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Re: (erielack) Free-Mo modules

Jim or anyone else.

After reading the standards I am assuming that the layout is run via
Digatrax. ?  Some onf the terminology is different for me.  I used Easy DCC
and things really are easy and straight forward with that system.

The Free-Mo standards would benefit with pictures of end plates and plugs
and wiring like the SSS group has.

Joe Lofland




On Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 11:09 PM, James Harr <bnchmark_@_embarqmail.com>wrote:

> Thanks Josh, for this excellent summary. I have admired the Sipping &
> Switching Society from a distance for some time now; very nicely done. Does
> Curtis Pope still have his Paulins Kill viaduct?
>
> I have been studying the Free-mo.org standards and am quite impressed with
> what they have come up with so far. By far the most appealing thing to me
> is
> that any Free-mo modeler can take his module to any Free-mo event and "plug
> in". May sound better in theory than in practice, but the attempt is being
> made.
>
> We already have 10 members of the EL Free-mo group; I think this is a very
> exciting idea and would like to encourage anyone else that may be
> interested
> to join in. It's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elfreemo/ .
>
> Jim Harr, already daydreaming of all the scenes that would make great
> modules!
>
>
>
>
>
> Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:07:28 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Josh Blevins <stillbre_@_yahoo.com>
> Subject: 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
> http://www.pbase.com/stillbre
> http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=2240
>
>
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