Benefits of joining the Gauge O Guild?

[cromptonnut]

Glad to provide amusement on this otherwise dismal afternoon

 

I havea reasonable bit of experience of adminstering Facebook pages (including my work's official one with 1000+ members) so perhaps that's something I could offer my services to look after if I do decide to join up.

[Poggy1165]

Here is a rare offer, as I don't often do owt for nowt. If anyone wants to write a modern image article for the Gazette, but is uncertain about their English grammar, spelling or whatever, run it past me and I will undertake to edit and gild it for you. I promise not to laugh or take the mickey - trust me, after some of the fiction MSS I have critted and edited, there is nothing that shocks me any more. I may have to ask questions though as the terminology may baffle me, as I am an unashamed steam and mechanical signalling guy. I can't promise to sort out your photos though, as photography is an alien science to me and I certainly couldn't work magic with images.

 

Frankly though, the hardest part of writing is sitting down and banging away at the keyboard until it's finished. I know, I have a novel and a (railway) article in hand and progress is slooooow. Always other things to do.

[Ian Allen]

Cromptonnut: If you are still unsure about what the Guild can offer you, then going back to an earlier posting, it's what you and others who model the BR Blue era can offer the Guild. Surely as the years pass, more O gauge modellers will in all likelyhood be modelling the same as yourself. I don't really have any connections to the steam era, I was 5 when the last services ran, so all my own experiences are from the same era as yourself, but I model steam (and some SR EMU's for a friend). We all tend to model what we know, but I've always been fascinated with the mechanics of steam locomotion. However the Guild will need more people like yourself whose interests are more in keeping with the latter years of the 20th century, and it won't be too long until Modern Image relates to our current railway network, and the likes of Peter Clark has kits applicable to this already.

 

I know it is hard to quantify in strict terms what the benefits of paying yor £24 is for Guild membership, but even when I was in my school MRC we had a weekly subs, and when budgets are tight you have to look seriously at what you can cut-back on, of which I have much first-hand experience, but I will continue to retain my Guild membership. Don't forget, RMWeb isn't strictly free is it ? You have to pay for your broadband, otherwise you cannot access it. So even if you pay £10pcm, that's £120 per annum, whereas 10 years of GOG membership comes in currently at £240. Seems damned reasonable to me. Finally, a question to yourself, do you purchase any of the retail magazines ? If so, think about how much a year you may spend, then also compare that to the GOG £24.

 

I hope you to take the plunge, even if for just 1 year, to see for yourself, you never know, you may even like it :-)

 

Ian 

[Donw]

Some interesting comments on here. I publish some articles by Chris Turnbull. I remember him asking if there were any pages planned for the Manual on diesels drives. In the end Chris provided the said Manual pages based on his efforts. It is that kind of thing that makes the guild, the efforts of modellers to help others. Personally I couldn't put a price on the friendship I have received but you can also get friendship and a lot else here. I feel rather sorry for you if your budget is that tight but these are hard times.

Don

[Rob Pulham]

I have been a member for the last 3 or 4 years and so far I have only been to shows at Halifax but like others the archive and the magazine are enough to make it worthwhile to me.

 

I do actively contribute to the Guild forum and far from it being model engineering focussed there are a lot of people enjoying making models and sharing their trials and tribulations. One thing worth mentioning about the "model engineers" is the fact that many fellow members have benefited from the offer by these members to make parts that were otherwise unobtainable.

 

As, has been mentioned, once the on-line catalogue is complete it will be a very comprehensive resource featuring product catalogues from a good number of 7mm suppliers - until doing my bit I never knew that a 10th of what is available out there was available, or from whom to start looking.

[3 link]

 the current steam modellers will (unfortunately) die out and the Guild will cease to exist as a viable concern.

 

Were all doomed laddie !! 

 

Bl**dy h*ll,   Steve hopefully I will be around for a few more years yet .

 

Martyn.

[mikeg]

With 40 year membership and 13 as the News sheet editor, I changed it to Guild New as it was no longer a sheet! I thick the Guild £24, £19 for me being retired, is excellent value for money. The local club I belong to is £20pa plus £2.50 each time you attend, so £24 is peanuts, so all you disenters until you join you will not know the benifits that it gives in access to the MANY traders that only advertise in the Guild Gazette, plus all the people that are one man enterprises that attend the three shows per year, you currently have NO access to these traders that sell a miriad of parts etc.

 

I have just decided that after 40 years I will pay my sub by Direct Debit, so that it saves me money (postage) and the Guild (in prosessing costs) and I can now forget about filling in forms and sending it off.

 

So again I would advise any one modelling in O to Join the Guild as soon as posible, now just an ordinary member, but I have put back so of what I got out of the Guild for many years.

 

regards

 

mike g

 

ps Donw was a very good editor at the same time as me and its nice to see his posts.

[cromptonnut]

The local club I belong to is £20pa plus £2.50 each time you attend, so £24 is peanuts, so all you disenters until you join you will not know the benifits that it gives in access to the MANY traders that only advertise in the Guild Gazette, plus all the people that are one man enterprises that attend the three shows per year, you currently have NO access to these traders that sell a miriad of parts etc.

