Noughties & Teenies

[Andy Y]

 

And so the sun has set on 2009 and the noughties, not that it was a particularly well used or apt phrase with us referring to individual years in the 'Oh nine' style. So, what are we coming up to now? Ten? 2010? And beyond that? Teens? Or will we adopt 'Eleven',' Twelve' or what?

 

Anyway I digress, what have been the highlights of the decade for you in modelling terms and railway terms? Things have certainly come a long way since pre-Hornby Merchant Navy days. Any sane prophecies on where we will be in modelling and railway terms ten years from now?

 

In a decade defined by global terrorism, reality TV, fluctuating personal wealth and national debt the other highlight is how we communicate and the use of technology within our lives, what will RMweb look like at the end of 2019? It's already vastly different from what it looked like as it started 4.75 years ago. Even turning the clock back 3 months as I've been working on the old site today leaves that style looking dated and basic.

 

Our pace of change, a seemingly insatiable thirst for more of everything can be daunting. Get yer crystal balls out and we'll see who was closest in ten years time.

 

 

[Stubby47]

Highlights of the decade in modelling terms - joining RMweb, attending the SWAG members day and receiving so much encouragement and praise for what, in essence, is a tiny layout in a boxfile. Thanks to everyone, & Happy New Year !!

[bmthtrains - David]

Easy, purchase of Graham Farish by Bachmann in 2001 - pivotal moment in N gauge history! :icon_cool:

 

David

[griffgriff]

 

And so the sun has set on 2009 and the noughties, not that it was a particularly well used or apt phrase with us referring to individual years in the 'Oh nine' style. So, what are we coming up to now? Ten? 2010? And beyond that? Teens? Or will we adopt 'Eleven',' Twelve' or what?

 

Anyway I digress, what have been the highlights of the decade for you in modelling terms and railway terms? Things have certainly come a long way since pre-Hornby Merchant Navy days. Any sane prophecies on where we will be in modelling and railway terms ten years from now?

 

In a decade defined by global terrorism, reality TV, fluctuating personal wealth and national debt the other highlight is how we communicate and the use of technology within our lives, what will RMweb look like at the end of 2019? It's already vastly different from what it looked like as it started 4.75 years ago. Even turning the clock back 3 months as I've been working on the old site today leaves that style looking dated and basic. :icon_lol:

 

Our pace of change, a seemingly insatiable thirst for more of everything can be daunting. Get yer crystal balls out and we'll see who was closest in ten years time.

ions A Blue Pulman

 

I think everything will be in 3D... RMWeb not the models!... it will be great- every time some wag mentions B*** P****** a moderator aims a punch through the screen and knocks em' out!

 

Harsh but fair :icon_lol:

 

Seriously though I suspect that at some point in the future we will be scratch building using some form of CAD and a home version of those fancy pants gizmos that make 3D mock ups for the manufacturers (but way more advanced)... we put the plans in and out pops a loco... or even a Blue Pullman :icon_smile:

[two tone green]

The 4.75 years that have passed has seen RM Web grow from a young child to a mature adult that is full of knowledge, wisdom and friendship. This is on offer to all in every corner of this planet, crossing borders, politics and religion with out conflict or true hostility.

 

May the next ten years allow our online home to mature even more and our hobby to grow and develop in ways that meets all our needs.

 

Happy near year to all on here, there families and beyond.

 

And an extra special greeting to Andy and the backroom boys for all the hard work making this work for us.

[10800]

Modelling highlights of the last decade:

With my colleagues at KAG, getting Eridge to its (and mine as an owner/operator) first exhibitions.

 

Having the courage to abandon Eridge Mk1 when it was clearly deteriorating faster than we could build it, and get on with a more future-proofed replacement.

 

Moving to the southwest in 2003 and developing all the friendships that we have within DRAG, and subsequently on RMWeb.

 

Emerging from my P4 cocoon to discover all the other modelling wonders out there (mainly through this place).

 

Hopes and predictions for the next decade:

Establish Eridge Mk2, Balcombe and even Tawbridge on the exhibition circuit.

 

Small battery technology and radio (or some other wireless) control becomes the norm.

 

Proper ambient (and controllable) sound replaces on-board loco sound chips.

 

Holographic imagery which provides almost unlimited virtual extensions to the scenic part of the layout.

 

More modelling time, although I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

 

Happy New Year/Decade all!

