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Why do most of you never say what scale you are talking about? Locked

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  • Member since
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Posted by Truck on Friday, July 1, 2011 11:56 PM

Lake

Truck, my wife thinks like yours when she reads or I tell her about certain post.

Will, Brakie also does HO if i remember correctly. Big Smile

I am glad I'm not alone. I do not whish to offend anybody, but just point out how different people see and read things.   OOPS  Almost forgot Modeling N & HO scale.

                     Truck. 

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Posted by galaxy on Saturday, July 2, 2011 2:36 AM

On:

"why don't people say what scale they are modeling"  :  Since HO is a predominant scale here {in the USA, anyway}, and this forum clings mostly to HO {as many claims MR magazine does too}, it is reasonable to assume it is about HO. N scale comes in close second, and has to mags like MR. {THAT IS NOT TO SAY MR magazine does NOT list stuff for other scales- before I get shot for that one} AND some people just forget!! {let he amongst you who has never forgotten something cast the first stone! and we WILL check with your Significant Other on this one to be sure first!!}.

On:

"my scale is in my signature" :  My scale{s} is in my signature also, BUT most people, I fear, do NOT bother to read signatures, or otherwise they would know what scale the poster is posting about, ASSUMEDLY. ANd not everyone puts their scale in their signature. Then you have me. My sig says "HO and N" so which do I refer to in my post? WHy do I have both? Because I mainly fool with HO, but I bring out my Old {and New} N scale to run under the Xmas tree at Xmas, ANd My other Half {MOH} is into N scale.

On:

"you can tell the scale by the question or answer"  :  Yes, sometimes you can. A question or answer about something can often belie it's scale reference. In the "Redneck" scheme of things: YOu might be a "knuckle head" if you can't tell that a reference to code 83 track would, indeed, refer to HO scale, and that reference to code 55 track would, indeed, refer to N scale.

On:

"why do some people say ' I don't model that scale, but here is how/when/what/where I did it in my scale' : BECAUSE. some things may trans-scale! JUst because I may not HAve any Bachmann N scale locos {actually I do}, It might stand to reason that if Bachmann HO locos work 'thusly, and I love/hate them', it may stand to reason that Bachmann's quality in N scale might be the same quality as in their HO scale workings. Therefore, It may offer pertinent info about Bachmann as a company rather than a scale.

One would assume a Chevy Volt to be of similar quality to a CHevy Cruze Or Chevy Equinox, all made by Chevy, but VERY differnet vehicles.!. 

 It also may be a genreic question applying broadly to any scale, such as: ' how do I glue down my N scale track' can be answered by those who use Atlas track in either HO or N scale, OR who use Bachmann's EZ Track in either scale. S scale MIGHT have a different answer as rails are different, but glue is glue and caulk is caulk and both can effectively hold down track.

On:

"boosting counts to look like an expert" : I don't think it is that way at all. Some people have more time than others to answer any and all posts,and can offer actual advice based on their experience, opinions, what they have read and answer the OP's question. I have, on occasion, seen a  post that has sat with not one answer to it {yet} that I have started an answer by saying "since no one else has jumped in here may I offer my: opinion, take, experience, well read info, ..." Anyone who posts a question or observance is likely looking for an answer or comment on their post, or else they would lock it right away {and MR forum moderators might remove such a posting}. I just may have beat someone else to the posting. Anyone around here {long enough} will know that a high post count doesn't mean expert, and a low post count doesn't necessarily mean amature, but can give a rating as to potential understanding of the hobby. I would never have thought I would have over 3,000 things to say here when I joined some-odd years ago. But I DO have {relevant I hope always} things to say based on my experience, opinion, or well read knowledgeof "things and stuff" and "stuff and things" to do with the hobby. ANd I am not afraid to post! I do NOT have 15,000 psots, though As I jsut haven't been here that long and don't have all that much to say to EVERY post that comes along! AND I have this disclaimer in my signature for anyone who cares to read it: "Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary"

On:

"Why I should make some popcorn and sit and watch this post go further downhill and turn into a flame war before it gets locked" : Because that is what happens to some threads when very highly opinionated people start rambling missives when they have nothing better to do....

*sigh* now back to my popcorn...

 

 

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Saturday, July 2, 2011 4:52 AM

Just to point out that things are similar across scales.

Code 100, code 83, code 70 rail can refer to S scale as well as HO - all three are available in flex track in S.  Also narrow gauge in one scale frequently uses rail popular in another scale. Sn3 has code 70 flextrack. Sn2 uses HOn3 track which is very close to N scale, Sn42 uses HO track.  So when you talk about track it isn't always very scale specific.

And, as has been pointed, some of us are in or have been in multiple scales.  I personally have had periods of involvement in N, HO, O, and G - and still have stuff in all those scales and still occasionally pick up items in those scales that appeal to me.

