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RMweb is 15


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Happy Birthday and congratulations! RMWeb (through Phil P's Cakebox challenge) finally got me to put together my first scenic diorama after 4 decades of collecting, designing, dreaming and crastinating like a pro.

Thank you!

Further projects are slowly now coming along - without RMWeb I doubt they'd have got off the graph paper yet.

One more thought* - over the next few months RMWeb will have much to do to maintain, support and encourage community across the ages and oceans of our world: now is the time for true social media: I've never met the BRM / RMWeb team in person, but I believe we are in good hands.

 

Keith 

 

(* apologies if it's on earlier pages already - bit pushed for time today as it's a Sunday).

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If I may offer an example to show how the collective can, and does work, and work very well. 

 

I recently bought a secondhand Ratio signal box kit, and it arrived on Friday. Sadly however, no 'words & music''. 

 

So, off to the Wanted part of the forum...

 

Within 36 hours of my post, I have today received a set of  instructions, all the way from France, via the internet and. of course, the collective. Spot-on!

 

Many thanks to Philou of this parish, for taking time out to A: find the instructions, and B: scanning them over to me.

 

That's why I enjoy perusing RM Web....

 

Happy modelling,

Ian.

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I've been a member in one name or another since the early days. I remember Andy's wharf layout he built which was a nice bit of modelling. There was a diesel depot layout built in a challenge maybe around 2006 I think it was in EM it was beautifully built & the first time I thought that diesels were modelled & weathered correctly. I've learnt so much from this forum which has made me the modeller I am today. I've even featured in brm with a 2 page spread from the loco challenge which helped my mental health in a very testing time for myself. 

 

A brilliant platform to learn from. Many happy returns rmweb 

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It is hard to remember life before RMweb - for anyone who has been able to put up with the foibles of the various incarnations and the outpourings of some of the more notorious contributors it has been a wonderful resource. A club that is open 24/7 (subject to server load, software upgrades, etc.) and where you can always find some helpful advice (and, if you are asking a question about DCC an awful lot of unhelpful advice too), freindship and inspiration.

 

Long may it continue and I shall be putting something in the charity tin in recognition of the visionary Mr. York (aka Pompus Shinus Maximus). :drink_mini:

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Happy Birthday RMweb.

 

Hard to believe it is 15 years.  I claim to have joined at the very beginning following Andy York's posts on the old BRM forum asking what we would think of a new forum capable of including photographs as well as text.  My profile shows me joining in 2007 but I think that is the start date of a new software platform.

 

I have shown very little of my modelling on RMweb but the site has greatly influenced what I have done.

 

RMweb has cost me a small fortune as I find out about new and forthcoming models then get enthused about them as I read more.

 

RMweb members are selfless with their time in helping other members with queries. Many thanks to those who have helped me.

 

Thank you Andy for the idea and setting this up, and well done on turning your own role professional.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

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It’s a shame that rmweb v1 is no longer available, would have been nice to do a first workbench post in 2005 vs latest workbench post In 2020.

 

though thinking about it with the demise of so many photo sites over the time since, odds are there wouldn’t be a photo anyway....

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I joined on 30 January 2008 according to my profile and I have no way of knowing if that is correct or the date of a move to new software! 

 

I sometimes wonder how much good modelling time has been lost by all of us over the years due to RMweb but I am sure that is made up by the amount of help and inspiration we get from the site, It would be interesting to know how much hair Andy would have if he hadn't started the site. I am sure that at times he wishes he had hair to pull out!

 

Here's to another 15 years of railway modelling fun helped by RMweb.

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I can't remember exactly when I joined as it's been so long. It was either 2006 or 2005, the date on my profile is 04/03/2007, which I think is when the current RMweb was started. RMweb is a really good forum and always has been. I definitely read it more than I post, but I do occasionally chip in. I've also been to a few of the SWAG member's days down in Taunton over the years.


I've grown up with the forum, so whilst the forum has changed, so have I. It's always however, been one of those few constants in life which has always been there to go back to. Even if I feel I don't have the time or the enthusiasm to model, I can still come here and find all sorts of inspiration and support, and soon enough the enthusiasm is renewed.


I have also made friends on the forum; It's always nice meeting members of this forum in real life at shows and putting a face to the name. People here are also friendly and on several occasions people have sold me rare items I've been looking for, or they have even been kind enough to give them to me for nothing. The members are also willing to share their knowledge with no expectation of anything in return, which is a huge boost to those in the hobby and RMweb really allows that knowledge to be spread far and wide.


Something else notable about RMweb is that it's still a 'classic' style website. These days many websites have disappeared into Facebook, YouTube, Reddit, Twitter etc and this handful of websites make up the majority of many people's web-browsing experiences. I can remember the early days of the Internet where I could find a new website and get lost exploring it for hours, each website being different and reflection of its owner and/or community. RMweb still has the feel of a small community and website (despite its size), so it brings back the nostalgia of the 'good old days' of the Internet.

 

It's difficult to quantify how much RMweb has contributed to the hobby over the years, but anecdotally I've lost count of the number of times someone has said to me 'I saw this on RMweb and gave it a go' or 'I got contacted by someone RMweb and they had some decals for a project I am working on.' I have also met many people through RMweb who have helped me in the hobby. RMweb has definitely made a significant and positive contribution to the hobby, so I, and many others, are really grateful for that.


