Are you a ‘scenery’ person or a ‘technical/operations’ person?

[Anonymous]

In his excellent book “Playing With Trains”, Sam Posey states that there are two primary types of model railoaders: Scenery people (like Malcolm Furlow) – who build spectacular dioramas with a train track running thru them – and technical/operation people (like Tony Koester) who do painstaking research on a particular prototype, build nearly-perfect replications, and setup operating sessions that exactly mirror the real pike.

I have to admit, I tend to be more of a ‘scenery’ guy – I like to build structures and make hills out of Styrofoam. On the other hand, I positively dread the idea of laying/wiring track and installing DCC decoders in my locos – I’ll only do those things because I can’t afford to pay somebody to do them for me. But I do want my trains and operations to have some resemblance to reality - I’ll say I’m 75% ‘scenery’ and 25% ‘tech/operations’.

Where are you on the scenery/tech-ops continuum?

[vsmith]

Ken do a search and you'll find a couple more threads on the book, one I started. Good read, I consider myself a modeler first and foremost and give two whistles about prototypical operational realism or control. Also that I consider Malcomn Furlow one of the best modelers out there, so count me down as a Scenery Guy!

[rrinker]

I am definitely a technicl person. I really enjoy planning and track laying, and all the wiring and so forth. I have not an artistic bone in my body, scenery always seems to be a bit beyond me.
So if there is anyone else in the Allentown, PA area who is on that 'scenery' side of the scale, I will gladly help you wire your layout if you help me scenic mine [:D]

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Scenery/building for me. I don't have a layout right now but I really enjoy scratchbuilding, kitbashing, and making scenery on small diaramas.

Sometimes I'm intriqued by the concept of an "operating session" but I find reading about such matters so painfully boring that I can't very far. Needless to say, I'm pretty clueless about operating aside from basic oval running (or when I'm really feeling daring, basic switching).

There is more than one way to enjoy the hobby so I don't care for people preaching about how their way is best. I do feel a little alienated at times because sometimes it seems that there is a lot of emphasis in the hobby press on operating and less and less on building. I'm confused when I read product reviews about something "ready to run so it leaves more time to enjoy the hobby and less time building." What? building is what it's all about for me!

[jjbmish]

I have always tended to be on the technical side. But after doing some scenery on my last layout I have to admit it was a lot of fun . If I had to put percentages to it? 65% operation 35% scenery. And the book was a great read. I have read it twice.

John

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: People from the two camps often disagree bitterly with each other and accuse each other of ‘ruining’ the hobby.

Whoa, Can't really agree with this statrement. Most modelers I have met respect the other side. Some of the operations fanantics I know are also great scenic modelers. I would say it is possible to be both. Did Posey interview Jack Burgess, Dave Adams or Joe Fugate? These guys are good examples of combining great scenery and operations.

I aspire to do both as well. We will see how it turns out.

[Anonymous]

I'm a model builder, having completed 2 pairs of HO scale modules. I operate regularly on a friend's large layout, but usually choose run-through trains as doing all of the switching movements of the way freights is kind of dull.

So it appears I'm not in either camp! [:(]

Bob Boudreau

[CNJ831]

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenLarsen

In his excellent book “Playing With Trains”, Sam Posey states that there are two primary types of model railoaders. People from the two camps often disagree bitterly with each other and accuse each other of ‘ruining’ the hobby.

I'm unsure just who this "quote" is supposed to be atributed to (Posey or this thread's author) but if it is the former, in preparing his book Posey must have interviewed only a couple of our hobby's biggest stuffed shirts to come away with such an opinion. I've been in the hobby a long, long time, attended a host of big conventions, and numberless train shows and never, ever, heard any modeler criticize another for being more of a scenery or operations person. Sounds to me like someones just blowing smoke here!

CNJ831

[twhite]

I like to think I'm a little of both, but looking back, I realize that I've always been in somewhat of a hurry to get the track laid so I can start working on the mountains. Since I model a portion of a fictional main line through the Sierras, with little on-line industry, I'd say that I spend most of my time working on the scenery. Naturally, my haste in getting the track laid led to a major re-building of one of the return loops last week (still in the midst of doing it), having to 'un-hide' it from under Yuba Pass. Which is leading to still MORE scenery when I get it done (hopefully by tomorrow). However, if I can successfully negotiate half of the other side of the garage, I hope to put in a large staging yard so I can give a little more concentration to the 'operations' part of the layout. But I have to admit that watching big steam and long trains fighting mountain grades is the primary enjoyment I get from model railroading.
Tom [:P][:P]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

QUOTE: Originally posted by KenLarsen

In his excellent book “Playing With Trains”, Sam Posey states that there are two primary types of model railoaders. People from the two camps often disagree bitterly with each other and accuse each other of ‘ruining’ the hobby.

I'm unsure just who this "quote" is supposed to be atributed to (Posey or this thread's author)

I am the guilty party...that is how I reacted to the sentence in the book where Mr. Posey writes on page 155 that the differences in approaches are like "a line drawn in the sand." That phrase always seemed to connote confrontation to me. I guess I owe Mr Posey an apology for over-interpreting his remarks[:I]....

