How To: Modular Construction Types: FreeMo, NTrak, One Trak, etc.

[Operater]

Hi Group, Sept 15th, 07.
Saturday 11:45 Hrs. M.D.T.


Anyone in This Group, Interested in "Free Mo N"? Reasons for
Asking? There is Some Debates About Having "Free Mo N" at the N Scale
Collecter Converntion and the N.M.R.A. Converntion, Next Year - 2008 and
in the Coming Years.
I've Seen the ADVANTAGES of Free Mo in HO and I Remember
Years Back When iI Got Stated in Germany, I Thought it Was say
"Interesting" at the Time, But I Liked What I Saw because I Saw a Lot of
Potential for Some Interesting N Scale Modulars, at the Time.
I Figure If One Goes it Alone, Its OK But its Always More Fun
When You Go as a Group, and can Promote a Concepts That Others Might
Just Take You Up on the Concepts and Your Group Grows, Because U can
Go With Other Groups within Canada and the States., Just Like Our HO
Associates Did.
I have to Admit They Took an N Scale Concept from Germany
and Turned into a Sucess Story in H0. We Need to Do Like Wise.

Comments Anyone.

Thanks.

[NorsemanJack]

Andrew - it may help if you posted some links that we could review so as to better understand what Free Mo N is. I seem to recall it being a somewhat flexible module concept, but that's it. Thanks.

:tb-biggrin: <<< what's up with these strange new smilies??

[christoph]

The German FREMO website is here: FREMO Freundeskreis Europäischer Modellbahner eV. (http://www.fremo.org/)

They are building modules in H0 on a very high standard, both in terms of details and also in operations. As always, some people complain that their standards are too strict, but the result is top notch.
A colleague of mine is an active member, planning operations schedules for their meetings. I visited one meeting and was really impressed.

AFAIK they also have an Amercan modelling group, and some N-scale groups. Since I am not building modules but have a "cramped basement operation", I have not checked further on their N-scale activities.

My 2ct.....

[David Bromage]

The European Fremo and North American Free-mo (and Free-moN) standards are very different.

There is a Free-moN mailing list.
Free-moN : Free-mo (N Scale) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Free-moN)

On the list they are talking about a Free-moN layout at the Louisville convention.

Cheers
David

[davidone]

I still don't know the difference between Femo and N track modules, what's the big deal?

Dae

[BoxcabE50]

I still don't know the difference between Femo and N track modules, what's the big deal?

Dae

It's simply another option for people who want to go the modular route. From photos I have seen of shows, it does look good. But also appears to take up more floor space.

Boxcab E50

[atsf_arizona]

I'm not a Fremo expert, but here's what little I know (my opinions only,
welcome to correct by those more knowledgeable):

- Fremo in general, is the "Prototype Modelers" version of modular railroading.
The standards are the height and the end interface, with no grades and no
backdrop (i.e. you can view the module from both sides). Typical focus of Fremo
module builders is to build a very prototypical appearance scene as well as
a consistent overall image for the modular layout. As prototype scenes are the
focus, the modules and resulting layout are allowed to be,
and thus tend to be, much more free-form
in size and shape than N Trak. Fremo and the Prototype Modeler's meets
typically go hand in hand, and Fremo is a relatively
recent development, i.e. last 10 - 15 years or so. Here are links to some of
Harry Wong's photos on the web of a Free-Mo N layout at the Western Prototype Modelers Meet 2006
in La Habra, Calif (on of the many big Prototype Modeler's Meets annually),
see the following links and enjoy:

Western Prototype Modelers Meet 2006 Photo Gallery by tracktime at pbase.com (http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/wpm2006&page=20)

(as you can tell I am a fan of Fremo N as well as Fremo HO).



