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#1) QUESTION "What is the Gallery?"
ANSWER: The Gallery is the most sophisticated search engine for Brass Models on the internet today. It contains over 21,600 models and is continually growing. From this one page you can search for just about anything. The beauty is that not only can you see the data for a particular model, but you can see photos of the item. And if a "Prototype" photo exist of the real locomotive in our database then that too will be shown for comparison purposes.
#2) QUESTION "What is a BG#?"
ANSWER: A BG# stands for a Brass Guide Number. This unique numbering system has been developed to identify a specific model that has been manufactured. Critical to this is that no two models have the same number although several Importers may have made the same model over the years. This numbering system helps users quickly identify their favorite model and it will always be referenced by that throughout the site (and any Brass Guide publications). It is a tagged number that will always identify a particular model in which it is associated.
#3) QUESTION "How can I submit any data corrections?"
ANSWER: First of all, we would like to thank you for your involvement in helping us with any data corrections. It will always be our intent to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information, so your help is welcomed. Please follow the steps below to either enter corrections or to add brass items not listed in the Price and Data Guide.
Please note: We are asking that you please only provide information for which you have ABSOLUTE proof, such as from the label on the manufacturers box. Accuracy is our main objective.
TO CORRECT DATA:
1) Under "Step 1" enter the 5 digit BG#_________ from the Price and Data Guide you wish to look up. Or simply search for a model using the database.
2) Select "Show Results"
3) Now the data is displayed in the row below. Click on the row to highlight it until you see the BG# populate the corrections window. Then, simply click the "Submit Data Correction" window on the right to bring up the “Data Correction Form.”
4) The existing data is displayed on the left. Simply enter the corrected data in the fields on the right. Please include where you are taking this information from in the "comments" section.
5) Click "Submit" and your corrections are sent to Brass Guide. Check back later for the updates.
6) If you wish to add more simply click "New Search" in the database window.
TO ADD A NEW MODEL NOT LISTED:
1) Under "Step 1" of the BG# enter: 99999 (This number is only used for new entries)
2) Select "Show Results"
3) Now the data is displayed below. It is an empty row with only BG-99999 showing. Now, simply click the "Submit Data Correction" window on the right to bring up the “Data Correction Form.”
4) The exisitng data on the left is empty. Simply enter the "new model data" in the fields on the right. Please include where you are taking this information from in the "comments" section.
5) Click "Submit" and the information is sent to Brass Guide. Check back later for the updates.
6) If you wish to add more, simply click "New Search" in the database window.
Finally, if you have submitted any corrections or even added models to our database and have pictures of the front of the manufacturers box, we would love to have those in our archives. These photos help substantiate the data we can provide. If you would like to help and submit these to us in a jpeg file we would certainly appreciate it. These files can be emailed to datahelp@brassguide.com
Again, we at Brass Guide, Inc. thank you for your time and efforts in helping us to ensure that our publications and informational resources be the most reliable source of information on Brass Model Trains.
#4) QUESTION "How can I search for a model?"
ANSWER: First you must select from one of the 4 Search Modes (BG#, Standard, Advanced, or Text). Next, enter or select from one or all the options in Step#1 (Filter). (Note: After Step#1 you can simply hit "enter" on your keyboard or skip to Step#3 and select "Show Results.") If you wish to "sort" the order in which the data will be displayed, then proceed to Step#2 (Sort). After your selection, then proceed to Step#3 and select "Show Results."
#5) QUESTION "Why are there 4 Search Modes and which one do I choose?"
ANSWER: We have developed 4 different types of search modes to make it easier for the user to search for items individually or in groups. If you know the BG# of the item you are looking for, then this method is the quickest. Also, if you want to use our site in conjunction with your "Brass Model Trains Price & Data Guide" this is the easiest method. If you would like to see items, for example "everything listed in HO Scale" then use the "Standard" or "Advanced" searches. The only difference between the "Standard" and "Advanced" searches are the sorting options that follow. The last search option is "Text" mode which allows you to enter virtually any word to search for an item.
