Possibilities of an N-Scale modelers meet. What is your opinion?

[Mike Madonna]

This forum is for N people who want to accurately depict era, RR, and even locations in their modelling effort. For some, including me, that is sometimes intimidating, but forces attention to detail. If you are going to do it, might as well do it right.

With that type modeler in this group, none should feel out of place to participate in the RPM gatherings around the country. When I come across HO people viewing a well done, prototypically correct N effort, they are amazed and unable to stop verbalizing their surprise. Fly the N flag at those events. Cause a stir.

Looking at the agenda for the RPM meet near me (Malvern, PA) coming in March, there are many programs not scale specific that will provide info to direct a more accurate depiction of the prototype. No reason N-folk can't go, enter contests and benefit. Maybe some of the layouts in the region could also be on the open house tour that is part of the event.  Might be the simplest way to make this come to be...the regional approach. The RPM team has done the hard work, we can help them by pumping up attendance.

I've been thinking about that RPM in Malvern, PA myself. I'm about 40 minutes West of there. Hmmm... might cause a stir bringing a few "foreign" (West Coast) models? 

[OHCR 4218]

We tried clinics the first year of the Ohio n-scale weekend and they where very poorly attended, we still have done one or two clinics since then, but nothing like the first year. A N scale specific clinic at a large national convention might be the only place where they really work, I know there where quite a few well attended clinics at the 2008 Louisville convention.

Brandon

[mionerr]

I attended many of the clinics at Louisville in 2008. A great many were NOT scale specific. Great convention.

[6axlepwr]

I want to thank everyone who replied to this post.

It appears that an N-Scale exclusive RPM type meet would not bring in to many participants and that the majority opinion is to try to bring N-Scale to existing RPM meets. Bringing N-Scale to existing ROM meets is great, but we also need N-Scale modelers to participate in these meets. The largest N-Scale participation I have seen is the Naperville meet in Chicago and the ONLY N-scale modelers I have seen at that meet are the MODUTRAK folks.

This year I will be attending the Savannah, GA meet in late March, the St. Louis meet in July and I have to decide if I want to go to the Naperville meet or if I want to attend Trainfest. Although Trainfest is not an RPM meet, it is a GREAT train show. In St. Louis I hope to have a clinic put together on prototype modeling in N using my SD40-2 snoot as the subject. I will not have it ready for the Savanna, GA meet.

Again, thanks for the participation. All the responses were great.

[Kisatchie]

I'd go to a meet if it were held in New Orleans (or Saint Joseph, LA - Ha ha ha, fat chance).


Hmm... I'd prefer a meet
in Sumatra or Borneo,
where I was born...

[Jmwilson]

I am planning on attending the St. Louis meet also, maybe I'll see you there, I'm wanting to have a CEBX800 done by then but don't know if I'll make it
we'll have to see.

[OldEastRR]

This may be a dumb question, but what does RPM stand for and what kind of shows are these as far as events, swap meets, etc.
(I've already figured out that RPM does not stand for "Rapid Prototype Manufacturing")

[wcfn100]

This may be a dumb question, but what does RPM stand for and what kind of shows are these as far as events, swap meets, etc.
(I've already figured out that RPM does not stand for "Rapid Prototype Manufacturing")

http://www.railroadprototypemodelers.com/

Jason

[CYkodelic]

Sorry to be late to the conversation, but I thought everyone would be interested to know about another upcoming convention that may be relevant to this discussion. 

If you haven't yet heard, Northern Virginia NTRAK is hosting Capitol Limited N Scale East, August 7 thru 10 at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA, just outside Washington, D.C.  (Some of you ol' timers may remember this convention from the same huge and popular one held in 2004.)  Details and all available info at:  BIGTRAINLAYOUT.ORG

Even though we're an NTRAK club, the convention is open to anyone, and more important, it's for and about all things N scale and whatever matters most to the N scale community. That could include RPM if there is enough interest.

What's better is that although a tentative schedule is about to be released, there should still be time to add/change some event(s) to focus on, or at least reflect, an RPM theme. This could be just a casual RPM social, perhaps, or, if enough interest warrants it, a more traditional and structured clinic. Any and all ideas and suggestions are welcome, the more specific the better.  For example, we could ensure that an RPM-related category is included in the modeling contests, or provide space simply to display them to incite discussion and inspire others.

Let me know your suggestions either here or directly to me via email (CYkodelic at gmail.com) or via the convention's general information/question email: info@bigtrainlayout.org, which also comes to me.

Thanks for the input.  Hope to see you there.

Mark

[sirenwerks]

It's a shame RPM doesn't have a publications component.  If it created a magazine, I would imagine it being awesome just to leaf through and a great source of information.