Come on guys, this is very negative, and not something I recognise at all.
We were never going to replace Cynric, but I would remind you that he was a S7 modeller when WT started and actively encouraged S7 to this forum. The forum did survive Cynric's death and has grown and diversified, as all forums do if they are not to disappear. There are a lot of good threads which are worth following from all sources.
I don't believe S7 has skewed the forum much, and anyway, most of the S7 content is about construction, and the track gauge is irrelevant. Hell, I model in 31.5 gauge and that is very definitely a minority sport here or anywhere else.
In any event, isn't it better to encourage everyone else to post rather than criticise those that do? If you feel some content is missing, do something about it, but don't seek to cut down what is already there.
It reminds me more of the die-hards in the GOG or G1MRA who resist change.
I really didn't expect it here, and am sorry it has reared its head.
Richard
About a week before Cynric died we had quite a long telephone conversation. We had about four of these over time, during which I came to like him - even though we did not meet. That might have changed though, as I'd extended an invitation to visit us.
Since he died I've seen a few points on the forum when it might have seemed relevant to mention this last conversation that we had. Now I think it is the right time to do so. Some of what I'm about to say might not go down too well with some of you but I hope at least that you all know that I always strive to be honest in things - both as a trader and on this forum - so don't shoot the messenger!
Cynric told me that he was not too happy [that is exactly the right level to pitch it] with the way the forum was going. Phill is right when he says that it 'was set up as a haven for free speech among the modelling community' but more than than - it was started to be what Cynric hoped would be a forum for kit building [and mainly 7mm kit building at that!]. He said that lots of people had followed him across from 'the other place' and that now he just had to accept the way the forum was going. At no point in our conversation did he mention any lack of accent on things GWR/WR - possibly because he was realistic enough to appreciate that on a forum to be read anywhere by folks that are online, then just one region was always going to be of a minority interest. Besides, if you had a strictly WR forum - then we would not see some spectacular threads on here like that on Richard's Heyside layout.
But - and this is the bit bit you might not like - his desire to set up this forum was triggered by a thread on the other forum [before it was re-launched and moved] a long time back and to which we had both contributed. Basically, we were accused of being elitist in our views and he replied to the effect that, if wanting to continually improve ones modelling and strive for ever greater standards was elitist, then he was elitist and was proud to be so. This was what gave him the idea to set up WT. This all came out in our last conversation. I leave you all to consider this.
I feel it is is true that Cynric would not have wanted the forum to be dominated by S7 modellers, but neither would he have wanted them sidelined either. I don't see that WT is dominated by S7 particularly and as has been said - most of what S7 modellers do is relevant to someone building a kit to FS standards - just as it is as true the other way around. The whole of life is a learning process and a serious hobby such as we are engaged in requires us to continually learn, improve our techniques and to try to progress within it. There are always multiple ways of arriving at a similar outcome and that is where the input from all contributors is so valuable.
For myself [and as I have stated on a thread called 'The future for 7mm' on the other forum] - I think that with the growth of RTR, 7mm is now like 4mm in that there are increasingly two hobbies within each scale. There are the kit builders and the RTR enthusiasts [and this group will only grow]. I know many will say that most modellers have both RTR & kits and this is obviously true right now - but IMHO increasingly it will not be.
Why we all just cannot get along and leave each other in peace I do not know. The RTR guys can have fum and actually enjoy their hobby and the the kit guys can just be left 'out to pasture' to persue their own brand of masochistic enjoyment!
I mean no disrespect to Cynric whatsoever with this posting. Iv'e just tried to report honestly here the views that he expressed to me.
Regards To All,
DJP/MMP