Western Thunder 9 years after Cynric

[Simon]

Digress away!

I hadn't appreciated that you had experienced a falling away of responses like that Mick, and despite my earlier comments I, like you, can not see why the change should have made any difference.

In any case, you are a bit special in that, as you have pointed out, you have the additional role of being part of the Finney 7 massive.

How is that 1/32 spam can going by the way!?

Sorry....

I am not, by the way, seeking to stop anyone from posting anything in making my comments, rather I am interested in having exactly the discussion that is taking place.

Simon

PS I do miss your tales of derring do with containers and cranes though!!

 

[Neil]

.... a gentle thought/observation as I was remembering Cynric and all that he did and also what this forum felt like when he first set it up. ....

When I joined I was worried because none of the stuff I made was large scale or particularly Western in content, but it seemed to be an interesting and gentle place which celebrated the joy of making things but without any snobbery or elitism. I'm pleased to say that it remains so but I don't think it does any harm to restate those values.

I have to agree that rtr has come on a bit of late, making O gauge a bit more accessible and adding to the easy possibilities in OO. However it can only ever be a starting point if we're to have fun making things rather than buying things and in some ways it's easier to take an unpromising rtr product as the raw material to make something from; less to loose but more to be gained I suppose.

Over the last few years I've bought a pair of eight coupled tender engines, one Hornby, one Fleischmann.


The Q6 is undoubtedly the better model, but all I've done to it (apart from replacing a dud motor) is to weather it. My hack of an old Prussian G8 into an NMBS class 81 is a less accurate model but I had more fun and a greater sense of achievement putting it together than I got from titivating the Q6.

 

[mickoo]

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I'll reply as a collective answer, much as I appreciate the feedback and well wishes, this wasn't my aim, the aim was to try and elevate an awareness that simply pressing the like button may not be what the recipient is looking for.

It doesn't have to be rah rah razzmatazz glowing accolades, quite the reverse really, just a simple, nice one, how did you do that bit, how are you going to solve this.

I saw two or three posts recently where the recipient was over joyed and so happy to get the feedback, I found that disturbingly saddening in this day and age, more so on WT. As open as we all are, to outsiders or new joiners it can be a daunting prospect posting.

 

[mickoo]

Digress away!

I hadn't appreciated that you had experienced a falling away of responses like that Mick, and despite my earlier comments I, like you, can not see why the change should have made any difference.

In any case, you are a bit special in that, as you have pointed out, you have the additional role of being part of the Finney 7 massive.

How is that 1/32 spam can going by the way!?

Sorry....

I am not, by the way, seeking to stop anyone from posting anything in making my comments, rather I am interested in having exactly the discussion that is taking place.

Simon

PS I do miss your tales of derring do with containers and cranes though!!

Simon,

I did a quick check once I'd noticed, I think it was seven updates, 40+ something photos, 100+ likes and 27,000 page hits and not one reply, you do begin to question whether the effort is worth it.

1:32 Spam Can, shhussh, it's still sitting under the bench glowering at me, it'll get there in due course, must finish the B1 and a couple of other bits first truth be told.

Re-work, I have to confess I do miss the machinery and industrial aspect of the job terribly, don't miss the politics, management nor foul weather though; may or may not have posted this before, sometimes it was even exciting.

I couldn't get the tracked belt back in the trough, it was simply too heavy, we had to cut it eventually and let it drop to the ground, it went everywhere, scattered for 100's yds around. Then we hot wired the safety circuits to get control on, isolated all the heavy power side and limped the trolley back off the boom so it could be raised and the vessel released for sailing.



Anyway, a digression too far, I see the reason for the thought provoking initial post and have to say, over the last nine years it comes by every so often.

I don't think it's wrong to ask hard questions, one may not like the answers but they, as so often in the past, add insight as to how best retain the original forum ethos.

 

[jonte]

I'll reply as a collective answer, much as I appreciate the feedback and well wishes, this wasn't my aim, the aim was to try and elevate an awareness that simply pressing the like button may not be what the recipient is looking for.

