hon30critter HI Paul: Thanks for getting our Disney history straight. Like I said, it has been a long time since I saw the movie. Dave
HI Paul:
Thanks for getting our Disney history straight.
Like I said, it has been a long time since I saw the movie.
Dave
Oh well, as Friend Owl said, "Nearly everybody gets twitterpated in the springtime".
Rich
Alton Junction
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I recognize that we all strive to be correct, so...the quote is from Thumper, referencing his father:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034492/quotes
As MY mother used to say, 'Remember what Thumper's Daddy said..'
Paul
tomikawaTTIf the SEARCH utility would actually search the phrase exactly as it appears between the quotes it would prove very useful. Unfortunately, it dredges up everything that resembles the longest word - so a pinpoint question that should yield a very few posts ends up being a hunt through pages of irrelevant information. I, personally, find it close to useless.
Wouldn't it be nice if it was just this easy?
Laying a flex track curve (You Tube).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjqa-inzTnA
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Heck, when I joined the forum in September 2004, I had been into HO scale model railroading for all of 9 months. I didn't concern myself with a beginner's forum back then, and I see no reason for one now. I was a pretty timid participant back in 2004 because I knew very little about model railroading and I was concerned about asking stupid questions. But I survived quite nicely and so will all the current newbies.
maybe a sticky thread should be added showing how to use google to search the MR forum sites with the site:cs.trains.com tag. It would help non-beginners as well
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
cedarwoodron Some beginners questions have been addressed frequently in the general, layout and electronics portions of this forum. Perhaps a more transparent and effective search system would enable beginners to obtain answers to previously- responded to issues. Cedarwoodron
Some beginners questions have been addressed frequently in the general, layout and electronics portions of this forum. Perhaps a more transparent and effective search system would enable beginners to obtain answers to previously- responded to issues.
Cedarwoodron
If the SEARCH utility would actually search the phrase exactly as it appears between the quotes it would prove very useful. Unfortunately, it dredges up everything that resembles the longest word - so a pinpoint question that should yield a very few posts ends up being a hunt through pages of irrelevant information. I, personally, find it close to useless.
What is really frustrating is that every question a newcomer is likely to have has been answered some time in the last ten years - except that the, 'Find the needle in the haystack,' search utility delivers the haystack, not the needle.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
JOHN BRUCE IIIA thread where a beginner makes consistent progress, improves techniques, improves photos, learns something, is very unusual. I'd take part in a thread like that. But neither here nor on other forums do we often see anything like that.
As a passing thought..Could those folk be using You Tube for better tutorials then just answers that doesn't really show how to do it?
I don't have a answer but,I have notice the three forums I am on the activity has slowed over the last year.
The question is what people expect from social media, which is what forums are. Things are always going to be tilted at the beginner level, because on social media people want to be popular and don't want to offer much challenge. But at the same time, instant gratification is part of the mix. If you use google, you might get your question answered, but you wouldn't get the attention you'd get by having 154 people read your question. The suggestion above that a sincere beginner might want to be interactive and update the forum on trials, errors, results, successes, etc is potentially good, but that's not social media. A thread where a beginner makes consistent progress, improves techniques, improves photos, learns something, is very unusual. I'd take part in a thread like that. But neither here nor on other forums do we often see anything like that.
Obviously, "beginner" questions pop up here frequently and I suspect some of us "seasoned MRs" get tired of the same old topics which have been gone over time after time.
But, "beginners" do need to be heard and helped as they are the future of the hobby. What I believe would help is a directory of FAQs, with links to the various threads that address the subject. Yes, someone is going to have to put that together, etc., etc...............
That being said, the practical side of me says "that ain't gonna happen", and the Forum will continue to be as it is - which is pretty darn good IMO of course.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Cedarwoodron,
There is one problem that MRR has from the get go.....$$$$$$$. It was explained to us in the very beginning of the switching to this new software, that it was an off the shelf product, therefore it may not even be possible to have it function and be compatible with every ones unit and browser...that takes $$$$$.
Take Care!
Frank
richg1998Google is by far a much better search option. Your PC is a powerful device. Learn how to use it in forums. Rich
So is you tube for basic "show and tells" that covers many subjects from track laying to installing a DCC decoder.
While I encourage beginners to ask questions I will also encourage them to look for answers on you tube or by using google.
Rich is correct, your computer is a powerful research tool.
Model Railroader Forums also has a lot of beginners on it so there doesn't really need to be a separate section really.
