NEW FORUM ADDED!!

I've been collecting "M" gauge for year and no one even mentioned it.  I have two 3ddkn45 cars already.

I like it.  My children have an HO and N scale layout.  This will let me keep tabs on these scales for new items.

Good Move.  

To quote Rich Melvin, "Whatever blows your hair back".

 

 

That would be great if I had hair, lol 

I am always amazed at the things you folks remember!

 

For those here that may not get this, when I was Superintendent of Operations at the Ohio Central Railroad some years ago, my old boss there used that phrase all the time. 

This addition only proves this is  the best place to talk and share our knowledge about model trains no matter what the scale. 

 

Btw I love HO TRAINS also. 

 

 

Good Move. Thank you.

I thimk this is a great idea(r).  Many of us got our starts (upstarts?) in other gauges.  By welcoming the other groups, we can show them just what makes our particular facet of the hobby so great.  It's a wonderful way to attract new folks to the "real" hobby.  And a bunch of "us" often use smaller gauges to reflect distance, or "forced perspective" on distant portions of our layouts.  So we still need to learn what we can about the other gauges.

 

Paul Fischer

Rich, nice move!!!!!!  Keep up the good work.

 

Rick

The more people there are, the better

2railguy,

 

While I don't doubt what you say is true, remember that Atlas also makes HO, and N scale trains as well as O.  MTH also makes large scale and HO scale trains, Bachmann Does large scale, N scale, and HO scale in addition to their On30 and O-3 rail lines. Lionel (if I remember) also has some offerings in other scales. Additionally, Most of the online places people shop at support multiple scales.  I could go all day with examples. So that basically means there are more than a few forum sponsors who will have even more products being discussed here, which makes the sponsors happy.  I know for certain there are more than a few O scale modelers (atleast 1.5 pages worth, to be exact) who do model in other scales, so it's only natural we give them a niche of the forum to use for those side discussions, which makes a good chunk of the forum more satisfied. In other words, I wouldn't worry too much.  After all, this hobby is about fun, not what scale or gauge people use.  I also suspect that people who still complain about the forum you mention have nothing better to do than complain about everything.

 

And, if you are still worried the forum will lose sponsors because of this addition, I recommend clicking on the links at the top of the page.  Those links are there because companies believe people click on them and end up buying stuff.  We might not need to buy stuff continually, but if we at least check out the websites now and then through this forum, it'll keep the sponsors more than satisfied.  In the end, that's what the companies care about, profits.  So as long as interest in their products remains high (i.e clicking on links) then they'll be satisfied enough to continue supporting this forum.

 

--James

James...it could not have been said better but I would like to add that for quite some time OGR has been getting requests via phone, email, and even here on the forum to do something like this so by doing so we felt it would be something that most folks would appreciate.  There are some that we will never be able to make happy...

 

Alan

 

Hi I've never hear of "M" scale, who made that or is it a type for N?

Alan

It's been explained over and over. Expansion makes perfect sense if a forum is trying to survive in today's internet climate. Survival takes TRAFFIC to/from a site and TRAFFIC to/from the sponsors links.

 

If a site is YOUR site and you want to support it from your own PERSONAL financing, then it can be as niche-oriented as YOU desire it to be.  However, as it GROWS (and a good forum usually will), then the bandwidth charges and server space will eat you up and you'll have to do one of three things: 

 

* Charge big $$ for a subscription to keep it like the "niche" you want it to be.

 

* OR, add (lots of) sponsors (even "pop-up type" if desperate) to pay the bills, and keep it free for the forum participants.

 

* OR, offer a subscription to those willing to help pay for their share, and add non-intrusive sponsor links to try to make up the difference.

 

There's simply no other options in today's burgeoning internet world. Thankfully, OGR has taken the third approach.

 

I realized this fact a while back. That is, even though I was no longer in O scale (haven't been in years), I enjoyed these forums, yet others forumites and the sponsors were having to support it. I didn't feel that was right, so I became a supporter to help pay for the forums that I enjoy so much, regardless of scale/theme. (For what it's worth, I note you are not a financial supporter of these forums.)

 

Anyway, given the ample explanations that have been offered to you personally, by now you SHOULD be able to see and grasp that there is FAR MORE to offering/running forums than just being niche-oriented and trusting that the money to pay the bills that WILL EXIST will magically float into your bank account to pay said bills.

 

Fortunately, though, the solution to this internal issue you're having is quite simple:

 

* Don't go to the forums that aren't of interest to you.

 

Stay only in the forum of your choice and be a happy camper!  Isn't that easy?

 

Enjoy! 

I model in O, Standard and G scale and have had S scale and HO, On3 plus HO3 but I am on the Forum for O scale. I think it is to give the sponsors more coverage than anything. Time will tell.

