Model Railroader Question & Answer Thread

[Anonymous]

Hi Guys and Gals [:)]

In the magazine forum we had a question and answer thread that achieved over 60 pages. However the original thread starter decided it was no longer a valid thread and wished it to die. [|)] In honoring her wish I started a new question and answer thread and it seems to be doing fine.

I remember here that many times we have the same questions come up about every 3 or 4 months or so. Some examples of this would be: Glue, Car Weights, Weathering, Track Planing Books and Software, Painting and Paint Removal, DCC Decoders, Decals, Rail Cleaning, Wiring Help, and many, many others questions.

I do not discourage anyone posting a thread and asking a question. These questions will get answered and then the thread dies. Two weeks from now, that thread will be 25 or 30-some pages back and never seen again. Some one else will ask the same question, it gets answered, then fades into oblivion again. I am sure we have all seen this time and time again. Then trying to find that previously asked question (and answer) turns into a time consuming endeavor. We may find it, we may not.

What I am proposing to do with this thread, is bring those asking questions together with those answering those questions AND keeping an Index (in the first post) thus allowing everyone the opportunity to review previous questions and answers. If this thread is used then it will help lower the number of less-than-one-page threads and help everyone find and review previous information exchanged in this thread. The Index should help greatly in helping us find the information previously posted.

This will be an experiment to see if we can use this thread and make a go of it. As I said, I am not discouraging anyone asking a question in another thread, I am just trying to help by having questions asked here, questions answered here, then indexed for future users.

I am willing to try and keep up the Index if this thread is used. It could be a great help if it is used. I certainly hope so.

We have so many extremely good modelers (wayyyy to many to mention here, plus I would forget some and offend them) that are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience with those needing help with questions and problems.

I certainly don't have all the answers. Heck, I don't even have all the questions. [;)] However, I do know, that here in this forum, we do have those that CAN answer your questions. That is, if you are willing to ask them here.

I hope this thread helps you save time, and helps you become a better modeler.

Best Wishes and Good Luck.

NOW ask some questions. [;)]

AND if you can, ANSWER some Questions. [:)]

THANKS for your help and cooperation.


INDEX


Page 1


HO Scale Musicians
Hallmark Model F45
Weathering
Preiser HO Musicians
Woodland Scenics HO Musicians
Thank You reply

[DrummingTrainfan]

This seems to be a good idea....so I will enter the first question.

Has anyone ever seen any HO musicians? We have a park that I would look great with a small stage and a jazz band, and being a drummer it would add a personal touch to the layout.

[ICRR1964]

Yes I have. I was at a train show last fall and saw a booth set up with a small HO train running in circles and had a small park seen. In the park was a grandstand that had a small brass band playing. If you have a Wlthers Catalog look in there, I think I saw one awhile back, I will look to and see what I find.

[Anonymous]

I guess this may be a good idea, but if people don't bother to use the "search" box, will they bother to find this thread? How will they find it?

Why do you suppose peope don't use the search function? It's prominent, and seems to work fine, at least for me. Maybe it should be shown in red? Or change color every 10 seconds? Hmmmmmm.

[Janafam]

The search comment is right on. The result may not be nice and tidy but all the information is there for you to cull through if you are really looking for an answer. Your offer to index is kind but the search feature should be tried and save you the extra work.

[Anonymous]

Are hallmark models F45s any good?

I like this thread!

[Anonymous]

i think this thread is a good idea

[Anonymous]

As a newbie, I've tried using the search function. But it is a very weak search capability. It doesn't bring up the whole thread, just individual posts. You miss a lot of the relevant discussion. If they made the search capability more robust and had a "go to page" capability it would be much more functional.

[1shado1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by aardvarknav

As a newbie, I've tried using the search function. But it is a very weak search capability. It doesn't bring up the whole thread, just individual posts. You miss a lot of the relevant discussion. If they made the search capability more robust and had a "go to page" capability it would be much more functional.

The search function doesn't NEED to bring up the entire thread. When you get the search results, click on the thread topic at the top of the given post, and you will magically be transported to the entire thread in question.[:D]

Jeff

[Anonymous]

What better to use for weathering? Painting or dust? How do you do it?

[Anonymous]

If peaople didnt ask alot of questions on here what else would there be to talk about, isnt that what these types of forums are for.

Steve

[pcarrell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LSIModeler

What better to use for weathering? Painting or dust? How do you do it?

