New member - Expat Brit modelling OO in the USA

Welcome Glen. Glad to hear you've keeping the flags flying out in the collonies....

QUOTE (dbclass50 @ 7 Jan 2008, 02:38) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Glen - welcome to the forum.

Generally we're pretty laid back here, although a hard hat is sometime recommended when discussing DCC & some versions of it !

Like the sound of the Pannier in the "wide open spaces" - recently, on a very British layout we were treated with the sight of a "Big boy" pulling a rake of 4mm Pullmans - that's what I like to see - people enjoying their trains !

***Enjoy? Harrrrumphhhhhh its all about accuracy and correctness DB. Next you'll be saying its a hobby to enjoy when we all know its a Jihad against sloppy modelling!

The first full train across my dead accurate 4mm scale 18' long Ribblehead viaduct modelled as per 1928 was a late 40's HO Rio Grande Zephyr with an A-B-A diseasel set in front - all accurate Rio Grande Diseasels of course .

I only get serious about detail and correctness with myself and my own hands on modelling - or when those I respect are looking on!

When the armchair experts who never do anything except look for fault and talk rubbish are waxing lyrical, anything can happen, and often does.... Now about that brand of DCC

Richard

Richard

QUOTE (expatbrit @ 6 Jan 2008, 22:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi folks

I've recently returned to the hobby after a gap of several years and since my last involvement I've also emigrated to the USA. I was at first tempted to go with an all American layout as I was impressed with the performance and comparatively low cost of US equipment. But the lure of British trains was still too strong so, despite the higher costs, I decided that OO scale was the only way for me.

I still had some of my old equipment but after buying a couple of newer locos I was amazed with the improvements made since my last involvement, especially in the much-improved running qualities. Thanks to eBay some of the older stuff was unloaded and the funds used to buy newer replacements. My fleet has probably dropped by half but I've now got a much better, leaner, partly DCC equipped collection.

I've been allowed the use of part of our insulated garage so this should result in a 18ft x 6ft rectangular layout which I hope to start building later this year. I'm still thinking of different track plan ideas but I will eventually start a website to detail the construction and eventual operation.

I'm a member of a local model railroading club out here so I did purchase a quantity of US HO equipment for use on the huge club track (about 60ft x 30ft). Some of my OO stuff doesn't like their very finescale track, even some of my newer items. But those that do work are often taken along to the club for a decent length run with wide curves and long trains. However it looks a little strange to have this urban American landscape frequented by heavy diesel freights when, all of a sudden, a little GWR Pannier comes chuffing along with its train of chocolate and cream coaches! Most of the American club members think our British trains are weird looking......and they cannot comprehend such strange things as buffers......or locos without huge headlights. But I do get lots of positive comments regarding their pulling power, quietness and smoothness. I never thought I'd ever hear Americans praising the performance of British RTR locos! Maybe we've finally now caught up with the rest of the world - maybe?!

Anyway, sorry to ramble on. I look forward to future discussions. Glen

Welcome Glen

I'm an Expat modelling UK in Australia - with the odd foray into US and Australian prototypes from time to time. Clubs here also see the odd bit of running - When runnig was down on one of the HO layouts, our local clubs SN3-1/2 local West Australian prototype layout (3/16 scale on 16.5 track and accrate enough for my partner Sue to say "I played on that bridge over the platform as a kid") was recently treated to a ten coach European Thalys speeding through, followed by a Japanese Bullet train, and the Rather large UK prototype OO layout has been known to see similar things from time to time.

We all enjoy the hobby in our own way. Enjoy the group and don't hesitate to jump in and ask or advise... Even those on list with big teeth normally smile more than they bite, and those who bite have mostly had their shots anyway.

Kind regards

Richard

Glen, welcome to the Forum. I suppose in one way, I too are English ,well my great great grandparents were !!
I converted from USA to UK modelling a few years & have had the fortune ( or mis-fortune) to know Richard.

His comment (We all enjoy the hobby in our own way. Enjoy the group and don't hesitate to jump in and ask or advise... Even those on list with big teeth normally smile more than they bite, and those who bite have mostly had their shots anyway.)
I have been on the end of his bite a few times & it is the bitee that needs the shots, not the biter but I have learnt a lot not only from Richard but many others on this forum.

As said by others, ask away, you will get many pieces of advice/information - of course it will be upto you to sort out the chaff from the wheat.

Hi Expat. Welcome.
Continue wowing those Americans. It does them good to broaden their horizons! Hehehe.

QUOTE (Sol @ 7 Jan 2008, 12:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Glen, welcome to the Forum. I suppose in one way, I too are English ,well my great great grandparents were !!
I converted from USA to UK modelling a few years & have had the fortune ( or mis-fortune) to know Richard.

His comment (We all enjoy the hobby in our own way. Enjoy the group and don't hesitate to jump in and ask or advise... Even those on list with big teeth normally smile more than they bite, and those who bite have mostly had their shots anyway.)
I have been on the end of his bite a few times & it is the bitee that needs the shots, not the biter but I have learnt a lot not only from Richard but many others on this forum.

As said by others, ask away, you will get many pieces of advice/information - of course it will be upto you to sort out the chaff from the wheat.

Cheeky sod Sol - I'd never bite a GWR modeller - I'd be too worried about catching something. . Its you who stirs the pot and where would you be without a 24 hour a day helpline with the patience of a saint anyway

Richard

Richard