How Important has Internet Access Proven to be to Your Hobby?

[CBQ_Guy]

The internet is the proverbial two edge sword - it's good for all the reasons mentioned thusfar. It's "bad" because it takes so much time away from actually working on/operating the layout.

I have gone from being an armchair modeler to a mouse click modeler!

A few weeks ago I told the wife my hobby is no longer model railroading. She seemed understandably shocked and asked me what had taken it's place. I told her "READING about model railroading~

[Anonymous]

I love how I can ask a question and have a lot of people answer!

[on30francisco]

The internet has been an extremely useful tool to me in this hobby. Since I model in a minority gauge and scale, I can access information about products, both obscure and common ones, and cottage industries that would probably not appear in the Walthers catalog or a mainstream publication. I access a lot of modeling plans, prototype information, construction techniques, painting and weathering tips, and other useful information. I also use the internet to shop online and to access the many forums that pertain to model railroading (like this one). I have got many useful and helpful modeling tips from these forums from postings by ordinary modelers like myself. The best part about these forums is that they are interactive. The only problem with the internet is that I sometimes spend too much time surfing - both model railroading sites and other topics - than actual modeling. Sometimes, while waiting for the glue or paint to dry, I do both at the same time.

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kbfcsme

Info good[:D]
ebay good[:D]
time spent on internet cutting into modeling time, bad[:(!]
finding happy balance?[:p]priceless

... what he said...[:D][^]

cheers,
Krump

[aloco]

Very important. I've found lots of locomotives on the web and avoided paying full-blown retail prices for them. The MSRP for locomotives is ridculously high.

[Anonymous]

I live in Germany, so the internet is my first information about everything in US railroad - prototype and model.[:)]

[Anonymous]

For me, the internet and www (not the same thing!) have both been indispensible.

I have not done any purchasing, with the exception of one auction on eBay. I have used the web to obtain photos and drawings for modeling and collect prototype information on railroads, notably the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee RR (www.northshoreline.com). Since I plan to model the North Shore, I must scratchbuild or kitbash a considerable amount of my equipment, which would have me spending a fortune on books and photos, if I could even find them, had the web not been around.

Researching anything is so much easier. The problem now is not enough information, but too much.

[Anonymous]

its been very helpful for me. I would still be floundering over some tings if not for internet. I also have purchased more online than at LHS which really isnt local to begin with.

[RedLeader]

Without the internet I couldn't be in the hobby. The only way I can buy stuff is through the web.

[Anonymous]

My current health does not allow me to get out to the LHS too often, and does not allow me to do any significant railfanning, or meet with other modellers. So the Internet is irreplacable for me.

But even so, I have been able to find information on prototypes that I wouldn't have the time or opportunity to see otherwise. And I have found products that I have not found in my LHS. And it's very cool to be able to keep in some kind of contact with those who model prototypes that I am interested in too.

---jps

[Anonymous]

If it wasn't for the internet, I would not be nearly as knowledgable about the hobby as I could be. Its been good. The amount of information out there is amazing.

Alvie.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I've found the internet invaluble. I can get many items I couldn't otherwise, get info from people like the great ones here, and find prototype infomation on the net. I don't think I'd be very far in this hobby without the web here, it fabulous. But as stated above, It does cut into my modeling time some, and that's not so good. But the pros outwieght the cons.

Noah

[jfugate]

For general research, it's hard to beat the internet. It has put me in touch with other modelers who have something else that is helpful to me that I'm certain I would not have met any other way.

Several posts on here commented about getting bombarded with spam ... the best way to avoid that is to get an email account that is not free, or if you get a free one, make sure it's not a big name outfit like yahoo, hotmail, aol, msn and so on. I use NetIdentity, since I can get an email domain name that is similar to my actual name: [e-mail] is my email address. It's a bargain at $25 a year, and no spam.

Another biggie is to move away from the big name browsers, especially Internet Explorer. Go to http://www.mozilla.org/ and download the firefox browser. It will pick up all your IE settings automatically, and it includes built in pop management. Some sites may complain if you are not using IE, so keep IE around and use it if you must, but don't make it your default browser.

If you get off the beaten path somewhat like this, the spammers will have a much harder time finding you and life will be good!

[darth9x9]

The internet has been most helpful with research and find prototype info and pictures.

On the other hand, eBay and forums keep me away from doing things I really need to do like assemble cars, renumber cars, paint cars, etc.

What's a model railroder to do?