Great Northern Pacific - July MR

[Roadtrp]

I was just curious about what others thought of the fantastic 'S' scale railroad in the July MR.

A couple of things I found interesting for a railroad featured in MR...

1) There is no rigid adherence to a time frame. The article mentioned that although the period being modeled is the early 50's, Jess Bennett also likes modern diesels and runs some on his layout. The photos showed not only modern diesels, but if my eyes didn't deceive me also showed a set of Amtrak Superliners. Also, some of the automobiles on the layout clearly were more modern than the early fifties.

2) There seemed to be little if any weathering of locomotives, rolling stock, or structures.

I thought it was great the way Mr. Bennett could "go against the grain" on some of this stuff and still produce a fantastic looking layout. I guess in the end it goes to show that there is no single "right way" to model a railroad. [:)]

[Roadtrp]

I'm a little curious as to why this has gotten no response...

No one is familiar with the article?

No one likes 'S' scale?

No one can handle Mr. Bennett going against convention, and you've decided that if you can't say something nice you won't say anything at all?

I thought it was a spectacular layout, even if it didn't conform to some typical MR expectations. I guess part of my reason for posting this was to see if people could accept a well done layout even if it varied from the norm.

Maybe I already have my answer… [:)]

[fiatfan]

I still haven't had time to read the June issue! I've been rather busy on a non-railroad related project in the basement. Well, not entirely non-railroad in that as soon as I get it done, I can go back to the trains.

Tom

[Anonymous]

I think it's a great looking layout. If you read the "Meet Jess Bennett" part of the article you'll see that Mr. Bennett turns 90 years of age this year. 90 YEARS OLD!! and t'still model railroading. I don't care if he runs Japaneese steam and SD40-2s side by side, that's remarkable! I wish him the best and many many more years of model railroading!

[Anonymous]

I agree with Ed and liked the artical very much. This is my busy time of the year and I don't get to look over the MR FORUM as much as I'd like. I love S-Gauge and if had the room and wasn't so invested in HO, I would go with S.

Anybody who would look down on somebody "doing his own thing" in this hobby is wound-up a bit to tight for me! I love the super steam era, but model the transition, because I also like diesels and even have a GP 38-2 and will eventually buy a 2nd, second generation diesel some day.

I totally understand the draw that Free-lancing has. You see something you like, you buy it and have fun with it. You can have an exact proto-type layout, designed to the 1930s and run AMTRAC on it! Just don't let the Model Railroad brain cops catch you doing it!

To each his own!!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp

I'm a little curious as to why this has gotten no response...

No one is familiar with the article?

No one likes 'S' scale?

No one can handle Mr. Bennett going against convention, and you've decided that if you can't say something nice you won't say anything at all?

I thought it was a spectacular layout, even if it didn't conform to some typical MR expectations. I guess part of my reason for posting this was to see if people could accept a well done layout even if it varied from the norm.

Maybe I already have my answer… [:)]

Number three would be my choice.

Maybe I'll get back to you after I read the article...

[dknelson]

I was not troubled by his mix of equipment. Just as some modelers can use the same layout for very different prototypes, there are situations where one can get away with being rather flexible on time frame -- where the trackside structures have not changed all that much from the late steam era to the present, or at least so little that one can switch equipment and have the layout still look plausible. Rural towns are probably the best example. The depot, the grain elevator, the bulk oil depot, the farm co-op: they were there in 1950 and may well be there today.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Dave, I don't know if the "plausibility" of new equipment running on an older era layout needs to be scrutinized for somebody who just likes the equipment and wants to have fun with it. Mr. Bennett is a fine modeler and his layout is enjoyable, even if it taxes the plausibility of a reality. I also don't think Model Railroader should limit its' content to coverage of modelers whom model prototypes, or freelance lines which travel through prototypical landscapes with prototypical equipment.

For me one of the most enjoyable aspects of John Allen's Gorre & Depheted lines was the whimsical nature of John's imagination, like; They hung diesel salesmen, at a time when a real railroad business would be chomping at the bit to get rid of the high maintenance steam locos. John built a reality to suit his interests, I like that!

[Roadtrp]

I'm putting this back on page one in the hopes it might get more response. It seems to tie in with the "That weather-beaten look" post.

I'm not trying to get into a weathering vs. non-weathering debate. I'm just wondering if some (most?) folks here can accept the decision to not weather a great deal as a valid modeling decision. It seems that Jess Bennett did not weather his locos, rolling stock or buildings very much if at all. At the same time, I thought he had a great looking layout.

I guess in the final analysis I'm looking for some validation of my decision. I don't plan to weather much. I don't think I would be terribly talented at it, plus I'm not sure I like the look. I'm a child of the suburbs, and I expect everything to look freshly painted. [:D]

I hope that by making this decision I'm not losing all credibility as a model railroader.

Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I model in S scale so I found having an article on my favorite size modeling very refreshing. MR isn't very "S Friendly".

As to Jess running modern SD's with steam and Amtrak cars I can only say that an individuals layout is just that! If it floats your boat then it's okay and have fun. Don't build to suit someone elses standards or perceptions. Personally I model from a more detail specific point of view. I think everything should be weathered and somewhat match. That's what makes all this fun for me, Jess and hopefully all of us.

The fact that Jess has accomplished so much, is 90 and still modeling and enjoying it is just wonderful. May we all be there some day!

Thanks Jess and MR.
Roger

[dknelson]

I agree Mark D -- if the layout owner likes to mix eras of equipment -- I say do it! This is a hobby and the sole goal is fun, not to please or impress others. If others are pleased, so much the better. But there are those who find it fun to be absolute purists. My remark about plausibility was only to make clear that even the nitpickers who do not care for the free wheeling approach should be able to appreciate that under some circumstances one can plausibly use the very same layout for different eras.
Dave

[Anonymous]

Roadtrp, If you don't want weathered equipment on your layout, "Have at 'er". However, weathering is easy and fun with chalks and if you end up not liking a weathering job you did, or want to remove all the weathering from your whole RR, it's easy to do with chalk, simply by washing it off with a little detergent.

The same trains I see rolling through the north woods up here in Northern MN, roll through the suburbs and cities in this nation and what I see is pretty weathered. So, from a realism stand point, I vote weathered! I also don't think you can "too weather" RR equipment, but do think some should be cleaner than others and others should be filthy-nasty-dirty!