[Les]

Todd,

FWIW, I'd like to see a poll here on MLS. It'd have to cover 'indoors' , 'outdoors' & 'not yet running but interested'. Also, I'd like to see the poll include, "Do you scratchbuild, kitbash or RTR?" That'd cover two questions that've come up recently.

To me, the number has to be higher than 15K, but I have no idea how much higher.

Les

 

[Les]

This isn't the poll. This is the pre-poll poll. This poll is to see if we/someone should put a a poll on the poll forum, where you know, they list polls.

Les

 

[Les]

There are some good suggestions, just too many choices allowed. Remember, the initial questions--as you astutely noted--were dual: 1) do you do G scale, and 2) do you scratch/kit/bash build, or buy RTR?

A logic tree might look like this:

Do you do G scale? "Yes".Then goto 2). "No" Then go away.

2) Do you scratch/kit/bash? "Yes" then goto end. "No," then goto 3).

3) Do you buy RTR? "Yes" then end. "No". Then end.

Simpler, what?

Les

 

[Les]

Steve, Doug, & Korm

Steve, thanks for the hedzup on the 'clik n point' and the link. I'm going to work on this for a couple of reasons: I think getting an idea of how many folks actually 'do' g gauge is handy; I like the mental challenge of producing the poll and I need to get more familiar with working the board, so setting up a poll will help.

'Gauge' will be defined as 45mm. 'Scale' will have a disclaimer: "Any scale." The poll will be explicit: "This is for fun purposes only." If that can't be put at the front, that's a tad of a problem but there should be a workaround. There's a human element at work in polls: People both want to be heard and don't want to 'tip their hand'. A general question followed by specifics ought to cover most of that.

There will be malcontents of all descriptions. That's the 'tare' the pollster has to be ready to endure. The best course is silence toward complainers. (Who will then complain, "Nobody listens to me!")

It is impossible to print a sentence that someone, somewhere, cannot fail to misunderstand, find ambiguous or construe to be biased. Or pretend to, just to stir the pot.

Korm, I'm more interested in knowing who's doing G gauge, in raw numbers because there's two major positions: 1) The manufacturers don't build what I like/want; and 2) the manufacturers say, "We can only build what we think we can sell." I'd like to know how many 'bashers are out there, because mags complain that they're not getting enough input. (I don't agree with that.) In MNSHO, I think the hobby has 'floated' the best builders to the top, and the 'hey-look-what-I-fabbed-up-for-my-work-train' (i.e. the not top-notch builders) are reluctant to show their work. And 'how-to' articles are time-consuming (comparatively) to publish given limited space in a mag. That's why I think sites like this one will become the 'hobby magazines' of the future. Or are the future. For instance, I like the series photos guys post as they build an item up, warts and all. Then, when it turns out looking decent, I'm pleased because I think, "Hey, I could do that, too."

Also, I think a lot of guys running different scales at least visit this site hunting for ideas to use. Since this is a g gauge site--save for where it isn't--those folks won't have reason to take the poll, human maliciousness aside. Again, that's the tare a well-designed poll can weed out to a tolerable degree.

I'm gonna start--offline on Word as some canny moderator suggested on another subject--and post here or in the posting forum on a trial basis. Perhaps the finished poll can be fully posted there. Sort of like using your mini-post series idea, except no data will be taken until the final post is up.

Les--open to suggestions.

 

[Les]

Jerry,

Was your comment tilted toward Shad's taste in clubs? JUST KIDDING!!!! See, I'm tuning up to try posting a poll, & practicing enduring negative answers.

Your point re computers is well put. Last numbers I heard was that only about 33% of the population had computers. I know for a fact that many guys my age don't have 'em and don't want 'em. (I don't know any train guys my age, locally.)

Thus, the poll will have flaws in that the sampling will be tiny and biased due to where it will be posted. Okay. But folk with acess to databases can survey the readership of this site (as Chad just did) do some extrapolation and come up with some 'indications' at least.

I think there are actually a larger number of G gaugers than we might think, and I suspect they came from other gauges, or tinplate (or even/especially multi-gauge operators) as I did. I further suspect there're a lot of guys who scratchbuild but their work or personalities are such that they don't show stuff. I would far rather see and follow a buildup of a so-so flatcar than read about Manufacturer's X's new line of brass flats. (Couplers & trucks extra.) So the guy didn't get it quite 'right'. I don't care, it was interesting to see his techniques.

Les

 

[Les]

Posted By Del Tapparo on 03/16/2009 9:08 AM

[edited]


I think it is going to take at least another 10 years before clubs are made up entirely of folks that are truly comfortable using computers.










Del,

Right on. A point I wanted to make in my post to Jerry and forgot.

Added after posting:
Re your comment about forum-users being more informed: Now, I have to admit to an age bias, myself, caused by finances and lack of wider interest. I already know what I like and don't, can afford and can't, and see no reason to change, so 'latest information' as an argument doesn't fly with me. If there are older members in your club, that may be a factor. (Sr. Citizens, aka as 'old fogeys'.)

Concurrently, I like to be aware of other facets of the hobby where there's some connection, see above, so long as it isn't overly troublesome. Again, that's the value of sites like MLS. A good 'fer instance, the guy who did the repaint on those two Dismal switchers/goats/whatevers that carrried your lettering (I hope I'm not confused and putting my foot in it) now that was interesting because as I get nearer to building, I want to contact you about decals/dry xfers, whatever they call 'em nowadays. And those were good-looking machines, even to a dedicated steam critter fan.

 

[Les]

Well, you hit the nail square on the head re 'older folks and larger scale but not computer knowledgeable' with me.

I'm a sorta noob, no layout yet but about two year's worth of time on this board, reading books, etc, but I have a pretty solid background in electronics/electrical & machining. Still trying to collect enough info--I may finally have saved enough money--to start.

I dunno if other scalers will change. I know that I want three different gauges, all scaled @ F scale, and have received some excellent advice & suggestions. Looking at the prices, it's a darn good thing I wanted to scratchbuild, because most of the prices are out of my reach. But as someone else said, 'for what you're getting, the prices are fairly okay'. For a guy in a different scale to change, it means so much in the way of buildings and off-track stuff would have to be done away with.

I seriously looked at S gauge/scale last winter, for awhile. But a little pencil scratching told me that it'd be too small for my aging fingers to build anything with. And those prices are not cheap at all, for scale stuff.

Les

 

[Les]

Posted By ralphbrades on 03/18/2009 2:14 PM
Well...
[edited]
What I have started to wonder about is the type of locos that are appearing commercially -now that I have built them.


It would be nice to think that my humble scratch builds have opened up eyes -to what is out there.

regards

ralph













Well, a demonstration (demonstrator) is worth 100,000 letters begging some manufacturer to produce a certain model, I would think.

What I don't think is that the word 'humble' should be used in connection with your work.

Les

 

[Les]

Todd,

Not a can of worms, just some folks wondering the same thing you are.

I am working on a poll. If I can get it worded okay, I'll post it here first, for suggestions, then post it over on the poll board, if the site software will let me do that.

Les