BRMSB 00 Gauge standards. EM is - well just EM and P4 could be
described as 'exact scale' (almost).

Hornby Zero One was a form of DCC. (Digital Command Control). The now
universally accepted standard is NMRA DCC. It's important to specify the NMRA
bit as there are other DCC systems out there that are not compatible.

Any system conforming to the NMRA DCC standards are compatible at track level.
In simple terms that means that any NMRA DCC decoder will work with any NMRA
DCC control system.

Manufacturers to look for are Lenz, EasyDCC and Digitrax. There are others but
they tend to be very, very pricey for no advantages, either in quality or
performance. Like computers the price is tending to either move downwards or
remain static as the performance rises. My preference is for EasyDCC as it does
everything that the expensive ones do at a much lower cost. Try www.cvpusa.com

MERG have a system that is available as a set of circuits and kits to build the
circuits. Try Google on MERG.

If you are restarting using your old equipment then the best bet is to just
carry on with the old standards and control systems. If you are planning on
getting into the hobby seriously then definitely go NMRA DCC from the start.
Easier wiring, lower cost overall. Better control in every respect.

> > Once upon a time, I was a fairly avid railway modeller. I had a decent
> > layout, was a member of my local club, visited every exhibition within
[quoted text clipped - 69 lines]
> Nigel Cliffe,
> Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
Terry Flynn - 04 Jul 2005 08:01 GMT
> Being pedantic :o))
> EM and P4 are not 4mm finescale - finescale refered to the old, and now
> defunct, BRMSB 00 Gauge standards. EM is - well just EM and P4 could be
> described as 'exact scale' (almost).

EM is the 00 scale fine scale standard
00 finescale still is used, which is the same as H0 scale finescale. The
only published H0  finescale standard that is compatable with todays RTR H0
and 00  is on my web page.

Signature

Terry Flynn

http://angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html

HO wagon weight and locomotive tractive effort estimates

DC control circuit diagrams

HO scale track standards

kim - 04 Jul 2005 09:38 GMT
>> Being pedantic :o))
>> EM and P4 are not 4mm finescale - finescale refered to the old, and now
>> defunct, BRMSB 00 Gauge standards. EM is - well just EM and P4 could be
>> described as 'exact scale' (almost).
>
> EM is the 00 scale fine scale standard

EM is 18mm gauge
00 Finescale is still 16.5mm but to tighter tolerances

> 00 finescale still is used, which is the same as H0 scale finescale.

00 Finescale is 4mm/foot
H0 is 3.5mm/foot

(kim)
John Turner - 04 Jul 2005 10:15 GMT
> EM is 18mm gauge

Not always, I've seen EM layouts produced to 18mm, 18.2mm and 18.8mm (EEM)
gauge.

John.
kim - 04 Jul 2005 11:22 GMT
>> EM is 18mm gauge
>
> Not always, I've seen EM layouts produced to 18mm, 18.2mm and 18.8mm (EEM)
> gauge.

My point was that "00 Finescale" is not the same as either EM gauge or H0, a
concept which many foreigners seem to have difficulty grasping.

(kim)
John Turner - 04 Jul 2005 12:06 GMT
> My point was that "00 Finescale" is not the same as either EM gauge or H0, a
> concept which many foreigners seem to have difficulty grasping.

That's not quite what you said.

John.
Terry Flynn - 05 Jul 2005 04:06 GMT
> >> EM is 18mm gauge
> >
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> (kim)

The scale ratio is different between 00 and H0, if you define the terms H0
and 00 as scales. Today the nominal track gauge is the same, 16.5mm. The
exception is the NMRA definition. My H0 finescale models can run on the same
finescale track as some 00 scale RTR models, for example the latest Hornby.
EM today complies with my definition of finescale, wheels with flanges
double scale size.  Kim, I'm just stirring the pot, using letters to
describe scales and or track gauges is always going to generate poor
definitions. There is no practical reason why H0 and 00 finescale should not
use identical track standards.

Signature

Terry Flynn

http://angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html

HO wagon weight and locomotive tractive effort estimates

DC control circuit diagrams

HO scale track standards

Dick Ganderton - 04 Jul 2005 16:37 GMT
EM stands for Eighteen Millimetres. Many years ago the EM Gauge Society
officially declared that the track gauge would be 18.2mm - as it had been in
practice for many years before. It's never been 18.8mm. EEM was the
forerunner of P4 and stood for Eighteen point Eight Millimetres. P4, which
the EMGS also supports, is 18.83mm track gauge.

