Q&A - MREmag & RMweb Wishlist Poll 2013

[Andy Y]

The MREmag & RMweb Wishlist Poll 2013 – Questions & Answers

 

Dear All

 

We are delighted to say that The Poll will ‘go live’ tomorrow – Friday 29 March! Before you go into it, we thought you might like to have some questions answered in advance. This will appear on MREmag tomorrow.

 

What is the purpose of The Poll?

To provide an easy and enjoyable way for modellers and collectors to tell the major manufacturers and commissioners of ready-to-run railway models what they would like to see made from new tooling (excluding models tooled, made or announced since 2000).

 

It aims to seek what you would realistically wish to buy in the future, bearing in mind that new models take around two to three years to develop.

 

Who do you see as the ‘major’ manufacturers and those who commission models?

We see the major ready-to-run manufacturers as:

Bachmann (including Farish), Dapol, Heljan, Hornby, Peco and Union Mills.

 

We see those who commission models as:

Hattons, Hornby Magazine, Ian Allan, Kernow Model Centre, Model Rail, Model Zone, N Gauge Society, NRM, Olivia’s Trains, Rail Exclusives, Rails of Sheffield, Real Track, STEAM Museum (Swindon) and TMC.

 

Do you get paid?

No. Although both MREmag and RMweb have been placed on a ‘commercial footing’ since 2012, The Team is neither commercially sponsored, nor remunerated.

 

Last year’s Poll took some criticism of its ‘track machine’ and N gauge content – any changes?

Yes! Although not part of The Team per se, we are delighted to have had the N content thoroughly reviewed by David Baverstock (Chairman, N Gauge Society). Track machines and TOPS-coded Freight have been vastly improved by the input of Simon Bendall. (Many will know Simon as the editor of Rail Express Modeller, but his input here has been purely in ‘a private capacity’.)

 

Is the N data the same as that for 00 in The Guide?

There are naturally many overlaps, but the two are materially different.

 

What’s new for the 2013 Poll?

Pollsters will recognise the overall structure, but – within The Guide – we have responded to requests for ‘dates of introduction’ to be given.

 

We have removed items announced since the 2012 Poll (and some items that polled extremely low votes) but have added many items, mainly diesel shunters, track maintenance and TOPS-coded freight. For added clarity this year, we have amended General Railway Service (departmental/track machines) as: Steam Era and Post-steam Era.

 

What is specifically included in The Poll?

You will find locos, rolling stock and infrastructure of British Railways, its predecessors and successors. Many items of a ‘heritage/preserved’ nature will be included by default. We could easily show over 10,000 items – there are more than 400 types of GWR coach alone – so we have to ‘draw a line’ somewhere!

 

What is specifically excluded from The Poll?

We exclude any item that has been announced for production from new tooling or actually produced from new tooling since 1 January 2000.

 

Other examples excluded are: Era1 items; dock/military/industrial systems; broad/narrow gauge; airport inter-terminal systems; tram/metro/underground systems; and Thomas the Tank.

 

Does that mean that there are no specific ‘industrial’ or ‘underground’ categories?

Correct. However, you may find some items that could ‘spin-off’ – so it will be worth voting.

 

How will you know what eras and companies/BR regions are of greatest interest?

We have provided a table based on Bachmann eras (excluding Era 1), and you can tick whatever you like. That will show us which are the most popular. All items in The Poll are prefixed GWR, LMS, Class x etc – when you see the Top 50 list, your preferences will be abundantly clear!

 

When will the MREmag & RMweb Wishlist Poll 2013 ‘go live’?

We are ‘live’ from Friday 29 March and run until the end of Sunday 28 April. Readers should go to RMweb’s home page when they are ready to enter The Poll (either N or 00, or both).

 

What will voters find when they first ‘click’ into The Poll?

The title page gives some background as well as ‘links’ to our Jargon Buster, bibliography, list of websites and The Guide. If you are an experienced modeller who knows what you want, you can ‘dive straight in’ to the N or 00 Polls via the links.

 

However, whilst there is no actual need to access The Guide, we strongly urge pollsters to do so, as we give you a summary of all the items in each category. You will be able to get an overall feel for what you want to vote for before actually going into the voting section. For various reasons, voters may not find some items where they might expect them – for example, the Dyson Road Milk Tanker Trailer was in Other Items, but is now under the GWR NPCCS category with the 6-wheel Rotank Flat Wagon.

