I happened to look at the dates on the threads (and the extremely low reply count) of the “Where are the MR Anniversary Box Cars?” Forum- like walking through a cemetary- all the dates are old! Might it be more advantageous- and useful- to treat this one forum as a major continuing thread (as is the “Diner” thread in the general forum) within the general forum and use the “Where are…” forum for tips and tricks/methods of work- as was the function of the old “kinks” section in the monthly magazine back in my younger days? That way, many repetitive topics- and many of us who search for previous information on particular things- painting techniques, wiring solutions, model repair and restoration info- could more easily find answers to our questions, etc.?
Then, MR would have a new feature without the need for editorial oversight, other than current forum IT supervision!
The Anniversary thread had its time and needs to be replaced. Another thought for a thread would be a track plan thread, something like “Show us your track plan”. Lots of posts are about track planning issues and such a permanent thread could act as a think tank for many of us.
Isn’t that boxcar thread scheduled to be replaced by the “Where are the Model Railroader Anniversary non-upgraded DOT-111 tank cars hauling Bakken light crude” thread later this year?
I believe the last several posts were in jest, but that track plan forum idea is also worth considering- certainly as a more descriptive adjunct to the track plan database presently available on the main MR page.
I recall the “kinks” column because I still have a copy of that “764 Helpful Hints” Kalmbach book that was derived from the hundreds of Kinks ideas publiched over the years. Again, as a modeling resource, it would be valuable.
I would rather leave the General Forum as it is. Then, to reduce the clutter, I would have the new forum dedicated to topics that tend to get out of hand, or are basically non-relevant…such as:
Ebay
Paypal
Track Shortage
“I want to complain about this”
“I want to complain about that”
“Their warranty is bad”
Plus a few others that will eventually come to mind.
NO! We must keep this thread going. Rumour has it that “the ghost of the MR Anniversary Box Cars” will soon rise from their unfortunate demise and start rolling the rails in their ghostly form. How else will we be able to report these ghostly sightings?
Shortly after joining the forums I concluded that the Where Are… forum was like Antarctica - I know it’s down there, but not worth a visit.
A thread conversion should go in the Prototype Information… forum, where it will gurgle a few times and sink from sight (like the several N-specific threads and the Beer Barn in this forum.)
As for what should replace it?
Track plans should be in the Layout…. forum, unless we want to separate design from actual construction.
Helpful Hints should go in the forum on the subject of the hint. (Rolling stock, benchwork and wiring all together equals mess.)
DCC should be replaced by Electrical in the wiring forum.
Maybe we should have a Model Locomotive and Rolling Stock forum.
Or, maybe, Where are… shouldn’t be replaced with anything.
One thing I would like to see is all the new wiring, DCC and so on threads moved to the wiring forum when they show up elsewhere. Same for track plans and prototype information. A lot of things get dumped onto the first screen that opens - which, unfortunately, is seldom the appropriate one.
So, would that make the “Trains.com” forums to the North similar to Baffin Island? Almost all those forums have reletively light posting counts, and some forums are pretty sparse (like the Train Simulation Software one).
Do those trains.com forums exist to allow non-subscribers to post or something? Pretty much all of the threads in those forums could be slotted into other existing forums on the Trains or Model Railroad boards (with a few threads going to the Classic Toy Train forum or the Garden Railroad forum). Does the Trains.com board exist for symmetry or something?
If they drop that marvelous Where Are The Anniversary Boxcars Now Forum, I will submit my Forum Membership resignation letter immediately. The wherabouts of the Anniversary Boxcars is absolutely critical to me.
Laping into the fray…I want to complain about the suggested inclusion of an “I want to complain about this” and the “I want to complain about that” forum idea.