Having just spent 45 mins or so trying to get to grips with another very well known forum (which imo was incredibly over complicated), think I'll stick solely with this one.
Why would you want to look at another forum you have all you need here!
:NGaugersRule: :NGaugersRule:
Any other forums you may encounter are merely the figment of a deranged imagination! :smiley-laughing:
:NGaugeForum:
This is my favourite forum by a mile but being an American outline modeller I am an active member of a couple of other American forums that specialize in N Scale.
Didn't somebody say "Variety is the spice of life" ???
Quote from: Mustermark on May 22, 2012, 09:15:02 PM
Any other forums you may encounter are merely the figment of a deranged imagination! :smiley-laughing:
:NGaugeForum:
surely
derailed imagination!
I read another forum every week or so just as a bit of fresh inspiration even if it is the double size stuff, day to day though it's :NGaugeForum:
and i only update my other layout thread everyso often, (mainly because there i have to resize everything) but mostly because here i am surrounded by N gaugers and you dont get anyone giving the solution to problems as "change to 00" if we dont have it we bash it or scratch it together and i like that, also i have near full size trains working on my modestly sized layout!!!!!!! :NGaugersRule:
I am only a member of this forum. Not knocking other Model Rail forums, but most IMHO tend to be very clique and not as warm and friendly as here and staffed in the whole by experienced modellers who tend to look down their noses at beginners.
One model rail forum that I looked at once in particular had no reply welcome messages to Several newbies brave enough to post in the so called 'welcome section'. That would make me definitely never return, hence why I'm not involved in other well known sites.
If only some of these so called experts realized being cheerfull and polite costs nothing. I think being nice and warm and therefore genuine brings out the best in people and therefore more likely for beginners/forum newbies to return to the hobby/forum in question thus ensuring our hobbies survival in face of Sony and Microsoft games consoles.
Agreed! :thumbsup: :NGaugeForum: :NGaugersRule:
I used to use R***b, but when they changed their settings, I couldn't get back on, and they didnt seem that bothered enough to try and help.
I then used modelrailforum, which was a happier experience. I used this a lot for DCC and they have an N gauge section.
But then :NGaugeForum: came along. Once I could save and post images on here, then I come here 95% of the time. I only occasionally go to mrf if there is dcc stuff I really need to know about.
:NGaugersRule:
Kirky
I also use this and MRF, happy with both. There has been a lot of bad words about some of the other forums, one in particular; but then some modelers obviously like it or it would have folded by now.
I did a quick survey a few weeks ago (nothing scientific) looking at how a couple of other common contributors phrase themselves. I couldn't see any significant differences and think the reason this forum and MRF are successful is because we can be ourselves and not get pilloried even when we have unpopular views or off-beat questions.
I havent been on RM for a while but i used to visit the Scalescenes pages every weekor two. It's mostly OO with a bit of N and even T thrownin, but the modelling standard of some members is extraordinary. Easier in OO but Chubber and Job are worth checking out. I liked the Scalescenes pages because it was relevant to a lot of what i am / will be doing, and it also seemed like the folks on that section were friendly and helpful.
But this is all N and that is what makes it so useful. The fact that we are all so friendly, and we have a jokes section and a lot of banter makes it more than a weekly look-see into someone else's layout. It's nice just to come on here and see what everyone is up to and have a laugh too.
:NGaugeForum:
I am in the process of changing my car, and have tried to join the appropriate make and model forum, but despite following all the instructions I have three times been rejected as a spammer! The "test question" they use, to avoid machine attacks, is US based and shows a US product, which you have to describe as in their adverts (like Mars - helps you work rest and play). As I have not heard of most of the products, I cannot answer the question correctly, so get rejected as a spammer. I have emailed their contact me address, but they have not bothered to reply.
I used to visit and contribute on other sides but I got so fed up with want was like tribal warfare sometimes. A question would be asked on a particular subject and "war" would break on the "right" way to do something or other between the various members who thought their way was right etc etc. And then their various "followers" of said experts would join in :thumbsdown:.
I was soo glad when I found the friendly :NGaugeForum: . Every one plays nicely, there are very experienced modellers amongst us who don't suggest that the only way is their way. Beginners, novices and expects are all happy to share regardless of layouts and standards of modelling.
So a BIG thank you to Tank and his team of Mods, and all the members who help keep the :NGF: a friendly, happy forum. (where is that clapping emoticon when you want one).
Agreed. I've seen the occasional tiff around "train set curves" and DCC bus topologies, but nothing serious or disruptive.