 

The Guide is particularly valuable if you are a less-experienced modeller who doesn’t know – for example –  the build-dates of the various BR Mk1 catering vehicles, or whether one particular 0-6-0 loco will suit your needs better than others. As noted above, The Guide (and summary) is presented in exactly the same order as the votable items; you can print it out and use it as ‘a pre-planner’.

 

What happens when voters ‘click’ into the actual voting link?

You will find 28 voting categories covering the ‘Big Four’ and on up to the modern day. If you are only interested in, say, 00 GWR locos, all you need do is ‘click’ GWR & constituents  – Steam Locos, and up will come a clear list by order of wheel arrangement, smallest to largest. BR running number ranges are stated (where appropriate). N modellers will find similar.

 

If you want to vote in any or all of the other 27 categories, simply ‘click’ on those you want, and up will come the relevant list(s). You will be able to ‘save’ your selections and come back later. It’s a good idea to do that to obviate any possibility of getting ‘timed out’. As we said above, spend some time in The Guide!

 

What if voters have a query on the content, or need impartial help or advice?

Please email us at: ThePollTeam@gmail.com. An acknowledgment will normally be sent within 24 hours, but a full answer might take a few days. We will also answer queries on RMweb or MREmag.

 

What if voters have any technical difficulties whilst voting?

Please email Andy York: info(at)rmweb.co.uk. Please allow extra time for any reply during the holiday weekend.

 

Do you ask pollsters for email addresses to enter The Poll?

No. We do not ask for email addresses. Entry in The Poll will not generate any email correspondence whatsoever. We will only contact you in response to valid queries as above.

 

When will the results be published?

We aim to publish the results by early May – but please watch MREmag and RMweb for details nearer the time. Many printed magazines will carry an abridged summary.

 

Does The Poll Team expect the ‘top’ items to be made?

We would ask pollsters to appreciate that manufacturers lay plans anything up to three years in advance and have to continually balance requests against their current models and proposed portfolios – as well as those of their competitors. To us, it’s a hobby; to them, it’s a commercial decision.

 

The Poll Team makes no claim that models are specifically made as a direct result of The Poll. However, it is interesting to note that – last year – half of the votes in 00 went to just 122 of the 685 items. Twenty-one of the 30+ items that have been announced during the past year came from those 122. Bachmann’s recently-announced Mk2f stock was the overall top-voted item.

 

Anything you want to add?

We have a ‘mini-poster’ about The Poll (see small image below). If you would like a copy, please email:

thepollteam@gmail.com.

 

If you can pin this up at your local club, or ask (and we emphasise ask) your local model shop to display it, that will help us reach the widest possible number of voters. Thank you.

 

Finally, we are delighted to say that we have had even greater support than last year – and by ‘support’, we mean the publication of our press release. It has appeared in model railway magazines as well as in shops, clubs and numerous society publications – to them all, we say a very big thank you!

 

Our thanks also go to Phil Parker and Andy York for their commitment  – whilst they have no direct input,  there wouldn’t be a Poll without them!

 

We hope you all enjoy voting in The MREmag & RMweb Wishlist Poll 2013!

 

The Poll Team

 

Neil Burgess                 Robert Carroll              Chris Knowles-Thomas

John Lewis                    Jeff Lynn                       Brian Macdermott

Nick Stanbury              Ian Taylor                     Glen Woods

 

 

Click here to enter the poll - www.rmweb.co.uk/2013wishlist

[phil gollin]

.

 

Two points not covered (or that I missed, if so, sorry).

 

1:  "009" specifically not covered.

 

2:  Last year there was an option for adding items not listed, will this be available this year ?

 

Thanks

[Andy Y]

1. 009 isn't specifically covered; it's too wide.

2. Yes, there will be the capability to submit specific requests.

[Ozexpatriate]

Andy, thank you for compiling such a comprehensive Q&A (and it's so much nicer a term than FAQ.)

 

Will The Guide have the words "DON'T PANIC" written in large friendly letters on the cover? Or at least something to the effect of "Please sit down with a nice cup of tea and don't get hysterical"?

 

More seriously, thank you and the wishlist poll team for compiling the guide. It has made this whole process so much better.

 

I look forward to the poll.

[BMacdermott]

Hello Oz

 

The Q&A is compiled by The Poll Team (the nine people listed at the foot). Andy (and Phil Parker of MREmag) see the Q&A and 'approve' it for publication on both sites. Neither is actually involved with the text of The Poll or The Guide (or the Jargon Buster etc).

 

However, without them both, there wouldn't be a Poll - and for that,The Team is most grateful.