[Mike Bellamy]

No idea where the future is going as far as model railways are concerned but I bet that it won't include ready to run 7mm Narrow Gauge :icon_mutter:

 

My RMweb highlight was being able to offer Mickleover Community Centre at short notice to hold the first Members Day in 2007 when the original arrangements fell through and it looked like the event would be cancelled. This was the first time that members had actually got together and met face to face - this has since continued with the very successful events at Chasewater but unfortunately I haven't been able to get to those - I hope that this will change for 2010

 

Mike :icon_wave:

[pointstaken]

We will probably see a lot more electronic gizmos in use in 10 years time. I hope it doesn't take the fun out of the hobby. On the other hand, I wonder if we might see an increase in scratch building, simply because many people do like to create things from scratch - look at so many of the superb layouts on RMWeb.

(My crystal balls are staying hidden to avoid my embarassment - sorry about that Mr Y !!)

 

Dennis

[Dave47549]

.

[David Rickard]

Hate to be a pedant, but technically the new decade starts in 2011, as there was no year '0', so 2000 - 2010 would be the full decade. Oh who am I kidding, I love being a pedant.

 

Ahem.

 

But more seriously, the last time I would have considered myself as actively modeling railways would have been in the 1990s, so coming back now has shown me just how far it has come. I remember DCC's only presence in the magazines being tiny ads in the back pages. I remember Hornby and Lima being pretty much the de-facto standard for OO, and there not being anywhere near as much cottage-industry around the whole scene. N gauge was very much a niche market and was rarely featured. I also remember Beatties being on pretty much every high street, and having two other local model shops to go stare at stuff my pocket money wouldn't stretch to.

 

Coming back to it, I see how RTR standards are very much higher than they ever were. I see every other layout at shows using DCC now, and there plethora of odds and ends one can now purchase is mind-boggling. Some of the ploppable scenic items available now are amazing, and more techniques and methods exist. The communities (such as this) are truly wonderful, the Internet having opened up avenues of communication; I was once stuck with nothing more than magazines, and the yearly trip to Railex, which luckily fell just after my birthday. When it moved before my birthday, I found it harder to save my money so it got spent on other fun toys instead. Once the model shops disappeared, by the time Railex came around I had no money to spend! Now I'm earning money, so can afford to buy the fun toys I want.

 

There's been a lot of change. Good change.

[Buhar]

I wonder if the sort of developments there have been in power tools (table saws in B&Q for ??100) will extend further to model engineering tools. The Chinese maybe bringing costs right down so a (computer controlled) milling machine or lathe becomes much more affordable. Could this then see a growth in scatchbuilding or more cottage industries replacing those whose owners are now coming up to packing it in fora quiet life.

[The Stationmaster]

Highlights of the decade passing - retired from full time work and took up a spot of occasional consultancy which got me embroiled in all sorts of things from CTRL, the NMT, and the Hitachi traction package development train to doing work on timetable process management in Australia and then back to dealing with minor railways in the UK. Built a new house (having knocked down parents' old house) so am now back on the site where I spent my childhood, swmbo retired and has done well at new hobby of bell-ringing, both children have achieved their BA, daughter has her MA and is working on her PhD, son is working on his MA. Part built a portable layout - which will hopefully be incorporated in what is mentioned below.

 

Joined RMWeb - what a great bunch of folk and what encouragement.

 

Hopes and Forecast for the coming decade - both the offspring manage to get jobs. We get the garden sorted and I can then really get going in the layout room. I get my 2010 challenge finished in time for incorporation into the layout room. Certainty for the next decade is that I will start receiving two more pensions (but one will be deducted from my existing pension ).

 

Developments in our hobby - bespoke manufacturing to orders from retailers and hobby groups becomes a major area for some manufacturers; CAD makes a real impact for the home construction of scenic features complete with affordable pc controlled cutting tables; major debate erupts about the relative merits of DCC and the new multi-feature wireless control systems using realistic controls such as brake handles and regulators/power controllers; at least two new railway modelling magazines enter the market, at least two model railway magazines disappear from the market; B*** P****** emerges as clear tip in RMWeb 2019 Hornby Idle Speculation thread causing major disappointment when LSWR gate stock is announced as the only new coaching stock.

[298]

Over the last decade I started a small American layout. Although it still hassn't progressed as much as I hoped, I did manage to visit the real location three times, and even drive the real 298. I still can't decide if that was the greatest achievement, or getting an article describing how to kitbash that locomotive in the current Model Railroader.

