Hi all, sorry for coming in late. Just haven't got started on this forum until now.
I am one of the guys at the T-Trak exhibit at Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire shows. Although I am mainly an N-scale guy, I would like to participate in a large scale modular community, and if it has to be OO, then I'll work with that too.
Having read through the thread now and the various proposals, I am a bit surprised that new modular standards are discussed instead of picking existing ones like Fremo or the N-Trak. Although it sounds like what is labelled as "Free-mo" sounds like N-Trak but I read much about either. Please don't invent something new. Use the experience that is built into the existing standards. Using existing standard allows us to meet up at international modular meets.
I would like to see more thinking of what we want to do with these modules. It sounds like most people want to do diaramas and the DART line is one suggested theme. The rectangular shape of the modules is good for making sure that the back side lines up to allow for continuous running of the trains. This setup would be perfect for showing at exhibitions with minimal operational labour requirements.
On the other hand, Fremo modules are not designed for continuous running. These layouts are all end-to-end with a few or many sidings. Focus is on the operational side with complex stations, time tables and shunting. I attended a Fremo meet in Sweden that ran over 4 days and the public was only invited in for a few hours on Saturday morning. This is very different to the Irish and British shows where the focus is on displaying beautiful layouts with minimal operation.
I visited a Fremo-N-scale meet in Stuttgart a while back. The participants were separated in a DCC setup and an analogue one. The DCC people operated the trains and followed them around the layout. The DC people operated the layout through the stations and sent off the trains to the next station on the line. The operation modes were very different.
Once we agree on what we want to do with a big modular layout, it will be easier to decide on a standard.
And while I am at it, I have to declare that my main interest is in operation of trains more than landscaping. DCC comes with this wish of course.
The T-Trak group of the SDMRC was set up to allow members practice landscaping in a manageable size. We did discuss scale but agreed on N scale only because of the size and portability.
I hope this helps to get focus in the discussion.
/ Sven
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