Robin2

That said, all the airtime in the world won't make a lot of difference unless there are sufficient entry-level models to enable people to try the hobby for themselves without significant outlay.

Never mind "sufficient". As far as I can see there is none that is aimed at an adult customer.

...R

I was doing some "armchair modelling" last night with a glass of wine and the December copy of Railway Modeller. After going through all the ad pages I could find nothing that is the model railway equivalent of a ready-to-fly model airplane or a ready-to-sail model boat.

All of the model railway stuff on sale consists of bits and pieces for a model railway - locomotives, track, buildings, baseboards etc etc. OK, one of the ads mentioned Hornby and Bachman train sets, but AFAIK, they are just an oval of track plus a train (or maybe they have a point and siding) and would need a lot of extra parts before they could be presented as a complete "adult" model railway. 

Why is nobody marketing a complete (if limited) model railway "package" that comes complete with trains, track, buildings and scenery, needs very little assembly and which the proud owner could immediately show to his/her family and friends.?

...R

Yes, but I already knew that was the answer - 

Now we will never know

...R

Yes indeed. First of all that this is a very bad idea, unless operating on straight track only. Even a ten minute operating session allows enough time to get a heavy train onto a small radius curve to see what then happens with this idea.

So, just put the tyres on the wheels on one side.

There are always solutions when people try to find them.

...R

With you on that, other than reliance on ‘rubber’ tyres over adhesive weight ........ such an utterly un-railway-like approach just feels plain wrong to me, 

It is no more wrong than powering a model of a steam or diesel engine with electricity.

Some of the trains on the Paris Metro have rubber tyres - prototype for everything

...R

In this Thread there seems to be a greater focus on problems rather than the opportunities that BPR/C offers. Maybe the problems are just an excuse for ignoring the future

It requires a change of mindset. With track power a huge amount of mental and physical effort goes into the electrical connection between track and motor. That often means using up valuable space in a loco body for extra weight - space that could be made available for batteries. And if more traction is required then traction tyres can go on all the wheels of a battery powered loco.

Returning locos to a "refuelling" depot for a re-charge or a change of battery would also be very prototypical. And from reading many other Threads battery life is much better than the nay-sayers assume. Personally I don't have the staying power to drive a model train for more than 10 minutes.

...R

With Railcom (quite commonly implemented*) the system knows what train is where without you having to tell it.

It does not happen by magic - there is a computer program.

The same sort of system can be implemented using other detectors.

...R

That is not the same as knowing where a particular train is.

I assumed some intelligence would be applied to the detector - was I wrong?

...R

There seem to be some very strange concepts in this Thread.

I have a certificate from the N-Gauge Society in 2013 for a battery powered radio controlled N-Gauge large praire. BPR/C is not some future concept. There is a whole section on this Forum about it.

To know where a train is on a layout all you need are suitable detectors - Light Dependent Resistors and Infra Red optical detectors are cheap and have been around for a long time.

...R

Build time: about 15 hours

Days to go: 2

 

Like the Great Model Railway Challenge the deadline has made this Thread interesting

...R

I wouldn't. It uses a single leadscrew for the z axis.

That seems like a non-sequitur.

Mine works fine.

...R

If you don't mind assembling a kit the Anet A2 seems to be available at a considerably lower price.

...R

I have an Epson L355 Ecotank printer for about 2 years and I have not used up the original ink yet.

The tanks are just that - you can pour anything you like into them.

When I last checked the genuine Epson refills were cheap.

...R

Non-modellers who want to make a start in the hobby after seeing the programme won't have easy access to several years' worth ot back issues of BRM DVDs....

That represents a business opportunity for BRM. IMHO there is a lot of very good material prepared by people who knew what they were doing and who are good at teaching via video.

...R

 

 shooting specifically "how-to" pieces is quite painstaking for both the person demonstrating and the people producing it and is a somewhat specialised area of production.

Phil and Howard have done some very good work on the DVDs that accompany BRM.

...R

EDIT: STL is not attached. STLs are not allowed. PM me if you want it.

Upload it as a txt file and change the type back to stl after downloading.

If you use battery powered trains you could print the rails as well.

...R

You can always drop them an email rather than hijacking this topic.

I did not realize I was Off Topic. thought you created this Topic specifically for input about the competition. And, no, I won't say any more about "cheap".

...R

Second strike, please stop irrelevant and inflammatory price rants.

Very well.

But how do I garner support for encouraging lower cost modelling in the next series of the GMRC?

...R

Great, I'll buy five!

 

When are you going to start shipping them?

That sarcasm gives me the impression that you like them expensive.

...R

R&D is often a major factor with many low volume items.

Basic DCC chips have been around long enough for the R+D to be paid off. And there is plenty of OpenSource code for DCC.

And another business option is to spend less on R+D and just make a simpler product.

If there is to be another series of GMRC programs there should be scope within it to encourage low-cost  modelling so that potential newbies are not put off by the high cost.

...R

I reckon the problem is that railway modellers have too much money to spend so all the manufacturers are building the most expensive things they can to reap the harvest before the rain comes. I can't think of any reason why DCC (and especially DCC sound) is as expensive as it it. A DCC chip with sound probably costs no more than £5 or £10 to manufacture.

And all this money, and all the highly detailed models that it can buy means that anyone who is content to enjoy a simple "make-believe" train set is uninteresting and unwelcome.

Let's face it a £200 model of a Class 66 is just a model, and you could have just as much fun with a simple Class 66 model made from cardboard and paint.

...R

It landed on the camera.

Perhaps the camera was broadcasting on the same frequency as the 'copter and was the cause of the crash?

...R

Seems like a great idea to encourage newcomers to the hobby. It could be adapted to any style of scenery in any country.

...R

I just happened on this Thread by accident. It seems like a great basis for a beginner's layout. It would not have to be German - it could be Settle & Carlisle or any of a hundred different variations. 

It is compact, simple electrically and very good to look at.

...R

The construction details are here along with other wonderful stuff.

...R