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General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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Informal Poll: Current generation of modelers, competent?
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Here are my thoughts: <br /> <br />Traditionally, people entering the hobby had two choices: toy trains or modeling. People chose one or the other for a variety of reasons. Both had paths had certain skills and financial investment needed to pursue the hobby. (Even if you were in Lionel you needed benchwork, wiring and a minimum amount of scenery.) Those who chose the model railroad route had many additional skills they needed to master to make a decent layout. The payoff was increased realism, more prototypical operations and the right to call one's self a model railroader. Even if all we have is a small shelf layout we take a certain amount of pride, especially if we have some scratch built structures or detailed and weathered our rolling stock ourselves. <br /> <br />I think some of the resentment is the perception that people can buy their way into a better layout (and the fraternity) without mastering the skills. Why take the time to study the prototype and detail a caboose when for thirty dollars Atlas will do this for you? <br /> <br />My feeling is that everyone is better at some of the skills than others. Those who are buying highly detailed, ready to roll equipment may be very talented in the area of layout design. Also, some people, as they age, can no longer do the detailing they used to especially if they have Parkinsons or some other condition. <br /> <br />Most who start off with EZ Track eventually bite the bullet and learn how to lay flex track. It is the only way to a decent layout.
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