I disagree.    Why would you need to sort through the other gauge specific sections to find you you want?

 

I am not into 3 rail scale, Subways, S, etc., so I never go into those.  

 

This isn't rocket science. Stick to the sections of interest for you and you'll be fine.

I visited a nice HO railroad club last evening in Central PA.   I could see myself having both O and HO layouts.  Their stuff was really nice.   The electronics were very similar to the O Scale stuff I've been purchasing.  

I think the additional forum is a great idea for those who are interested in other scales.

 

On the other hand, I would suggest that the "Recent Posts" list on the right margin should be configured to NOT list posts to the "Not O" forum.

 

I like browsing the list to catch up on recent threads related to my O gauge interests (and the primary interest of the magazine and the OGR forum) and would prefer not to be led to posts about other gauges/scales. 

 

Just my POV,

 

Ed

OK, then. 

 

If you want to call it the H.O.N.G. (Half-Optimal, Not Great) forum, that's your business, Rich. 

 

Who am I to blow against the wind? 

 

I support you 1000%.

 

(Tongue firmly in cheek),

 

George

 

 

quote:

If you want to call it the H.O.N.G. (Half-Optimal, Not Great) forum, that's your business, Rich.

 

Confession: Yes, I've become "HO monger".

 

An observation:

 

Note how the new HONG forum has taken off?  Reckon' that shows it was a good idea?

 

 

Awesome. Thank you

Another member firmly in support of HONG forum.  Thank you.  I love all trains.

I think Z scale should be part of this, then it would be "THE WIZARDS of OZ"

And TT too?

Good idea.  For those who aren't interested, they don't have to go there.  I anticipate it will be a place where you can say that you like scale and Lionel without getting sneered at.  Hopefully there will be a severe shortage of rivet counters on the new forum.

 

Website rules prohibit grumpy/grouchy experts in the HONG forum!

 

Are we talking a new subforum or a new new forum where the posts will not be included with the o guage stuff we are now used to.    If they will appear along with what we have now, could there be a way to identify that the post is about HO so we can sort out if we want to explore that post or pass it by? 

more scales, more advertisers, more money

I was thinking the same thing, some have already posted Z scale pictures. My wife likes the Z scale stuff, but she doesn't have any. Maybe someday?  

 

My forum rename suggestion would be 'HONGZ'.

 

I do think this new forum is a good idea. Also, most (if not all?) of the hobby shop sponsors do sell multiple gauges so they may get a little more exposure too. 

Rich & Pat,

Thank you for this new forum. I also model / collect N Scale and was an avid reader and contributor on the Atlas N Scale forum until it was shut down. Welcome addition to an already great forum.

Mark

 

I like the new forum.

I can also understand it will muddy the waters a bit.. Seeing "HO scale or Z scale" listed up on the right column is a surprise maybe both a little positive and negative. Especially for those die hard 2 rail O scale P48 fans I share time with. They are rather proud and look nowhere else other than home.

Like most of you I am an official "rubber gauger" and like all trains. I collect 1:32 (Gauge One), Z 1:220, HO 1:87, On3 1:48, Zero 1:45, OM 1:45, Fn3 1:20.3, and HOm 1:87... so let the good times roll...!

And also be sure and check out my NEW regular showcase "The Brass Scrapbook" exclusively in the HONG forum.

Good move overall, I have not had a serious interest in HO, N, and Z; but my club does some wonderful layouts in those gauges. I can see those members developing an interest in O gauge, especially as their eyes get older. I also know I can learn from them.

After first being skeptical about the new forum, i now changed my view on it, its great to see big boys on the proper radius track without the huge overhangs. Its just a smaller 2 rail. My opinion more of you guys without the proper room should consider dropping down a scale or so. Look how nice and clean erik's looks. Everything looks great, and no worries that a big boy is going to take a wall out of a nearby building.

2railguy:  that's OK for all of you younger guys, but about 35 years ago I sold off all my Ho Ho stuff and went into 3 rail "0".  I could no longer see the little stuff well enough to actually work on it.  But why 3 rail?  Because in the late 70's there really wasn't much affordable stuff left in 2 rail, "0" scale.

 

Never regretted that decision, either.

 

Paul Fischer

I like all model and real trains.

I think this is a great idea, whose time finally came.

Rich and everyone else at OGR;

Well Done

I am an O gauge guy but I can appreciate the other sizes.

This is truly the Place to go for Model Railroad information, so it fits.

Great idea, Rich and gang! O scale is my thing, but here are a lot of 'rubber-gaugers' around, me included. 

Let's call it what it is,"The All Inclusive Forum".

 

You will always have those who complain.                                   

Way to see the forum expanding

 

Thanks Rich