 

We hope you all enjoy voting from tomorrow! Every single word of The Guide has been reviewed and updated where appropriate.

 

Regards

 

Brian Macdermott (on behalf of The Poll Team)

[BMacdermott]

Hello Paul

 

We looked into running an 0 Poll, but decided against it. Rest assured that it will be reviewed again this year.

 

Brian (on behalf of The Poll Team)

[Ian J.]

BUG: I reached the end of my selections for the poll, clicked 'Next', and then got a Lime Survey page. It doesn't look like the survey is actually completing properly.

[cromptonnut]

Just to echo Paul's comments above at the disappointment of the lack of an option for those of us modelling in 7mm.  Thanks to Dapol, Heljan etc it's no longer seen as a niche market beyond the reach of those with massive pockets and small tool rooms in their shed making everything out of biscuit tins and cardboard.

 

I accept that the greater cost of 7mm models can put it beyond the reach of some, but as 4mm rtr is now frequently beyond the £100 mark and the Dapol 08 is supposed to be under £200, the gap is rapidly closing and the only real unsolveable issue is space.  But there are many great layouts out there in small spaces (the Gauge O Guild have two books full of them) as well as the 7mm section on here containing many.

[TomE]

BUG: I reached the end of my selections for the poll, clicked 'Next', and then got a Lime Survey page. It doesn't look like the survey is actually completing properly.

I'm getting the same.

 

Tom.

[edcayton]

I clicked on the wrong thing by mistake and couldn't "unclick", so I had to exit the poll. I shall be more careful next time! but is there a way around this?

 

I don't know whether to click all the things I'd like (which is most of them), or just those I'd really want.

 

Ed

[PhilM]

Had the same abrupt end as Ian and Tom (sorry to be repetitive but figure if this is a probem it's worth reinforcing it is not isolated)

 

Thanks to all involved in the Poll by the way.

[Andy Y]

PLEASE NOTE

 

There is a bug which does not take you to the correct page after voting. This was not there during testing.

 

I will need to close the survey and re-open when fixed.

[Tricky-CRS]

 

BUG: I reached the end of my selections for the poll, clicked 'Next', and then got a Lime Survey page. It doesn't look like the survey is actually completing properly.

 

 

Also got the same end on the N Gauge poll.

[Andy Y]

The necessary amendments have now been made. The error was possibly due to the re-ordering and combination of two categories which caused a logic failure in the process and dumped voters out after selecting items. It had worked perfectly OK in testing but for some reason the software now only seems to accept a certain number of questions in a group which necessitated some re-structuring.

 

There is a slight change now as you progress through the poll.

 

The first question page asks your age and era interests (it's only for background interest about who models what).

The second page lists all items within the categories from  GWR to SR origin and Page 3 is BR to Others.

The final page should be a short thank you note which will denote your vote has been accepted.

 

The Index Page is here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/page/Poll_Guide

The Guide Index is here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/page/Poll_Guide_Index - well worth a read before voting

 

The OO Gauge poll is here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/poll/index.php?sid=59698&lang=en

The N Gauge poll is here - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/poll/index.php?sid=46293&lang=en

 

Anyone who voted between midnight and 10.00 GMT should return to the poll and cast their vote to ensure it is accepted. Only votes from this point forward will be included in the results.

 

Apologies for any inconvenience due to this irritating glitch. The only material difference now is that there isn't the option to screen out the categories you don't wish to vote for, just scroll past any categories you don't wish to record a vote for.

[BMacdermott]

Hello Andy

 

On behalf of The Poll Team, very many thanks for the hard work you have done in getting The Poll up and running again.

 

Regards

 

Brian

[Flood]

I've tried the OO poll twice now and after completing page 2 the next page it gives me is the one with the polls listed again and if you need any help please contact Andy.

[Andy Y]

Just tried again at this end Gra and it performed OK. Can you click on 'Exit and Clear Survey' at the bottom right and try again. What browser are you using?

[Flood]

Firefox. I'll give it a go. Ta.

[Flood]

Sorry Andy, same again. This is the screen I get instead of page 3:

 

[37255]

Getting the same in Safari too.

[AlexS]

I'm getting the same - using Firefox on Mac

[Mikkel]

And me also with Chrome.

[Andy Y]

OK, that screen indicates you're getting dumped out still without it recording the vote. Hang fire whilst I investigate further.

[Andy Y]

OK, minor amendments made on the number of categories on page 2/3 on OO poll which may have caused the issue.

 

Changes tested in Chrome and Firefox at this end.

[JohnR]

Happening here with Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP Pro.