> > EM is 18mm gauge
>
> Not always, I've seen EM layouts produced to 18mm, 18.2mm and 18.8mm (EEM)
> gauge.
>
> John.
Jane Sullivan - 04 Jul 2005 19:05 GMT
>EM stands for Eighteen Millimetres. Many years ago the EM Gauge Society
>officially declared that the track gauge would be 18.2mm - as it had been in
>practice for many years before. It's never been 18.8mm. EEM was the
>forerunner of P4 and stood for Eighteen point Eight Millimetres. P4, which
>the EMGS also supports, is 18.83mm track gauge.

Wasn't EEM an experiment by a group of chaps at the Manchester Model
Railway Society. AIUI, they abandoned it when P4 came on the scene.

>> > EM is 18mm gauge
>>
>> Not always, I've seen EM layouts produced to 18mm, 18.2mm and 18.8mm (EEM)
>> gauge.
>>
>> John.

Signature

Jane
OO in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html

John Turner - 04 Jul 2005 20:09 GMT
> Wasn't EEM an experiment by a group of chaps at the Manchester Model
> Railway Society. AIUI, they abandoned it when P4 came on the scene.

I maybe getting confused here but I thought EEM was a response to P4 proving
to be particularly unreliable in its infancy?

John.
Dick Ganderton - 04 Jul 2005 20:56 GMT
No. EEM preceeded P4 by several years and was an attempt to improve the running
and appearance of EM. It  developed the old BRMSB way of producing standards
rather than the MRSG (P4) approach which was to take the full size dimensions
and divide them by the scale factor. Once you take that approach it all becomes
much simpler, easier and more reliable. it also starts to look more like a real
railway! :o))

> > Wasn't EEM an experiment by a group of chaps at the Manchester Model
> > Railway Society. AIUI, they abandoned it when P4 came on the scene.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> John.
John Turner - 04 Jul 2005 21:24 GMT
> No. EEM preceeded P4 by several years and was an attempt to improve the running
> and appearance of EM.

That clears that up then; thanks Dick.

John.
Terry Flynn - 07 Jul 2005 04:51 GMT
> No. EEM preceeded P4 by several years and was an attempt to improve the running
> and appearance of EM. It  developed the old BRMSB way of producing standards
> rather than the MRSG (P4) approach which was to take the full size dimensions
> and divide them by the scale factor. Once you take that approach it all becomes
> much simpler, easier and more reliable. it also starts to look more like a real
> railway! :o))

If you take the approach of simply dividing a scale factor you end up with
an impractical solution. P4, S4 and proto 87 deviates from scaled down
dimensions to make it work. The problem with exact scale standards such as
P4, S4 and proto87 is the scale wheel cannot track reliably more than
prototype errors in the track without rough tracking and increased chance of
derailing. Lateral displacement needs
to be less than 0.04mm for smooth reliable running for these exact scale
wheels.  More reliable, not from what I have seen. Simpler, it's not.
Compare the flange profiles exact scales modellers say they use with the
finescale and coarse scale alternatives. My  experience is
properly profiled and dimensioned finescale wheels and track will out
perform the exact scale alternatives because they can handle double the
lateral displacement.  Under test conditions using scale curves and mostly
straight track I was able to push the equivalent of 114  four wheel wagons
with a 4 wheel wagon at the front of the train. That exceeds my prototypes
maximum and I was using RTR flex track. Decrease the track gauge and the
train length gets longer.

> > > Wasn't EEM an experiment by a group of chaps at the Manchester Model
> > > Railway Society. AIUI, they abandoned it when P4 came on the scene.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> > John.
>
Signature

Terry Flynn

http://angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html

HO wagon weight and locomotive tractive effort estimates

DC control circuit diagrams

HO scale track standards

Greg Procter - 05 Jul 2005 01:16 GMT
> > Wasn't EEM an experiment by a group of chaps at the Manchester Model
> > Railway Society. AIUI, they abandoned it when P4 came on the scene.
>
> I maybe getting confused here but I thought EEM was a response to P4 proving
> to be particularly unreliable in its infancy?

That was "Scale 4" or "S4".

Regards,
Greg.P.
Dick Ganderton - 05 Jul 2005 10:13 GMT
Definitely not!!!!

