Seconday Benefits of Model Railroading

[mondotrains]

Hi Guys,
Today I was painting and "weathering" an antique frame for a picture my wife wanted me to hang on the wall when I started to get philosophical again about this hobby. My wife was thrilled with the result and I pointed out to her that I used the same approach to paint and antique her frame that I've used in my hobby.

I started to think about how this hobby has many secondary benefits that may not be obvious to some of you folks, especially the "newbies". Let me explain one of them.

You see, I was one of those guys who, before getting into model railroading, took a long time to get up the nerve to do anything handy around the house. Even the most simple tasks, like replacing batteries in smoke detectors, caused me to get anxious. Now that I've been model railroading for around 11 years, I find myself applying the same techniques I've learned in my "miniature" world to tasks found in the "real" world. For instance, we acquired an antique dining room fixture and I was able to completely rewire the 6 lights in the unit. I repaired a kitchen water faucet for a friend recently who had planned to call in a plumber at potentially great expense.

What I'm saying is that this hobby has taught me a lot about problem solving and certainly I've learned a lot developing the skills necessary to build benchwork, plan and lay track, wire all those Tortoise switch machines, build all those control panels with toggle switches and LED's and even take apart an Athearn engine and solder wires to the motor and frame to improve electrical conductivity. All of these skills, but more importantly the analysis and problem solving techniques I've learned, have really improved my "real life" ability to tackle problems.

The next time one of your wives complains you're spending too much time on your hobby, take on one of her projects around the house and show her how much you've learned in this hobby. It will go a long way to maintaining a happy home.

Hope you enjoy my note.
Mondo

[Anonymous]

Or the next time she has an around the house project for me, I will have her contact you?

[Grubby]

lol, great idea.. [:P], although the list of stuff I have to do could take you a while

[Rotorranch]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tailspin Ken

Or the next time she has an around the house project for me, I will have her contact you?

[;)][:)][:D][:0]

[dgwinup]

Mondo:

My house, any time.

I have a list.....................................................................................................this long!

Darrell, quiet...for now

[Anonymous]

The stuff I learned the hard way as a teenage model railroader influenced me too greatly in real life. I can recall the mysteries of electricity - trying to wire something on my layout, I had to figure out how to wire a toggle switch. I used some of this knowledge just yesterday when I replaced the fan in our bathroom that I had previously installed. You'd be surprised how many people don't have a clue how a simple on-off switch works.

Other hobbies don't seem to have the depth of abilities we can (hopefullY) learn through model railroading - carpentry, painting, electricity, repairing mechanical things, artistry, photography, etc.

Bob Boudreau, always learning!

[Anonymous]

This is what I ALWAYS tell certain clueless people when they see my layout and gasp about "all the time I waste on it." It is an excellent industrial arts teaching medium. Everything I learned about carpentry and electricity was a result of MRR.

[SpaceMouse]

Shhhhhh. Wives read this stuff.

[jag193]

My wife already knows. She constantly brags to her friends about how much she endorses and supports the hobby since it creates so many "skills" and "tools" that she can use around the house. The Honey-Do list just gets longer and longer! But, I don't mind ... she's a fabulous lady and I don't begrduge her the time!

[Anonymous]

A few months ago we had an electrician wire up our kitchen during our kitchen remodel.

We had a 4 way switch set up (this is where you have a minimum of 3 switches that operate one light).

He screwed up the wiring, and was unavailable to fix it at the time.

I got online and found out how to wire 4-way switches. What it is is Double Pole Double Throw switches arranged in a particular way.

I've known what DPDT switches are since I was 12 thanks for model railroading.

(I've also become a mechanical engineer between age 12 and now (30), and I bet model railroading played a small subliminal part in my interest in engineering and design).

Another side benefit is if you do lots of work around the house, you are fully entitled (and encouraged) to get great tools that you could later use on your model railroad!

Through our remodel over this past year, I've acquired:

Table Saw
Cordless Drill
Sabre Saw
Nail Gun
Lots of hand tools (socket sets, etc.)
All sorts of paintbrushes, etc.

There are others, but I forget what they are.

The majority of these tools double as model railroading tools! Heh heh....