 

In the wider modelling world, I suppose the greatest leap was the widespread use of the home PC and digital camera to aid modelling, either through broadening research sources or forums such as this. And the doubters were proven wrong when they said magazines would dissappear completely.

 

On a personal note, I met my wife at the start of the decade and our son is 9 months old today. We have also lost a number of good friends.

[Flood]

Ten years from now, let me see.....

 

Ah yes. A preservation group builds an express DMU for luxury travel based on a 1960s design. It is so successful that soon thousands are ordered and it follows that the whole rail network is solely run by these machines (electrification is ripped down). It takes the public's imagination by storm and only models of this DMU sell so in the end it is the only piece of model railway train made. Am I the only person who doesn't buy one?

 

As someone said to me once "You're incorrigable." I took it as a compliment.

[Allegheny1600]

My highlights of the past decade are; Meeting and marrying my lovely Bev, moving to the North West of England in a large enough house & garden to indulge all my modelling ideas(!) and having a shed large enough to get building my dream layout into.

 

My ambitions for the next decade; not to lose any more friends (too many have gone already - though theres nothing i can do to save any more), get my garden well and truly sorted, finish my dream layout, perhaps get articles into the modelling press(!).

 

Predictions for the future (of model railways); Applications for the control of your layout available for mobile phone, first live diesel locos available in 4mm scale (following 0 scale after about 18 months!), EM RTR track, locos & stock becoming generally available, a company is set up to specifically build a model of the b*** p****** and after less than a year's trading - collapes spectacularly(!), generally agree with predictions for home based Cad Cam & milling/machining etc, RMWeb becomes main source of rail information available and takes over from most rial magazines.

 

Predictions for real railways; REALLY like Dutch_Master's predictions but think what will be more likely is a DBS management buyout & new company goes from strength to strength investing in a quality fleet of Vossloth & Voith diesel locos and also Siemens electric locos. Most mainlines have completed electrification along with many infill schemes and first (internal UK) HSL is getting close to completion while work is starting simultaneously two further projects. Great Central freight line is (re)opened under 25Kv wires. Stobart Rail starts it's own passenger franchises, having had several years experience of it's own freight operations. UKGov.co.uk (subservient to Brussels.eu) attempts to renationalise the railways thawrted by cost of compensation to Rosco's etc shareholders. British coal mines reopen after actual and environmental cost of importing coal becomes unsustainable - hence DBS(m)'s and others success!

 

Predictions for the whole country; After struggling with crippling national dept for years, we negotiate a deal wherby we (finally) join the Euro currency after a few more uncomfortable years we eventually come out of recession with Europes help, having returned to our manufacturing roots and starting to earn real currency again. The welfare state is restricted only to those who have already been paying into the system for ten or more years. National service is re-introduced for the non-welfare state. After political and social unrest following those moves, Britain revokes all pretence at being a world leader (of any kind), cuts defence to a minimum and lives at peace with itself.

 

Happy new year to one and all,

John E.

[Burkitt]

The modelling highlights of the past decade for me have come right at the end of it. On a personal level, finally starting my O-16.5 layout after much planning, pontificating, and procurement of supplies. In the wider modelling world, the recent announcement of several RTR three rail EMUs, something I would never have expected to come to pass.

 

For the future, I expect three dimensional printing of the type currently available from Shapeways to be a major development in modelling over the next ten years. The ability to produce any model that can be designed in CAD, and share these online, will make a vast number of prototypes that would not be viable to mass produce readily available. Currently only unpainted bodies that fit to RTR or conventionally built chassis are possible, but I expect operational chassis requiring only a motor and fully detailed and coloured bodies to be common before 2020. Initially online ordering of models printed by a specialist company like Shapeways will dominate, but later in the decade domestic 3D printers of a sufficient quality will become affordable.

This will have a significant impact on what it is practical for the majority of modellers to model, resulting in a far wider variety of rolling stock, subjects and eras depicted. Economies of scale will mean the major manufacturers can continue to dominate the most popular subjects, and smaller kit makers will find a far wider market available to them if they embrace the new technology. So, I'm fully expecting a Blue Pullman, Desiro, Electrostar, LNER 0-6-0 - if you can imagine it, and someone can model it in CAD, it is likely to be available.

 

Paul

[Ozexpatriate]

Avoiding the temptation to do the Austin Powers take on this question: "Well everyone has their own flying car, entire meals come in pill form, and the Earth is run by DAMN DIRTY APES!" I do anticipate seeing more software aimed at train control.

