There must be hundreds if not thousands of questions regarding grades, radii, foam, scenery, and other really basic questions. Perhaps a beginners forum would be of benefit.
I thought this forum was catered to beginners already?
Over the years there have been several beginner topics here.
If you have a beginners only forum so to speak, you still need people who can answer questions. So might as well have everyone here.
Enjoy
Paul
I agree with Paul. Somebody will have to answer the beginners’ questions so why not just stick to the current format? What I think is most important is that we try to refrain from discouraging newcomers by offering a put down instead of an answer. Remember what Bambie’s mother said![;)]
Dave
Watch out for hunters???
I agree that asking questions is only good if someone will give an answer.
My answers are usuallt too short, and I have a trend of only answering the question asked, then other give advice, usually good, that wasn’t asked for.
I’ll try to improve.
Dave
Dave
Just in case you are uncertain about the quote I was referring to (which I doubt), Bambie’s mom said “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”
I think that should be included in the official forum policies.
Also, I don’t think there is anything at all wrong with expanding on your answer if the response is relative to the OP’s original question. I do it all the time, and most of the time the OPs express a lot of gratitude for the additional details.
Dave
My grandmother was Bambi’s mom? I had no idea…
What about just starting a thread with a “Beginners Questions” heading? Just ask a few questions and invite others to do so? It would soon grow!!!
No one should feel so abashed that they cannot ask a question on an open forum such as this… we all started some time and few of us are experts at all things in model railroading!
I do have some stuff on my own website which may be of interest to you including the Model Railway Express Hints and Tips column… not they are not purely British www.xdford.digitalzones.com for your interest…
However the ball is in your court to ask the questions you want to know answers to…
Welcome to the hobby!
Cheers from Australia
Trevor
David, David, David. [^o)]
Rich, Rich, Rich
I absolutely agree. The forum works quite well for newbies, midbies, and oldbies.
Rich
since basic questions have probably already been asked, perhaps the best thing a beginner can do is learn to perform a search before posting yet another beginner question.
Some beginners questions have been addressed frequently in the general, layout and electronics portions of this forum. Perhaps a more transparent and effective search system would enable beginners to obtain answers to previously- responded to issues.
Cedarwoodron
Um, while I don’t really like to disagree, wasn’t that one Thumper’s mom?
I am pretty sure it was Steven Otte. [(-D]
I didn’t realize certain threads/topics were for “seasoned veterans”. I thought ALL posts were for ALL forum members.
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There’s a “Search the Community” box on the right side of the page. Very rarely used, bad location on page and the “search” feature is weak.
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Internet searches reveal multiple “hits” on such topics, from other forum’s/sites also.
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Whether “beginner” or “old salty dog”, maybe go READ the threads/posts beyond the 1st page.
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A little research goes a long way.
In addition to this very informative forum on MR’s home page there is a How To header with a drop down list of very helpful basic info.
Just my two 
worth
Bob
Sigh. This is a beginners forum.
You can use Google with words, trains.com for better search results here than the forum search option.
Google is by far a much better search option. Your PC is a powerful device. Learn how to use it in forums.
Rich
I would also say that Model Railroader Video Plus is an excellent place to get beginnner info. The problem is that you have to subscribe to it, but you get what you pay for.
I’ve always been reluctant to ask questions that would basically be so specific that whoever replied first would pretty much have answered it and then rendered the thread over. Yet having a general “ask a very specific question” thread would only be useful if someone reading that thread happened to know the exact answer. For instance, there’s a specific building kit I’m very curious about, but I don’t want to start a thread to be like “anyone know how long this wall is.”
Don’t run into the meadow?
Yes it was.
I have always been an advocate of some way to get to a frequently asked questions index. We were sort of getting there a few forum software ‘versions’ ago with the frequent word index, but then that got messed up and went away, sooo. A real problem is that the same beginners questions have been asked so many times, but then soon fall off the front of the messages. Instead of finding an old thread with the same topic everyone seems to start a new one, so everyone has to post the SAME information over and over. People get tired of posting the same thing over and over.