Large Scale Central

Conflict = Short on data contributions?

General Discussion
#1

To all:

Reading the postings that have garnered essentially threads on how contributors have responded, language used, and their content, here is my best guess as to at least one source:

– The lack of data to write about in the large scale hobby for those who have been in it for 5 years plus. Granted, LGB’s financial difficulties took the discussion stage, along with some problem solving and product evaluation. Still, I think the large scale hobby does not have the specific hobby-topic driven product content that HO has for us to give our attention, evaluation, and discussion. We read of products that are unfortunately advertised, priced, and seen regularly in ads – e.g. the USA 0-6-0 switcher. Tested? Used? Discussed? No, not yet. So contributors wait.

– My conclusion: Bring back some of the older tips, problem solving ideas, and search out responses to products purchased, yet, set aside for commentary.

I’ll give a review of an older track cleaning device - from, I think, Joe Black. This is a four-wheel metal frame that holds an LGB cleaning block. I have made an elementary modification…anyway, it will be a topic.

Thanks for reading.

Wendell

#2

It’s the usual, bad news sells and good news ends up somewhere on a page back inside.
That relates here too…

That’s just our human nature I guess.

Now starting my indoor layout building modules in On30… My, my just like I did many years ago in HO. Kind of fun starting all over again…

Still keeping the goofy gauge table top layout in the back yard. Who cares if it rains ? And it will !!! I’ll be playing with On30… INDOORS…

Cheers,

#3

Wendell, Preamble: 1999 was the year I joined the LS fraternity. One of my Swiss buddies - used to live in Ontario, has moved to Oz - on hearing of my 2m plan thought I needed my head examined. “You are going to be playing with toys??” were his exact words (a few extras omitted!). Now on that “conflict”: Yes Wendell, that is one of the reasons. From my perspective here are some more reasons: In the smaller scales everyone from freelancer to 150% proto modeler looks at things from a “where will it fit in my scheme” point of view i.e. will that new product have possibilities, how many things will I need to modify, are there ready made detail parts to get what I want. And best of all, there are Un-dec versions of a lot of those things. How many discussions were there in any operating group, hobby shop group, congregation around “How to” tables at shows, conventions and meets on the merits on what could/can one do with x product? Anyone upset at “a perfectly good product” being butchered? No! Then there is the matter of track work. In the smaller scales anything goes from Code40 to Code125 in all kinds of different scales. Anyone think that Code100 must be the perfect item for HO scale? No, because they already know that HOn3 on Code55 will work quite nicely and looks very prototypical. Contrast that with the “you are either brave or nuts” attitude when one mentions Code215 or Code250 in LS. Do the modelers in the smaller scales pay attention to what make an item is? Yes, to a point! Certain mfgs have a “track record” and it is “buyer beware”. But does that prevent them from buying a less than perfect item? Not in the least, if that item is the only one of a proto available. One may take the terrible trucks and toss them, one may shave this or that off that is out of scale and replaces it with better stuff. But in LS some wouldn’t be caught dead with an item from X! It has to be Y, because everything else can’t possibly be as good! Do the modelers in the smaller scales tinker to get their layouts to perform as smoothly as possible? You better believe it! Everything from trackwork, to properly gauged wheelsets, to control circuits is subject to scrutiny. In LS it appears to be quite popular to bitch in the fora that X or Y isn’t worth a damn, instead of analyzing where the problem is. Typical example would be the Aristo wide-rad turnouts. There was so much bitching about the item, I decided to buy one - needed it like a hole in my head - and measured it from one end to the other. Put the dimensions in a drawing and the results in a forum. The reaction: “HOW DARE YOU!!!” Would it be different if more of the model railroaders from the smaller scales switch to LS? I think so! Why don’t they? Because like my Swiss buddy, they still think that it isn’t scale, mostly “too toyish”. WOW has only so much pull with the scale fraternity. Of course this is strictly my opinion. :wink: PS That drawing of the turnout with the dimensions can still be looked at:

If you expect wheelsets gauged for 45mm track to work “nicely”, it is a good idea to have the track work within a reasonable tolerance.

#4

TMST

#5

Wanna translate?

#6

The way I see it the folks in the smaller scales are generally rail enthusiasts, reasonably knowledgeable of the prototype and out of necessity not the least bit weary of tearing things apart to fix or modify them. Heck, a lot of my early HO engines barely worked right out of the box. The only exception to this might be casual users who set up a train at Christmas to run around their Dept 56 buildings. On the other hand the vast majority of large scalers are casual users. They just want to see trains running in the garden, don’t care about prototypes, scale, era, foreign or domestic. What they do want is stuff that runs with minimum care and don’t even want to think about doing repairs or even maintenance themselves. Many even seem fearful of the thought of taking something apart. When you put these folks together with folks who spent years in small scale and then moved up to large scale, some friction is bound to occur with each side thinking the other is a bit weird !

#7

Personally, I’m one of those who just wants to run trains, not foodle with them…I make an exception to that for live steam. I moved into large scale partly to get away from the “scale police”. Seems they’ve followed me.

#8

Yep,

Dave (TOC) at one time asked (I’m paraphrasing, can’t find the post) “If you don’t want to learn with a hobby, why do you need a hobby?”

It would have been impolite/unwise to answer at that time - heated discussion in a thread - but yes, reading would be less maintenance intensive. :wink: :slight_smile:

Gary, :wink:

On that weird part, the only time I think people a bit peculiar is when they complain about the “perfect” stuff not working all that perfectly, but yet not being “adventurous enough” to have a closer look. I guess they subscribe to the “Curiosity killed the cat” mantra.

The collectors have it easy in that respect, they just admire the “whatever”!

#9

#10

Mik,

Used to be that some of my friends would bring along all kinds of 1:87 military hardware to my operating sessions. How many chances do you think they would have had otherwise to stage “serious maneuvres in Swiss scenery”? :wink:

When they got carried away, they’d get less of the cakes I bake and coffee without sugar. Couldn’t have them any more wired than they were already. :wink: :smiley: :wink:

No browny points, but guess who would be running the wayfreight next time? Being busy doing all that switching and keeping out of the way of the passenger traffic, left little time for maneuvres. :wink: :slight_smile:

#11

TMST=Too much spare time

#12

Ah.

Ya got any of that you can spare?

Seems I could use some from time to time.

#13
Curmudgeon said:
Ah.

Ya got any of that you can spare?

Seems I could use some from time to time.


Funny, I never have any left over at the end of the day, either. Never hear that complaint in this house.