Big News from NTS!!!!

[ljudice]

Ed - I've had the "pleasure" of spending many, many, many hours at tradeshows. In some cases it's been just two people at some obscure show - or several hundred at a big one. And there is plenty of time to log into Facebook and type 2 lines.

Again - for people attending for fun who post info - that's fantastic and appreciated. I did it the last time I attended the NTS - at the airport right after the show. For the "press" - well since MR people are actually paid to due this, all I can say is "massive fail".  For the pseudo-press and bloggers - well they're doing a slightly better job than MR - but it's not well planned or comprehensive enough to be useful.  For the manufacturers, again, most of their customers are NOT at the show and the ones who don't get the word out are losing a great opportunity.

 ;D  Now back to outdoor work in 95 degrees!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed - I've had the "pleasure" of spending many, many, many hours at tradeshows. In some cases it's been just two people at some obscure show - or several hundred at a big one. And there is plenty of time to log into Facebook and type 2 lines.

Have you been to one of these? Or the big E in Springfield? These ARE busy, and you don't have time to screw around on the internet.

[SkipGear]

Ed - I've had the "pleasure" of spending many, many, many hours at tradeshows. In some cases it's been just two people at some obscure show - or several hundred at a big one. And there is plenty of time to log into Facebook and type 2 lines.

Again - for people attending for fun who post info - that's fantastic and appreciated. I did it the last time I attended the NTS - at the airport right after the show. For the "press" - well since MR people are actually paid to due this, all I can say is "massive fail".  For the pseudo-press and bloggers - well they're doing a slightly better job than MR - but it's not well planned or comprehensive enough to be useful.  For the manufacturers, again, most of their customers are NOT at the show and the ones who don't get the word out are losing a great opportunity.

 ;D  Now back to outdoor work in 95 degrees!

Why in the hell would MR want to post all the info the find on the web? They have a magazine to sell.

[wm3798]

Yes, and the best way to secure your position as the leading media outlet in a particular industry is to let everyone learn about the hot news three months later when you finally get around to slopping ink onto a page.

I understand Ed's point, these are busy shows.  But I also seem to remember Leo trundling into the Memphis or Louisville show a couple years ago, and actually reporting on it almost in real time.  Where is our Leo in Milwaukee?  (Not necessarily THE Leo, he can't be everywhere!) but someone ought to be savvy enough with a camcorder and an upload cable to be doing SOMETHING.

John Sing does get my applause for making us aware of the links that are available.  There has been some breathtaking stuff reported.  But I'd love to see Leo stick a microphone under Ms. Walther's nose and ask a few of the questions that we are always asking.  Give her the old Mike Wallace treatment...

Lee

[SkipGear]

Yes, and the best way to secure your position as the leading media outlet in a particular industry is to let everyone learn about the hot news three months later when you finally get around to slopping ink onto a page.

Lee

But MR did that. They were the first to release the Bachmann and other announcements, on their web page. I'm sure there are a lot smaller announcements to be made in the magazine at a later date.

I think everybody is just taken back because the "power players" Atlas, Athearn, Kato and IM, had no news to report. Two of them just lost some or all of their production capacity and another is is still close to a year behind on some products. I personally didn't expect a peep from either of them. About the only thing I expected that didn't see was a second run of Big boy's from Athearn, they are well overdue.

***Edit: Forgot to mention Kato as a "Power Player", I wonder that means anything?

[bbussey]

InterMountain made N/Z announcements the month before in Sugarland, as did Kato.  I suppose they chose to make the N-scale specific announcements a couple of weeks earlier in front of the N scale specific crowd, rather than hold it for the HO-heavy NMRA show that from a planning standpoint took place immediately after.

[Ian MacMillan]

Ed - I've had the "pleasure" of spending many, many, many hours at tradeshows. In some cases it's been just two people at some obscure show - or several hundred at a big one. And there is plenty of time to log into Facebook and type 2 lines.

Have you been to one of these? Or the big E in Springfield? These ARE busy, and you don't have time to screw around on the internet.

Exactly, look how often I was really able to update the Twiter feed for the CRHS 2009 Convention train ride, and that was using a Smartphone  in my pocket. I think I got to update the feed with a few lines about once every 2hrs.

[ljudice]

Ed, I've been the NTS shows and most of the vendors are standing with their hands in their pants most of the time!

BTW, people like Craig, Bryan, Shipsure, Robbman, Matt, The Bach-man?? etc... aren't the problem -they are doing a great job letting us know what they are doing.