Thanks and congrats to Tank and the team - and also to all the nice friendly people posting here :NGF:
I've been a long time member of the MRF before I found :NGF: and, until recently, have found it to be a very good forum. Unfortunately some new blood has arrived and is changing the whole character of it to the extent that I am on the verge of resigning.
While I have, perhaps, not been as active here as I might have been, I have found it to be very friendly and helpful and, despite having had a couple of 'heated' debates, these have soon been forgotten (and hopefully forgiven ;D) so I will probably be taking a more active part in the future.
Only :NGaugeForum: for me!
I did belong to a few others, N scale.org and an Irish one on Yuku.
I left the 1st not long after I found this one for 2 reasons.
1) This one I find I can relate to better. Not just because it has more UK members but because a majority model the UK. So its familiar to me, the other one was mainly US outline which is not.
2) I have only the time to visit one. I need time to do modelling too!
The Irish one closed. I found it useful even though most model that bigger scale and I think they've started up again but I dont know where!
So its just :NGF: for me now!
:NGaugersRule:
Imho the success of this forum is down to the fact that we are all bonded by the same thing......our love of N Gauge...... :thumbsup:
While other forums cater for all scales,which throws up all sorts of problems with certain types of people who will vigourously demand that their scale,or their way of doing things is the only right way.... here, i like to think that in the main we are all working towards the same goal......to improve the standards of N Gauge modelling and in turn to help the manufacturers improve their standards by showing them there is a healthy and growing following for N Gauge.
We also have a great team of mods here,who take an active part on the forum and some people who have an astounding amount of Knowledge in all aspects of N Gauge (we all know who they are) who offer their advice,knowledge,and services freely to other members........
To be honest.......i think we have a great thing going here and i hope it carries on for many years to come....... :NGaugersRule:
Quote from: Dock Shunter on May 23, 2012, 07:37:39 PM
Imho the success of this forum is down to the fact that we are all bonded by the same thing......our love of N Gauge...... :thumbsup:
While other forums cater for all scales,which throws up all sorts of problems with certain types of people who will vigourously demand that their scale,or their way of doing things is the only right way.... here, i like to think that in the main we are all working towards the same goal......to improve the standards of N Gauge modelling and in turn to help the manufacturers improve their standards by showing them there is a healthy and growing following for N Gauge.
We also have a great team of mods here,who take an active part on the forum and some people who have an astounding amount of Knowledge in all aspects of N Gauge (we all know who they are) who offer their advice,knowledge,and services freely to other members........
To be honest.......i think we have a great thing going here and i hope it carries on for many years to come....... :NGaugersRule:
Spot on there Dock Shunter :thumbsup:. This really is a great forum with a great team of mods and great members. I honestly can't go a day without my :NGaugeForum: fix ;D
Marty
Thanks for all the Kind Comments reference :NGaugeForum: and the recognition of the fact that we mods try and make it welcoming, informative, relaxed and an excellent platform to talk about and progress all things N Gauge/N Scale.
On behalf of Tank and my fellow mods let us thank you all for your commitment, loyalty and in many cases new friendships many of us have now as a result of this corner of the WWW. We only have you all to thank for this Forums success.
Long may it continue and all the very best to you all :thumbsup:
i'm registered on rmweb and modelrail forum and n scale but i don't look at them unless i'm searching for some very specific information (or very very bored!!!)
i do come on ngf most days though and it is excellent... easy to use and friendly!!!
tim
:Class31: :Carriage:
Never ever been on RMweb, it's reputation for 00 snobbery and rivet-counters was enough to put me off bothering at all. Been on a couple of other mixed-scale forums before finding this one - the first became strangled by a politically-correct culture where it became impossible to offer helpful advice without being accused of elitism ??? The second wasn't particularly welcoming to new members and it was a bit like being outside a restaurant watching people inside eating.
Must say that :NGF: has a very different feel to it than any other rail forum, true we're all working in the same scale but there is still the potential for rivalry between eras/locations, yet everyone respects others' choices :) The only other forum I've seen this kind of acceptance and friendliness on is the Ford XR Owners Club site.
Well done to the Admin/Mod team for no doubt working harder than is obvious to keep NGF this way :thumbsup:
Paul
Am I the only regular rmweb visitor? There is still N gauge stuff that is not duplicated here like "Waton", "Embankment Road", "Gresby" or "Banbury", just to mention a few, I find worth to follow. And I find it easier to follow dapol announcements there as I'm not on facebook and dapols web page is not extraordinarily well maintained. Also, I quite like the prototype section. From some degenerated discussions going in circles about track and signaling diagrams even I've learnt from. Probably my rough english filters the worst parts? For me other fora/forums are just another place to find inspiration and to see what happens on british tracks. NGF is one place worth to visit, not the only one though, currently ;-) .