It doesn't have to be rah rah razzmatazz glowing accolades, quite the reverse really, just a simple, nice one, how did you do that bit, how are you going to solve this.

I saw two or three posts recently where the recipient was over joyed and so happy to get the feedback, I found that disturbingly saddening in this day and age, more so on WT. As open as we all are, to outsiders or new joiners it can be a daunting prospect posting.

There’s a certain irony in that remark, Mick

The only rather minor issue I have is when a member flatters/commends another member on the quality of their work, without the ‘flatter-ee’ doing the ‘flatterer’, in turn, the common courtesy of at least a thank you. I see the same thing where response(s) to someone asking for advice appears ignored by the querier, only those providing an acceptable solution to the querier receiving a response.

Perhaps I’m just old school, but I find it all rather ‘poor form’.

Jonte

 

[john lewsey]

I think That it is true that some of us worry if our work is good enough.

 

[Overseer]

I feel I should comment as it seems my comment on Larry's Prairie thread lead to a discussion which has woken Simon from his WT slumber. When I wrote the comment I had not seen reviews of either rtr model and have still not seen either in the flesh. If I had seen any reviews I would probably not have commented, in fact if I had seen too many reviews of the type linked to I would probably lose the will to live. RTR is a fact of life in this hobby for the time being, the range available is likely to decrease over time with increasing production costs and changing markets. I am not personally that interested in buying 4mm RTR but I do buy some other RTR, in Australian HO for example, and would much prefer mass produced models to be as accurate as possible. I think there is a place within WT for the intelligent discussion of RTR models, including errors and how they can be improved. Reading all posts in not compulsory.

Model building is the focus of WT and should remain so but there is space for many different approaches to the hobby. I like having professional builders showing their work in progress and learn from it. There is a big difference between the mindset of the pro builders who generally frequent WT, who aim to build models of prototypes, and other pro builders who assemble whatever comes in the box. That difference is what WT is all about.

I joined WT shortly after Cynric died, having lurked for some time and wondered about the radio silence at the time. I joined because I liked the focus on making models, intelligent discussion (mostly) and to keep in touch with members of the S7 Group. It is the only 'social media' I find time for, sometimes with more involvement than others.

Reading @Simon 's post reminded me of the only time I have met Simon in person. Entering the shop one morning after driving from Heathrow and a long flight from Australia (and following emails checking the shop would be open) I was greeted with "Hello, you do realise this is a specialist railway bookshop?" I not sure what his normal customers look like but I think I fit in the demographic. Anyway, it got rapidly better after that. Don't let Simon's musings put anyone off posting interesting things on WT.

 

[Scale7JB]

Ironically I get more feedback and dialogue generation (which I feel, rightly or wrongly, is a good thing to have on WT) from the few recent US brass and plastic RTR posts recently than I have had for all the kit building (all be it commercial) posts during the same period, despite the often large quantities of scratch building, upgrades and modifications required in the latter; such to the point that I'll probably let that thread wither and die shortly.

I'm not the only one, so I don't take it personally, I've been watching a few other long term builders who show their work and get plenty of likes but no replies or dialogue, maybe they don't want it, but for me the whole point of taking pictures and then the time to host them up is to try and generate interest and conversation.

If no one is talking back then you have to consider the brutal truth that no one is actually interested anymore, or as I more rightly suspect, the dynamics of this group has changed in favour of RTR and the BOB's (box opening bandits).

I don't mind a bit of BOB myself and try to temper the enthusiasm here and offset it with more 'real' modelling, but I'm finding the balance has shifted over the last few years, more so this last one.

Mick D

Sorry everyone, not been about much recently. Photography work has been off the scale. Good for the bank balance (more on that in a couple of weeks), not so great for the soul or Mr Birch’s 12 class. Still, it’ll be finished during the January lockdown.

Mick, I genuinely believe that WT would be a lesser place without your commercial builds thread, maybe I’m biased as a distant ‘mate’, but I also see your thread as an advertisement for your work and skills. I wouldn’t shut it down just yet

JB.