P4 is the standard defined by the MRSG (Model Railway Study Group) back in the
mid '60s. They decided in their wisdom to increase the crossing flangeway by
about 0.005". Along comes Ray Hammond who decided that this wasn't really
acceptable and so he set about trying to redefine the P4 standards to be exact
scale. He called this Scalefour (S4) to overcome the legal problems with
P(anything). He didn't really acheive anything as when you apply the tolerances
needed to get into production the two sets of standards overlap. All he
introduced was confusion.

P4 standards are those that the S4 Society and the EMGS promote. No society
promotes S4 standards and there are very, very few layouts built to S4 standards.

Any layout built to P4 standards shouldn't be calles an S4 layout and neither
should P4 and S4 be used interchageably. It's as bad as calling a lyout 00/H0.

> > > Wasn't EEM an experiment by a group of chaps at the Manchester Model
> > > Railway Society. AIUI, they abandoned it when P4 came on the scene.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Regards,
> Greg.P.
Greg Procter - 05 Jul 2005 01:14 GMT
> > Being pedantic :o))
> > EM and P4 are not 4mm finescale - finescale refered to the old, and now
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> only published H0  finescale standard that is compatable with todays RTR H0
> and 00  is on my web page.

No Terry, "EM" was initially a wider gauge version of "OO" with the proprietry
wheels pressed out to18mm gauge. (circa 1948 see Peter Denny/Buckingham)
Later the gauge/scale was standardised at 18.2mm/ 4mm-ft.
The wheel and rail standards were simply "OO" widened by 1.5mm/1.7mm.

Regards,
Greg.P.
Terry Flynn - 05 Jul 2005 05:10 GMT
> > > Being pedantic :o))
> > > EM and P4 are not 4mm finescale - finescale refered to the old, and now
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Regards,
> Greg.P.

I was talking today.
Which 00 definition are you using? 00 gauge? 00 scale? NMRA? UK 00 uses H0
gauge. H0 gauge is now a nominal 16.5mm, was 5/8". The H0 scale is now 1:87
or 3.5mm/ft.
Signature

Terry Flynn

http://angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html

HO wagon weight and locomotive tractive effort estimates

DC control circuit diagrams

HO scale track standards

Greg Procter - 05 Jul 2005 09:49 GMT
> > > > Being pedantic :o))
> > > > EM and P4 are not 4mm finescale - finescale refered to the old, and
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> gauge. H0 gauge is now a nominal 16.5mm, was 5/8". The H0 scale is now 1:87
> or 3.5mm/ft.

"OO" as in track and wheel standards as set out by the BMRSB, as used by Hornby
Dublo and proprietry (kit and wheel) manufacturers and whatever it has developed
into today. (well, yesterday as I guess the Chinese manufacturers will basically
convert UK OO to NMRA standards)
Jane Sullivan - 05 Jul 2005 12:55 GMT
>> I was talking today.
>> Which 00 definition are you using? 00 gauge? 00 scale? NMRA? UK 00 uses H0
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>into today. (well, yesterday as I guess the Chinese manufacturers will basically
>convert UK OO to NMRA standards)

I hope not. NMRA standards for OO specify 19 mm. gauge.

Or did you mean NMRA HO standards?
Signature

Jane
OO in the garden http://www.yddraiggoch.demon.co.uk/railway/railway.html

John Turner - 05 Jul 2005 13:15 GMT
> I hope not. NMRA standards for OO specify 19 mm. gauge.

Indeed, but that's specifically for USA outline modelling where OO-scale is
not totally unheard of.

John.
Greg Procter - 05 Jul 2005 21:53 GMT
> >> I was talking today.
> >> Which 00 definition are you using? 00 gauge? 00 scale? NMRA? UK 00 uses H0
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Or did you mean NMRA HO standards?

I meant NMRA HO standards - If Chinese manufacturers make items like the Thomas range
which is sold in Britain as "Hornby" and in the USa as "Bachmann" it would make sense
to make them all the same an just slot them into  the correct boxes as required.
NMRA "OO" is close to Dodo status.

Regards,
Greg.P.
kim - 05 Jul 2005 21:59 GMT
>> >> I was talking today.
>> >> Which 00 definition are you using? 00 gauge? 00 scale? NMRA? UK 00
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> required.
> NMRA "OO" is close to Dodo status.

As far as I am aware the Hornby and Bachmann TTTE ranges are totally
different designs made in different Chinese factories.