Hi mac,
I agree RMWeb will be hard to substitute by any forum just because of the sheer mass of inspiration readily accessable by UK outline modellers outside the UK not holding substriptions of railway modelling magazines being quite costly on the continent.
In addition, don't forget to mention the small UK themed german forum :) still featuring some British outline N gauge layouts not duplicated here, such as
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t152f38-Mein-Projekt-in-British-N-Philtown-Branch-9.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t152f38-Mein-Projekt-in-British-N-Philtown-Branch-9.html)
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1857f38-Loxley.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1857f38-Loxley.html)
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1601f38-Neues-aus-Midsomer-County.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1601f38-Neues-aus-Midsomer-County.html)
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1375f38-Briford.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1375f38-Briford.html)
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t787f38-East-Anglia-in-NRW.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t787f38-East-Anglia-in-NRW.html)
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1306f38-Midsomer-County-Finch-Moor-completed.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/t1306f38-Midsomer-County-Finch-Moor-completed.html)
or
http://75355.homepagemodules.de/g3-Sarnau-Halt-amp-goods-yard.html (http://75355.homepagemodules.de/g3-Sarnau-Halt-amp-goods-yard.html)
Regards, Matthias
Thanks for the links Matthias..... :thumbsup:
Judging from the pictures there is some fantastic modelling going on there.
I am also a member of rmweb and new railway modellers.I generally as a rule just look them up for the n gauge content and dcc/dcc sound subjects and n gauge layout construction sections.As a specialised forum such as this one,with all the oo and o gauge stuff mixed in such as the two I've named,I would have thought those doing n gauge layouts would create threads here,such as Ben Ando for instance.His layout thread on rmweb is very good reading and although it is a club layout I believe,this being Horseley Fields,the standard of modelling on this layout is marvellous.Now there are others I could name,such as Bmth trains' very good layout Cross Street which would provide even more information such as scratch building and kit bashing which if you've seen some of the end products leaves me slightly aghast.
I can only aspire to their level of skill and detailing.There is one other problem,if you mention another forum on rmweb,you get told off for it,like some have experienced then if the same crime is committed again,you get banned.I only lurk on rmweb as I don't want to get invloved in the squabbles.Lifes too short for all that.
I am only slightly more involved with new railway modellers bit feel that the modrrators there don't slap down,if thats the correct term,those that take the mickey.Our resident cossie expert will agree with me on that one,so one is very strict,the other is very slack.
I do also visit BR Blue from time to time as well,as a member.This forum is for me the one which specialises in all things blue,BR that is,so is a wealth of info on my favourite era,and it had such members as Broadtrain who has done stuff on his stock that were inspired by such people as Martymc from down under.Br blue is another forum where it is mostly occupied by oo gauge modellers.A fairly recent thread on there was from a chap with hardly any space for n gauge decided to take up oo gauge instead,only to discover oo gauge is even less able to provide a decent layout in a small area so.was considering going back to n.The response from most was to advise him not to/he would regret it in the long run etc,etc,etc.I responded saying he should try it out again.
One thing I did do when I came back to model railways is consider what scale to work with.I chose the right one and the right forum to use extensively for all things n.
This one.
Enough said I think you'll all agree.
Pete
:Class37: :NGaugersRule:
I am a member of various forums, but I spend most time on here (for scale-specific content) and RMWeb (for sheer variety of content). I have to say I don't recognise any 'anti this or that' attitude but I guess it depends on your perspective and what you (rightly or wrongly) read into the comments of others. As they say, in a perfectly balanced world every one thinks it's biassed against them!
What I don't like on any forum, is running down of other forums. Yes they are all different (not better or worse, just different) so we should just accept that different forums will appeal more to different modellers!
Finally, nothing I have ever seen on a Railway modelling forum is more than a minor dissagreement compared to some of the squabbles on prototype railway forums and forums for some other hobbies can be even worse!!
Paul
I'm also a member of a fair few forums and I can't honestly say that here is much different from others except obviously focussed on N.
RMweb is tame compared to most forums!
Cheers, Mike
I spread myself over three forums, this one (obviously!), RMWeb and the JNS forum, of which a few others on here are members, including one of our illustrious mods!
RMWeb is a big forum, and there are bound to be the occasional spats. In fairness Andy York and his tribe of mods do keep on top of things and sort out the various runctions when they occur. It has been dogged by software issues over the last few months - as well as a hack-attack - but in general I get on quite happily with it.