- NTrak, on the other hand, was begun back in the early 1970's by a excellent
band of N scale pioneers including Jim Fitzgerald, to whom we all owe a
gratitude and appreciation. NTrak modules have requirement for 3 parallel
main lines, generally are fixed sized modules (i.e. most of them are 2' x 4',
although of course there are options to have longer and shorter), but the
end width and length and transport options typically mean that at an N trak
show, the majority of modules are this size. NTrak emphasizes running
and displaying N scale trains as a relative higher priority than prototypical
accuracy. There are many incredibly beautiful prototypical NTrak modules,
of course:

atsf_arizona_at_chantillys photos and albums on webshots (http://community.webshots.com/user/atsf_arizona_at_chantilly)

That having been said, NTrak in general doesn't restrict the whimsical
creativity aspect, nor do they overly concern themselves with what
modules are adjacent to what other modules. Fremo N is an evolution
(there are others as well) designed to provide a venue for things like
single mainlines, code 55 everywhere, an overall very prototypical
consistent appearance with a common theme, free-form module shapes.
Fremo and for that matter almost all modular model railroading, had NTrak's
success as one of the foundations to build upon.

- - -

Nothing wrong with either approach, I like both as well. It's just a matter
of different focuses for different folks - both are valid and both further
the envelope of what is possible to enjoy in our hobby. :-)

[Paul Downs]

If there is a serious interest in having Fremo at the 2008 National N Scale Convention (which btw in not a N Scale Collector convention - it's an N scale convention with NSC as a partner), here's what you need to do.

Develop a plan where any Fremo modeler can apply to participate in the Fremo convention layout. Have a way to contact other Fremo modelers to spread the word. If there is a Fremo layout, there can be only one. All Fremo modules at the convention would be in that single layout.

Designate a single person as the layout lead. All Fremo modelers will contact that person to participate. The Fremo Lead would be on the convention committee as the Fremo Layout Chair. They will coordinate the layout and all communication with the rest of the convention staff.

Submit a layout proposal to me. I'll forward it to the ops guys, who will in turn make the selections. We are required by our contract with WGH to have layouts of all scales. We already have N covered, but we want to accept as many N layouts of other standards as we can. There is no guarentee, but we'd love to have it.

Contact me with questions or comments, or visit the site. Link is in my sig line.

[Grey One]

John Sing - Thank you again for everything you have contributed to this issue specifically and the hobby on a global level.

I understand the differance now.
Most likely I will someday do a Ntrak module or two to fit into the GandG.

[David Bromage]

If there is a serious interest in having Fremo at the 2008 National N Scale Convention (which btw in not a N Scale Collector convention - it's an N scale convention with NSC as a partner), here's what you need to do.

Develop a plan where any Fremo modeler can apply to participate in the Fremo convention layout.
Best to use the correct terminology. Free-mo(N) and Fremo are very different standards with only a few superficial similarities.

The major differences between Free-moN and NTRAK are that Free-moN is finescale, DCC and designed for end-to-end operation (rather than just running trains round and round a circuit). It is also truly free form where, apart from a minimum width, modules can be any size or shape you desire.

Cheers
David

[Wolfgang Dudler]

The European FREMO (http://www.fremo.org/inhalt_e.htm) was founded in 1981. All three parts of the name are important to us:
FReundeskreis / Circle of Friends - we meet not only at our official meetings, but we stay in contact with each other personally, by e-mail or via the phone
Europäischer - although incorporated in Germany, our memberlist underlines our engagement for a Europe without frontiers.
MOdellbahner / MOdellrailroaders - we would like to see ourselve as the creative avantgarde of the hobby in Europe - articles written by our members appear in several magazins and books - we promote the use of smaller rails and many ideas, which surfaced to a wider audiance in the last years, were developed and tested at FREMO-meetings.

A FREMO show is not for public, only interested visitors are welcome. We operate our layouts for ourselves. Look at my meeting (http://www.westportterminal.de/meetings.html) site with lots of pictures.

But FREMO members will take part at the convention (http://www.us-convention-brd.de/indexe.htm) in Rodgau.

