More work = more pride

[FJ and G]

There's a truism (as well as a psychologically validated tidbit) that the more we work at something, the more we come to like it.

Another way to say it is "labor of love."

Those who've scratchbuilt rolling stock, locomotives, track, scenery, structures, etc etc, take tremendous pride in the work they've done; which usually is a one-of-the-kind features.

(Of course that is not to say that those who get their layout professionally built for them are not happy).

Anyway, this labor of love is pretty cool (tho not entirely rational, when you think of x,y, and z that would have been accomplished if you hadn't done a,b and c).

There's no point to this post, just an observation.

Perhaps there's something you can tell us about your labor of love; no matter what it may be, and how it has made the hobby more enjoyable?[:)]

[Frank53]

I share your view. If my layout is ever to the point where trains are running and an acceptable amount of the scenery is complete, it will be much more gratifying to invite visitors to take a look at what I "built", as opposed to what I "bought".

[andregg1]

Today the people like "plug and play", and the hobby sense die between the hobby store and the layout..
Today the hobby is who buy more or expensive.........
Is amaizing, but highest topic are about plug and play or when they "plug and no play" .
I am a crastman and I post some topic about my work and the result are 2 or 3 responses no more.............
But if you say that my tcmm plus v.5 dosen't work the result can be more than 15 responses.
Sorry if I look little bit angry, but the forum some time look like customer support forum instead Classic toy train........
Andre.

[Anonymous]

Understandable argument there Andre. Nowadays, many want the ease and convience of adding things on their layout, rather than taking the time to build one yourself. Maybe it's either they don't have the skill, or they just dont have the time nor patience to build something when all they have to do is look at Uncle Jerry's bridge on the shelf and buy it right away.

I am looking to get more into building my own things, like train bridges and such, and I even want to learn to make highway road signs. Sure I have not tried these things before but if one is willing to learn, I am sure anything can be accomplished.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy building things as much, if not more so, as actually running trains. But then, I'm retired...so I have the time. I'm currently building a 1950's Drive-In Movie for a club modular layout. Joe

[thor]

I wouldnt play trains if it was just plug'n'play. The reason I like them is the number of things they give me to do from scratchbuilding to improving or renovating. My pride is inversely proportional to how much I spend. The less the better.

[Frank53]

QUOTE: Originally posted by thor

I wouldnt play trains if it was just plug'n'play. The reason I like them is the number of things they give me to do from scratchbuilding to improving or renovating. My pride is inversely proportional to how much I spend. The less the better.

I just finished up a building where the goal was to build it from stuff I had laying around and keep the cost under $5.00. I could have bought a $49,95 building kit for that spot, and I admit, it would look better, but not $44.95 better. Excluding the lighting, I bought nothing to build it just using spare stuff from other projects.

[thatboy37]

im just getting started well not really but in my newhouse im just getting started building my layout it in. i think i will take the advice of the guys who have been doing this for a while to scratch build my bench work. for one reason i is cheaper an while your out there looking for wood in the back of your mind thinking i can wait to get home and get started on this project. you know its not new but being the fact that you took the time to build from scratch it seems to me that it is worth that much more because you put your time and sweat into it. plus you get the pleasure of telling people you built it from scratch and they are in awe of how nice it looks and they never woul have thought you built it yourself. so i guess it the love of labor and the praise you get when other hobbiest see your work. plus that means you saved a little money and the other half will love you even more because she can spend the extra you didnt use on the stuff shes been dieing to get for the past few years, and you will get the praise from her which is the ultimate praise besides from the LORD. and when it comes time for you to get that piece you really want she want hesitate to let you spnd that extra dough to get it. sorry if i got off track but it was on my mind and felt i had to say it. so please work with me a little

[marxalot]

I enjoy building kits. I always have. In my HO days I worked on several craftsman level and had a great time. I still enjoy kit building. My first and at the moment only Lionel piece of equipment is the electrical substation building. I took some time and tried to do the mortar thing with mixed results...... but I will be better next time. I am having a hoot building some IHC two story houses, some of which I have seen in photos of other forum folks layouts. These are fun. In my HO days I was criticized by others because of not scratchbuilding! Some of this was meant in fun but it did hurt my feelings. When I get finished glueing down the cork roadbed I'll start of a little hill/mountain with ye olde plaster. At the end of the day, this is a hobby of mine and as I have many other opportunities to spend my time, whenever I partake of it, it is with a great deal of love for trains, models, and yes, kits!

Rock on!


Jim