I am more in a minority on RMWeb with my Japanese interests, but still try as hard as I can to keep the flag flying!
Quote from: Pete Mc on May 24, 2012, 12:49:41 AM
Our resident cossie expert will agree with me on that one,
Had to laugh at that :smiley-laughing:
The Mods there have also failed on more than one occasion to deal with a particularly vicious bully who gets a bee in his bonnet about something, then launches into a tirade of four-letter abuse by PM and e-mail and won't leave you alone ::) They make excuses for him and tell you to "avoid confrontation".
Paul
Interesting to hear the many different views so far..........
Alot of varied and very valid points so far...........
An interesting thread. I will be following closely.
Thanks
I belong to several railway forums here & across the pond covering all scales i visit them on a reasonably regular basis as each have different experts in different fields i find.
I also belong to a good few static modelling forums which can help with general modelling techniques,& inspire me to keep my hand in with static subjects.
It is strictly forbidden (according to :NGaugeForum: ) to even look at another forum never mind be a member! :P
I seem to remember the last person caught doing so was sent to work in a salt mine somewhere in Siberia never to be heard of again :o :o
Quote from: rg1 on May 25, 2012, 03:23:49 PM
It is strictly forbidden (according to :NGaugeForum: ) to even look at another forum never mind be a member! :P
I seem to remember the last person caught doing so was sent to work in a salt mine somewhere in Siberia never to be heard of again :o :o
The penalty has changed now.
You're now made to repaint all your N gauge locos and rolling stock in Toothpaste livery... ;D :P :angel:
Its still forbidden though, of course! ;)
Quote from: moogle on May 25, 2012, 08:17:09 PM
Quote from: rg1 on May 25, 2012, 03:23:49 PM
It is strictly forbidden (according to :NGaugeForum: ) to even look at another forum never mind be a member! :P
I seem to remember the last person caught doing so was sent to work in a salt mine somewhere in Siberia never to be heard of again :o :o
The penalty has changed now.
You're now made to repaint all your N gauge locos and rolling stock in Toothpaste livery... ;D :P :angel:
Its still forbidden though, of course! ;)
I've already repainted some of mine in toothpaste livery, ready for the Olympics! :NGaugersRule:
Quote from: rg1 on May 25, 2012, 03:23:49 PM
It is strictly forbidden (according to :NGaugeForum: ) to even look at another forum never mind be a member! :P
I seem to remember the last person caught doing so was sent to work in a salt mine somewhere in Siberia never to be heard of again :o :o
OMG I am a member of 3 model railway forums including this one and two photography forums so I wonder where I will be sent ? :evil:
Mind you though this forum is my favorite, as for the Photography forums I have been a member since 2003 and have over 9,000 posts, :computersmile: back then this forum was just a twinkle in Tanks eye ;)
Quote from: rg1 on May 25, 2012, 08:28:30 PM
Quote from: moogle on May 25, 2012, 08:17:09 PM
Quote from: rg1 on May 25, 2012, 03:23:49 PM
It is strictly forbidden (according to :NGaugeForum: ) to even look at another forum never mind be a member! :P
I seem to remember the last person caught doing so was sent to work in a salt mine somewhere in Siberia never to be heard of again :o :o
The penalty has changed now.
You're now made to repaint all your N gauge locos and rolling stock in Toothpaste livery... ;D :P :angel:
Its still forbidden though, of course! ;)
I've already repainted some of mine in toothpaste livery, ready for the Olympics! :NGaugersRule:
Olympics. Nah, I reckon you've been naughty... :evil: :P :smiley-laughing:
Quote from: oldrailbug on May 25, 2012, 08:58:27 PM
OMG I am a member of 3 model railway forums including this one and two photography forums so I wonder where I will be sent ? :evil:
Coventry... :P
And to repaint your stock! :smiley-laughing:
110 % as the young people say nowadays AAARGGGHHH !!!!! (move to angry thread ?) To prove that this site needs a health warning. :smiley-laughing:
Like a couple of others here I am a member of the JNS Forum but have not really been on there since joining this one.
I am also a member of several Car Forums which I am using less since I changed to using mobile broadband only.
I think the important thing here is regardless of how many forums I belong to this one is the one I check first and most of the time I don't even bother checking the others :wave: I guess its because the members of this forum are easy to get along with and as a couple have mentioned its like I have made new mates :thumbsup: plus there are no members that think they are so smart that everyone else is bellow them :sleep: we had a couple but thankfully they are no longer with us :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: