Separate forums by scale????

[DSchmitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1

I agree with AntoniaoFP45 about keeping it all one forum, but we could list the subject, and if it is a scale dependant topic, just insert HO or N or O or whatever at the end of the Subject line.

Good sugestion

Even in very scale specific posts ther can be information of interest to other scales. Lets not balkanize the forum. People who are exclusively centered on one scale miss a lot.

I know a few modelers (fortunately very few) whose attitude toward people who are not in their scale is so bad that I don't want to associate with them.

[DSchmitt]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1

I agree with AntoniaoFP45 about keeping it all one forum, but we could list the subject, and if it is a scale dependant topic, just insert HO or N or O or whatever at the end of the Subject line.

Good sugestion

Even in very scale specific posts ther can be information of interest to other scales. Lets not balkanize the forum. People who are exclusively centered on one scale miss a lot.

I know a few modelers (fortunately very few) whose attitude toward people who are not in their scale is so bad that I don't want to associate with them.

[twhite]

Uh-uh. Keep it the way it is. I've gotten a lot of information from other people on this website who model in a different scale than I do. And it's information I can adapt for use in my own scale (HO). Besides, there's a bunch of really NEAT people in different scales, and I'd miss their wit and camaradarie.

[twhite]

Uh-uh. Keep it the way it is. I've gotten a lot of information from other people on this website who model in a different scale than I do. And it's information I can adapt for use in my own scale (HO). Besides, there's a bunch of really NEAT people in different scales, and I'd miss their wit and camaradarie.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dknelson

I think people are too separated by scale and I do not think this is healthy for the long term growth of the hobby.
Dave Nelson

[:D]Exactly my 1st thought![:D]
No matter what size, we are all Model Railroaders.
As far as people being "confused" by scale, thats simple. If you are going to post about a product, just put the scale in your subject line! Simple nuff??

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dknelson

I think people are too separated by scale and I do not think this is healthy for the long term growth of the hobby.
Dave Nelson

[:D]Exactly my 1st thought![:D]
No matter what size, we are all Model Railroaders.
As far as people being "confused" by scale, thats simple. If you are going to post about a product, just put the scale in your subject line! Simple nuff??

[n2mopac]

I also frequent other forums which are broken down by scale. I enjoy these forums, but they often tend to be a little dry and impersonal though quite informative. One of the unique and fun part of this forum is the interaction of different people with different backgrounds and interests. Sometimes that leads to overly emotional discussions, but mostly this makes for some interesting and educational fellowship. Use the other forums for scale-specific info, but keep the cross-scale interaction going here.
Ron

[n2mopac]

I also frequent other forums which are broken down by scale. I enjoy these forums, but they often tend to be a little dry and impersonal though quite informative. One of the unique and fun part of this forum is the interaction of different people with different backgrounds and interests. Sometimes that leads to overly emotional discussions, but mostly this makes for some interesting and educational fellowship. Use the other forums for scale-specific info, but keep the cross-scale interaction going here.
Ron

[rrinker]

I will add my vote now to NOT seperate by scale. Simply because most anything you could talk about is applicable to ANY scale. Those that are not - such as talkign about a SPECIFIC model, well, the intelligent thing to do when creating a topic about Kadee HO scale boxcars or an Atlas N scale RS-3 is to use proper descriptive terms as the topic title.

But the majority of topics, such as scenery techniques, benchwork, wiring, DCC, etc, apply to ALL scales. Having a multitude of forums would just make things more complex and probably result in fewer people posting

These same things come up periodically in reader mail in MR as well. I always love the ones that complain that the entire issue was devoted to N scale or something - so, Mr. Letter Writer, since when is the method of painting a backdrop restricted to N scale only? You can do the exact same thing to paint a backdrop for a G scale layout. (just an example here)

--Randy

[rrinker]

I will add my vote now to NOT seperate by scale. Simply because most anything you could talk about is applicable to ANY scale. Those that are not - such as talkign about a SPECIFIC model, well, the intelligent thing to do when creating a topic about Kadee HO scale boxcars or an Atlas N scale RS-3 is to use proper descriptive terms as the topic title.

But the majority of topics, such as scenery techniques, benchwork, wiring, DCC, etc, apply to ALL scales. Having a multitude of forums would just make things more complex and probably result in fewer people posting

These same things come up periodically in reader mail in MR as well. I always love the ones that complain that the entire issue was devoted to N scale or something - so, Mr. Letter Writer, since when is the method of painting a backdrop restricted to N scale only? You can do the exact same thing to paint a backdrop for a G scale layout. (just an example here)

--Randy

[egmurphy]

Count me in as another who likes the forum just like it is.

I'm happy to have access to a major forum that is not segregated by scale. While I also frequent other forums that are separated, I really enjoy the interaction that we have here.

Regards

Ed

[egmurphy]

Count me in as another who likes the forum just like it is.

I'm happy to have access to a major forum that is not segregated by scale. While I also frequent other forums that are separated, I really enjoy the interaction that we have here.

Regards

Ed

[ckape]

I think separating forums by scale is a bad idea. While many times the mechanics of model railroading are scale-specific, the ideas tend to transcend scale.

[ckape]

I think separating forums by scale is a bad idea. While many times the mechanics of model railroading are scale-specific, the ideas tend to transcend scale.

