It appears the Atlas Rescue Forum has been taken over by something called "1099 Pro" that's not letting me log in. Wondered if anyone else that uses that forum has had similar trouble?
http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/
Works fine for me. (?) Maybe YOU got a re-direct virus in your computer ?
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Works for me.
Rich
Alton Junction
I joined both forums at the same time. There was a guy on the Atlas forum who was mouthing off about getting kicked off of this forum. He didn't exactly receive a warm reception.
That said, some of the same folks post the same things on both forums. Both forums have a unique subset of individuals.
Visually and navigationally, this forum is much easier to use. I look at the Atlas forum now and then, but this forum is my home.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Works for me. I'm also in Diesel Detailer, which is also from ProBoards. Same log-in for both.
Mike
My You Tube
I gave up on the Atlas Rescue Forum...not enough steam fans, and a small minority of folks who...rob any joy to be had there.
John
Well, it is loaded with "rivet counters", especially when it comes to new releases of locos and rolling stock, but also a lot of great people that are in here, and many other forums. There is enough where one take take his pick. I'm in 4 model railroad forums, along with 2 garden tractor forums. More than enough for me.
Mike.
Yes, a few of those rivet counters even refuse to back down when occasionally presented with real world facts that contradict what they believe. They have criticized manufacturers vociferously for what they thought were "errors" that were in fact not errors, but factually correct.
And heaven forbid you actually like any product from "the great satan of HO"--MTH, certain Intermountain engines, and some Proto 2000 locomotives.
Some of them lack sane reasoning regarding what will or can sell and what cannot be made or retooled.
No thank you; I'll go elsewhere.
PRR8259and some Proto 2000 locomotives.
What I find odd about that there are those among us that says those locomotives isn't up to today's modeling "standards".
I often wondered who set those standards since I like my P2K Geeps?
Of course I'm a guy that still loves his BB SW7s,GP7s and heaven forbid my BB GP35s so,what do I know?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE PRR8259 and some Proto 2000 locomotives. What I find odd about that there are those among us that says those locomotives isn't up to today's modeling "standards". I often wondered who set those standards since I like my P2K Geeps?
PRR8259 and some Proto 2000 locomotives.
Based on what I'm seeing at train shows, today's "standards" seem to revolve around sound equipped engines. If it doesn't have all the electronics pre-installed, or at least accommodations to install easily, it's not valuable. A few years back, a Kato loco for $50 would have been an incredible bargain. Now tables are littered with them at that price.
Norton Security blocked a google redirect virus from my computer when I was going to links posted on one of these train forums ... I don't remember which one I was on.
I did not save the file name.
PRR8259 ...... And heaven forbid you actually like any product from "the great satan of HO"-- ...
And, Mike Wolf IS the great satan!
Atlas Rescue is working fine for me - might be something else blocking or causing issue.
Henry, I've been on forums since I was a freshman in college in 1977 and forums are like churches. What is it they say about churches, if you find the perfect one, don't join it because it will no longer be perfect. Moral of the story is the hobby is comprised of a lot of grumpy old men and it is not unusual for issues to arrise. If you have any forum where members discuss personal issues, it's going to stir up mixed emotions and usually there WILL include some negative reaction - here, there or you name it. I like Atlas Rescue forums (ARF) - and like anything, it isn't perfect and is a work in progress. ARF has removed some chronic rule breakers and generally things have quieted down.
As for preference, forums have members with different interests and some suite certain types better than others. No big deal. The member you mentioned is welcome at ARF as long as he abides by the forum rules and as always, best practice is to keep discussions about trains and avoid personal drama. Personal drama usually doesn't go over well on any forum. Just saying...
Cheers, Jim Fitch
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
JimL previously posted by PRR8259: ...... And heaven forbid you actually like any product from "the great satan of HO"-- ... And, Mike Wolf IS the great satan!
previously posted by PRR8259:
lol.
Well, too many folks over there take Mike Wolf way too seriously.
I've never met him, and don't really care one way or the other. He's a businessman trying to sell a product and make a profit. His preferences may lean more toward the O-gauge crowd than some HO folks prefer, and he's not the only litigious one in this hobby. It takes two to fight, and the folks at least with one other company seem to enjoy provoking him by releasing the exact same product he announces, time after time. He may be no saint, but he has company with the other guys working in this hobby, too.
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
Yes, the ARF has quieted down somewhat. There just hasn't been much there of any value to me of late. Athearn announced some neat steam engines, and ARF members complained and said "well there's nothing for me to buy this month". Way too diesel-oriented for me over there.
riogrande5761 .. Henry,... Moral of the story is the hobby is comprised of a lot of grumpy old men and it is not unusual for issues to arrise. If you have any forum where members discuss personal issues, it's going to stir up mixed emotions and usually there WILL include some negative reaction - here, there or you name it. ... Cheers, Jim Fitch
..
Henry,... Moral of the story is the hobby is comprised of a lot of grumpy old men and it is not unusual for issues to arrise. If you have any forum where members discuss personal issues, it's going to stir up mixed emotions and usually there WILL include some negative reaction - here, there or you name it. ...
True dat, and it's why so many of us learn to play in our own sandboxes....alone. At my stage of life, I just don't enjoy sitting on my hands in a back row being told what to think, or what's a fact, or how to do things. Too many rules, too many rigid minds, too many curmudgeons taking over a conversation....
Train shows are about as much as I want to do to meet other modellers, and I don't recall shaking anyone's hand in any of them. Forums are a safe way to meet, to quietly disengage and slink away...and then to return. Or, to deselect myself from that particular culture because I don't seem to fit. The Rescue Forum is heavily about post-1990 diesels, a form of railroading that holds only a modest interest for me.
I guess Selector just summed up my feelings quite well.
I don't like being told what I should think, either.
When I go to train shows, there are select people there besides the dealers that I will interact with, and I don't go out of my way to meet new folks anymore. Or rather, I don't advertise on the ARF that I'm attending this or that, as there's people I don't care to ever meet in person.
There are certain folks who are always welcoming of others in this hobby, regardless of their personal views, and I tend to associate with them. Surprisingly, they may be the very same folks who come off a little coarse sometimes, but genuinely are among the nicest folks in the entire hobby once you get to know them. I've learned to respect and appreciate these folks as they tend to be yet several years my senior, and I know they will be missed greatly someday...
I appreciate that I myself, and my kids, are always welcome at their houses and layouts, and hope to keep it that way.
Who likes to be told what to think? Nobody. If a person offensive, hit the report button. Any decently moderated forum will take care of the mean people, then it all just comes down to finding a place where people have enough things in common. I am a member of around 7 or 8 forums; around half of them don't have a lot of discussion of interest to me so I only visit occasionally. Thats normal. Some others have more interesting topics to me so I participate more - and most forums can go through slow times too. Negativity or complaining just gets old very fast. The best thing is to keep it positive as much as possible. Cheers.
Milepost 266.2A few years back, a Kato loco for $50 would have been an incredible bargain. Now tables are littered with them at that price.
Yes indeedy.. I paid $45.00 for my CR GP35 brand new. To bad he only had one CR.
As far as noise makers I have three but,after 30 or so minutes-Hello F8.
Amen to that.
Brand new BLI GN 4-8-4...down went the sound volume, and I usually just hit F8 on the MRC Tech 6 to turn the sound off entirely, anyway.
riogrande5761--
Unfortunately I think it took a wee bit too long to get rid of some folks...but that's my personal opinion.
I left ARF because I got tired of being told that my rebuilt TYCO and Bachmann covered hoppers,and flat cars and gondolas were junk.
I don't knock other folks pet projects and I wasn't about to put up with anyone knocking mine.
riogrande5761 Who likes to be told what to think? Nobody. If a person offensive, hit the report button. Any decently moderated forum will take care of the mean people, then it all just comes down to finding a place where people have enough things in common. I am a member of around 7 or 8 forums; around half of them don't have a lot of discussion of interest to me so I only visit occasionally. Thats normal. Some others have more interesting topics to me so I participate more - and most forums can go through slow times too. Negativity or complaining just gets old very fast. The best thing is to keep it positive as much as possible. Cheers.
I was mostly thinking of clubs and meets. I don't belong to any organized group for any purpose except for a local choral society, and haven't for maybe 30 years now. It's just not my style any more. But you are right, a forum can be chosen as well as a club can, and left for the same reason(s).
Selector,I attend a local RPM meet every year and never felt like anybody is telling me how to model. I just enjoy looking at great models and always did. I've read Tony Koester's "Train Of Thought" column for as long as its been around and never felt like I was being told how to model.
I've been a member of several clubs and never felt anybody was telling me how to model. Of course every club was different from a do nothing to let's op till we drop and call a work day as needed. The layout was finish and in order to change anything the project had to carry the majority of the vote. The club went DCC several months ago. I still get their e-mail news letter whenever they decide to send one.