Enjoy

Paul

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 2, 2011 5:16 AM

.....for those curious about what scale I run....both HO and N...

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, July 2, 2011 5:45 AM

Lake

Truck, my wife thinks like yours when she reads or I tell her about certain post.

Will, Brakie also does HO if i remember correctly. Big Smile

 

Indeed I model both scales..N is my primary scale and HO is my secondary scale.

------------------------------

why do some people say ' I don't model that scale, but here is how/when/what/where I did it in my scale' : BECAUSE. some things may trans-scale!

------------------------------

While that is certainly true in some areas there are others areas that will not work.

I still maintain some times a person with no experience in  N should not reply..I know nothing about  S and O scales so,I don't make a reply..Same applies for areas in the hobby I have little or no experience.

As a example.

Gotta question about wiring a DPDT switch?  Unless you want more then a blank stare you're light years ahead asking somebody else that has experience since I never wired one.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, July 2, 2011 6:03 AM

Jimmydieselfan

I also get tired of the blowhards that feel the need to comment on just about every thread. I swear they do it to boost their post count up so people think they are experts. Most experts aren't wasting their time here , I guarantee.

Isn't that essentially what you are doing by responding 5 times already to your own question?

Many of the responses to your question are from forum members with posts of 4,000 to 17,000 or more.  Do you consider all of them "blowhards" ?

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by ollevon on Saturday, July 2, 2011 6:16 AM

  Right On Rich

   Sam

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 2, 2011 6:22 AM

....I'd rather we leave that part of his replies alone....

 

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, July 2, 2011 7:24 AM

HOw about we let thiS thread sNooZe before it starts geTTinG totally out Of hand.  Oops...TOO late! Angel

Tom

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 2, 2011 7:42 AM

OK...Now you done HOodeded it.....OOboi...

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by AltonFan on Saturday, July 2, 2011 7:50 AM

I do think the OP has a point.  There have been times when someone has posted a question for which knowing the scale is necessary to make a reply.  Most of the time when I see this, the member is both new to the forums, and the hobby.

In most cases, you can probably get away with assuming the question is about HO scale.  A while back somebody asked a question about the IHB 0-8-0.  Model versions of that engine have been produced since the 1960s, under three or four different brand names, in O, HO, and N scales.  IIRC, the O version and one version of the HO have similar mechanisms, and the N version is completely different from the O and any of the HO versions.  And if the person making the query doesn't provide enough context, it will be difficult to provide an answer.

But then, sometimes asking the right question is the key to the problem...

Dan

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Posted by Catt on Saturday, July 2, 2011 8:27 AM

I personally think scale specific threads should state so in the title.That being said I have asked about the availability of certain items in a specific scale and have recieved upto a dozen replies about the item in another scale.

My primary scale is N for the main course and Z is the appetizer ,plus HO sometimes for desert (+On30).As for scale specific forums if you think they are not useful PM me and I will give you a list of sites with very sucessful scale specific forums.

Johnathan(Catt) Edwards 100 % Michigan Made
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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, July 2, 2011 8:27 AM

AltonFan

I do think the OP has a point.  There have been times when someone has posted a question for which knowing the scale is necessary to make a reply.  Most of the time when I see this, the member is both new to the forums, and the hobby.

In most cases, you can probably get away with assuming the question is about HO scale. 

Yes, knowing the scale is often helpful, especially where new people to the hobby are concerned.  Those of us who have been in the hobby for 20 or 30 years generally see brands and context and can figure it out, although there are a few brands that cross several scales like Atlas for example.

As for post count, I don't see why the original poster even brought that up.  There are often people who have a great deal experience who are either new to a forum or just not a frequent poster, or visa versa.  Walking in and starting a topic with a big chip on ones shoulder isn't going to be contructive or generate positive disucssion, nor calling people names.  As Selector strongly hinted, play nice in the sand box or be asked to leave eventually.

As for scales, last time I checked, HO was still the most modeled scale.  No one has to feel cast down for modeling a less popular scale.  There are good reasons individuals have for choosing their scale.  I've often thought it would be useful to have a forum section for large, mid and small scales so that we could focus on what we choose and not have to read through things irrelevant to our interests.  Atlas forums has always had an N, HO and O scale section and I have liked that.  I suppose they can justify that format because they sell products in all three scales.  Fair enough.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by csxns on Saturday, July 2, 2011 9:24 AM

No one has to feel cast down,Well said riogrande.

Russell

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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, July 2, 2011 9:50 AM

Jim,Excellent reply.

The 2 busiest  N Scale forums is the Atlas and Trainboard N Scale forums.

Many model train forums has  scale specific sub forums..I even know of a slot car forum that is broken down to scale forums so,we can see its not really out of the question to have scale specific sub forums.

