fail safe

It is back to the OP, and I think you have summed it all up very very well indeed. The Guild has simply lost its way in these modern times. Needs a major re-set.

I'm all zoned out with the GOG, a nice fresh modern 7mm group is what is needed today. Think MIOG is that now. No subs or half year tricks on subs, no elder statesmen and stonecutter hierarchy, just normal peeps enjoying modelling like I do and most on here do. The most useful resource the GOG has is the traders websites links and to see that you do not have to be a member. https://www.gaugeoguild.com/traders/Traders_links.aspx

Your man will be all on his own as they are not doing Telford any more! Going to Stafford Show ground I understand.

Whilst everyone here is worried about subscription dates, thats the last thing the Guild and members is worried about right now. A friend tells me the election of officers in going into meltdown on their forum with all kinds of tricks and rubbish from the traditionalists trying to stop the reformers. I won't be joining anytime soon, it sounds manic. Probably be best if the two elements settled this and went their own way.

RTR is unbelievable quality and value today in all scales. A lot of people, especially in modern image 7mm scale, get their fix from after market modifications and repaints. Thats going to be increasingly the way. Frees you up to create all the other nice stuff you need with all the 3D models and laser cut materials. For the record. JLTRT re-surfaced as MM1.

As a non member, and looking in from the outside this really sums it all up. The problems with the Guild have less to do with at which time of year you join, (although understandably annoying to any individual), and is really all about, 'has the Gauge 0 Guild in its historic and current 'guild' mode served its time' ?, and why does it appear to be so out of kilter with where 7mm scale/fine scale modelling is right now? The answer probably lies in the fact that the Guild appears to be run by a perpetual turnover of closed shop old directors (one has been there since the 1990s) supported by long standing volunteers who do the donkey work. When they say they are desperate for volunteers, they don't mean to run the Guild,, what they mean is, more of those members who do the donkey work. But as their membership is getting proportionately older they have less energy and are less likely to step up. There is also the huge problem of secrecy on so many levels. I left because there are so many things wrong with the Guild it would take a book to explain it. On the surface it has sleepwalked into being outdated and outmoded. It doesn't reflect what me and many modern modellers want now in 0 gauge and there is little reason to join as you don't have to be a member to model 7mm scale!. There is enough information and friendship on here and other network groups, and most times a google search will have a link to this forum. Even the guild magazine, although well produced, has very uninspiring articles and certainly very rarely anything for the modern image modeller. Thats not because it deliberately has a steam bias, but because thats what the vast majority of the members model so there is little or no knowledge of modern railways. The product news is months out of date. No problem with anyone who want to be a member and I respect that, but its not for me. As a former member I actually feel relieved to have left the weight of it it behind and now feel completely free to model without the 'Guild' guiltily conscience looking down on me.. Feels like writing this Ive been on the psychiatrists couch.

going back to the op question and thoughts about the GOG. I used to be a member until last year and since the question has been asked here's the truth. There have been so many arguments on their forum about modernising over the past few years its sickening. Not because of the reforming people who want to do something, but because of the complete lack of understanding of the need for modernisation and openness by the management and its out of date supporters who seem in complete denial and can not let go of old ways and their annual shindig at Guildex. The whole management thing is jobs for the boys. I just could not carry on being a member of a club that is so introspective and arrogant. It actually stopped me from making models rather than helped me and i got quite depressed. This thread is the first time I've talked about it publicly. Modelling should be fun, like i see on here. The GOG is not fun. I'll stick with MIOG who are relaxed normal guys.

Yes thats true. I think in this case from what I've heard, the copy was ended abruptly without that rule applying as others had longer statements. And some statements/CVs were put in a separate document from the others which were all in the Guild News. All a bit confusing and looks a bit of a mess as far as I can see.

It's a she, and she does an excellent job that apparently brings a breath of fresh air and is recognised universally.

From what I hear, I think it's because not all the seats are available to contest and at least one other seat has another excellent person already incumbent and doing a good job, and is therefore not challenged.

From what I can see it looks like this email from a director is just another part of the effort by existing management to influence the voting members to stop reforming candidates from being elected into their closed shop. GDPR is important but in this case is just a side issue. I've heard from a friend in the Guild that one reform candidate for management has apparently had his published statement cut in half rendering it useless, and other reformers have not had theirs published in the guild news alongside preferred candidates.. They must be worried about something.

