Hmmm, interesting observation. Does this mean that you find the forum for your chosen scale is boring? or at any rate, non-introspective? Not sure about the 'having a complex' bit, I think N-scalers tend to be more comfortable with the whole internet scene and post more often than others. Look at the stats on this and the A-board. Or maybe we're happier/more secure in our choice of scales and are friendlier as a result.:angel: As for my own timeframe, summer 1980 in a world that never needed Conrail, so my CNJ/LV/RDG still roll on. Bob in IDaho
Not that I'm prepared to defend my answer with anything other than "it's my railroad, so I can do as I please" but I model almost all periods. My structures range from the late steam era to nearly present day. I cluster things about so that it makes some sense. You look at my rail service area and you can tell it's essentially set in the 1950s even though there may be an Atlas Ford F-150 sitting by the shop. This doesn't seem to stop my SD70s from stopping for fuel as they drag coalporters through, nor my turbines, nor my Challenger, nor... you get the picture. I rather like it eclectic and it permits me to basically collect and run the entire history of the Union Pacific. I mostly roundy-round rather than "operate" anyway.
Timeframe? Why limit yourself? There is so much equipment coming out now that is excellent it seems a sin to not take advantage. I model three railroads and a geographic area where they came together, not a time. While some towns (Moriarty, Torrence) will be done in a 'what could have been' scenario, others (Dawson, Carrizozo, Capitan) will be done as close as possible to how they once appeared. Those that are too dated on a branch or the main will be skipped during modern operating sessions. The modern areas will be skipped during the steam area operating sessions.
Spoken as a true retailer mg: There is something to be said for getting whatever floats your boat, and that's fine if you can afford it, but the rest of us have budgets we try to stick to. If I bought ever car that looked interesting, I'd be going after a quarter of all N scale products produced :teeth: Speaking of budgets, I've got some set aside for the OKC train show this December - see you there.
Not at all, I do find however the the HO guys seem to keep the HO forum for strictly HO topics. At least, that's how it seems. This doesn't really address my point, but I would contend that it's got nothing to do with being more comfortable and everything to do with the real (and perceived) inequality in scale support. N scalers need the internet more then HOers. That doesn't mean that those in HO are less capable. I've found people of all scales to be quite happy with their choices and quite friendly. Let me rephrase and perhaps you'll understand. We have a forum called the Inspection Pit, it's for generic non-scale specific topics such as "What's your model timeframe?" I currently model in HO. I'm going to be creating a post on my freelance paintscheme. I'm going to post it in the inspection pit, because it's not scale specific. I value the insights of everyone from Z-Scalers to Live Steamers. It's not that I don't think N-scalers feel the same way. I think they do, I don't think anybody thinks I'm an interloper for posting in these threads. What I'm saying is that N-scalers for whatever reason tend to ignore the other modeling forums and post in here. Maybe they're afraid the big bad HO scalers will steal their threads......kinda like I'm doing here. Anyway, I don't really think it needs to be discussed, I just find it interesting how insular the N-scalers often seem.
I model mainly modern CSX. I bought a Challenger though and am putting together a coal train to pull behind it. I proabably wont mix up 50s era cars and AC4400s or pull well cars with the 4664 but I am having fun. Jeff
Sounds like a lot of fun. Modeling scenes in New Mexico seems to make that sort of time-fudging a lot easier. I like it that some places here just seem to go on and on in for decades before someone thinks of "updating" things. That and a tendency to hold onto the past make it a lot easier to get a sense of history. So while some things may have disappeared in Torrance...they might just as easily still be there! Speaking of Torrance, will you be modeling any part of the New Mexico Central by any chance?
I think it was supposed to be a joke. From what I can see, everyone here appreciates everyone's modeling, regardless of scale. That said, we just like each other and we like having a forum where we can talk about things. Even more important, most Trainboard postings are in the N-scale forum (for whatever reason), so if I, for example, want to ask a question I'll do it here. Otherwise, very few people will ever see it. If I ask it (or if I share something, etcetera) on the N-scale forum, I'll reach the most people and have the best chance of getting a lot of input. Besides the fact that we're friendlier and more secure, I mean. :w20z6q:
I just hit quick reply and wonder just how quick this will be? LOL My favorite era is the late 40's through the late 50's. During this time period you have early diesels arriving on railroad properties and late steam (biggest and best) reaching early retirement. As I read through the various responses here, I believe everything I might have to say on the subject has already been said. Through the late 50's and early 60's I remember reading all the model railroad wig wags, paying attention to those that preached the virtues of era specific...right down to one day in history. That may be ok for them but way to extreme for me. It limits my work to era specific equipment and it can either be hard or easy on my pocket book. I like variety and figure there's no sense what-so-ever in limiting my enjoyment of railroading. To set the stage. When operating my railroad, my equipment is era specific. For example: My 40's equipment will come out to run and before the operating session is over, we have moved through history into the modern equipment. Kind of a history lesson of sorts, should anyone visiting be interested. I focus on the Santa Fe as the primary host however, I do run other name trains. A little freelancing never hurt anyone...don't you think? "It's your layout and you make the rules". Mine is to simply have fun and operate as authentic as possible. Without getting all gummed up and stuck in a rut. Have fun!