We don't all belong to local clubs - in fact in many cases there aren't any suitable local clubs anyway - and £24 is not peanuts to everyone.

 

As for the traders that only advertise in the magazine, well partly their loss if that's all the advertising they do, and again without knowing what they actually sell they may not be of any interest to me if their wares are not something I would buy - for example a specialist in GWR wagon transfers is great for GWR modellers but not much use to me modelling in the 1980's.

 

Will see what happens at Bristol tomorrow - if the stand gets there - but so far it appears that many of the guild's "benefits" are actually not of much use to me for what I need from it, which leaves the magazine in which "modern" articles of interest to me seem to be few and far between.

 

It may well be that I do contribute more to the guild than it does to me if I join - and, of course, that isn't necessarily a bad thing but it may well be a slow thing to encourage more modern modellers to join up.

 

Is there a 'modern image modellers' section in the forum?  Again, without even being able to browse the forums without being a member it does make it hard to know whether it's a benefit or not, as detailed dissection of the 1924 freight timetable may be of interest to some but not to me.

[DaveF]

Fully agree.  

 

It seems strange to me that specialist traders would limit their marketing to a society magazine only.  They are not reaching all their potential customers.  There must be many 7mm modellers, who like me, are not guild members.  I could be their next customer.  

 

Linking to the 'Another one bites the dust thread', the high street is losing to the on-line shop.  I fear the same could would be the fate some specialist traders.  Love it or hate it, internet shopping is here to stay.  In a nation where few high street model shops sell 7mm products and transport costs for regular visits to trade shows can be prohibitive, if you live in a rural area, web based modelling is the part of the now, let alone the future.

 

I am fairly sure that at least some 0 gauge traders are very part time, often having started by making parts for themselves which they later decide to sell as parts or kits, which helps defray their modelling costs.  They have to decide whether the cost, in money and time of wider advertising or using the web is worth it.

 

I expect that with time more traders will look at using the web, but remember that many of them were not "brought up" using computers, so it is not a natural thing for them  to do.  Also some of them may be making "enough" from their trading not to want to produce more, or they may not have time to produce more.  Remember using the web for selling does have a cost, just as some traders will not accept credit cards because of the cost involved for a small number of transactions.

 

If I may use my self as an example, but in a different context.  I take a lot of photographs, as a hobby, I am gradually putting many railway ones on flickr.  If someone happens to see them and wants copies than I will supply them, generally for the cost I incur.  I do not wish to make it a business, so I will not be advertising, it's a hobby to me.  Some of the smallest traders work in a rather similar way, or at least that is what more than one of them has told me.

 

David

[Donw]

There appears to be a bit of rancour creeping in. Look if you don't want to risk £24 don't join. It is as simple as that. People have tried to explain why they joined and what they got out of it. If it is not for you fine. The 5000 odd members are largely happy with what they get but it may not suit all. However lets not fall out over it.

Don

[cromptonnut]

I'm certainly not wishing to "fall out" with anyone over the issue, just trying to find out what all these benefits are as. as I explained, much of it is hidden away in "members only" sections which doesn't necessarily make it easy for us "outsiders" to decide whether it is for us or not.

 

Whether it's £2.40 for a magazine, £24 for a membership or £240 on a new stereo, I bet there aren't many of us on here - regardless of scale modelled - that can't just spend money without thinking both a) do we need it, and b) is it good value for money.

 

I don't understand why retired and junior members particularly get cheaper subscriptions as surely the benefits (magazine, shows, forums etc) are open to all regardless?  Overseas I can understand due to increased postage costs but I've never understood 'age discrimination' like that.

[two tone green]

The young and retired tend to have less money to spend.

 

Possibly, I have no way of truly knowing, that a large proportion of the guild are retired so getting the lower subscription rate.

 

And we all get the reduced entrance fee at shows.

 

Why not hide some parts of the web site. Its what you pay your membership for. If there was nothing hidden, no one would join if they were only web based members.

 

I think that with all the positive comments being made its got to be worth a years worth of membership to find out for yourself. At the Bristol show today you can ask as many questions you want direct to the guild themselves.

 

See you there

[woodyfox]

Ultimately the Guild members make it what it is. If it is steered towards steam era articles - then that's because that's what the membership want. From my brief membership I would say that the membership is, as a very large majority, made up of retired members. The membership IS the Guild and they all volunteer their services to make it what it is (and in the 50's probably helped a great deal in saving O Gauge). 

 

Whatever your decision, the members that put themselves out and volunteer and/or contribute deserve our utmost respect. You could (as I could) start up a 'post steam' guild - but I doubt we will.. ..that kind of thing takes a lot of dedication and time that we just don't have now...

 

Stu

[chaz]

There appears to be a bit of rancour creeping in. Look if you don't want to risk £24 don't join. It is as simple as that. People have tried to explain why they joined and what they got out of it. If it is not for you fine. The 5000 odd members are largely happy with what they get but it may not suit all. However lets not fall out over it.

