Atlas Forum, again

[Don Gibson]

WHY IZZIT?
The so-called ''Whiner's" and "Wannabee Expert's" are always the OTHER guy? - or is it just my Imagination?

Complaining seems to be Universal. The difference in PEOPLE is what they complain about.

[CBQ_Guy]

It's just about 4 pm (CST) where I'm at here in the Midwest, USA.

They've got about 8 hours left.

Tick...tick...tick...

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trackster

I read somewhere here on this Forum, that the Atlas Forum was back, What gives? I shure can"t get to it.

Mac

They better get it going soon, they've only got 8 days left...

http://forum.atlasrr.com/

...counting today!

[bcammack]

They'll be back. I've gotten different errors trying to connect to that server today. I think they're fiddling with it again.

[BRAKIE]

JoppaSub,Its not the constructive criticisms that I am talking about its the continually harping of a few that insist they must find fault even has one said: I cancel my order of 10 Atlas GP38s because the fuel tank and trucks wasn't painted and those that apparently just want to run up their post count with endless smoke and mirror fault finding..
Yes,the good did outweigh the bad then a fast turn around over the last few weeks,then the bad outweigh the good..Heck even Paul Graf said to ease up and even suspended members but to no avail.So,what happen? The plug was pulled.IMHO for a long cooling off period of the members..Do I blame Atlas??? Nope not the least as the forum was out of control in the last few weeks it was up.Think of all the locked topics in the last few weeks before the shut down..[:(][V] No,Atlas had to do something...Now if you read closely and between the lines there was a warning to all to ease up or else...Well we got the "or else" didn't we? [:(]

[Javern]

well they just said "August" but they didn't mention of what year

[wpsteve]

What I miss from the Atlas Forum is the speed it loaded up.. Those of us that can only use the phone lines can fall a sleep waiting for the header to load and then if you want to read a subject, you go into slowwwww again.. Same on the other two forums I go to .... Wonder why ? Can't get anything else in my area as to faster service speed..

Also on Atlas when you asked a question you did get good responces and help. Sometimes a bunch of garbage but ?

I just check them all out, get lots of rest during loading <G>

WP Steve http://members.bigvalley.net/norma

[Anonymous]

I am surprised that it has taken so long for the folks at Atlas to get their forum back up and running. Perhaps they don't intend to bring the forum back anytime soon. Meanwhile, this forum has gotten better because it has picked up a lot of traffic that previously had gone to Atlas.

[Anonymous]

Actually Brakie, I rather enjoyed the "bashing" of certain models as long as they were constructive criticisms. It did/does hold the manufacturers accountable for the products they offer as the prices go ever skyward. But, I can also see where folks would tire of the endless banter. In fact, I have gotten more done here on my layout since the Atlas forum was pulled down. There were some very knowledgable folks on the Atlas forum. And, consequently, there were some personality conflicts. I know all too well about that. I enjoyed the Atlas forum, but as previously stated, can get along without it. Rivet counters do help the hobby, IMHO. Now, back to my HO scale B23-7 with Atlas drive!!

[BRAKIE]

Well Paul,Not to rain on your parade but,I figured there was a lot more NH fans requesting things.I know my requests of more C&O units wasn't the only requests.
About that LL GP38-2..Yes,that was a mistake by LL to try to shove that one down our throats and that was one of the better discussions.[:D]..I believe it was more guys like Jim Six that got that body corrected not the Atlas forum.If you recall Jim and other well known modelers receive the unit for reviewing this was mention during the discussion of the unit.
Do you recall when I mention that I e-mail Kato asking if they are planing to release their GP35 in C&O? I am still yet to receive a thank you for asking and we will take it under consideration like I do from Rob at Atlas.So,no I believe its more then one modeler that needs to request a unit or else we would see a GP39.[:p]
Yes,Historical Societies pays a bigger part then common modelers like us because those Societies usually have more correct information..Even as we speak you can get a P2K GP9 in the blue and yellow paint scheme from the B&O Historical Society..I can point the error out on this unit like the horns is the wrong type and in the wrong location,short hood-should be on the long hood, on a non exC&O unit.This is of course based on the B&O number that unit carries and I am not a expert nor ever claim to be..But,if the B&O crowd is happy with that unit who am I,a C&O modeler,to complain about a B&O unit? Savvy?
Now,I play more attention to modelers like Jim Six and to a degree Curt Mc then I do the common whiners that whine because a road specific detail is missing from a given unit..Can't they add a simple after market detail part? Or do they lack the skills?
Oh I guess I could become a whiner seeing I need to add detail parts on the C&O units-not to mention the Atlas Chessie C&O GP7 has the wrong type of end railings on the 5705 and 5713 and of course the side mounted horns- Fixable by replacing the horns and changing numbers and of course adding the bell on the short hood.
One could always find NH units but,C&O was another story very few as been produce over the years until recently and I am grateful for that even if I need to correct the units by adding after market detail parts in order to bring it up to C&O standards..Modeling is not a dirty word unless of course one lacks the skills to glue on after market detail parts and touch up painting.[}:)] Any true expert modeler should know that..[;)] I know that and again never claim to be a expert...[:D]

