N Scale Trains on Facebook

[CBQ Fan]

I saw a reference to “N Scale Model Trains” group on Facebook so I joined.  There are a ton of posts, so many I may unjoin. One thing I noticed is just how active it was and a complete lack of interest in the level of modeling you see here on this forum. So when we discuss prototype fidelity, counting rivets and ride height etc., and how we can’t understand why a manufacturer won’t do such and such, this really puts a perspective on just how select we are here.

Not criticizing the group or others level of interest/skill/ability. Just a little perspective.

[Lenny53]

Perspective -> 11k members

[coosvalley]

There is some excellent modeling on facebook, but then there's exactly what you're  talking about.

  The other day I saw a nicely very detailed and custom painted N scale model, and then a comment like" My grandpa used to have Lionel trains in his basement"....

But, comments aside, there are some excellent groups out there, and some pretty cool layout pages too(seriously go check out the "Hudson Terminal Railroad").

But it's comments like those that ultimately led to my choosing TRW as the host for my layout journal. I didn't want to keep up 2 pages . The feedback I get here seems much more helpful than I imagine it would be on FB...

[jnevis]

Try dealing with a gaming group.  I half-follow a couple based on WW2.  The number of posts per week of "What color do I paint...?" or "What scale are the models?" is mind boggling.  I get that not all gamers are also amateur historians but damn.  At least be able to tell the difference between a Sherman and a Panther.

[mu26aeh]

I belong to a couple of pages on FB.  I see a lot of beginners that cram track into every single inch of space they have, do their own painting and weathering that looks like $!#% and everyone loves it, likes it and says how great it looks.  I chime in with some constructive criticism and get drummed out by the crowd.  I've become quiet on most of the pages and dropped out of some.  It's one thing to help give people confidence in what they are doing, but completely wrong to just like/love what they are doing when it's terrible.  I've gotten more from TRW then I could possibly get from many of the pages on FB.  As is said here, Better modeling thru peer pressure.  I'll stay here.

[Dave V]

If you narrow your focus you can find some gems.  I’m in a Rio Grande Southern History and Modeling FB page where the modeling and the expertise blows me away.

[cbroughton67]

I've joined and unjoined a few groups like that. I've also found some that are frequented by some talented modelers and are definitely worthwhile. I've found the "N Scale Custom Modelers" group to have some pretty astute modelers. I think my favorite group is the "Micro/Small Model RR Layouts" group. It has an international membership, and while the focus is (as the name implies) small and micro layouts of various scales/gauges, there is an abundance of talent present in the group.


Chris

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh yeah. I'm on that group as well and it's overwhelming.

Personally I stay on there to show off photos of the NCR. Every once in a while there's a gem, but man... it's a real reminder of how much a niche of a niche we are here.

... and why I love TRW.

[MetroRedLine]

I belong to a couple of pages on FB.  I see a lot of beginners that cram track into every single inch of space they have, do their own painting and weathering that looks like $!#% and everyone loves it, likes it and says how great it looks. 

You forgot the part where they post videos of their layout and have their freight trains run 250 scale miles per hour. 
And then they get defensive when people call them out on not running at more prototypical speeds...

[johnb]

Oh yeah. I'm on that group as well and it's overwhelming.

Personally I stay on there to show off photos of the NCR. Every once in a while there's a gem, but man... it's a real reminder of how much a niche of a niche we are here.

... and why I love TRW.

Ed, I saw you post a few weeks ago. It was a nice change. It amazes me how often someone posts a picture of 35 year old crap and everyone says that it was a good haul.

[altohorn25]

The PRR N Scale Modeling page is pretty similar to Railwire in that it caters to prototype (I'm sure there are a few Railwire members who are on this page).

Nate

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed, I saw you post a few weeks ago. It was a nice change. It amazes me how often someone posts a picture of 35 year old crap and everyone says that it was a good haul.

Oh my god yes. The "here's a big pile of crap that I paid $200 for", "good haul" threads.

I'll also say this though. It pained me how fast I realized my demo stuff was running during my open house. Video is NOT kind to train speeds.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The PRR N Scale Modeling page is pretty similar to Railwire in that it caters to prototype (I'm sure there are a few Railwire members who are on this page).

Nate

Oh yeah, that's generally a good one.

[thomasjmdavis]

Several of the historical societies (which often combine with modeling groups) have excellent Facebook pages, and have been uploading photos that used to be "come down to the museum in (city 400 miles away) on the second Tuesday of the month and the archivist will show you...." or "Fred will show you those the next time you visit his layout in (city 1500 miles away)."  Terrific photos showing up on the CEI and GTW pages that I follow. Also several N scale "for sale" sites- although I have not purchased anything through any of them yet. 

Oh my god yes. The "here's a big pile of crap that I paid $200 for", "good haul" threads.

Please don't warn them until I get rid of this big pile of crap I've collected over the last 40 years.  "Rare" bodyless frames for Atlas C liners, any number of power trucks for various locomotives, all missing some gear not made since 1979, numerous boxcars with botched lettering, no steps or brakewheels, all with "genuine rapido style" couplers...

Don't feel too bad for them, by the end of the day, they will have those 30 year old Bachmann boxcars up on eBay as "brand new old stock genuine vintage rare Bachmann car" for only 17.95 plus 9.95 expedited shipping. 

[SecretWeapon]

N SCALE RAIL BARONS IS ANOTHER REALLY GOOD FACEBOOK GROUP. THERE ARE A LOT OF RR RELATED GROUPS ON FB.