Interesting is an understatement. Just the sort of thing that causes a split like twenty years ago. They obviously hate new ideas. The leopard never changes its spots. The Guild has always had an all controlling management that squashes dissent with its secrecy and closed ranks. What a shame that just as 0 gauge is becoming so popular the main society is carrying on like it was still in the 1950's. I wonder what Dapol and Heljan etc., think of the Guild? It's a tragedy because they have all the stuff to potentially be a great society, a glossy 7mm scale magazine, a forum, loads of info on their website such as the invaluable trader websites and three shows per year. Unfortunately this does not counteract the politics and appalling management. I would say to anyone wanting to do 7mm scale, at least if you model the post steam era, ignore the Guild and look at MIOG, Modern Image 0 Gauge, on Facebook and elsewhere, they are normal people not old farts arguing amongst themselves!

Yes you are right, it is up to a society to decide. In this case I think that is one of their problems, they can't decide. From what I can see it looks like they have become very general interest and are trying to cater for everyone that models in 7mm scale from course scale to scale 7. Nothing wrong with that in principle but they don't attract the younger modeller or those who might specifically model say, the modern post-steam railway, because from what I've heard their membership is average 65 to 75+ year olds mostly modelling steam, so they are really worried about the future with a lack of younger people joining. I think its possible thats why MIOG was created, and just on Facebook etc.

Agree with all you say except just to pick up on the gauge itself for the benefit of those in other scales, for nearly everyone, it is 32mm track gauge and has always been so. It's only S7 that is different at 33mm track gauge. S7 is only modelled by a very small group of people who want to achieve nearer to dead scale track standards. They have their own group with newsletter. There are some fine scale people who have reduced the gauge and check gauge at the points to achieve finer running standards, but thats another story and it doesn't make any rolling stock incompatible. The issue of non compatibility arises where the old course scale or S7 wheels won't run through finescale track etc. But then who would want to do that! So I guess the big compatibility issue is that 'The Gauge 0 Guild' represents all the different factions of 7mm scale with their incompatibilities and cultures all of whom who want slightly different things. Add to that a steamy culture, so if you model diesels you won't find much to inspire you. Nothing against people doing their own thing but maybe these are some of the major problems the Guild has to face up to.

Ah I can answer that. '0' is not a scale it relates to a gauge, 7mm is a scale like 2mm so they could call themselves 7mm scale society or something. Probably too late as so many say 0 scale now anyway. Came from the USA.

Yes and Ellis is doing Mk1 sleepers too. Can't wait for these.

I know, I meant member only 7mm scale features. Nothing about the outside world in it, Just member models. Can understand it in principle but in the Guilds case it gives a bit of an insular impression of 0 gauge to the ageing membership and that may be one of the problems.

Most magazines pay little or nothing. Maybe just a very small 'appearance fee' or free copy. Most people are happy with that as it furthers the hobby. When I was looking into joining, a Guild member told me their magazine is for members only, which I imagine means that it is mostly steamy stuff. Not for me really.

MIOG is indeed more of a social networking group. Post steam modelling is no longer really a niche in 7mm scale its just that the Guild is very steamy as you rightly say! The Guild gives a bad impression of what modellers are really up to in 0 gauge. Trade support is not really that limited as apart from rolling stock, much of what we model in the rest of the railway we all have in common. But yes rolling stock is an area that needs more. Heljan have Mk 2 coaches announced, and Dapol MK 1s are about to be released. Heljan seem to be going through all the BR diesel fleet, and with Dapol coming in with the 08 and soon the 66 things will be getting good. I'm not a Guild member and don't see the need.

just seen this and new here but interested in o gauge now its getting more popular with all the RTR, not a member of the guild and i cant say why i would join just now. theres plenty of free groups elsewhere like facebook and on here to pick up all the things i need to know. always thought the name guild sounds a bit like an old gentleman club. I've been to a few of their shows in the past and they were ok but you could see it was for older people. could have done with more modern stuff to look at but thats just me. looked at their magazine on a stand it looked a bit out of date and nothing in it for me. best thing i could see was on their website was a trade web directory. never realised there were so many. maybe like some people say if they are trying to modernise it that would be a good thing.