The joke is when someone like Exactrail leaves a FB posting up for three days "we'll be posting BIG NEWS RIGHT HERE" and then nothing. Now that's silly.

I don't know why you cut major model railroad manufacturers a break when the smaller, faster guys are able to do all the right things.

Fact is it's the new guys eating the big guy's lunch out there. And of course Bachman is eating their own lunch.

Welcome to Model Railroading 2010!!!  

[atsf_arizona]

Hi, all,

A man named Jeff Carlson posted 13 pages of pics from NMRA National Train Show: http://bit.ly/9fVEDy  - well worth seeing! 

(The full URL is: http://bnsfsd70.rrpicturearchives.net/archivethumbs.aspx?id=58623 )

Thx so much for sharing these for us all, Jeff.  Super pics. 

Although most of the content is HO, such as:



Imagine That! Laser cut structures:



There is some N scale content as well, such as the Model Railroad N scale Salt Lake Route project layout:





He posted this on the Atlas forum:

http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61219

Thx so much for sharing these for us all, Jeff.

[asarge]

I understand Ed's point, these are busy shows.  But I also seem to remember Leo trundling into the Memphis or Louisville show a couple years ago, and actually reporting on it almost in real time.

No offense to anybody, but the N scale Convention isn't anywhere near the size and scope of the nTS or Springfield and even Trainfest. I also can;t believe No N scaler who was there has even posted any pics or words with the manufacturer's. Maybe there are no n scalers in Milwaukee.

[bbussey]

Maybe there are no N scalers there who posts to the three or four frequented online boards probably would be a more accurate assessment.

According to the MRH blog, there will be photos of the various N scale products posted in their final show report.

And yes, usually there is some feedback online while these larger shows are in session, such as Springfield and Trainfest.  Given that it is the NMRA and how N scalers at large feel about the organization, it's not a surprise that very little "civilian" reports have been posted.  But if various publications are promoting active blogging during the show, one would think there would be some non-HO scale coverage included the entire show and not just in the happy recap.

[TrainCat2]

Hi All,

For me, a very successful show and an invitation to attend TrainFest from the organizer himself. Looks like I will be making this trip again soon. Not many people from TRW stopped by. Notables that did were Skibbe purchasing a Bulldozer Flat And built it during the convention. Joe (Shipsure) got a SP Caboose for a project. Leo stopped by on Sat with a new idea from something he saw on the way up in a yard. The Reid brothers stopped by for about an hour talking about several possible new projects and left with a big bag of PRR goodies. RMC informed me that Sep will have a build article on my Auto Car Carrier. I will have four new dealers shortly, including one of your favorites, but I will let them do the announcement.

Although not announced at NTS, another manufacturer will be unveiling a N-Scale car that I have seen requested, no begged for, MANY times here alone. So the the announcements are not actually over.

[mcjaco]

Maybe there are no n scalers in Milwaukee.

Sorry guys, the crowd at Modutrak was too big to tear ourselves away to give you guys "up to the minute" updates. 

Do you guys want any cheese with your whine? 

[Sokramiketes]

Maybe there are no n scalers in Milwaukee.

Sorry guys, the crowd at Modutrak was too big to tear ourselves away to give you guys "up to the minute" updates. 

Do you guys want any cheese with your whine? 

Crowds were a little light at NMRA as compared to Trainfest, but most were modelers and appreciative of the work as opposed to people who ask "Is this Z scale?".  Still plenty of opportunities to talk to folks and lose track of your train and ram into the back of Vince's caboose hop... 

Wireless internet access on the show floor was a ridiculous $9.95 a day or something.  I decided to take a break from the net and just enjoy my 5 days off work!

[cv_acr]

Some years back, Bristol-Myers Squibb decided to start capitalizing on the fact that they owned Lance Armstrong's balls, and organized what they called the "Tour of Hope," ostensibly to spread cancer awareness. They spent an obscene amount of money coming up with a logo for the event. The logo was approved by everyone, and made it all the way into a full-page ad in the New York Times. It was only after the logo was exposed to millions of eyeballs that someone made mention of the unfortunate fact that the logo made it look as if it was the "Tour of Hype" instead, which of course was exactly the opposite image that BMS wanted to convey. Would love to have been a fly on the wall to see all of those red faces in the ivory tower...
 

One of the finest (read: hilarious) moments in Canadian politics occurred about a decade ago when the Progressive Conservative and Reform parties decided to merge into one party. The first name for the new party ended up being the "Canadian Conservative Reform Alliance Party" (CCRAP). That didn't last long.