Don

 

Amen to that Don.

 

Chaz

[cromptonnut]

Well, just back from the Bristol show and did sign up, got a bundle of things to read which I haven't yet as we drove (that sort of thing is generally frowned upon), and once my membership pack etc arrives so I can get into the "hidden" stuff on the website I'll have a look and see what is there, and see what I can suggest that I feel is missing and would be happy to "take on" if given the opportunity.

 

You never know, there may well be an article from me in the magaine in the next year if they want it.

 

I know volunteering can be a "thankless task" - as I found out in the 4-5 years I was our club's exhibition manager. 

[mikeg]

The guild web site has many articles on steam, diesel and modern image so has some think to suit all. I lookforward to Cromptons coment when he gets his guild membership and can access it. I did not meen to upset anybody and probily used the wrong word (dissenters) but that is what they got termed in the mid 80's and formed alsrm for O scale and above. I used to enjoy the MIGO site but it seems to have become unused, I must admit to being an SR 1945 -48 modeller generally and the Swanage branch in particular, but I have Class 08, 20's, 35, 47 & 55 diesels that I like to run, only the 08 & 47 on my home layout as they are the only ones DCC. I have had an article published in the Guild about starting in DCC, so the Guild is coming into the digital age with many going DCC and they have a very helpful group at the shows, which put me onto using TCS chips after blowing up 3 Lenz golds in O locos, plus a couple of gaugemaster ones. All my steam locos bar to pacifics are chipped, the pacifics can't go round the curves in the loft 4' 11" at the tight spot and 5' 2" generally, but I can run them at the local club the same as my diesels.
 
As to the cost of moderm living I can appreciate the lack of money, as I had this problem when I had a morgage, but once that was out of the way and my to sons were working I have been able to spend within reason money on the hobby to get into the modern era.
 
regards
 
mike g

[cromptonnut]

My "cost of modern living" problem can be summed up in one word.

 

"London".

 

Living in an upstairs flat, I don't even have the luxury of a decent garden to build something in or put a shed on - hopefully one day we'll move into somewhere more suitable which will enable me to expand my layout idea - whether that's an extension of the current "in progress" or a total rebuild I don't know - but I am hoping that I can at least complete the one I'm working on to a reasonable standard and get a few exhibitions under my belt and perhaps encourage a few more people to give the "senior scale" a go - particularly with the influx of rtr models lately and in the next few years.

 

I think one of the problems of O gauge is that it has a bit of a "legacy" image that most things have to be made, whether it's track, stock or whatever, and that thought puts some people off as they feel the skill level required is "beyond" them - whereas my layout which is mostly "off the shelf" items or kits, is more within the reach of Joe Public.  We shall see, no doubt my skills will develop as time goes on, maybe I'll be brave and try building a point (I've already got a need for one tighter than Peco 6-footers in mind for the next part of my project), who knows.

[84B Oxley]

Cromptonnut, welcome to the Guild, I hope you find that it is money well spent. All the best.

 

Jeff

[Donw]

I am glad you have joined Crompton, it is just that I have seen other threads getting locked. At the end of the day trying it for yourself is the only answer. I can sympathise with your position there have been times in my life where in the words of the song "Money too tight to mention"  with no Web I used to skim through the magazines in W&S and just buy the occasional one. Currently things aren't so bad. My little shunting layout which could be worked with one loco (plus a spare) and about a dozen wagons with the railcar as an optional extra gave me as much fun as anything else. Built from scrap or recovered materials with handbuilt track it was not that expensive.

Don

[switcher 1]

Perhaps cromptonut will tell the rest of us what the hidden extras are, & if the web site offers any real benefit, especially to the transition period & later modeller.

 

(I tried the Guild in the 70's, & have commented elsewhere in this thread, so I won't repeat myself.)

 

I might be tempted to join again, if attitudes have really changed.

[cromptonnut]

Once my welcome pack arrives, and I have managed to get access to the website, I will gladly have a good furtle round and report back my findings.

[N15class]

I have been a member on and off for a few years. I find the online access to the gazette archive is invaluable. The rest is pretty good too.

[Kenton]

The young and retired tend to have less money to spend.

 

That's rich given the price of most things 'O' gauge ;jester:

[bbishop]

Nut,

 

You are, of course, welcome to come to the SEGOG meetings.  We are the South East Gauge O Guild and meet on the third Monday in a church hall south of Bromley.  You will realise that meant yesterday, when we conclusively proved that our brand new test track didn't work.  We know which boards are duff so by the end of the February meeting all should be well.

 

Yes, we are mainly a bunch of old fogies, but Peter Clark and Jim McEachan both have modern image layouts and I model German Spur Null.

 

Which reminds me, Jim's layout is at the Erith show this coming weekend and I'm on the German Railway Society stand.

 

Bill

[cromptonnut]

I assume all the details for SEGOG are tucked away somewhere in the magazine that will come through the door in due course?

 

I did come to your open day a few months back, is it in the same location?

 

Test track sounds fun, will it be DCC compatible as I'd like to give my 33 a good thrash