Gold

[Peter Cross]

I see RMweb are starting a gold membership. For a price, seems to give you the capacity, to sell, to the online back issues of British Railway Modeling. All for 50 odd notes. I post little there now, as the photo allowance is poor, and the site is rather more difficult to navigate around now. But I think it will be even less now.
I don't mind a pay service but to me it seems likely to add more conflict there than there is now.

 

[cmax]

Well I posted "other forums are available", and have ended up getting locked out of that thread, so if any more from here are reading that over there, you won't see any more from me.

Gary

 

[Eastsidepilot]

Mean while back on WT ...........

 

[simond]

It’s very nice here, the modelling is outstanding, there is a clear sense of welcome & camaraderie, there’s a broad spectrum of interests and the folks are very nice.

However, I’ve got quite a bit of history invested in RMWeb, which makes it more difficult, I have 6 threads, four of which are current, one is history and one is on prolonged hold. My main layout thread is 40-odd pages, and it just doesn’t seem feasible to give them up. I’ve no idea if it is possible (let alone legitimate) to download my threads and save them locally, or to republish elsewhere.

The vast majority of the folks I’ve corresponded with on RMWeb are thoroughly pleasant, and many of them are on here, and some on the G0G forum too. I’ve heard that it’s “all bitchy and wish lists” but I’ve honestly seen very little of that, conversely I do have to say that the new website seems far clunkier than the old one, and I’m not going to pay fifty quid a year to read a magazine I never buy (though occasionally browse in WHS @Euston...)

It’s not “either-or”, so I shall maintain current threads, and inhabit both forums (fora?) and occasionally dip into the Guild, which does seem to have settled down a bit, happily.

If anyone’s interested, my nickname & avatar are the same there too. Do drop in, you’re more than welcome. Threads on my might-have-been loco shed layout, Porth Dinllaen, my Duchess rebuild, Arduinos, Lasers, my old layout and a Garratt which isn’t progressing.

But it’s just crashed...

Best
Simon

 

[Spitfire2865]

I find it funny how the staff think this new "gold membership" will somehow NOT drive a wedge through the userbase, but I know we have all seen it on many other websites who introduce multiple levels of service. You end up with elitists and the commoners. Even if unintentional, there does develop a difference in treatment. The services get cut back for the common folk while paying members maintain the old levels.

 

[Peter Cross]

I myself aren't to bothered about whether it's a pay service or not I'd willingly subscribe if I still enjoyed the site. But the trouble is to me its broken, andaneeds fixing rather than being charged for. They upgraded site is not easy to find your way around. The target audience now seems to be aimed at box openers, and wish Listers. Looking at modelling questions shows what's happening there. There's a prise for one lucky person if registered before May, yes a RTR box to open.
I had decided to finish posting new builds once the current ones are finished. I find the atmosphere and way around the site brings no enjoyment being there. I expect many will enjoy their new found gold.

 

[adrian]

In several ways I can understand what they are trying to do, not saying I agree with them but I can understand. Offering a benefits package on top of a free service is their prerogative and I wish them all the best for trying something new. They certainly seemed to have put a lot of effort into it.

Don't forget that they are operating at a completely different scale to WT, they've had more members online in one go than our total membership numbers! Which is one of the reasons I gravitated to WT in the first place, that and the policy of no political discussions, which for me is not just national politics but politics of other forums as well, RMWeb included.

At the end of the day it's their operating model and something they've decided to try, however I wouldn't want to see any baggage from RMweb landing on our doorstep. So I'd appreciate it if this brings this thread to a close.

Thank you.

 

[oldravendale]

Well said, Adrian - although I understand why it's generated so much discussion!

B

 

[Cliff Williams]

And there was me thinking we were departing into a musical discussion....

 

[Tim Watson]

RMWEB is a curates egg: good in parts but fairly tedious in others. The simple solution is to only look at the bits that you like. In particular, the 2mm section is very well mannered and constructive. Finding high quality modelling is much easier on WT!

Tim

 

[Jordan]

There's talk/fears Over There of this scheme creating a 'two tier' membership.
Pah - WT beat them to that ages ago it's called 'The Back of the Class' & no one has to pay for the privledge!!

 

[Peter Cross]

Yep that's fine Adrian. You can lock or delete as you wish.

 

[Simon]

Yep that's fine Adrian. You can lock or delete as you wish.

Well I hope not, far better to leave it open and rely on the good sense and discretion of those here. Many of whom are there too.

I feel for Andy, the site is on a completely different scale to this one and requires a completely different approach. Warners bankroll it and I think it is entirely reasonable that they (and Andy) explore ways of funding what must by now be quite an expensive operation.

Sorry Adrian

 

[Dog Star]

There's talk/fears Over There of this scheme creating a 'two tier' membership.
Pah - WT beat them to that ages ago it's called 'The Back of the Class'

Jordan (@Jordan), what happened to the "armchair modellers" who appeared in another of your pause-for-thought posts?

 

[Jordan]

Jordan (@Jordan), what happened to the "armchair modellers" who appeared in another of your pause-for-thought posts?

I think the thread was quietly removed around the time I resigned from the Flying Squad, also coinciding with a backlash from the Front of the Class against the irreverant antics of the Blue Brigade, which ultimately led to the demise of that happy informal WT group of iredeemable reprobates.
The closest I can get to it from those heady times is the wreckage of this old thread...
Box-Opening & Instant Gratification... it works for me!!!

 

[Simon]

I think the thread was quietly removed around the time I resigned from the Flying Squad, also coinciding with a backlash from the Front of the Class against the irreverant antics of the Blue Brigade, which ultimately led to the demise of that happy informal WT group of iredeemable reprobates.
The closest I can get to it from those heady times is the wreckage of this old thread...
Box-Opening & Instant Gratification... it works for me!!!

Do you know, there are times when I quite miss the Blue Brigade - oh dear, can I really be saying that?

Anyway, the good news is that they are alive and well. A very definite highlight for me of attending Telford since copping for Wild Swan etc is catching up with Ploffy, Phill, Ross and the rest of the gang in early September every year. Hopefully see you there this year Jordan?

And Jordan, having re-aquainted myself with your very funny but also slightly sad thread (and without wishing in any way to create WT's own "Goldgate") I would just like to say that while I might just possibly have been perceived as being one of the front of class swots, and you and I haven't always been exactly "singing from the same hymnsheet", I thought that the introduction of the "BD phrase" if I may call it that was a really unfortunate thing to have taken place, all those years ago.

Much better was wonderful Cynric's "SBB" monicker, being spam banter and b*ll*cks for those who weren't around at the time.

The intervening years have only further highlighted to me the absolute need to not take oneself too seriously, so here's to laughing, the Dark Side and Cynric, I still can't believe he has gone, what a terrible loss that was.

Simon

PS Sorry again Adrian!

 

[Heather Kay]

I quite miss the Blue Brigade

Patience, dear boy. I seem to have a series of blue things lined up.