After reading the MAY issue of MR, I had a question and was wondering what everyones take on this would be.  The article I'm referring to is Lots of Locomotives in a small space.  Now my concern with this article is the fact that the person had a layout building company build the layout.  The overall size of the layout is rather small and I could understand if the person had some sort of disablity that would prevent them from build such a layout, but the excuse that he didn't have the time, I just don't know.  I think the idea and concept of the layout is great and its good to see smaller layouts featured in the pages of MR, but one that's been for the most part built by company as opposed to the actual modeller.....to me it is like nothing more that a three page ad for that company.  I don't have alot of time myself and space has always been at a premium do to my work.  I've been working on a 4X8 layout for almost 3 years and I'm just now starting to ballast the track and start putting scenery on it.  Is this what the Hobby has come to a true RTR including layouts??  Maybe I just have old fashioned views on this, what do you folks think of this article or idea??

 Brad

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For me the joy of the hobby comes from the sense of accomplishment when I build something, whether it's benchwork, an electrical circuit, or a detailed scene.  I would be loathe to have someone else enjoy my hobby for me...

This type of article leaves me cold, and cheapens what it means to really participate in a hobby, and diminishes Model Railroader's reputation as a leading magazine.

I suppose there's a market for this sort of thing, but as I stated in another thread about scratch building, you won't find an article in American Woodworker about shopping for a dresser at Ikea.

Lee 

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Route of the Alpha Jets

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/

To each their own. 

My son will gladly pay for services, or prebuilt things.  He wants the end product so he can use it that's what makes him happy.

Me on the other hand I'm exactly the opposite.  I want to build it with my own two hands.  For me not only is it a sense of pride but I know it is built right and I know how to take it apart if I have to.

There are plenty people out there that don't want to take the time, and have the cash, to have someone else do the labor.  They want to operate the end product and that's what they enjoy. 

So I say to everyone, to each their own.  I'll build mine and take a lifetime to do it, that's what I enjoy.  Everyone else do what you want. 

Remember this hobby is suppose to be fun!

Bill

MPRR wrote:

Point taken..... But should such projects be featured in MR ???  Thats the main question here.

Hmmmm....

Well, one could take the position that the layout was built by a modeller, but he got paid for the work.  I haven't read the article yet, but I think I would say that if the layout is worthy, and has ideas that the rest of us can use, and might not have thought of, then sure, it should be in there.

If it becomes a trend.............I'm not for it.

In my experience model railroading has always been one of those hobbies where the focal point is self proficiency across a gamut of skills. The story of any individuals layout being the trials and tribulations involved in acquiring and utilizing those skills. The best part being the unique solutions modelers come up with for various problems we all face with layouts. 

However I'd LOVE to see an issue dedicated to nothing but custom builders who do this for a living. I bet they have a great amount of wisdom to distill for the rest of us. Custom builders are modellers who happen to be successful at making a living at it. Good for them. I'd much rather see interviews with the builders of these layouts versus the owners.

Give the owner a sidebar to explain the concept and inspiration, but more detail and insight from these builders would be great.

MPRR wrote:

Point taken..... But should such projects be featured in MR ???  Thats the main question here.

IMHO - Not at the expense of other articles.

If the page count is increased to add them, then OK, I guess.

If the articles share some innovative technique(s) that we can all learn from, I wouldn't mind. 

So many grey areas ... 

Karl

tomikawaTT wrote:

The model railroad in question  - is a model railroad. The name of the publication in question  - is Model Railroader. I don't see any adjectives like, "Scratchbuilt, modeler assembled, non-commercial," or similar in the title of the magazine. Applying the reasoning implied in the original question, maybe MR shouldn't have reported on the layout at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  After all, it was built by professional model builders under contract.  Or is there some dividing line between 'acceptable' professional building and 'unacceptable' professional building?  If so, where is it?  Who drew it?  Lacking an answer, I don't see any problem with MR featuring professionally built layouts any more than I have heartburn about them featuring custom built locomotives. Back when I was routinely working 60 hours a week, I would have loved to hire a professional to build a layout for me - if I also had had the space and the disposable income.  If someone DOES have the space and disposable income, more power to him. Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

I look for articles that inspire, entertain, and present new ideas.  This one did all three. I don't care if Jojo the Chimp or Michaelangelo did it. 

Enjoy

Paul 

What a lot of Great responses!!  I was just wondering what the consensus would be on this topic.  I'm one of those modellers that likes to do it myself.... and I guess that's what I do with all of my hobbies.  I can see the point of taking things to an outside source to have the work done.

Lateral-G you talk about cars quite a bit and I know...when I get the money I'm going to have the windshield gasket replace by a pro. in my 47 Ford truck.  I don't have the tools or the skill for that.  I see your point as well as others on here.

The Article just caught me alittle off guard, not something I would have expected to read about in MR...  I guess I need to catch up with the times.

Brad

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jeffrey-wimberly wrote:

There have been layout building contractors for almost as long as there have been layouts to be built, and it's not the first time that a professionally built layout has gotten a big write-up. Look at Clark Dunham's big O-Scale layout that was built for a museum. It was built by a professional crew in only a few days! Did that stop the model mags from writing it up? no. This is no different.

Having worked for Clark Dunham, (on and off), in the past 15 years, I can definitively say that none of the layouts are built in just a "few days". The layouts can take anywhere from a month or two, 6 months or even a year or two, (the Cincinatti S scale layout) and involve anywhere from 5 to 15 craftspeople. Final assembly on site usually does take just a "few days".

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Jay

A few years ago MR had an article about a layout that was based on Flager's Florida RR through the Florida keys.  The layout was very well done and used many insightful techniques.  I learned some things from that article and I very much enjoyed the layout.  I would not have wanted to have missed that article.

The layout was professionally done.

-John