 

A likely focus is a controller application simulating real cab controls - regulator, brake, reverser, etc for a steam engine - and transmitting these via DCC to a model. There's nothing to stop this being available on a handheld device like a smartphone. A handheld device is essential. This allows the "driver" to interact with his train, not the computer screen. Most of us are still modellers, not simulators. Apps for DCC controllers exist on smartphones today.

 

The same can be true for a simulated signalbox frame. This could be properly interlocked for both points and signals leading to a level of realistic operation that is otherwise difficult to build with a home brewed method.

 

The question is who would develop such software commercially. Software is not the model manufacturers core competency. The most popular solutions today are open source and are a science project for systems integrators. What is needed is better plug-and-play ease of use between a host and a DCC system. Track occupancy detection remains a big issue for computer control systems.

 

There will always be more steam prototypes to model than manufacturers are willing to step up to. Besides the perennially overlooked industrial steam locomotives, there are interesting branch line utilitarian prototypes like steam railmotors and petrol railcars on everything from the GWR to Col. Stephens' lines. Here's hoping someone takes the risk on some "odd-ball" models. Those Lima GWR railcar tools must have handsomely paid for themselves by now! I think these could be more successful than usual named, colourful, express locomotive offerings.

 

DMUs will likely continue in a dizzying array of liveries that are too regional and too short-lived for manufacturers to cover them all.

 

I do think we will see wider adoption of features like automatic opening doors and customized station announcements for DMU items with sound.

 

Perhaps the CEP and VEP will demonstrate a growing market for legacy EMUs. With Brighton Belle preservation underway, I could see a Brighton Belle or even 1930s SR 2-SUB (if I have the TLA right) stock. Perhaps they have limited appeal but Hornby had a big winner with the Maunsell coaches - I think they even got as far as "g" suffixes on their part numbers.

 

One area where my crystal ball is very foggy is whether pre-nationalization models will continue to quietly evaporate in RTR offerings. I hope not. In the "noughties", there's been a slow but I think measurable decline in the relative number of steam pre-nationalized to BR models.

 

Before I ramble further, happy new year to you all.

[nebnoswal]

Easy, purchase of Graham Farish by Bachmann in 2001 - pivotal moment in N gauge history!

 

David

 

 

Plus the fact Dapol also entered the N gauge market, meaning both manufacturers have to compete to improve to get better market share

[Dave777]

Anyway I digress, what have been the highlights of the decade for you in modelling terms and railway terms?

 

Not sure about railway terms, but modelling highlights for me have been...

 

1) Getting back into the hobby after several years away

 

2) Ready-to-plonk buildings (Skaledale, Lyddle End, SceneCraft)

 

3) The impressive increases in detail in both N and OO gauges

 

4) Rise/return of RTR O gauge. It needs a bit more work (eg, coaches), but it's getting there now.

 

5) The continued survival of grandfather Peco.

 

 

Any sane prophecies on where we will be in modelling and railway terms ten years from now?

 

1) Totally agree with others regarding short productions runs and the like. Before that I suspect custom liveries will be possible however. At the moment Dapol will run off 250 wagons for you, but I suspect there will be a time when you can simply choose your loco, livery, number and name, the chap in the hobby shop puts the bare model into a machine similar to the paint mixing services you get at your local DIY emporium, select the details via the screen and 5 mins later your completed, custom-livered loco is ready for you to take away.

 

2) The emergence of a Tesco-a-like for model shops.

 

3) DCC 2 (or even 3 or 4). No more loco addresses, it's far more graphical with models being sold with a SD card (additional cost to model: 50p) that includes several pictures of the loco for you to upload into your DCC2 system. You select the loco you want to control from a picture of it, either one of the supplied images or one you've uploaded yourself. I suspect modellers will still want a tactile feel for the controller itself (knob, slider) instead of moving your finger up and down a screen, but the controller is handheld with an iPhone-like screen for selecting different aspects, wireless to the track connector hidden in your signal box or station building, and you can even select the route you want the train to take on the layout diagram, press a button, and all the points and signals are set for it.

 

3) A new track standard in OO. The requirement is there, and it happened with Scalextric...

 

4) An easier-to-fit-and-wire point control method to replace the Peco and Seep solenoids. Tiny motors hidden in the actual sleeper perhaps? I still find it amazing that we have to saw holes in the baseboard to automate points.

 

5) A Class 28 Co-Bo in OO. The diesel classes are running out, this so-ugly-it's-cool will get produced eventually.