One good thing about the Atlas forum there's a lot of knowledgeable modelers there and their information is priceless. I overlook the petty complaints about the wrong shade of paint and take the better information like (say) the headlights on a Genesis locomotive burns out in a short time or how the Athearn RTR RS-3 is a roll the dice as far as smooth operation.
Any club,meet or forum is what one makes of it and if one doesn't feel comfortable they should move along.
I think it was Groucho Marx who said "I wouldn't want to belong to a club that would have me as a member"...although I was an alumni member of the model rr club at my alma mater for a while.
I don't remember who wrote it - I'm thinking it was in MR, maybe an editorial or Tony K's column - but someone once said that even though they weren't interested in super-super-detailing things, they appreciated the people that did. Because those people showed there were was a potentional market with folks interested in more accurate, detailed models, the quality level of kits and RTR equipment has improved in recent decades by leaps and bounds. You can buy a pre-painted RTR engine now that is as good or better than what thirty years ago you could only get by spending hours and hours adding details.
wjstixBecause those people showed there were was a potentional market with folks interested in more accurate, detailed models, the quality level of kits and RTR equipment has improved in recent decades by leaps and bounds.
And that didn't happen over night and the movement started taking baby steps in the early 60s. At one time MR would send questionnaires to their subscribers and one of the highest request was better detailed locomotives-MR shared the outcome.
Athearn,Atlas and other manufacturers said it would be to costly to detail plastic locomotives. A crude toy train set manufacturer showed the world he can be done. Life Like's line of P2K locomotives was so far advanced in details the other manufacturers had to play catch up.. Oddly Athearn was slow to join this market and when they did their Genesis line didn't make a very big splash because of QC issues. Their beautifully done SD70 was plagued with warped trucks.
IMHO the "blue box era" (my term) started its decline with LL line of P2K locomotives and cars.
In closing I will add this tidbit. At the Columbus Ohio MRRC some of us younger modelers was talking about how we would love to have detailed diesel locomotives like the brass steam engines and to really get wild(in those days) we thought it would be nice to have a way of running several trains without blocks.
Of course some of the old heads just shook their heads and smiled.
Yes, I agree details are great and we have generally great rtr models now.
However, I've watched long time customers shake their heads and walk out of the train store where I once worked without buying anything. When I ask them about it, they respond "have you really looked at the prices?" Now, that gentleman owns TWO original Shelby mustangs, that didn't ever need restoration, and has been a long time model train buyer--and he's sensitive to model train price, as he's at/near retirement age after running his own printing business for years.
If he has to be concerned with price, how about the rest of us normal stiffs with normal jobs who don't own our own business?
Furthermore, the employees of the train store where I once worked openly state the ARF, in particular, and other online forums have "ruined" the hobby by a few people demanding obsessive levels of detail that few can or are willing to afford.
This is specifically born out by the constant whining about a Genesis level, perfect American EMD version SD40-2, and the frequent putdowns of those folks who are happy with the Intermountain version and/or other versions that already exist.
Heck, I know a mechanical engineer who finds the Intermountain unit to be "good enough" for his purposes. He's single, never married, and within reason could afford any new SD40-2, in multiple units, that he wants, but he chooses to be happy with the Intermountain unit.
So how many sales of a Genesis SD40-2 do you really think there are to be had out there? There is a point today where it seems we have gone too far the other way, that nobody is willing to have to add anything at all to a model...ie few are really "modeling" anymore, and most of us, who have the cash to afford xyz that we want, are merely collectors now.
PRR8259So how many sales of a Genesis SD40-2 do you really think there are to be had out there?
Judging by what I've seen.. Maybe 10-12% would be interested because we still have Athearn BB and RTR SD40-2s,Bachmann,BLI,IM and Kato that's still readily available..
If I needed SD40-2 I would go with either a Athearn RTR or a Kato.
One can buy two BB SD40-2 for less then the price of 1 Athearn RTR at most train shows. I've seen Kato SD40-2s for $65.00 and BLI SD40-2s with DCC/Sound for as low as $99.00-train show special or some such discount.. I was tempted but,decided not to.
I myself love SD40-2's and could really go for an Intermountain ICG orange creamsicle one...but I'm trying to stick to my steam only theme.
Those old Kato units are simply a bargain because they run and run, especially the more recent SD40-2 Mid production versions with the working ditch lights.
Maybe most now turn up their nose at them, but not me.
Wow - Sure have to read every post in this thread to follow it ! I usually skip a lot of the middle ground, but to go from "is the Atlas Rescue Forum down ?" to "I myself love SD40-2s" would be kinda tough to piece together !