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Free-moN© (N Scale Free-mo)
The official web site for N scale free-mo modular railroading.
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Free-mo is a modular scale railroading standard designed for individual modellers that specifies
bench work, track work, scenery and digital control intended to raise-the-bar for scale modular railroading in general
and, in this case, for N scale modular railroading.
The standard
promotes, and even forces, prototypical appearance and operations by using a
single main line traversing the center of the module resulting in prototypical
point-to-point or loop-to-loop configurations and operation.
A free-moN layout at the 2008 WPM show in La Habra CA
The Free-moN standard, developed and written by Wesley Steiner, has been
published
and is maintained by the
Free-moN Yahoo!
group.
Come join the discussions and see what is developing.
Many participants across the country have already built
modules and are operating free-moN layouts.
This is a new idea for N
scale modular railroading in North America and we need your input to make it successful.
The Spirit of Free-mo (what it is)
The following list summarizes the spirit and benefits of free-moN over
existing modular N scale standards:
- Designed to satisfy the needs of the advanced modeller over the needs of the beginner and general public.
- Incorporates a comfortable working and viewing height, for adults, of 50" to the top of the rail.
- Specifies Code 55 rail for the main with a minimum 22" radius and #6 turnouts.
- Encourages layouts that are optimized for prototypical look and operations by specifying a single mainline down the middle of the module.
- Maximizes flexibility for module design and shape by specifying only the end-plate interface and mainline track standards.
- Simple end-plate specification allows for easy integration into home layouts.
- Encourages a loose association among individuals free of club or group requirements, membership, dues, etc.
- Standardized scenery at the end-plates (to merge visually with adjacent modules).
- DCC/LocoNet/Digitrax control throughout for maximum flexibility.
- Rolling stock that meets or exceeds NMRA standards for reliability.
These standards allow for module construction that is free form
between the end-plates resulting in flexible and adaptable layout
configurations to fit any available space.