Wolfgang

[MioneRR]

FreemoN sounds like the old Interail modular standard from the 70s. I've heard occasional rumblings about it over the years, but it doesn't appear to be in widespread useage yet.
Keep in mind that NTRAK and FreemoN aren't competing standards; they represent two different views. NTRAKwas originally designed to showcase Nscale. It still does. FreemoN emphasizes more prototypical modeling. Neither is better, just different.
FreemoN, I suspect, would attract "free spirits" if you will, maybe individualists? Maybe doesn't lend themselves to organizing. Just a wag on my part.

[SteamDonkey74]

I would love to see a Free-moN layout constructed of modules.

I am a member of an NTrak club, and I think the main reason we are NTrak is that back in the dark ages of N scale when the club began that WAS the module standard. We actually have a fair number of oNeTrak modules now and some other stuff that doesn't fit any of the standards.

I love what the different module standards have done for increasing connections between N scalers and increasing their ability to match things up and run them together, which I think has also increased our visibility through public shows. Having said that, I don't think modular standards are everything in N scale. My home layout will be modular (for ease of swapping out or adding pieces) but not necessarily all one standard. My current ideas have some NTrak modules, some oNeTrak pieces, and some that don't fit either standard that are for making the transitions I need in my basement room to make it all fit without unnaturally tight curves.

[Ottergoose]

Several members of our club are getting into T-Trak now, which is much easier to move, build, etc. I haven't heard of Free Mo N until now... interesting concept.

[SteamDonkey74]

It's kind of like architecture. Every building built at a given time in a given jurisdiction is built under the same set of codes, yet some are elegant and well-built and some are ugly and almost unworkable.

Similarly, I think the modular standards should not be seen as cure-alls or prescriptions for all one's modeling needs, but as handy baselines on which to elaborate yet still assure compatibility with other layouts. In our own club, we have some wonderful NTrak modules and we have some pedestrian ones and we have some which are just not all that great. I think it really depends on what you do with the standard and not what the actual standard is.

Having said that, I believe that standards can, in fact, get in the way, especially when the wiring practices outlined run counter to upgrades, such as DCC.

[David Bromage]

T-Trak is a good way to get people into the hobby, especially young people. It's relatively quick and inexpensive to build a module. But it has similar limitations to NTRAK - basically only for round and round running and module dimensions are more or less fixed.

Free-moN is finescale (code 55 or smaller), DCC, generally single track (although multiple is possible), truly free form, allows variable heights (max 2% grade) and designed for operation. Another major difference is the nominal datum is 50" above the floor, a much better height for viewing and operation. Round and round running isn't possible and I don't think a full circuit layout has ever been assembled. There is no "front" or "back" of a module - they are designed to be reversible so both sides are the viewing side. Another major difference is scenic standards so the modules have to blend visually when assembled into a layout.

Corners aren't in multiples of 45 or 90 degrees or a fixed radius - you can build a 31.25" radius, 28 degree curve if you want. Modules aren't in fixed lengths - you can build a 4'8" x 26" yard if you want. You can can do absolutely anything you want so long as your modules can be joined to everybody else's.

Here's some useful Free-moN links:
Free-mo N scale (Free-moN) (http://www.geocities.com/w_steiner/ModelRailroading/Free-moN/Main.html)
http://www.geocities.com/w_steiner/ModelRailroading/Free-moN/FreemoNStandards.html
http://www.geocities.com/w_steiner/ModelRailroading/Free-moN/Free-moNEndplate.JPG

And the Free-moN mailing list with lots more photos:
Free-moN : Free-mo (N Scale) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Free-moN/)

Also some general (mainly HO) information about Free-mo.
FREE-MO.ORG | Official Site for Free-mo (http://www.free-mo.org/)
http://www.trainweb.org/northgamodurail/freemo/gentleguide.pdf

Cheers
David