[Anonymous]

Not normally one to post a "me too", but if we're going to get an idea of what the majority wants, I'll pitch in with "Keep it as it is, all scales in one". The magazine works well like that, and so does this particular forum, IMO.

---jps

[Anonymous]

Not normally one to post a "me too", but if we're going to get an idea of what the majority wants, I'll pitch in with "Keep it as it is, all scales in one". The magazine works well like that, and so does this particular forum, IMO.

---jps

[tstage]

As much as a separate forum for each scale would make sense in some instances, nevertheless, I do have to side with Bergie on this one.

There are too many common "threads" (pun intend) amongst the various scales we model to warrant isolating each one to it's "own kind". I am by no means an ecumenicalist, but sometimes "isolating" ourselves further results in more harm than good. Some of us already suffer from the tendency to be lone wolves anyhow. Why should we compartmentize the hobby and enthusiasts further?

One of the enjoyments of this hobby of ours is seeing it's diversity and the passions and reasons each of us has chosen the scale that we have. Just because I love baseball (Go Tribe!) more than basketball doesn't mean that I won't go to a Cavs games with a "basketball-loving" buddy of mine. (At least, now that they're more worth seeing. [:)]) Just because I don't model in Z, N, HOn3, S, O, or G scale (can you guess which one I do?) doesn't mean I can still enjoy attending an "all-scale" train show or reading and learning from others on this forum - no matter what scale they model.

Case in point, I went to a train museum a couple of months ago in Bryson City, NC. It was an authorized "certain ethnic" train dealer in O-gauge. Now, I'm NOT a big fan of O-gauge - I can't get past the look of the 3rd rail - but I could still enjoy and appreciate the 20 x 60' layout that they had. I had a great time chatting with the guy behind the controls and I would go back and visit that again anytime! [:D]

To bring up a previous point on a post a couple of months back, I do like the idea of having a check box or something in our profile that would identify what scale(s) we are modeling. It would be just be a qucik reference so that we might be able to more clearly know how to respond to one anothers questions and inquiries.

Tom

[tstage]

As much as a separate forum for each scale would make sense in some instances, nevertheless, I do have to side with Bergie on this one.

There are too many common "threads" (pun intend) amongst the various scales we model to warrant isolating each one to it's "own kind". I am by no means an ecumenicalist, but sometimes "isolating" ourselves further results in more harm than good. Some of us already suffer from the tendency to be lone wolves anyhow. Why should we compartmentize the hobby and enthusiasts further?

One of the enjoyments of this hobby of ours is seeing it's diversity and the passions and reasons each of us has chosen the scale that we have. Just because I love baseball (Go Tribe!) more than basketball doesn't mean that I won't go to a Cavs games with a "basketball-loving" buddy of mine. (At least, now that they're more worth seeing. [:)]) Just because I don't model in Z, N, HOn3, S, O, or G scale (can you guess which one I do?) doesn't mean I can still enjoy attending an "all-scale" train show or reading and learning from others on this forum - no matter what scale they model.

Case in point, I went to a train museum a couple of months ago in Bryson City, NC. It was an authorized "certain ethnic" train dealer in O-gauge. Now, I'm NOT a big fan of O-gauge - I can't get past the look of the 3rd rail - but I could still enjoy and appreciate the 20 x 60' layout that they had. I had a great time chatting with the guy behind the controls and I would go back and visit that again anytime! [:D]

To bring up a previous point on a post a couple of months back, I do like the idea of having a check box or something in our profile that would identify what scale(s) we are modeling. It would be just be a qucik reference so that we might be able to more clearly know how to respond to one anothers questions and inquiries.

Tom

[jdolan]

Keep it all together. WE all learn more this way. Some people have more than one scale interests.

[jdolan]

Keep it all together. WE all learn more this way. Some people have more than one scale interests.

[railman]

remember the old west adage....ride together or hang alone...

[railman]

remember the old west adage....ride together or hang alone...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie


So, for the time being, let's all learn from one another!

Happy modeling,
Erik

I agree with this decision to avoid scale-specific forums.. I would add support for a DCC forum, though, since it seems to be a subject all its own. Or perhaps a general model rr electronics forum to make the DCC threads easier to find and browse.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie


So, for the time being, let's all learn from one another!

Happy modeling,
Erik

I agree with this decision to avoid scale-specific forums.. I would add support for a DCC forum, though, since it seems to be a subject all its own. Or perhaps a general model rr electronics forum to make the DCC threads easier to find and browse.

Wayne

[willy6]

A simple answer to a simple question, just have a slight reformat to this forum that has the scale you work with or like posted under your user name and have if color coded..(i.e. N-green,Z-blue,HO yellow and so on), then there would be no confusion of what scale you talking about.

[willy6]

A simple answer to a simple question, just have a slight reformat to this forum that has the scale you work with or like posted under your user name and have if color coded..(i.e. N-green,Z-blue,HO yellow and so on), then there would be no confusion of what scale you talking about.

[DSchmitt]

Which scale should I check.? I've been in N for over 35 years , but am building an On30 layout, own a lot of O scale 2-rail, a little 3-rail, some HO, and have just joined a garden railway club.

[DSchmitt]

Which scale should I check.? I've been in N for over 35 years , but am building an On30 layout, own a lot of O scale 2-rail, a little 3-rail, some HO, and have just joined a garden railway club.

[willy6]

you an have "all scales" used too under user name

[willy6]

you an have "all scales" used too under user name