Anyway, I hope to be here to toast the website again in another 15 years time!

 

Cheers,

 

Jack

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15 years, gosh. I remember discovering the original RMWEB version. That was a good few years ago. I think the thing that struck me most that set this new discovery apart from the others at the time was the feeling of being part of a friendly club, with further benefits of an ever growing wealth of useful information, from all aspects and areas, covering both modelling and prototype. The site as it stands today has changed a lot, but is still my usual first call for information searches and occasional questions.

These days I don't have as much time as I used to to browse the site, but I do try to keep my thread updated on a weekly basis, it's nice to get feedback and try to inspire others as so many others have done for me and my modelling over the years. 

Cheers to Andy and the team for sticking with it and getting us here, here's to the next 15 years of growth and inspiration :-)

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In relative terms I’m fairly new to the site, reading some of the stories on here. I feel I’ve made friends, although I’ve only met two in real life. RMweb has been a real help in trying to get me focussed with regular progress, but it’s great to see what else is being achieved right across the spectrum. Thanks, Andy, for the hard work and long hours in keeping it flying so well. Happy 15th Birthday, looking forward to the future.

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Happy Birthday RMweb!

 

I'm a relative newbie as I signed up in February 2014 after lurking for some months, but its a marvellous resource and the model railway community in the UK (and further afield!) would be poorer without it.  Long may it continue!  :clapping:

 

If anyone wants to see how it all began, have a look at the Wayback Machine  ( https://archive.org/web/ ) , a site that tries to archive the internet for posterity.

 

RMweb was first archived on 5th April 2005 so we can still get a feel for those pioneering days...

https://web.archive.org/web/20050405174230/http://www.rmweb.co.uk/

 

 

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Sadly there is Just the welcome page in April 2005. There was more information in Sept 2005 but that’s now got an error. The earliest meaningful pages in terms of main headings is 18th January 2006.

 

From memory Sept 2005 showed around 250 members.

Edited by gordon s
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Happy 15th birthday to RMweb and congratulations to Andy Y for your dedication to the cause over those years. No wonder all your hair fell out.

 

According to my profile, RMweb has been an almost daily part of my life since 10th November 2009, which would seem about right. I remember returning to the hobby after many years of lapse and starting a thread for building Much Murkle on another well known forum in 2008.

 

There are many lurkers, procrastinators and naysayers, all forums do have them and perhaps we've all been there at some point. One thing though that Rmweb does have that other forums don't is a large membership base with the vast depth wealth of knowledge on just about any railway related subject, willing mentors who will encourage and offer constructive criticism, modellers who will inspire in all disciplines and yes, many comedians. The latter particularly make my daily read so enjoyable. Ask questions and you will often receive a number of answers on even the most niche of topics.

 

I've made good friends through RMweb, I've gained exhibition invites through RMweb, I've been asked to write magazine articles and I've been asked to demonstrate scenic techniques: all because of the exposure RMweb has given to my modelling.

 

I think the move to put RMweb under the unmbrella of BRM turned out to be a masterstroke. I remember some were against it at the time, seeing it as commercialisation and fearing it would be heavily censored and lose it's identity. I don't think we've seen over- commercialisation, the level of moderation hasn't changed, Andy Y still rules and it still retains it's identity as the leading RM Forum. If there are any negatives they are heavily outweighed by the positives. Many internet forums are slowly dying, but not this one, which seems to me to be as healthy as ever.

 

Long may RMweb continue and thank you Andy Y for everything.  You're a Saint mate.

 

 

 

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Happy Birthday RMWeb . Andy’s brainchild and he deserves outright congratulations on it . And it has been transformative . All my model railways news now comes from RMWeb , a lot of inspiration too . I view it as a large model railway club . And although people have spats generally it’s pretty friendly . I’m on it most days it’s made a big difference to me . 
 

I think it’s best days are to come . And on its 15th anniversary we all face unprecedented times . RMWeb will be hugely significant to those self isolating . 

Edited by Legend
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Thanks Andy Y for your huge input,  thanks for your patience with me, and thanks RMweb contributors for inspiration, knowledge and friendship.

 

A knighthood for Andy,  at least... 

 

A question to Andy, where do you find the time?    Oh and another thing, great photography from you should be acknowledged. Gold Standard.

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I've been here 13 years - it feels like longer.............................

 

(Only kidding)

 

I think I've made more friends than enemies through that time.

 

It is a brilliant resource for 2-way help - I hope I've helped folks as much as others have helped me.

 

And I have to thank Andy Y for his efforts and lay the blame squarely at his feet for my career change!

 

Long Live RMweb.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

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Blwythyn hapus i ti.  
 

I’ve only been here for about 3½ years, mostly moaning about Bachmann lead times.  But it’s been an unremittingly positive experience; I’ve made some great friends, and proved to myself that even at my age there’s plenty to learn!  My congratulations and thanks to the team for all the work you put in, most of which we are probably unaware of.
 

Looking forward to the next 15 years! 

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My profile says 2009 but that was when I had to sign up again after a server meltdown so I think I was one of the early ones.  I am trying to remember how I found out about RMWeb originally, it may have been through the original MREMag or possible a posting in a EGroup, yes that long ago!!!

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