Possibilities of an N-Scale modelers meet. What is your opinion?

[Jmwilson]

I was at a show in the fall in Springfield MO. and meet another modeler from St. Louis (HO though) who participates in the RPM show there and encouraged me to bring some of my N scale stuff, I had never really thought about till then because they do seem to be more for the HO market
and honestly never thought my stuff was good enough for that venue either. I am planning to attend the show just to see how it is and possibly meet some more N scale modelers. I think getting more N scalers to participate in multi scale shows would be easier to do than starting up a scale specific
event.

[PAL_Houston]

I have been a Burlington Route Historical Society member for 7+ years, and have attended exactly one meet.  I have been an NMRA member for about the same amount of time, and have attended exactly 1 regional convention (and that was when it was 10 minutes away.)

I guess I am just not that in to conventions.

[Denver Road Doug]

The 2014 Naperville RPM show will have more of a marketing push toward drawing N scalers.  There will likely be an N scale evening dinner party on Thursday night (similar to the Friends of the Freight Car dinner if you've been to Naperville before).  We've done this informally as a Modutrak N scale dinner in previous years, but are hoping to expand the party.  And we're hoping to gather a little more ballroom space to be able to set up the whole Modutrak layout so we can open up the mainlines for anyone to run their equipment.

Mike, Thanks for the info.  That sounds like something I would be interested in.   Keep us informed on any updates you might have.

[VonRyan]

If it's something like an N-Scale weekend, but maybe with more space. One hall for layouts, one for dealers, and a good sized conference room for individuals to display their modeling efforts and perhaps for some clinics to be held.

Other than that I wouldn't be very interested. Anymore I go to shows to do a varying combination of run trains and spend money.

("I came here to run trains and spend money... And I'm all out of money.....")

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I love N Scale focused events. I've been to a bunch of them over the years. They've usually been NTRAK focused, which is fine with me, because I do NTRAK stuff.

I don't know if there are enough N Scale RPM types to make an event possible (there might be enough people doing it, but getting them to a central location is a challenge).

It'd be a fun add-on to a bigger event though, like "The ESMC, NZT & Rapido RPM Room at The Bedford N Scale Weekend" kinda thing.

[primavw]

Although the N Scale segment of the hobby may be large enough in terms of numbers, the limitations of time and distance are the factors which make a national, or even regional all N Scale event unlikely.
The only exception I can think of is the N Scale Weekend, which is held in August of each year in the vicinity of Altoona, PA.  The main reasons for it's success, apart from the organizational capabilities of the handful of N Scale modelers who first hosted the event, are it's proximity to a wealth of prototype railroading and the large number of n scale modelers who reside within a few hundred miles of the event.
The Internet already transcends time and space to a sufficient degree for most modelers to begin with.

kornellred, any chance you have a link for this year's meet near Altoona?

[PennsyPride]

http://www.pavendors.com/events/bedford-county/everett-august-n-scale-weekend.htm

www.n-scaleweekend.com

[Virginia Atlantic]

Small "get togethers" at nearby Model RR shows always worked well.

I met Tom, Our Feather River friend, and a host of other oldschool Railwire folks at a local VA meet one year, was quite nice.

But some form of National or otherwise big organized type meet?  No, not going to travel beyond my region for a meet myself. 

For VA area modelers, there is a ton of local scenery (CSX, NS lines), the W&OD bike/nike trail (a wonderful thing), and a few local-area shows a year at the Dulles Expo Center.

Would make for a good meet location for easter modelers.  same probably could be said for Baltimore.

[mcjaco]

Like Skibbe has indicated, I think jumping on the back of a larger meet already in place and providing more N scale specific things, is easier. 

I enjoy the RPM Naperville meet the most.  Even if I don't go to any seminars.  Just hanging out in a quiet banquet hall and talking with fellow modelers of any scale is way more appealing to me. 

[mionerr]

Back in 2000 & 2001Some of us put together the Rocky Mountain N Scale meet in Denver. Not a show, not a convention. We hadlayouts from NE, OK, KS,NM and CO. (Sorry Nate, but the only one from UT was Roy). There were nine layouts and lots of vendors. First year we had clinics and they were a bust. Second year we had layout tours instead of clinics and they were very well received. There were over a hundred attendees and door prizes for nearly every attendee. I moved away a week after the second meet but I understand the meet continued for a couple of years.
Everyone enjoyed the meet but we had some issues. First of all was the venue We used a nearly defunct shopping mall. Everywhere else we tried was waay too expensive. That's Denver. There were other venues but they are way too big.
The other problem we had was advertising. Couldn't get a break from newspapers or radio and TV didn't air until Sunday night. Even so, we broke even and everyone enjoyed themselves. I got to give a clinic at the Y2K N convention in San Jose, at George Johnson's request, on how to put on a meet. That was when the idea of some regional N meets was floating around.

[markt]

I love N Scale focused events. I've been to a bunch of them over the years. They've usually been NTRAK focused, which is fine with me, because I do NTRAK stuff.

I don't know if there are enough N Scale RPM types to make an event possible (there might be enough people doing it, but getting them to a central location is a challenge).

It'd be a fun add-on to a bigger event though, like "The ESMC, NZT & Rapido RPM Room at The Bedford N Scale Weekend" kinda thing.

I spoke with Mike Phillips and he is investigating a venue in Altoona that could expand significantly the space available for the N Scale Weekend.  It would also open up opportunities to include the Railroaders Museum and to arrive and depart on Amtrak's Capitol Limited or Pennsylvanian.

[Blazeman]

This forum is for N people who want to accurately depict era, RR, and even locations in their modelling effort. For some, including me, that is sometimes intimidating, but forces attention to detail. If you are going to do it, might as well do it right.

With that type modeler in this group, none should feel out of place to participate in the RPM gatherings around the country. When I come across HO people viewing a well done, prototypically correct N effort, they are amazed and unable to stop verbalizing their surprise. Fly the N flag at those events. Cause a stir.

Looking at the agenda for the RPM meet near me (Malvern, PA) coming in March, there are many programs not scale specific that will provide info to direct a more accurate depiction of the prototype. No reason N-folk can't go, enter contests and benefit. Maybe some of the layouts in the region could also be on the open house tour that is part of the event.  Might be the simplest way to make this come to be...the regional approach. The RPM team has done the hard work, we can help them by pumping up attendance.

[mcjaco]

^ +1.

We have a ton of HOers hanging out at MiNi through much of the RPM weekend. 

[Atlas Paul]

Why not try to coordinate something with the N Scale Enthusiast?

[Sokramiketes]

Why not try to coordinate something with the N Scale Enthusiast?

When George Johnson was looking for a sponsor to oversee the modeling contest room in Milwaukee, I offered up my services if the room could be treated more as an RPM show and tell room than a popular vote contest room.  He didn't seem interested.

I haven't attended all the NSE conventions, but the three I have were much more family oriented and less "hardcore" than what I think is being requested here.  NSE and RPM are both fun for me, but they are much different crowds.