[Anonymous]

neither for me really.... I am not very artistic and don't like the switching. I just like seeing trains go around on a layout.

[Virginian]

Upon reflection, I think I am a steam engine fanatic. I love to work on them, detail them, and fiddle with them until they run perfect, and then just watch them run around pulling a string of cars. Everything else is in support of this.

[Anonymous]

I like fixing broken stuff - put it this way, one of my favoured searches on eBay is "Spares"! Have had a few bargains that just needed a little TLC to return to use. The Walthers Dash 8 on my website had a broken front truck pivot when I bought it - repaired it and now have a great loco for less than half retail price. Latest would be a pair of Fleischmann HO coaches listed as spares/repair - one of them just needed a few cracked steps re-gluing and a respray for the roof, the other has become some very useful parts - not bad for £10 including P&P, when new ones are £20+.

I also enjoy fitting DCC decoders and wiring lighting, etc. Have rediscovered a pile of resistors I bought a few years ago during my brief "electronics" phase, paid about £1 for whole swathes of assorted resistors on tapes which now turn out to be very handy for DCC lighting. Now I'm looking up the supplier again in search of LEDs - they have packs of 25 for £1 which will enable me to fit out most of my Athearn fleet with directional lighting. Scenery just doesn't interest me as much!

[SpaceMouse]

While I don't mind the technical stuff, I don't find it particularly facinating. I got two things in the mail today. A 24 inch tressle bridge 12 inches high and a Hinkley 4-4-0 American. I set the tressle on my desk and the 4-4-0 on top of it. That makes me kind of a scenery guy. I also tend to be leaning towards old wood models over plastic--and I am always looking at the plastic kits and thinking how I can modify them to make them fit what I want.

On the other had, I am an operations ignoramous and that makes me want to learn it. I am learning about what characteristics a good operations layout has and I'm building that in, but I still have yet to actually do it.

[Anonymous]

I'm actually quite torn, though in the end it boils down to 70%tech and 30% scenic.
While I do enjoy building and scenery; I cant say I'm artistically endowed. i really enjoy track planning, switching. and watching long trains go around the layout.

[mcouvillion]

I'm technical, preferring the wiring, construction, electronics, mechanisms, performance, reliability, realism of operation to the scenery. I'm not very artisitic and don't think well with that side of my brain. I can appreciate the effort and creativitiy of good scenic work, I just don't "see" how to do it.

Mark C.

[dwRavenstar]

Heyas,

I was initially drawn to this great hobby by the opportunity to create detailed scenery; hence my start with N-scale for my first two layouts; with the passing trains acting only as justification for their surroundings. When you hear the whistle, feel the rumble and then experience the onrush of displaced air as a through freight passes scant yards from your perch the adrenaline rush is hard to match or explain. Moments later the flashing red light on the last boxcar has disappeared round the bend and you are looking at scenery. I guess the scenery is the constant and the trains are the action even in real life.

On my currently under construction HO layout my primary focus is operations and after that has been properly accomplished I will begin concentrating on scenery again. My change in scale resulted in a change in my vision, both from a modeling stand point and the inclusion of reading glasses in my magazine perusing tool kit. [B)] So I have the opportunity now to add greater, more visible detail to my scenes while exchanging mountainous ranges for more mundane rolling hills. (A reflection of my move from Pennsylvania to South Dakota maybe??)

The now familiar green of the BN and the splashes of color from the Chessies and SF locos have replaced the Conrail blue that dominated my previous offerings. Grain elevators will stand where once there were coal mines. In modeling a ficticious branch line I have the option of adding a few Conrail and (Gawd, my heart clenches to say this) Norfolk Southern locos to my manifest so all is not lost.

I've never found anything but mutual respect shared by the scenery and technical camps and I'm happy to have my feet in both. While my transition continues I'd describe myself as now being 60/40 with the heavier side still looking forward to the completion of my rail system and the start of my new scenery outing.

Dave (dwRavenstar)

[jlcjrbal]

I just love yards and I hope to do a really nice one on my ew layout. I like the idea of playing trains with my son. As fas as scenery... I will get into that evetually once the track is laid and the trains are running smothly. I do not even wat to think about building models just yet. Hell I picked up 2 box car kits at a show knowing that i would be at least 6 moths or so before I look at them . Right now I am just focusing on a trackplan that works from all angles..

Also.. I just finnishe Sams book in about a week, very nice read and I have been searching for some photos of the layouts that he mentioned just so I can get a better understanding of the book.. Joseph

[johncolley]

Tech/ops here. I do enjoy seeing a well scenic'd layout but I would be happy even operating on a bare bones layout with cardboard boxes for industrial sites. I am fortunate to have a friend teaching me the operations and railroad history of a particular area at a point in time. He is doing SP&S/ OE from Eugene, OR, up to Portland ,as it was in 1969, and has just started some plastering this past summer and fall. But I am hooked!

