Another idea for the forum

[Anonymous]

I have asked many questions on this forum that no one could answer and i wouldn't ask unless the question was pretty hard, as i would probably know the answer anyway. As i have got more experience i now know the answer to most of the questions i have asked.

As you go on and do different things you come up against new things and new problems which only add to the interest in this hobby. Truly if any of the people that contribute to this forum were what i would class as an expert and i leave Kevin Strong out of this; they would have known the answers to some of the questions i have asked.  

Do you remember the one about getting unwanted camber into my curves when i bent my own rail; well no one came anywhere near the answer and none of the people you mentioned even tried, so i guess they didn't have a clue. The answer in the end was pretty obvious when i found it out (not so obvious though before that) it was the rail bender itself, pretty basic and and expert would have at least thought of that as a possible solution. The person that got the nearest toit was Troy over in England.

No my idea of an expert is someone like Jack Verducci or Marc Horowitz. These people have written books that you can follow and make sense and what they say is worthwhile reading.

Rgds ian  

[ttrigg]

I still say there are enough folks in the "general membership" with the experience necessary to expertly answer the questions posed on these pages.  I would rather have my questions answered by one of you who have been "out playing in the dirt" and have experienced the problem and found a solution that worked.  From your experience and suggestions I can modify (if needed) your solution to solve my problem.  I would be highly suspect of a text book answer form someone who has little to no experience "out playing in the dirt."  But take that with a grain of salt from just another old putz.

[grandpopswalt]

TJ,

An expert is an expert! You would have a 1000 times better chance of calculating a direct hit on a target than any one of us, regardless of the variables. conversly, I'd stand a much, much better chance of determining an unstable current minor loop in a drive section than you would, although I didn't  always get it just right each and every time. And how about what Dr. Creer used to do? (I mean professionally).

But I agree that it would not be fair to expect the experts to handle a flood of inquiries for free. I used to do tech support and was well paid to do it.

Walt 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Anonymous]

Ian,

 

That's a great suggestion. Although we already have a few experts who regularly post on this forum, Kevin Strong, Curmudeon, Tony _ _ _ _ _ _ _? (pres. of RCS), Phil Creer, etc. However, I suspect Kalmbach would more inclined to sell that kind of expertise as .PDF files and such.

 

Walt

I am with Pop on that one. Still sore about .PDF

[tangerine-jack]

Even an expert doesn't know everything and they should understand better than most that one answer doesn't fit all scenarios.  I am an expert in my field, but I can only certify facts, not applications.  I can suggest the highest probability of success with given parameters, but nobody can predict probable errors.  The same holds true with garden railroads. 

A Kalmbach expert can say a Norfolk Southern box car is black #xxx when new, but nobody can say to what color it will fade.  If I then painted my box car smoke black #yyy then am I wrong or can I justify?  If I use nickel-silver rail instead of brass does that make my choice a bad one?  The door is now open to "argue" with the expert as I changed the circumstances of the facts. 

I feel that unless it is a very technical question regarding control systems or hardware, then there is not much need of an expert as the answer is mostly opinion.  "Ask the Experts" is still a good idea, but I don't think it's fair to the experts to consume their time in such a way.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Ian, you answered your own question with the use of the word payroll.   In order to pay these people,  the people must produce income to Kalmbach which then passes a lesser part of said income to them.   

A free venue such as this forum does not generate income, therefore, would not produce a lesser part of free to give those experts.    ON THE OTHER HAND, IF A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUCH AS IAN WERE TO SUBSCRIBE ON A FEE BASIS TO SUCH A SITE; I'M SURE KALMBACH WOULD ACCOMODATE THAT DESIRE.

Altogether, not a bad idea; however infeasable.   That is why we have this forum to refer our queries and gain a consensus in resolving such problems.   in short, we get to pick each other's brains!

[Snoq. Pass RR]

Curmudeon is an expert.  I get to talk to him three times a month, and everything he has told me makes complete sense.  You may not understand it, but that is just you not WANTING to understand.  A good quote I found:  "One must be open to ALL ideas to understand the world,"  Anonymous.

[Anonymous]

You may well be right mate but, possible Rene may look after this matter.

i have read an article by Kevin is it Strong but i'm not so sure about the rest as being experts; i'm not saying they are not experts but ive not heard them espouse anything that impresses me. I met Tony at the Brisbane train show and he did in fact direct me toward a potential supplier though.

Rgds Ian

 

[ttrigg]

Ian;

Most excellent idea.  However; Like Walt said "I suspect Kalmbach would more inclined to sell that kind of expertise as .PDF files and such."  With folks like you, Phil, Tony, et.al. who needs Kalmbach.  If they did start something like that, I'm afraid that the biggest problem they would face is that many of the questions posed here do not contain enough information to really figure out what the true problem is.

[Anonymous]

Ah, Toenail, now I get to sound like - unh who is it - - oh, yes Ian.  Why would Tony be all bloody?  Was he in an accident?

But of course I've watched enough movies - British, English, and even a couple with "Mr. Dundee" - so I do not have to worry about Tony.  And he does, in these forums, come off as a really decent chap.

Art

[toenailridgesl]

Ian, , Tony _ _ _ _ _ _ _? (pres. of RCS),

 Walt

Walsham, Tony Walsham. And a bloody nice bloke he is too 

[grandpopswalt]

Ian,

 

That's a great suggestion. Although we already have a few experts who regularly post on this forum, Kevin Strong, Curmudeon, Tony Walsham, Phil Creer, etc. However, I suspect Kalmbach would be more inclined to sell that kind of expertise as .PDF files and such.

 

Walt

editted to include Tony Walsham's correct last name. 

[Anonymous]

What about an ask the experts section. Kalmback has many experts on its payroll and maybe they could answer some questions that we can only argue about.

Rgds Ian