BTW, there is another forum I found that has a lot of beginners on it as well:
http://www.modeltrainforum.com/index.php
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
RideOnRoad mentioned the use of the site:cs.trains.com tag when performing a google search to restrict the search to the MR forum.
I frequently use Google in my modeling research- and it is a very useful tool; however, the purpose of the MR Forums search tool is to enable searches within the subset of Forum topics particularly, if I am correct. That means it does not have to use a search algorithm (?) that roams the entire Internet for relevant information, and would therefore be able to return information more directly on point, so to speak, to the inquierer's input. Beginners may be confused by being inundated with return info on Google, but could be better served by the local MR search tool, in my opinion. My suggestion- hire a software savvy college intern at Kalmbach- one with hacking credentials! If such a person can get into all kinds of data bases on their own initiative, surely they have the skills to improve the function of the MR search tool!
Speaking as a relative beginner, and a true beginner when I joined the forum, I would say that the current format has served me well. I would be concerned that some of the veterans would stay away from a "beginner's forum." I have received all of the help I have needed by following a few simple guidelines.
Relying heavily on the advice and counsel received here, I am well on my way to a functioning, landscaped 11'x6' N-Scale layout from a point of no experience only a couple of years.
Richard
Ricky W:
You are probably right about the origin of the quote. It's been about 55 years since I last saw the cartoon but for some reason the advice stuck with me. My dear departed mother may have used the quote as well.
Anyhow, regardless of who said it, it still rings true.
Texas Zepher hon30critter Remember what Bambie's mother said! Don't run into the meadow?
hon30critter Remember what Bambie's mother said!
Don't run into the meadow?
Or words to that effect.
Don't give hunter's...a clear shot.
hon30critterRemember what Bambie's mother said!
ricktrains4824while I don't really like to disagree, wasn't that one Thumper's mom?
I have always been an advocate of some way to get to a frequently asked questions index. We were sort of getting there a few forum software 'versions' ago with the frequent word index, but then that got messed up and went away, sooo. A real problem is that the same beginners questions have been asked so many times, but then soon fall off the front of the messages. Instead of finding an old thread with the same topic everyone seems to start a new one, so everyone has to post the SAME information over and over. People get tired of posting the same thing over and over.
I've always been reluctant to ask questions that would basically be so specific that whoever replied first would pretty much have answered it and then rendered the thread over. Yet having a general "ask a very specific question" thread would only be useful if someone reading that thread happened to know the exact answer. For instance, there's a specific building kit I'm very curious about, but I don't want to start a thread to be like "anyone know how long this wall is."
I would also say that Model Railroader Video Plus is an excellent place to get beginnner info. The problem is that you have to subscribe to it, but you get what you pay for.
ndbprrThere must be hundreds if not thousands of questions regarding grades, radii, foam, scenery, and other really basic questions. Perhaps a beginners forum would be of benefit.
Sigh. This is a beginners forum.
You can use Google with words, trains.com for better search results here than the forum search option.
Google is by far a much better search option. Your PC is a powerful device. Learn how to use it in forums.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
In addition to this very informative forum on MR's home page there is a How To header with a drop down list of very helpful basic info.
Just my two worth
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
I didn't realize certain threads/topics were for "seasoned veterans". I thought ALL posts were for ALL forum members.
1. There's a "Search the Community" box on the right side of the page. Very rarely used, bad location on page and the "search" feature is weak.
2. Internet searches reveal multiple "hits" on such topics, from other forum's/sites also.
3. Whether "beginner" or "old salty dog", maybe go READ the threads/posts beyond the 1st page.
4. A little research goes a long way.
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
ricktrains4824 hon30critter Just in case you are uncertain about the quote I was referring to (which I doubt), Bambie's mom said "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." Um, while I don't really like to disagree, wasn't that one Thumper's mom?
hon30critter Just in case you are uncertain about the quote I was referring to (which I doubt), Bambie's mom said "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."
Just in case you are uncertain about the quote I was referring to (which I doubt), Bambie's mom said "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all."
Um, while I don't really like to disagree, wasn't that one Thumper's mom?
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ndbprrThere must be hundreds if not thousands of questions regarding grades, radii, foam, scenery, and other really basic questions.
since basic questions have probably already been asked, perhaps the best thing a beginner can do is learn to perform a search before posting yet another beginner question.
IRONROOSTER Over the years there have been several beginner topics here. If you have a beginners only forum so to speak, you still need people who can answer questions. So might as well have everyone here.
Over the years there have been several beginner topics here.
If you have a beginners only forum so to speak, you still need people who can answer questions. So might as well have everyone here.