Moving away from tracklaying, and given that my co authors seem to have gone into hibernation for winter (which only one of them an claim), I suppose its time for an opinion post.
Over at NZ120.org in the last couple of days there has been renewed interest in Freemo standards. There seems to be some movement towards a 'new' standard in Australia, with an article to be published in an upcoming Australian N gauge mag. I had thought that there already was a freemo standard in Oz, but reading up I'm now not sure. I guess its like here where we still don't really know just how many NZ120 layouts there actually are out there, though there is plenty of evidence that people are building them (or at least the rolling stock).
It will be interesting to see what will come out of it. The sounds that were being made (by 1 individual admittedly) suggest that it might be an all singing all dancing 'DCC with addons set up'. Now I've got no problems with DCC as such, but I'm definitely in the 'turn it on like a TV' camp. I have very little interest in whats going on under the hood (that's my day job) provided that it does what is says on the packet. Thus block occupancy ('land protest?'), transponding ('crossing puddles?') and accessory decoders ('what is that woman wearing?') are all rather obscure terms to me. Apparently its all something to do with knowing where your train is, which is a new problem with DCC, with cornfield meets a specialty for the unwary (own up if you have had one....Mr B). Computer control is another thing that I'm confused about. Where is the fun in operating a layout that you have built from scratch by pushing a collection of buttons, or even worse, the power switch? I guess I choose to be a Luddite in these matters, but I spend enough time in front of a computer for work to know that I don't want to have it more involved in my hobby time as well.
I want to be able to wander along watching my train run through the scenery, throwing points as I go, or operating a yard from a signal box as god intended. Sitting remotely watching from a distance just doesn't do it for me.
Getting back to freemo what will be interesting will be to see what sort of system emerges when the dust has cleared, and whether we in little old Godzone might have any input?
(and over to the peanut gallery....)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Exactly my sentiments as well. If I wanted computor control I'd might as well get one of those 'Train sim' programs, and not buy any kits!. The fun is in playing with the toys.
I thought Freemo was about a freedom to build your module. If the Freemo specs become to technical it will turn modellers away. Keep it simple.
same here, I like DCC but only to build a consist and/or use a helper unit on a train. I like to be the engineer and not let a computer do my job...
cheers...
steve w.
'zedleudt' - no we are TT people
Not hibernating, but having to do the first serious study I've had to do in about a decade...
Don't be to quick to right off computer control.
If you have it set up correctly, you can run and follow your train as you wish, and cross the computer controlled trains as you come across them.
Hey Magikan I can see you are a forward thinker and I enjoyed your comment .I think many readers on the forums that I have commented to are reading me wrong. I will go back to NZ120 Org and try to make whats happening in our world of model rail a bit clearer.Regards and hope your time during hibernation did not give you a headache as it will give me to to cross the past to the present .Thank you,Michaelh1954
PS Magikan ,amusing thing is that if it wasnt for the computer, that some are worried about, that we are on now ,we wouldnt even be talking .So how many know about IM Chat. No more telephone bills Lol,. Again Kind Regards and keep looking and thinking, It really can be fun .Michael
Hi Sxytrain. Train Sim Sux Model Rail will never be a Toy to play with and Free as in Free-Mo is an exact set of specs that must be followed exactly as you may end up in a space with a few hundred that follow the same set of guidelines that are extremely simple .Nothing technical about it and as a mather of fact the rules are getting old .Some of the enthusiasts among you are already a step ahead.Some just havent seen yet and that is one of my Fav phrases,Dont tell Me ,Show Me. Regards Michael
Hi M D Im not that 1 Individual I hope Lol The Dust will clear very shortly.You should already know that New is not the word and most good things with common sense come from Downunder and Across the Ditch .I do love your choice of words ,Land Protest,Crossing Puddles and What is that woman wearing? You bring a smile . It is time very shortly to Show and not Tell as I know I have pushed a little to far beyond where you are up to in Free-Mo . I did not realize we are both at the beginning stages of Free-Mo .I think you will like what is happening here in the next months to come. Regards Michael