[MAbruce]

I think there were drawbacks to the Atlas forum, but many advantages too. It was a high traffic forum, and that usually brings in all types of members (both good & bad). There were certainly a lot of seasoned modeling veterans who had much to share, but unfortunately there were also a number of troublemakers (trolls [oX)]) to stir things up.

I suspect, from the tone of the last posts I read from the Atlas moderators, that the upgrade was more of an excuse to pull the forum off-line earlier than they anticipated in order to head off some trouble with topics running out of control (and create possible legal issues). Maybe they learned the hard way that more than one Marshall was needed to keep order on their bustling MRR frontier?

My prediction is that they will come back with an upgraded forum, but the changes will extend past the upgraded software. I think they’re going to be stricter on the rules, and enforce them more consistently. Those who liked the “wild west” style shootouts are likely going to be disappointed, because the Marshall will likely come back with a few deputies. All firearms are going to be checked at the Marshal’s office. [C):-)]

[Paul3]

Brakie wrote:

QUOTE: Well,I always thought the Atlas forum had lots of trolls,experts and expert wanna bes that feels it is their sworn duty to trash every new locomotive or product even if they had to use smoke and mirrors..

While Atlas does have it's share of "controversial" members, this is nothing compared to r.m.r, so I tend not to even notice. Trolls are a fact of life on the 'net., and while this forum (MR) may be quiet for the moment, it too has had trolls and will have them again. Each forum I've ever seen goes through these ups and downs. If I left every forum that had trolls, I wouldn't be on any of them. [:D]

And the experts all have one thing in common: they are usually right. "Expert wannabes" usually aren't, because otherwise they wouldn't be "wannabe" experts.

What I don't understand is this need to tra***he real experts who are at the very least sharing their knowledge. The crack about "smoke & mirrors" (something you have said more than once) indicates to me that you think the experts are lying and misleading other forum members just so they can bash a manufacturer... I don't suppose you have any examples of this deliberate lying?

QUOTE: The whiners did not get the hobby where its at today.ONE company prove that a highly detail locomotive could be made in plastic when all other companies said it was not feasible and would be to costly...That company was LIFE LIKE...

Certainly, LL started the ball rolling with the BL-2, and for that they should get applause. But it was not perfect. When it was re-released recently, why did LL improve the model if not to appease the masses?

BTW, I never said that the complainers invented the highly detail model, but what they have done is hold manufacturers accountable for getting these correct when they are made. Is this a bad thing?

QUOTE: Now the whiners may THINK they help but,in all truth they think wrong.

No, you couldn't be more wrong. I know, from first hand experience, that complaining to the manufacturers actually produces positive results. Case in point is the New Haven TOFC flat car with NETCo. trailers that Athearn recently released in RTR. That was my idea, thank you very much. I complained to an Athearn employee why they treated the NH so poorly by making models of make-believe engines (NH SDP40's!) while ignoring stuff they could make in NH colors that are pretty close to prototype. The 50' TOFC was one of my suggestions. The employee wrote back and asked for more info. I dug up all I could, and mailed it off. A few months later, presto! An Athearn RTR NH TOFC with NETCo. trailers.

This is not the only complaint that has produced positive results.

