Free-mo
A Beginner's Guide
Thanks
for your interest in the Minnesota
Free-mo Modelers.
Free-mo is an increasingly popular standard for building and running
modular model railroads. Free-mo was pioneered and developed by a
group of modelers on the west coast of the U.S. It is quickly
gaining acceptance and popularity throughout North America. Free-mo
is based on the FREMO European standard. There are active Free-mo
groups from coast to coast in the U.S. and Canada, including ours
right here in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
The Free-mo modular standard (see www.free-mo.org)
specifies
electrical and mechanical requirements so that any Free-mo module can
mate with any other Free-mo module. What happens between the module
ends is left mainly up to the modeler's discretion. This means that
Free-mo modules can be short or long (even multi-piece), straight or
curved. Module size and shape are not specified. Free-mo modules
can include junctions, industries, or yards. Very successful Free-mo
modules can also be based on mainlines running through scenery. By
connecting many "free form" Free-mo modules, layouts can take on
interesting point-to-point, point-to-loop and other operations-
friendly configurations.
The Free-mo modeling community includes many avid, prototype-oriented
modelers. The Free-mo standard provides a suitable platform to
create and enjoy highly detailed, realistic model railroad scenes
using the best materials the hobby has to offer. Perhaps best of
all, these modules then come together to make large layouts that can
be operated in prototypical fashion.
Please
take a moment to read the
New Members Policy.
If
you are interested, have questions or need more information about
the Minnesota Free-mo Modelers, feel free to send a message to info@mnfreemo.org
and one of our members will get back to you.