 

[cbrailways]

Well this discussion has really got me confused. I joined WT as an escape from being branded a 'box modeller' on another well known forum and organisation. Looking at this: Welcome to Western Thunder although I have never built a loco, wagon or coach from scratch I do 'model' as I have to build the rest of the railway as accurately as possible. So my question is am I not a suitable member of WT because of that?

 

[mickoo]

There’s a certain irony in that remark, Mick

The only rather minor issue I have is when a member flatters/commends another member on the quality of their work, without the ‘flatter-ee’ doing the ‘flatterer’, in turn, the common courtesy of at least a thank you. I see the same thing where response(s) to someone asking for advice appears ignored by the querier, only those providing an acceptable solution to the querier receiving a response.

Perhaps I’m just old school, but I find it all rather ‘poor form’.

Jonte

I don't see the irony, but if it needs explaining then it's lost on me

The second statement is interesting, there does seem to be a more common trend to just say what you will and not close off a conversation in the traditional manner. If I hadn't replied now would I be guilty of that? It's difficult sometimes to know when there's a natural break or closure is needed, but on the whole I agree with you.

To be fair I may have missed a closure comment or thanks reply, mostly unintentional but occasionally purposeful and I'll explain why.

I posted the other week about the Duke and 3D dome, three forums actually, one had a huge amount of replies, 30 something odd and I tried to answer all fairly, however it was apparent that some people were not fully engaged. Early on it was suggested to apply gold leaf, there followed a bit of back and forth and it was agreed it was worth a test shot at least. A short while later, someone else suggested gold leaf, mmmm, just been through that, so I replied it was a good idea and worth consideration. After the fifth gold leaf suggestion it became apparent that people are not reading what's gone on before, shooting from the hip and expecting an answer.

Well hang on, if you can't be bothered to read the above and interact fully, then why should the recipient offer a response?

 

[Flaxfield]

Well this discussion has really got me confused. I joined WT as an escape from being branded a 'box modeller' on another well known forum and organisation. Looking at this: Welcome to Western Thunder although I have never built a loco, wagon or coach from scratch I do 'model' as I have to build the rest of the railway as accurately as possible. So my question is am I not a suitable member of WT because of that?

To answer your question CB, yes, you jolly well are.

Everyone brings something different to the table and in my eyes it matters not from where you start. It's how it's finished that matters. I enjoy what I do. It's fun. But I have the utmost respect for those who build locos and stock from kits or scratch. However, I freely admit it's not for me. The closest I will go is a replacement chassis and given my recent frustration with the running qualities of certain RTR models, that's likely to happen. I can't do it yet but I've already received much by way of encouragement and guidance from members of this forum. So I'll have a go at some point.

We are what we are, working with what we choose to work with. That may improve as skills develope. One thing I do know is I am unlikely to reach the degree of finesse now emerging in 4mm RTR from the current crop of manufactuers.

I fear the frustration that would arise from the production of a poorly constructed loco kit would be crushing. Better to channel my efforts into making the most of that which is readily available 'off the shelf' to produce a reliable, satisfying layout with which to have fun with.

I'm lucky, my main interests namely the S&DJR, Ex- L&SWR and Ex- Midland routes are well served with top quality locos and stock sufficient for my needs/wants. Even my recent tangentle dabblings with the dieselised remains of a 1960s East Anglian backwater are well served RTR to allow the creation of a reasonable representation of what pootled about the place.


Stick with it. Gain inspiration and carry on playing trains.

My goal, get something into MRJ.

Rob.

 

[cbrailways]

Thanks Rob. Thats exactly how I feel about it all.

 

[David B]

I’m hugely grateful for all the hints and tips and guidance and expertise offered on WT. However, this thread (and Mick’s comment in particular) has made me realise that I’m just taking and not giving in return (however little I may have to give, in comparison to the regular posters). I am learning so much from you all and one day I even hope to learn how to use Mick’s invisible solder. So by way of a Thank You to everyone who shares their skills so freely here, and to let you know (despite my lack of comments to date on your threads) that you are all inspiring me, here are my 16mm FR Earl of Merioneth and a couple of carriages built using tips and ideas from across WT. You are amazing - thanks for the inspiration. And I will make sure I do more in future than just click ‘Like’.

