Paul3"Rivet counters are evil," was one of the quotes I found years ago. Well, if you make high tier modelers unwelcome, don't be surprised when they go away.
Its the haughty I can't stand.Rivet counters,advanced modelers and your high tier modelers can be their worst enemy especially when they start insulting average modelers.
You and I go back many years and you know how I feel and the type of modeler I'm..
I don't need anybody to tell me I should be using blocks of wood with numbers on them simply because I made a truthful statement about being more focus on the number then I'm the details or type of car when I am switching cars..That's how I did my job as a brakeman.All I needed to know 28767 is to be spotted at Pattons Warehouse and 45332 and 30099 was our pickups and they are to go behind the cabin.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Paul3 AFAIK, this is the busiest webforum focusing on North American model railroading on the 'net. I would assume that European-based and Japanese-based webforums would be busier just due to the greater interest in railroading in general in those areas. The reason this place is busy is that Model Railroader magazine has the name. It's the No. 1 MR hobby magazine in the USA and has been since the old days. Search "model railroading" in Google, and you'll end up here eventually. This place is free to use and well moderated. The old MR Forums in the 1990's were not moderated at all, and this lead to a host of problems with some pretty bad flame wars, etc. that drove people off. It's also a beginner's type of place. Newbies are welcome and are not intimidated by higher level discusisons that other forums tend to have. The large number of newbies drive off the higher tier modelers. Not only with the sheer number of non-modeling posts ("What's your favorite engine?" or "How did you get into MR'ing?") that can push modeling topics off the front page, but also with the feel of the place. There is a certain amount of anti-rivet counter attitude here which I have documented on this forum before. "Rivet counters are evil," was one of the quotes I found years ago. Well, if you make high tier modelers unwelcome, don't be surprised when they go away. They tend to find like-minded folks on other, less busy forums where in-depth modeling is discussed. After all there are always fewer highly skilled people than beginners in any hobby. The MR Forum, however, is still a great "gateway" forum to our hobby.
AFAIK, this is the busiest webforum focusing on North American model railroading on the 'net. I would assume that European-based and Japanese-based webforums would be busier just due to the greater interest in railroading in general in those areas.
The reason this place is busy is that Model Railroader magazine has the name. It's the No. 1 MR hobby magazine in the USA and has been since the old days. Search "model railroading" in Google, and you'll end up here eventually. This place is free to use and well moderated. The old MR Forums in the 1990's were not moderated at all, and this lead to a host of problems with some pretty bad flame wars, etc. that drove people off. It's also a beginner's type of place. Newbies are welcome and are not intimidated by higher level discusisons that other forums tend to have.
The large number of newbies drive off the higher tier modelers. Not only with the sheer number of non-modeling posts ("What's your favorite engine?" or "How did you get into MR'ing?") that can push modeling topics off the front page, but also with the feel of the place. There is a certain amount of anti-rivet counter attitude here which I have documented on this forum before. "Rivet counters are evil," was one of the quotes I found years ago. Well, if you make high tier modelers unwelcome, don't be surprised when they go away. They tend to find like-minded folks on other, less busy forums where in-depth modeling is discussed. After all there are always fewer highly skilled people than beginners in any hobby.
The MR Forum, however, is still a great "gateway" forum to our hobby.
Perfectly stated
It's not as Brakie claims, that "all advanced modelers" are rivet counters, but they truly have passed on to more advanced model railroading, that's okay, just like using grass mats, ready track, and trainsets.
Some just don't like another view of the world from others.
And yes, why would a higher level modeler want to start a thread on a subject when it will be on page 2 before the day is out, because threads like imaginary
coffee shops, the best loco around, how do I ballast, etc. will prevail?
Its great that that some experts do hang around to provide good advice to new modelers, the problem is determining good advice vs bad.
But as far as the OP's original question, there is no member here that can factually answer the question, so this is another one of those threads that border on no value to the forum.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
This place is around because of longevity, so many others have come and gone including the one I used to be most active with (they sold it off to eyeball counters but the eyeballs left leaving a lot of old posts).
I wouldn't be surprised that many modelers are following the many Groups on Facebook. I'm on Modeler's Guild where there are over 7000 members from all over the world, it sees all kinds of posts every day. I keep getting suggestions for other groups, many have still more members. Possibly the fact that there are just so many out there, the MR forum is just one of many.
I like the Facebook groups because it is so easy to upload photos, just pick them from your computer and go, no hoops to jump through. I'm on multiple ones for my varied interests, not just modelling.
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
I don't have any hard numbers but; I read 4 diffrent forums,if I'm gone for say.2days. there are alot more new posts here then the others
As far as useful information [to me] thats not always the case
mbinsewiIn other forums, the MR forum is always considered a forum for the "just getting started", and the "new to model railroading" place.
Mike,I will never understand that unless its because we don't smash and mash every new locomotive because of its missing a itty bitty detail part.
While I do want to know about the major flaws I could care less if its missing a eye bolt or the grabs is three scale inches to big...
Now,be that as it may there is a lot of talented and knowledgeable modelers here.
I don't know about activity, but this is one of the rare ones that is actualy worth reading and participating with.
.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Just my opinion, but there are so many forums, that have been around so long, and I think Trains/MR are on that list, but who knows who is "the most active", unless you have the time to do the math.
In other forums, the MR forum is always considered a forum for the "just getting started", and the "new to model railroading" place.
As for real railroading, the only one I have seen is Trains, but I'm sure there must be more. I've never looked.
Thats what I have seen/read, but others may disgree.
Mike.
My You Tube
Are Train.com forums the most active Model Rairoad / Toy Train / Railfan forums on the net?
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.