Hey MD ran out of room on the last window ,After this one I will leave you alone for a while Lol .To correct you ,The article you mention is only an enquiry to start the ball rolling in AU Not N gauge Mag but Australian Model Railway Magazine and is in the Mailbag section of the December Issue and asks "Where is Free-Mo in Australia?" Any and all come back will be forwarded to me .Any "New "standard in AU will just be wary of the mistakes and problems that the more experienced OS Free-Mo US and Fremo Europe have thrown out the door.As a side line ,look at NTS cabride parts 1,2,3 and 4 on YouTube if you want to be the Driver. and dont forget you will be on your computer to do this Lol Apologies if I have your blood pressure up but I know you will enjoy and always My Kindest Regards Michael
PS MD. DCC is now Bi .Not only do you do to it. It now send info back. Michael
PSS Ok MD the last reply to your comments I ask the question .How big is your layout that you will wander ? How long is the cord you will use ? or are you going Wireless ? Regards Michael
Hi MD Cheers and the dust is settling. Left a comment on NZ120 site. My recent article in the Au Mag brought out of the woodwork so many groups into Free-Mo in AU .Not on site as yet but is happening and it looks quite large.WWW.NScale.org.au/modules/Free-moN may be of help to you in the near future as to standards for N or 120 scale ,Again I thank you and I do enjoy your sites and your carpentry, with Regards Michael
What's the issue here - Freemo is the least worst set of modular standards I'm aware of as it only dictates what goes on at the ends of your module rather than what happens in between so you don't get that hideousrow of unrelated dominoes that aren't quite big enoughor the right shape to do anythong prototypical with.
If you want to play trains together then you do have to agree on a control system or it won't work - 3 rail on one module anyone?
If you don't like DCC Fremo then join with some other modules in the DC world. Better still - build a layout which is a cohesive whole and set your own, or your groups, desired standards for it.
I get the idea of modules but I really don't like the outcome where a carefully modelled 1950's scene is alongside a carefully modelled 1980's scene and running through both is a DL on IMs. Each to his own I suppose
Kevin I agree with your comments. Re DCC the current standard appears to be Locone of some sort, for better or worse, but probably because the most common systems locally are Digitrax or NCE. proposing a new system is all well and good, but convincing those who have already spent their dosh is going to be a difficult task to say the least. I'm not ani DCC, in fact I have loved it for over 15 years. Theres no way i would go back to DC. I just want to be able to opt out of the bells and whistles if I want.
The Modular layout problems of period are something that really only has to be lived with at a large exhibition, and I think we area long way off one of those yet. The answer in the short term is to build modules that are 'flexible'in terms of time period. However its not going to really solve itself untill theres a large enough number of modelers with enough rolling stock to populate a layout for a particular period (ie if you want to help solve the problem, get modeling...)
Hi again MD .Kevin had a good point as to period within Free Mo. OS have different operating sessions old and new . Personally I love the models that are coming out now and are everywhere (In HO ) Diesel ,Steam XPT s Garrets and even the Big BoysI love them all.My idea and layout will be 2011 plus .The Period buildings, the new structures etc ,trees ,grass etc will be around for a while but Im the Minister for Transport in theory at least at home Lol My diesels Ie freight, Indian Pacific, Ghan etc can all work with Steam as ,heritage special occasion passenger outings.I get to use the lot together.If I where to go strict prototype in the future I would be playing with model buses and trucks and have to weather the tops of the track as well or pull them up LOL Regards Michael
Hey MD ,you and others worry too much about the future of DCC.Your Dosh you have spent so far will not be wasted. I keep on trying to put the point across that it is only wiring and a few connectors under your module that may be a little different so within a Free-Mo module setup it will just flow thru to the next module and that you dont have to plug anything in if you dont want to. Im sure that many have not yet spent money on Loconet anyway as many OS have but still they are not minding the change to the next generation DCC which is NMRAnet and in fact looking forward to it. Regards Michael
Post a Comment