St. Louis RPM Meet attendance

I'll be there, with some other folks in tow.  Currently the forecast is for +/- 90°, which will seem downright pleasant.  Last year was definitely hot.

Jim

I’m going to try and make it Saturday.

I'll try to make it to RPM Saturday AM.

We are planning to go Saturday morning as well.

Is this a 2-rail or O-Scale show?

Thanks,

Naveen Rajan

"Is this a 2-rail or O-Scale show?" Not really a show in the traditional sense, although there are modeling displays and contests.  Not specifically focused on any gauge. RPM are primarily for those interested in protoypical modeling and thus mainly attract those in HO is my understanding.

@Landsteiner posted:

"Is this a 2-rail or O-Scale show?" Not really a show in the traditional sense, although there are modeling displays and contests.  Not specifically focused on any gauge. RPM are primarily for those interested in protoypical modeling and thus mainly attract those in HO is my understanding.

That's correct from my experience as well.  Most RPM meets have prototype models in HO scale, some N and other scales are present too, but as stated vast majority of protype modelers are often focused on HO scale.

Naveen,

I agree with what others have said, the RPM meets tend to be very HO-centric.  But that stands to reason really, as it's the biggest segment of the hobby.  However, there are usually a few O scalers in the mix, and it sounds like there will be a good number this year if schedules work out for everybody.

What would really be great though is if we could get a decent number of models on the tables as well.  I have found the few times I have displayed some O scale models that there is a lot of interest in them from people that model in smaller scales.  I'm hoping to bring some of my own work plus a couple of Atlas freight cars to display.  I find that a lot of other modelers don't even reallize what is available in O scale and what can be done with it in terms of prototype modeling.

In addition to the models, there's a lot more going on.  There will be a section reserved for vehicle models, and then there is a large area set up for vendors and historical societies.  Again, the vendor selection largely serves the HO market, but there are a few vendors with O scale product.  And some of it is scale independent, like SoundTraxx DCC or Mini-Prints or the vendors selling prototype photos or slides for research.  The historical societies are great as it's useful to talk directly to somebody about what resources are available and how to get access to them.  Beyond that there are a handful of "learning stations" which will offer real-time and usually hands-on guidance on things like weathering or dcc/sound applications.  Lastly there will be two or three modular layouts set up.  Oh yeah, I almost forgot the clinics and presentations.  There are 20 slots over Friday and Saturday, plus a keynote speaker on Friday evening.  All in all there's a lot to take in.

I've been the past three years, and the only things I've ever bought at the show have been books or magazines dealing with relevant prototype information.  But I consider every one of the shows to have been worthwhile, as I've had great conversations with vendors, historical societies, and fellow modelers, that have benefited me in any number of ways.  I highly recommend it.

Regarding O scale at the show, I know that O Scale Central will have a learning station at this year's show, and there will also be a small modular P48 layout on display as well.  For vendors, Ted Schnepf will be there and will have O scale product with him, although he doesn't typically bother with modern stuff.  And there is a small company called Gotham Rail & Marine that does a lot of 3d printed details and aides to improving models.  While his primary focus is HO, he has started printing some parts in O scale and is open to doing more if he see demand.  Also Kadee will be there, so maybe they will have their new trucks on display, including the newly announced p48 versions.

The link for the show website is STLRPM.COM.   You can find information on schedules, vendors, historical societies, learning stations, and hotels there.  There's also a media gallery with loads of photos of past shows, so you can get a sense of things.

I suggest you take a look at the website.  If you have any questions, ask away and I'll try to answer, if somebody doesn't beat me to it.

Jim

I would like to go, but it's a little far for me, so I hope someone can post pictures.

From the NWS latest forecasts (Sunday PM at least), weather looks to be great with highs in the very low 80s, not the 100+ that they experienced last year.   If it was going to be that hot, I was not going!     So providing no disasters, I hope to get going on Thursday AM early, and railfan along the way.     Need to be at my hotel by 3:00 PM, then to the Double Tree (host hotel) for layout tour info.    Hope there are some good ones this year.   Two years ago, the ones on tour were way west of St. Louis (downtown at least), and not all that great.   Maybe the Utah Belt will be open?   

Any updates or whatever from this meet?

I was not at the meet but from some YouTuber updates on the meet (mostly from HO guys) stated that overall attendance was record numbers. O Scale Central had a table there promoting 2-Rail O Scale and the P48 layout was there which gained a lot of attention.  Once the monthly O Scale Online Zoom meeting that occurred this past Sunday gets posted to the O Scale Central YouTube channel, you can see a more in depth coverage of the SLRPM meet along with a number of other topics.

The O Scale Facebook page showed photos of some new 3D printed O Scale products, as well as a number of 2-Rail display models, but nothing as far as product announcements from the big manufacturers.  As a program note, the August O Scale Central Online program will feature Andy Edelman, who coordinates the Atlas-MTH partnership, will be back on the program to tell us what is happening at OS2R’s largest manufacturer and importer. He will have more detail on new releases as well as where he sees the Scale going.  If you want to attend, you can see the Zoom meeting information on the O Scale Central web page under Find O Scale -> Coming Events menu or go directly using this link:

https://oscalecentral.com/even...august-zoom-meeting/

Scott

Okay,  the St. Louis RPM has come and gone.......  It was a very good show as usual.    O Scale Central was there with their cast of characters!    Overall, I highly enjoyed the show,  lots to see from both the modelers who displayed their models, to the vendors.   In O scale, a new manufacturer of signs was there with a growing line of signs in O scale.   Lots of new upcoming and current 3D printing firms were there.    Kadee was there, with their product line, plus their new P48 trucks, that seemed to go over quite well.   The layout tours were offered both Thursday and Friday evenings, all on the Illinois side near O' Fallon.    The Illinois Terminal O'Fallon Branch layout, and the Sn3 logging layout were tops!   The Big Bend O Scale Model Railroad Club was open on Friday night as well, in Webster Groves. Missouri.    I did grab a few smaller sized grain bins done by on of the guys in Ken Patterson's  group (What's Neat This Week) that he does in several scales.      Saturday evening, we all gathered at Ken Patterson's home for his taping of WNTW, and socializing.     It was a fun weekend, and I plan on going back to Collinsville next year.........