 

6) More interactivity at exhibitions - instead of laminated sheets of A4 detailing the layout now there's flatscreens showing images of the layout being built. Some are even touchscreens where you can select different info about the layout (history, things to look for, modelling techniques, and so on).

 

7) The main modelling magazines available for download onto your Sony eReader or keyboard-less laptop (ie, tablet PC) - A4 sized screen, couple of mm thick, you subscribe and come home to find that month's edition loaded up via wireless and you can sit on the sofa and read it on the screen. As each edition arrives it automatically updates the full index so you can keep years of them to hand and access the information instantly without taking up masses of shelf space.

 

8) A rise in 70s and 80s modelling at the expense of 1960s-set layouts? Fewer 'big four' layouts I suspect as well.

 

 

 

what will RMweb look like at the end of 2019?

 

1) More moving images. The rise in cheap, fast interweb access will mean video becomes more popular as a way for people to show their layout. My Chrimbo-present sub-??200 digital camera does HD video, so how long before your mobile phone does HD quality video?

 

2) More control over the graphical look of your posts. Blogs will evolve into true 'websites within websites'.

 

3) Continued arguments over DC v DCC, detail v robustness, etc, etc

 

 

(and a couple of things I don't think we will see: a new OO manufacturer of Hornby/Bachmann size, and pre-ballasted track of high realism. We'll still be using the PVA and water).

[Adams442T]

Browsing past mags over the break (prior to getting rid of most of them NY Resolution no1!) I found in a 1981 RM predictions for 2001. Surprisingly accurate they included video cameras on trains, synchronised sound (and steam) for locos and improved methods of control (DCC?)

 

Miniaturised robots to people the layout were perhaps a bit too fanciful, but I wonder how accurate our predictions will be for 2021?

 

RTR Bl** P***man?

[Colin]

My personal modelling highlight came in 2004 with the launching and subsequent establishment of "South Pimlico" as my exhibition layout.

2010 will see work start on "Son Of South Pimlico", so the original can be retired one day. Lessons have been learned with the first layout, and I now know what not to do with its replacement!

Downside for me has been the loss of so many model shops, it seems that the days of finding a shop in almost any town are long gone.

Other high points - joining RMWeb of course, and Hornby and Bachmann between them introducing high quality models of nearly all my favourite BR/SR locos (eg Original & rebuilt Bulleids, Q1, a superb range of Standards) and now we have 3rd rail EMUs to look forward to. It just gets better!

 

Looking forward to many more years of RMWeb - cheers Andy & the team!

[Trains4U]

The defining moment for me, in railway modelling terms, was the introduction of the Hornby Class 50.

 

It showed me that there really was a future in British railway modelling, that the manufacturers really had dragged themselves into the 21st century.

As a diesel fan, the Merchant Navy had pretty much passed by unnoticed by me.

 

I only got back into model railways in 2002, and by the start of 2003 I was only just beginning to understand what Bachmann were about when I discovered their class 25, 08 and 37, but the class 50 brought things to a whole new level.

 

The Hornby 50 was one of the things that helped me to make up my mind about starting up a model shop, which opened less than 18 months later.

[CHRIS LNER]

The best thing I found was indeed RMWEB itself, such a mass knowledge and help to someone who is just starting out, I have come back to this site, time and time again, keep up the great work.

and happy new year

many Regards Chris

[DaveF]

Highlights:

 

In modelling terms:

Starting to work in 0 gauge

Slimming down my Swiss n gauge collection - I had far more stock than I needed (actually, I still have more than I need).

Finding RM Web last year!

Making more and buying less ready to run - there's not all that much pregrouping stuff around that fits with my interests.

 

In Railways:

Scanning mine and my father's slides and starting to put them on fotopic (and RM Web). Only another 30,000 or so to go!

In 2003 converting from film to digital - and it all happened because I walked into a camera shop in Ulverston on a very wet afternoon while on holiday in 2003 and came out with a 3mega pixel Canon A70. I still use it sometimes for photos for the web, but usually nowadays a Nikon D80.

 

Personally:

An unexpected promotion which enhanced my pension allowing me to retire at 56 and work as a part time consultant, hopefuly fully retiring later this year.

 

David

 

 

 

 

[Pennine MC]

2) The emergence of a Tesco-a-like for model shops.

 

Interesting, a former member here often used to suggest that Tesco should sell Hornby products :icon_mrgreen:

 

Seriously Dave, would you expand on that one?