I gotcha My initial post was meant to be a joke as well, but that doesn't mean there isn't some truth out there. As to the rest of your post, I guess it concerns me that the board has developed that way. If people feel that their posts won't be read on other forums, then that's a board problem. Anyway, I don't think we need to go into it anymore, or if we do, it's best left to an appropriate forum. Don't want to stray off topic any more. The point was that I, who gave up N to go back to HO spend as much time here looking at these kinds of threads and I found it kinda funny.
Early 1950's to late 1960's. These two decades saw the height of traditional passenger service... and death of traditional passenger service. The end of most steam power and the emergence of the diesel horsepower race. Lots of older rollingstock were still in revenue service... but many new styles were being added.
I work on a budget too. All proceeds from the shop go to staff salaries, overhead, rent, utilities and new inventory. I have yet to receive a paycheck from the company and all personal expenses and travel to the shows we work are paid out of Deb's salary from the lab. My modeling desires may be broad but that doesn't mean we can afford it all. There are people on this board that clearly have multiple copies of everything. I've passed up or sold to meet customers desires many items I would have liked. BTW you won't see us in OKC.
This is a topic about your timeframe, not about scales or budgets. If you'd like to speculate about why the N scale forum is more active than others, then start a thread in whatever forum you choose. If you'd like to make comments about your budget, then start your own thread, again in whatever forum you choose. To me, this is a plain and simple topic. Let's keep it that way.
Whoops - I was thinking about the WGH show it Ft. Worth :zip: Getting back on topic, how many here model time periods they actually experienced (e.g. what you saw growing up) vs. what you wished you had seen growing up?
I model, roughly, the time period from 1993 until now, being the time that the PNWR/WPRR has been in operation. A large part of this was due to having direct experience with this road but loving the older Geeps, etc., that they run. I don't know if a topic like this necessarily is out of place on a scale forum. The era or area you model can largely be a function of what happens to be available in your scale. For example, doing White Pass and Yukon in this scale would involve having to kitbash a lot of your own stuff, but in G scale you can get it right out of the box. Similarly, we have Budd RDC's, but I don't think they are available in other scales (except maybe HO). Anyway, good topic. Adam
Road: Western Maryland Timeframe: 1968 - 1973 Locale: Baltimore to points North/West Includes: B&O, C&O, Reading, and N&W. As well as some minor late 60's passenger service via B&O, C&O and commuters via RDC's. It's a strict timeframe however I have a "Steam Excursion Fleet" since Steam will always be King! I don't get every steam loco that comes out just the ones with real-life (excursion) counterparts. This also includes heavyweight and streamline passenger cars too!
Quick apology to those that misunderstood my post talking about budgets and taking a small jab at Wig-Wag. In my experience, many people pick timeframes as a way of limiting the amount of equipment they're able to justify buying, so, when a retailer says something to the effect of, "look at all of this great stuff that's available now, no reason to hold back," I made a joke, because that's exactly what I'd expect to hear a retailer say. To demonstrate that I meant no harm, I said I was going to spend money at their booth at an upcoming show (it happened to be the wrong show). I was very pleased with my transactions with them at the Ft. Worth show last year, their staff was very helpful, courteous, etc. Clearly I offended them, and I certainly didn't mean to. I apologize if I offended anyone, including those of you who thought it was necessary to criticize me through private messages. Wig-Wag is a fine retailer, and, as I've already said a couple of times, I'll buy from them again. The comment wasn't meant to be nasty, nor was it meant to be off-topic - in my experience timeframes and budgets are very closely related. I wasn't personally knocking anyone's budget, interests, philosophy, or anything else. No more for me to say here. Back to your regularly scheduled topic.