David

 

[JasonBz]

This thread is quite interesting to me, mainly because I never really look very far beyond RTR, and the odd kit, for the trains - This could well be because I am far more interested in the railway and its environment - A Time and Place sort of thing.
If Messers. Bachmann etc supply me with those trains, Ill make somewhere nice for them to do their stuff....

But here's the rub - for far too long "life" has kept me out of the game.
Reading through, and very occasionally commenting, on threads on here gives me that vital inspiration to actually get back and do something!

 

[mickoo]

I’m hugely grateful for all the hints and tips and guidance and expertise offered on WT. However, this thread (and Mick’s comment in particular) has made me realise that I’m just taking and not giving in return (however little I may have to give, in comparison to the regular posters). I am learning so much from you all and one day I even hope to learn how to use Mick’s invisible solder. So by way of a Thank You to everyone who shares their skills so freely here, and to let you know (despite my lack of comments to date on your threads) that you are all inspiring me, here are my 16mm FR Earl of Merioneth and a couple of carriages built using tips and ideas from across WT. You are amazing - thanks for the inspiration. And I will make sure I do more in future than just click ‘Like’.

David

View attachment 153493

View attachment 153495

They look good, you should start your own thread , lots of NG interest on WT.

The coaches are not one of my interest groups, but the Double Fairlie certainly is.

 

[Dog Star]

... here are my 16mm FR Earl of Merioneth and a couple of carriages built using tips and ideas from across WT.

Now those are delightful models; not being familiar with the 16mm scale, how "big" is the engine? the coaches?

They look good, you should start your own thread...

I agree with Mick, please give us words and music.

thank you, Graham

 

[SimonT]

Mick,
nice fish
Simon

 

[Boyblunder]

Simon,

I did a quick check once I'd noticed, I think it was seven updates, 40+ something photos, 100+ likes and 27,000 page hits and not one reply, you do begin to question whether the effort is worth it....

I don't think it's wrong to ask hard questions, one may not like the answers but they, as so often in the past, add insight as to how best retain the original forum ethos.

Dear Mick,
To re-iterate what other far more knowledgeable & highly skilled modellers have said I don’t normally reply to your model building posts because I don’t have the skills or knowledge to come anywhere near yours so I just constantly wonder, learn & like. Despite a certain chairman’s disgruntlement I don’t bother to read any other modelling forums regularly because although most contain useful information it is submerged in the ramblings of the many stupid twits who use those forums as a means of communicating drivel when no one at home will listen to them. That is apart from WT which is a wonderful oasis of calm that has accompanied my porridge every morning for the last 5 or 6 years.

Concerning the crane repair did you not consider purchasing all the helium filled balloons available in Felixstowe’s many gift shops and attaching them to that chain thus lifting it silently and effortlessly back into its channel?
Please keep posting Mick,
Robin

 

[oldravendale]

Well this discussion has really got me confused. I joined WT as an escape from being branded a 'box modeller' on another well known forum and organisation. Looking at this: Welcome to Western Thunder although I have never built a loco, wagon or coach from scratch I do 'model' as I have to build the rest of the railway as accurately as possible. So my question is am I not a suitable member of WT because of that?

Just catching up.....

I'm a bit saddened by your comment, cb. When I commented I was careful to say that all modelling has its place on this forum. As has been said, there are those who enjoy building locos, those who enjoy building layouts, a few who successfully do both. If there's an aspect which is not of interest it's not compulsory to read it.

I, personally, am not a layout builder - I use my club's layout to run my locos - but that doesn't mean that I'm not impressed and find the threads about layouts of interest. I don't have a particular interest or knowledge of signaling but have now built a few (for club) and received nothing but support and help from WT members.

So, in short, go on - show us what you are up to and I know there will be interest.

Brian

 

[cbrailways]

Brian, my comment wasn't aimed at you or anybody else. I think I was just a bit frustrated that we were being put into modelling boxes again (pun intended). Had enough of that elsewhere. As far as posting on here goes I have but not updated my layout topic recently due to working on a big (heritage) model railway
7mm - CRAMMIT INN YARD