(kim)

> Regards,
> Greg.P.
Greg Procter - 05 Jul 2005 22:38 GMT
> >> >> I was talking today.
> >> >> Which 00 definition are you using? 00 gauge? 00 scale? NMRA? UK 00
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> As far as I am aware the Hornby and Bachmann TTTE ranges are totally
> different designs made in different Chinese factories.

The ones I have seen were the Hornby Thomas etc with RP25 wheels and Hornby
couplings.
John Turner - 05 Jul 2005 23:59 GMT
> As far as I am aware the Hornby and Bachmann TTTE ranges are totally
> different designs made in different Chinese factories.

That's correct.

The Bachmann TTTE loco range (suitably disguised) are available in the UK in
one of the digital starter sets, and are due to be released separately in DC
form (again NOT carrying TTTE liveries / names).

John.
Terry Flynn - 07 Jul 2005 04:53 GMT
> > >> I was talking today.
> > >> Which 00 definition are you using? 00 gauge? 00 scale? NMRA? UK 00 uses H0
> > >> gauge. H0 gauge is now a nominal 16.5mm, was 5/8". The H0 scale is now 1:87
> > >> or 3.5mm/ft.
> > >
> > >"OO" as in track and wheel standards as set out by the BMRSB, as used by Hornby

Hornby today and its predecessor, Triang have never used anything like the
BMRSB standard, which was nothing more than good marketing by a small group
of modellers who failed to produce a useful standard. The BMRSB standard is
rubbish.

> > >Dublo and proprietry (kit and wheel) manufacturers and whatever it has developed
> > >into today. (well, yesterday as I guess the Chinese manufacturers will basically
> > >convert UK OO to NMRA standards)

They will make wheels to a check gauge of 15.2mm  because their track is
not to NMRA standards. Often their wheels are just under the NMRA back to
back minimum. Current Australian models from China are using flanges  at the
NMRA maximum depth of 0.71mm.

> > I hope not. NMRA standards for OO specify 19 mm. gauge.
> >
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Greg.P.
>
Signature

Terry Flynn

http://angelfire.com/clone/rail/index.html

HO wagon weight and locomotive tractive effort estimates

DC control circuit diagrams

HO scale track standards

Chris Wilson - 03 Jul 2005 18:59 GMT
...
> Despite the fact that SWMBO wants me to spend less time with the
> computer, ...

Or at least the boring legal newsgroups. ;-)

Signature

All the best,

Chris Wilson

That's cwilson at britwar with a dot uk and dot co on the end. (Reply
address is blackholed)

http://www.the-dormouse.org - The Dormouse Line Model Railway - UPDATED

Mark Goodge - 03 Jul 2005 22:52 GMT
>...
>> Despite the fact that SWMBO wants me to spend less time with the
>> computer, ...
>
>Or at least the boring legal newsgroups. ;-)

I did think there was a certain irony in the fact that the first place
I turned to in order to research this was the Internet :-)

Mark
Signature

http://www.GoogleFun.info - fun and games with Google!
"Yes, I know the truth, how 'bout you?"

John Bishop - 04 Jul 2005 18:58 GMT
Mark,

A couple of points:

It's worthwhile getting a valuation of your old stuff, it *might* be
valuable.

Ignore this mob splitting hairs about the odd two millimeters.  Buy
Railway Modeller, go to a couple of shows, have a chat at the
information stand (remember the guys on the layouts are there to
operate, not chat, although most layouts have a spare person) - then
decide what you want to do.

>Any comments welcome.
>
>Mark

Signature

John Bishop

John Turner - 04 Jul 2005 20:10 GMT
> Buy Railway Modeller (snipped)

Why?

There are far better options on the market these days.

John.
kim - 04 Jul 2005 21:42 GMT
>> Buy Railway Modeller (snipped)
>
> Why?
>
> There are far better options on the market these days.

If you wanted to continue from where you left off 20, 40 or even 60 years
ago, which magazine would you choose?

(kim)
John Turner - 04 Jul 2005 22:12 GMT
> If you wanted to continue from where you left off 20, 40 or even 60 years
> ago, which magazine would you choose?

I'm not sure I'd want to do that - I believe in looking forward rather than
looking back.

John.
Roger T. - 04 Jul 2005 23:09 GMT
> If you wanted to continue from where you left off 20, 40 or even 60 years
> ago, which magazine would you choose?

"Big Boobs" magazine?

Oh, sorry, wrong group.

--
Cheers
Roger T.