LSIModeler,

I personally like the chalks. You can wa***hem off if you don't like them. They are a bit hard to get to stay in place when you seal it with dullcoat though, and they darken down too. I just go a shade or two lighter then I want the final product to be. As far as the painting goes, I just hold my rattle can pretty far from the model when I spray it so that the paint is pretty much dry when it hits the surface. I just do a very light "mist" coat for the first two or three coats and then I shoot a little more normal coat on top of that. That way the chalks stay in place and don't move around when you seal them.

There are others who report great results with weathering powders. They don't run when you seal them and they stay the same color. I haven't tried these yet, but I intend to soon.

There aren't as many modelers that I know of who use paint to weather, only maybe as an enhancement. Paint can be VERY unforgiving and so that is it's main drawback. The upshot of course is that it doesn't need sealed. Most of the modelers that I know who use paint to weather use an airbrush and they mostly use it for painting the road grime around the bottoms of the cars and on the trucks. Some also do their steam loco's with them, but they are more comfortable with their abilities then I am.

I hope that at least wet's your appetite.[8D]

jhhtrainsplanes,

I hope this topic works out. I think it's a good idea. So good in fact that I tried to do something like this a while back. I called it something like, "Newbi's questions, a place where greenhorn's can go". I think I only got maybe one response. It is a good idea though.

If I was new, I might be intimidated by sounding stupid or something. There are so many great modelers here it can be quite overwhelming to a beginner I can imagine. I would like to have a place where I could go to get a few of my basic questions answered by just reading what others have written and then if I do have a question that still needs answered I can know that I'm asking it in a place where I'm not expected to be a master modeler, but instead I'm just one of the crowd. Also, I will know that the answer I get will probably not go right over my head.

Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I hope this thread works out, for everyones sake.[8D]

[KenMattern]

QUOTE: Originally posted by LSIModeler

What better to use for weathering? Painting or dust? How do you do it?

I use chalk almost exclusively. It takes some patience becvause it doesn't always like to stick the way you want it but I can weather rocks, motive power, rolling stock, buildings, you name it, with little effort and yet get great results.

Check out this link to some photos I took of weathered rock. I airbrushed the rock and weathered it with chalk and a brush.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=862&TOPIC_ID=15409

KJ

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by swp7776

If peaople didnt ask alot of questions on here what else would there be to talk about, isnt that what these types of forums are for.

Steve

Questions and answers are exactly what these forums are used for, and by using this thread, I can place those questions in an index and help people in the future be able to find questions that have been answered.

The search feature isn't that great. I have tried it many times.

This thread is just an attempt to help. I hope it does. [:)]

[csmith9474]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DrummingTrainfan

This seems to be a good idea....so I will enter the first question.

Has anyone ever seen any HO musicians? We have a park that I would look great with a small stage and a jazz band, and being a drummer it would add a personal touch to the layout.

Preiser produces HO musicians.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=H&manu=preiser&item=&keywords=band&instock=Q&split=240&Submit=Search
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=H&manu=preiser&item=&keywords=musician&instock=Q&split=240&Submit=Search

[wjstix]

Preiser makes musicians, jazz musicians (standing horn players and guitar, and I think seated drummer) and marching band.

I think Woodland Scenics makes a figure set called something like "Hillbilly musicians" or "Jug Band musicians" or something like that.

[DrummingTrainfan]

Thanks guys...ill be looking right away.

[tstage]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DrummingTrainfan

This seems to be a good idea....so I will enter the first question.

Has anyone ever seen any HO musicians? We have a park that I would look great with a small stage and a jazz band, and being a drummer it would add a personal touch to the layout.

Erik,

You gotta know some good drummer jokes, yes?

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

NO offense intended, but isn't the whole forum question and answer? If I ask a question here, I get answers from the people that follow this thread. If I ask a question in the open forum, I get answers from everyone in the forum.

[Anonymous]

Hi Chip

Everyone has their own opinion and they are welcome to it. As I said, I do not discourage anyone from posting their own thread. The real advantage in using this thread for questions will come down the road by being able to use the index to quickly find a question or answer. I have received many encouraging emails about this thread. I have also received some advice on how to improve it. One such piece of advice is to give a link to each page. This will be a BIG help after a number of pages have been added to this thread. Some questions are better suited to their own thread, I have no problem with that. My intend here is simply trying to put those asking questions in touch with those answering questions and have an index to help find those questions and answers in the future. Thus far I have received more comments that are in favor of this idea than those opposed to it.

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks for the response. I had no considered the search function aspect. I hope it works as you plan.