How about the recent NH RS-11 from P1K that had the wrong size decals? Did you know that they are going to re-release the model in NH colors again, this time with correct size decals? The NHRHTA had a hand in that.

Or what about the NH RS-1 in green and orange from Atlas? Atlas had picked out two numbers from the 12 the NH had, and was going to paint them in the "full hotdog" scheme. Only one problem: the two numbers they picked never got that scheme. After logging a complaint on the Atlas Forum, and a few e-mails later with pictures, Atlas corrected the numbers.

Then there is the infamous GP38 fan issue. LL made them only 42" and spaced incorrectly. After much complaining on the internet , LL corrected the problem before they even hit the shelves in the USA.

Shall I continue?

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[BRAKIE]

Well,I always thought the Atlas forum had lots of trolls,experts and expert wanna bes that feels it is their sworn duty to trash every new locomotive or product even if they had to use smoke and mirrors..

The whiners did not get the hobby where its at today.ONE company prove that a highly detail locomotive could be made in plastic when all other companies said it was not feasible and would be to costly...That company was LIFE LIKE not Kato,not Atlas.not Atlas/Kato and not Athearn.The locomotive? The very first P2K locomotive the BL2..All of today drives is base on the Athearn drive but with improvements.So it as always been a combination of things including competing with the brass market and not the whiners..Now the whiners may THINK they help but,in all truth they think wrong..After the first P2K locomotives the other companies had to produce better detailed models if they didn't want LL to dominate the market like Athearn did for years...Even Bachmann fired back with their Spectrum series.Of course Athearn is now playing catchup..
Now it appears Atlas sets the industry standards with each new release..Which means the other manufacturers must follow suit or loose their market share to Atlas.BLI is a upstart company that needs to deal with the likes of Atlas,P2K ,Kato and the newer Athearn RTR units and Genesis..Not to mention the minor quality players such as Stewart and Intermountain.
By golly I would hate to be a upstart company bucking the heavy hitters knowing dang well I must prove my products is as good or better then the well establish companies...[:0]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul,You are behind times..There was a employee class action lawsuit against NS..They now have to put toilets in locomotives...Toilets on locomotives are better known as stink holes..The very last thing anybody would care to use...[xx(]

[Paul3]

DMIR230 wrote:

QUOTE: I know what you mean, that forum became a 3 ring circus!!! Everyone talking about tooling costs, toilets that dont work on the models, and the color blue is wrong. It is nice to be accurate but dont rely on the manufacture to do everything for you.

Tooling costs are a part of this hobby, like it or not. It only makes sense to talk about them and their impact on the hobby on a manufacturers' web forum. And holding manufacturers responsible for getting the models right has resulted in the truly awesome models one can choose from today. Otherwise, all we'd have is wide-hood Athearns, Tyco, Mantua, and other "kuality" items.

And model toilets? Heh, not if you are modeling NS. All you need there are some plastic baggies... [xx(]

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[Junctionfan]

Model toilet? Who needs a model toilet; that is what trees are for.

[leighant]

What do people have against toilets that won't work on the model?

http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/acn.jpg

Maybe I should have modeled it "backed-up" to justify the non-working condition. Then again, NOT!

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, that forum became a 3 ring circus!!! Everyone talking about tooling costs, toilets that dont work on the models, and the color blue is wrong. It is nice to be accurate but dont rely on the manufacture to do everything for you.

[Anonymous]

JoppaSub:
You"re right about the unwanted riff raff on the Atlas Forum, They really drag a good thing down, I"m hoping the Administrators will take more control of the trash postings, when they go back on line, but I also, like this Forum, lots of nice helpful individuals who are willing to share knowledge, and information with a fellow modeler, I will keep in touch with both Forums. Cheers.

Mac

[Anonymous]

I don't think it is up as of yet...I can't log onto it, either. You know, I don't really miss that forum...I think I'll stay here anyway. There were so many trolls invading with their rediculous stuff that it wasn't very much fun to even try to read it.

I got alot of modeling projects done while the Atlas forum was/is down!!

[Anonymous]

I read somewhere here on this Forum, that the Atlas Forum was back, What gives? I shure can"t get to it.

Mac