Home of the Great Eastern Railway
http://www.highspeedplus.com/~rogertra/
Rob Kemp - 05 Jul 2005 00:45 GMT
>> If you wanted to continue from where you left off 20, 40 or even 60 years
>> ago, which magazine would you choose?
>
> "Big Boobs" magazine?

Dont think it would do much good after 60 years!

> Oh, sorry, wrong group.
>
> --
> Cheers
> Roger T.
Nigel Cliffe - 04 Jul 2005 23:17 GMT
>>> Buy Railway Modeller (snipped)
>>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> If you wanted to continue from where you left off 20, 40 or even 60
> years ago, which magazine would you choose?

Easy - Model Railway Journal.
Backnumbers for issues 0-99 should get you back up to speed.  100-150(plus)
are good, but not in the same groundbreaking way as the earlier ones.

- Nigel

Signature

Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/ 

Mark Goodge - 04 Jul 2005 22:14 GMT
>> Buy Railway Modeller (snipped)
>
>Why?
>
>There are far better options on the market these days.

Such as?

(That's a genuine question. 20 years ago, RM, while not the only
player in town, had by far the broadest coverage. It's what I'd
automatically look for now, unless a newcomer has made its mark in the
meantime).

Mark
Signature

http://www.GoogleFun.info - fun and games with Google!
"Well it's true today"

kim - 04 Jul 2005 22:43 GMT
>>> Buy Railway Modeller (snipped)
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> automatically look for now, unless a newcomer has made its mark in the
> meantime).

"Model Rail" and "British Railway Modelling" have pretty much eclipsed
Railway Modeller in the readership stakes. They each have their own house
style and I don't have any particular preference for one or the other. RM is
still a good all-round magazine but tends to be very similar from one month
to the next. The remaining titles tend to be more specialised favouring
modern image or continental outline.

(kim)
Dick Ganderton - 04 Jul 2005 21:15 GMT
The first paragraph is very valid.

The rest isn't. You need to find out what you want to get out of your
new found interest in railway modelling. You won't find that out by
reading Railway Modeller. You need to rewad all the model railway
magazines you can lay your hands on. Don't ignore the Continental and
American modelling scene. Look at the different scales. Look at narrow
gauge modelling.

Seek out your local model railway club. Go to as many exhibitions as you
can and don't ignore the specialist ones organised by the likes of the
Gauge 0 Guild, the EM Gauge Society and the Scalefour Society.

If you think that the 'odd two millimeters' (sic0 is about splitting
hairs then you could be regretting it for the rest of your modelling
life. The decision is yours and yours alone, but do, please, take the
effort to find out. It could be that pushing  Brio wooden trains round a
wooden track on the floor is what you find you want to do - after all
that's a valid form of modelling - but if you like the idea of building
an accurate model railway then the 'odd two millimeters' (sic) becomes
very important. After all, the error is 12.5 percent.

Enjoy your rediscovered hobby, whatever you choose to do.

Suggested magazines.

British Railway Modelling, Model Rail, Model Railway Journal, Model
Railroader, Continental Modeller, Railway Modeller.

National model railway societies:

EM Gauge Society, Scalefour Society, Gauge 0 Guild, Gauge 1
Assosciation,16mm Narrow Gauge Society, 3mm Society, 2mm Society, S
Gauge Society, NMRA British Region. (I've probably got the exct names
wrong, but it will give you an idea.)

> Mark,
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> --
> John Bishop
Keith Norgrove - 04 Jul 2005 22:07 GMT
>The first paragraph is very valid.
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>can and don't ignore the specialist ones organised by the likes of the
>Gauge 0 Guild, the EM Gauge Society and the Scalefour Society.

And don't forget you can do much of this research on the web without
needing to fork out for a lot of magazines.
Between these two links pages you can get to most anything.
http://www.scalefour.org/p4links.htm
and
http://www.merg.org.uk/links.htm
Keith

Make friends in the hobby.
Visit <http://www.grovenor.dsl.pipex.com/>
Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.
John Bishop - 06 Jul 2005 18:59 GMT
The reason to buy Railway Modeller is to find where the shows are - it
still has the best data on exhibitions!  Personally I only buy Model
Railway Journal on a regular basis, Continental Modeller sometimes - the
rest I skim in Smiths.  
>The first paragraph is very valid.

>The rest isn't. You need to find out what you want to get out of your
>new found interest in railway modelling. You won't find that out by
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
>> --
>> John Bishop

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