NOTE: At any time (as long as at least one item in Step 1 is selected) the user can hit "ENTER" on the keyboard to populate the data without the need to complete the remaining steps (#2 and #3).
#6) QUESTION "Is it necessary to use Step#2(Sort)?"
ANSWER: No. After selecting or inputting data in Step #1 the user can simply hit "enter" and the data will be populated below. By default however, the data is automatically sorted by Railroad-Owner Name in A to Z order.
#7) QUESTION "How can I jump to another page?"
ANSWER: Depending on how wide the range of data the user has searched for, the results can be very large. By default, each page will contain up to 500 models which can easily be scrolled through. However, at the bottom of the page there is the option to simply jump to the "Next" or "Previous" page by selecting the appropriate arrow. Or to jump to a specific page, simply use the drop-down box and select the page to view.
#8) QUESTION "What are the "Notes" and how can I view them?"
ANSWER: Notes are comments or remarks relating to each individual model. In the Notes column there is a "magnifying eyeglass icon" that will appear ONLY when there are notes that can be read. By clicking on the icon, a pop-up box will appear for the model/item that is highlighted.
#9) QUESTION "What do the (D,E,P,R,S,T,V) letters indicate in the Main Category box?"
ANSWER: To easily reveal the meaning of these letters, simply hover the mouse cursor over a selected letter. For example, D= DIESEL, E= ELECTRIC, P= PASSENGER, R= ROLLING STOCK, S= STEAM, T= TRACTION, V= VARIOUS.
#10) QUESTION "How can I view Photos?"
ANSWER: The Photos on this site will continually be updated and added to, so we encourage you to check back often as it grows. There are 3 different areas of the site that contain photos and these are indicated in the columns (Model, Proto, and Exchange). When a "camera icon" appears in either the Model or Proto columns, that indicates that there are photos which can be viewed for that model/item. (Model photos are photographs of the model/item indicated, and Proto photos are photographs of the original Prototype as they once ran on the railroad). To view any of these items simply click on the camera icon and you will be redirected to the Detailed Photo Page. For the Exchange column, when an icon appears, this indicates that the item is for sale on the Exchange. Depending on the listing and from whom, there may or may not be photos included. If the listing is directly from Brass Guide then a icon with an "e" will appear. In these cases there will always be photos in the Exchange. By selecting this icon you will be redirected to the Exchange.
#11) QUESTION "Is it possible to search for models that ONLY have photos?"
ANSWER: Yes. While searching in either Standard or Advanced modes, simply select the Scale in Step#1 (which is required.) Then in the fourth drop-down box entitled "-Select Options-" choose "Models Only." The data that is populated will contain only photos of models you searched. If, for example, the results yielded 50 models with photos, simply click on any camera icon and you will be redirected to the Detailed Photo Page where ALL 50 of the models/items in your search can be viewed together.
#12) QUESTION "What does "Proto" mean?"
ANSWER: The column entitled Proto, is short for Prototype. Thus, when a "camera icon" appears in this column it is an indication that a photo exists in the database of the original Prototype as they once ran on the railroad.
#13) QUESTION "What do the icons in the Exchange column indicate?"
ANSWER: There are 2 different types of icons that can appear in the Exchange column. One is a simple dollar icon "$" and the other is an icon with the letter "e" (which stands for the Exchange throughout this site). The Exchange contains models/items that are for sale. If the "$" shows in the Exchange column this indicates that either a Dealer or Importer has the item available for sale or on consignment. It can also indicate that there is a Classified listing for the item. In the above instances photos may or may not exist for the model/item. However, if there is an "e" icon in the Exchange column, this is an indication that Brass Guide is listing the item. In these instances, there will always be Photos as well as Grading Standards applied to each model, both of which are viewable. These items can then be purchased directly from this site.
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