However,that's a decision MR has to make and maybe they should take it under consideration..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, July 2, 2011 10:06 AM

BRAKIE

The 2 busiest  N Scale forums is the Atlas and Trainboard N Scale forums.

Many model train forums has  scale specific sub forums..I even know of a slot car forum that is broken down to scale forums so,we can see its not really out of the question to have scale specific sub forums.

However,that's a decision MR has to make and maybe they should take it under consideration..

Larry, excellent points.  If I were N I'd be frequenting those forums.  Thank you for reminding me of Trainboard because I had lost the link there.  They seem to be more active in N than HO, at least the Rio Grande people!  =P

Yes, I think subforums would be good.  I realize some forums have suffered from too many topic areas to the point that they seem devoid of activity.  That was a condition I noticed years back when some new Train forums were created and thats exactly what seemed to happen.  But if things were kept to a minimum, it probably would be helpful.  Something like Large, mid and small scale.  Large = G and O, Mid = S and HO, and Small = N and Z (perhaps TT).

Cheers.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by sandusky on Saturday, July 2, 2011 10:27 AM

Pick a little, talk a little, pick a litlle, talk a little, cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot pick a little more.

Go do some modeling.

ms

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Saturday, July 2, 2011 1:17 PM

sandusky

 

Go do some modeling.

I did. Things haven't changed.Laugh

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Posted by tstage on Saturday, July 2, 2011 1:41 PM

sandusky

Pick a little, talk a little, pick a litlle, talk a little, cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot pick a little more.

Sandusky,

Can I join in with you with a simultaneous chorus of "Good night, Ladies"? Big Smile

Tom

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Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by citylimits on Saturday, July 2, 2011 6:59 PM

I've notice with interest, not only in this post, but where running two scales has been mentioned previously. So I need to now ask - how does this work out?

Do you guys have two layouts?

Run N track along side HO track?

Have both gauge tracks interwoven - like a kind of lattice work, but not interfering with each others progress.

I first started out modeling N and then, for the usual reasons of life style and family, took a two decade break and on my return took up HO, mainly because it was an easier scale to use modeling a fallen flag road - availability of store bought items in HO.

My liking for N has never left me and I would now jump back in if I didn’t have such a huge investment of both time and money in HO and if my eyes were behaving better than they do and I could see smaller things with the clarity of teenage eyes. Oh, I hear you say, poor old geezer!

BruceSmile

 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 2, 2011 7:20 PM

in my case it is a combination of having a client who has CP who is not afraid to do his own modeling of things as he does have his own HO scale layout. As well as having a HO scale diorama here for my photo compression studies...HO in front...N scale layout behind. 

It gives me the best of both worlds....

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

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Posted by Geared Steam on Saturday, July 2, 2011 7:41 PM

Go back to Trainbored Jimmy, or did they run you off from there too ? 

 

What a jackass. Laugh

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 2, 2011 8:40 PM

Does he get run off boards a lot?MischiefWhistling

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

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Posted by sandusky on Saturday, July 2, 2011 8:46 PM

tstage

 sandusky:

Pick a little, talk a little, pick a litlle, talk a little, cheep cheep cheep, talk a lot pick a little more.

 

Sandusky,

Can I join in with you with a simultaneous chorus of "Good night, Ladies"? Big Smile

Tom

Sure!

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Posted by sandusky on Saturday, July 2, 2011 8:48 PM

jeffrey-wimberly

 sandusky:

 

Go do some modeling.

 

I did. Things haven't changed.Laugh

INDEED!

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Saturday, July 2, 2011 8:51 PM

sandusky

 

 jeffrey-wimberly:

 

 

 sandusky:

 

Go do some modeling.

 

I did. Things haven't changed.Laugh

 

 

 

INDEED!

LaughLaughLaughLaugh

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by CTValleyRR on Sunday, July 3, 2011 9:09 PM

blownout cylinder

 

 sandusky:

 

 

 jeffrey-wimberly:

 

 

 sandusky:

 

Go do some modeling.

 

I did. Things haven't changed.Laugh

 

 

 

INDEED!

 

 

LaughLaughLaughLaugh

SOMETHING has changed....

Jimmy has taken the weekend off after throwing the grenade into the room.  I was willing to overlook the churlishness of his original language in order to start a civilized discussion.  Seems like I had a beer too many on Friday after work!

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, July 3, 2011 9:44 PM

meh...

Jimmy has an ...erm..interesting rep here...somewhat as a grenade launcher....Laugh

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

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Posted by secondhandmodeler on Sunday, July 3, 2011 9:45 PM

Time to let this thread die.

Corey
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Posted by howmus on Sunday, July 3, 2011 10:28 PM

secondhandmodeler

Time to let this thread die.

Of what?

You know the difference between ignorance and apathy?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't know, and I don't care!

Smile, Wink & GrinLaugh

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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