[Anonymous]

I'm about 50/50. Nothing better than a yard in the mountains![:D]

[Jetrock]

Where does someone who is technical about their scenery fit in? I spend a really inordinate amount of time researching my prototype, but it is mostly the appearance, location, etc. of the industries modeled and the neighborhoods near the tracks that I research. I do like switching (I don't even have a loop) but tend to prefer the simplest, paperwork-light forms of operation (like wheel reports) to paperwork-heavy, schedule-based operations.

I'm not exactly a prize-winner when it comes to modeling skills, but I feel pretty confident in my modeling skills and take pride in good-looking models. But I'd rather have a straight-out-of-the-box piece of rolling stock that runs perfectly than a superdetailed and weathered model that spends all its time on the RIP track or derailing every five feet!

[gvdobler]

This is one of the more interesting threads to read. Each person has their own version of what they like.

I read the book with two guys laying plans on the hood of a blue diesel Track laying for Realistic Operation." I became intriqued with track design and easments.

I'm like rrinker and have no artistic ability. The layouts like the "Big Diesels in the Desert" show what artistic ability can do.

I think we see more operation-techy stuff because it's hard to teach someone how to paint a Mona Lisa, but you can teach someone to build a TV set from a Heath kit.

We all have different interests and everyone probably thinks the other guy is doing something totally uninteresting.

Jon - Las Vegas

[dinwitty]

I've been terribly technical and need to focus on my weak point, scenery.

so my focus is to build shelf layout units to a finished state, scenicked up right.

[simon1966]

A year ago I would have answerd "Techie". I really enjoy DCC and the PC interface and messing around with Decoder Pro. But I have to say, that today, I really enjoy construction of laser craftsman kits and scenery more than anything. I have spent hours in the train room over the last month and don't think I have even run a train for more than 20 minutes in that time! My first attempts with JL Innovative and AMB laserkits have really peaked my interest, and I love the results i am getting from these well designed structures. The scenery part is equally fun as I am creating the environment for all the neat buildings. I find that this creative bit is very absorbing and a great way to get away from work pressures.

[rexhea]

I prefer the technical side of modeling right now, but I know it's mostly because I am more competent with technical skills than with artistic skills. I will soon be doing major jobs in scenery and hope that my interest will grow as my abilities improve in this area. While I want a railroad that can operate much like a prototypical road, I believe it is just as important to make the surroundings look just as real.

REX

[Paul3]

I'm an Operations nut. I run weekly Operations on my home layout with my dad and a friend, and I'm the Operations Chairman of my club (in fact, we are having an Operation with another club this Thursday if it ever stops snowing around here).

Scenery? I have the buildings, but they sit on plywood on my home layout. Sure, I'll do some kind of scenery some day, but like most involved kits that I own, it will spend quite some time on the back burner.

Why? Because I'm having too much fun running my trains realisitically than I do building models. [:)]

Building models is tedious work if you want to do it right. And I've built and painted all kind of models from planes to tanks to trains to cars to chocolate factories to BattleMechs. I've even got a resin model of a Permit-class sub to build. Someday I'll get to it, but I'd rather have a throttle in my hand than an X-acto knife any day.

But running them in circles doesn't really interest me either. I need paperwork and a switching puzzle to really enjoy it, or to be the dispatcher (that's really fun...telling people what to do, where to go, and how to get there all night!). Great stuff.

Paul A. Cutler III
*****************
Weather Or No Go New Haven
*****************

[cjcrescent]

Definitely more toward the operations/technical side. I would be perfectly happy to have a layout that is just smooth-running track with just cardboard cutouts for structures or an outline drawn on the top of the benchwork labled, "Bob's Box Works" with a spur by it, served by umpteen cars. But I do belong to a club that is mostly made up of the artistic kind so I sometimes have to work a little fast on the track to stay ahead of them. But some of their "stuff", ie scenery skills, hopefully is rubbing off on me. Just as I hope some of my skills is rubbing off on to them.

[MidlandPacific]

I think the real distinction is between artistic and engineering talents. I thought Posey grossly misstated the case when he suggested that there was a tremendous rivalry between two camps, and chose John Pryke and Malcolm Furlow to illustrate it. A better distinction (if you're going to set those two up as your poles) would be between freelancers and prototype modelers. One of the reasons the hobby appeals to me is the range of skills and activities it offers: some weekends I'm sawing lumber for benchwork or installing wiring, other weekends, I'm decaling a caboose. No monotony there - and I've learned a few things that help around the house.

BTW, am I the only one who thought Posey did a bit of a job on John Pryke - not exactly a hatchet job, but a less than flattering portrait? I've never met John Pryke, so I don't know anything about him as a person, but I am an admirer of his work and I learned a lot from his book on steam locomotives.

[Anonymous]

I find my self split right down the middle.

I like alot of trains moving over the road, in terms of rural, "wild Country" scenery. However where I do have a town or city. (They will be very widely spaced on my layout) There will be alot of protypical operational detail as well.

I am one of those people who find most every aspect of model railroading fun and enjoyable. If I can only overcome my fear of Circular Saws.

James