The "N" crowd: Part II

[Dave Vollmer]

I just tried the HO Crowd thing about 3 days ago it got locked in about 5 hours after I started it.  I guess the dave vollmer asked permisson to start the N crowd. That is what I was told.

Not exactly...   

I simply started the thread without any prior permission. 

At the time there seemed to be fewer vocal N scalers than at present (there's a pretty high turnover rate here), but those of use who were active we getting somewhat frustrated at the assumption that everything we posted was HO.  Even if N scale was included in the title, it seemed, HO modelers jumped right in with suggestions on which HO products would fix the problem or which HO locomotive we should purchase instead.  "The 'N' Crowd" grew out of this somewhat irritating, widely-held yet unspoken assumption that all posts were HO unless otherwise stated.

We tossed the idea about that a seperate N scale subforum might be good...  But then it was also pointed out that many other forums had an N scale section, so there was no need to replicate that structure here.  Furthermore, many of us liked the General Discussion anyway, and feared a seperate N scale subforum would cause us to visit less.  In the end, I think Bergie mentioned that he was not supportive of the seperate N scale forum idea, so we went the thread route.

Given that certain common problems and common themes are endemic to N scale (i.e., low-profile versus pizza cutter flanges, code 55 versus code 80 track, etc.), I thought a seperate N scale thread might be a good place to discuss these issues free from certain HO scalers who would invariably answer our questions with HO-scale answers.

Bergie let the "crowd" go mainly because this forum is dominated by HO scalers (N scale is underrepresented here in proportion to the estimated percentage of N scalers to HO scalers hobby-wide; many N scalers go instead to dedicated N scale fora) and it served an important niche in the MR forum demographics.  Recently it seems the N scale population here is growing quite steadily, perhaps making a thread like this superfluous.

LASTLY:

"The 'N' Crowd" did pretty well for itself at first, but after a while became so unwieldy due to length that I rarely visited at all.  Pithy subject matter became buried in social banter, as often happens in long, long threads.  To me, "The 'N' Crowd" ran its course.

Now I'm perfectly content to post directly to the General Discussion forum with N scale in the subject line.  I get fewer of the "assume-I'm-in-HO-anyway" responses.  Also, I'm involved in other fora whose focus is not only N but N with a bent toward Eastern railroading, so that scratches my itch.  But if you folks want to keep the "crowd" going, enjoy!!!

[pcarrell]

Craig,

Steam to Diesel is definately the more popular of the two (modern power is most popular in N scale), but a great 19th century layout is definately possible with all of the MDC and Bachmann stuff alone.  Throw in the Atlas 2-6-0 and a few others that have been done over the years like the Minitrix 0-6-0 old timer and some of the cottage industry stuff and it can be done.

If you want to see some cool stuff for N scale, and the detail parts and could definately help on that 19th century theme, check out these links!

http://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/

http://www.aspenmodel.com/

http://www.urbaneagle.com/slim/

http://www.musketminiatures.com/

A lot of it is N scale narrow guage, but like I said, the detail parts could be used to backdate standard guage models to the 19th century.

[Dallas Model Works]

The MDC would be the easiest to find, with a decent price and good detail.  You can also look at train shows, swap meets, and EvilBay for the Bachmann Old Timers series of cars.  They can be had at bargin basement prices, but they need a little work to look good and I always swap out the trucks for some decent Micro Trains.  Other then that, there's not much out there.  Occasionally you come across some brass car sides of that era, but it's up to you to bash the rest.

Thanks guys. I knew about the MDC stuff but wondered if there was something more obscure out there.

I guess the original transition era (covered-wagons-to-trains) isn't as popular as steam-to-diesel! 

 

[Guilford Guy]

I just tried the HO Crowd thing about 3 days ago it got locked in about 5 hours after I started it.  I guess the dave vollmer asked permisson to start the N crowd. That is what I was told.

Their are far more HOers than N scales on the forum. This thread gives a place for N scalers to converse. An HO thread is pretty much a pointless waste of bandwidth due to the fact that their is a Beer Barn and Diner already in existence...

[4-6-6-4 Challenger]

I just tried the HO Crowd thing about 3 days ago it got locked in about 5 hours after I started it.  I guess the dave vollmer asked permisson to start the N crowd. That is what I was told.

[SOO_N Scaler]

wow look another reason not to like bears fans,, but wait, is'nt GreenBay called titletown,,,and Chi-town the windy city, I guess that is for all the hot air in the town.

  Packers fan forever....70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and beyond.

  Adios Wyatt

[Hoople]

my opinion- if it ain't the COWBOYS in the super bowl in ain't worth watching. and I say that living in a house where my wife, daughter and both sons are die hard steeler fans.

 

HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS?

[4-6-6-4 Challenger]

Why did it close?

I noticed that the "Elliots Trackside Dinner" also closed and they made a new one.

[New Haven I-5]

 Part 1 is closed.

[4-6-6-4 Challenger]

what is the reason for starting part II of the "N" crowd

[Anonymous]

  Can I start The "HO" Crowd? Me and the guys that model HO scale really need something that is HO scale only.

Already been tried. And failed.

http://cs.trains.com/forums/1390261/ShowPost.aspx 

[New Haven I-5]

  Can I start The "HO" Crowd? Me and the guys that model HO scale really need something that is HO scale only.

[pcarrell]

The MDC would be the easiest to find, with a decent price and good detail.  You can also look at train shows, swap meets, and EvilBay for the Bachmann Old Timers series of cars.  They can be had at bargin basement prices, but they need a little work to look good and I always swap out the trucks for some decent Micro Trains.  Other then that, there's not much out there.  Occasionally you come across some brass car sides of that era, but it's up to you to bash the rest.

[Dallas Model Works]

Okay... so I'll ask again, since nobody can now reply to my original question.

Can anybody suggest a manufacturer(s) of decent mid 19th century rolling stock, specifically passenger, in N scale?

Something craftsman maybe? I haven't been able to turn up much and wondered if something had escaped my search.

Thanks!

[saronaterry]

Sorry, anyone but a Packers fan. I'm going to lock this so someone else can start a new part II.

Signed, Bergie (the Bears fan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just kidding (sort of... about the locking part) 

Easy there, Bergie. Weren't da bearz on the golf course a little EARLYThis year?

Terry, from Northern Wisconsin

(HO modeler, but I couldn't let THAT post go by!)

[concretelackey]

my opinion- if it ain't the COWBOYS in the super bowl in ain't worth watching. and I say that living in a house where my wife, daughter and both sons are die hard steeler fans.

[nscale1969]

The sting of the SB loss and a pitiful showing last season must still be with you.....It could be worse...I am a Cards fan..

[Train 284]

Bergie you crack me up!

[Bergie]

Sorry, anyone but a Packers fan. I'm going to lock this so someone else can start a new part II.

Signed, Bergie (the Bears fan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just kidding (sort of... about the locking part) 

[Packers#1]

Like Bergie said, someone needs to start a the "N" crowd, Part II, so I might as we go ahead, since I saw his suggestion first.