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Re: (erielack) Free-Mo modules
Mark,
Free-Mo has been around for many years. I believe it started in the late 80s. When I first got into the hobby as a teenager in the 90s there was already Free-Mo groups around. Seems to be most the Free-Mo groups are out west. SoCal, NorCal, and Southwest are some of the larger groups. There's a large group in the St Louis area as well and I believe there's another group up in the northeast or Ohio somewhere. All you really need to get started is just a group of people willing to build modules with you. There's also a Yahoo list dedicated to Free-Mo.
Free-Mo is a lot more widespread than the Sipping & Switching Society. Each group has its own advantages and disadvantages. The S&SS has set very rigid standards for its modules. This has enabled us to still run modules that were built in the 70s. Free-Mo has until recent years been a little more lax with their standards. As a result they have some modules that are already starting to suffer sags and warpages. Free-Mo tries to run a prototype operating session when they set up but from what I've observed it tends to be more of a free-for-all once things start. We're more of a free-for-all run but could run an operating session since most the members are prototypical operators. The S&SS was designed as more of a showcase layout with a seperate branch line for switching. This doesn't make the modules very flexible operations wise but it all depends on what you want to do with it. Because we have a double mainline at the front and a single track
"branch" in the rear, the modules can only face one direction whereas Free-Mo can be set up in either direction. In recent years we've started doing 15" wide branch line modules to create more flexibility. Free-Mo is also much more prototype-based in their scenes. The S&SS is a lot more freelanced but there's a couple of us that are building prototypical scenes. We even have a Schykill(sp?) viaduct. I think the biggest advantage the S&SS has over Free-Mo is set-up time. We can have a layout covering a gym floor set up in a matter of an hour or so. That same layout will take Free-Mo several hours to set up by the time they install bridge plates, tote everything around, and clamp in together. The S&SS runs track right to the frontier eliminating the need for bridge plates. Electrical connections are made via trailer plugs. A majority of the modules are built on casters easing they're ability to be moved around. Also, Free-Mo has to use Code 83
track to work. While 83 is by far the most popular out there, the S&SS can use anything from Code 40 to Code 100. We have it all, except for Code 100.
The Sipping & Switching Society has a Yahoo group as well. We also have a couple satelite groups starting in southern Ohio as well as active members in MI and VA. Feel free to visit our website: http://www.mindspring.com/~gugliotta/ Also join both Yahoo groups and talk to the people who actually build the modules.
I encourage everyone to research both groups before deciding on which route to take.
Josh Blevins
Charlotte NC
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