Do you have a "buddy" or are you a "Lone Wolf"?

[Fergmiester]

Realizing this parts of this question has appeared before I'm just curious as to how people approach the hobby?

This question comes from several conversations I had yesterday at the local train show. Seems most of the people I know have similiar problems when faced with hard tasks on their layouts but have no one to turn to. My problem is with my schedule I'm out at least 2 nights a week and most of my weekends are booked. The other problem is finding someone who shares my skill or lack of skill level.

Anyone with similiar concerns?

[vsmith]

Lone Wolf Baby!!!! OOOWWWooooohhhhooooooooooo!!!!!!

No one I know is doing what I am, indoor large scale. My LHS is HO prejudiced and really doesnt like people who do that e-bay thing (takes from thier business) so I never had that "bubby at the LHS" experience. I'm not politically compatable with the local NMRA chapter or many local garden RR's so I stay away from them.

So I am THE Lone Wolf , baby! OOOWWWWoooohhhhh!

[Anonymous]

Lone Wolf, definately. They all think I'm crazy other than my Father who encourages it. Unfortunately his health has taken his zest for life or wanting to do anything with it. These forums are as close as I get to modeling with somebody.

[lupo]

I visit swapmeets and exhibitions together with my brother iin law, although he is a Märklin collector and I am into US MRR it is nice to help eachother browsing throug the stalls of a meet and point-out nice stuff, and because there is not much US stuff at swapmeets etc. I think it's nice to help someone in looking for Musthaves.

[Anonymous]

I voted "I model alone". However, if my Golden Retriver counts then the answer should be "A friend helps when I need it".

[Big_Boy_4005]

I voted that I am a mentor. However throughout my 30 plus year "career" in this hobby, at one time or another I have done ALL of those things. This is a very well thought poll, thanks Fergie![swg]

[fiatfan]

I model alone but have had one or two people from work over to see my (at present somewhat limited) efforts.

Tom

[CP5415]

Most of the time I model on my own.
I do have a freind that comes over & helps when the timing is right & I also have you guys when I'm stuck on something.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I think you're probably going to find most people are on the lone wolf trail now-a-days, but we aren't unlike a club on here. We may model alone but we all get together on here to shoot the bull. Isn't that somewhat of an informal club???

[Anonymous]

i am a lone wolf modeler.


but i cant really say that now can i?? we all have all these online forums to get help and answers to all our questions. it's like being in a club, but not having to deal with the people[:D]

[Anonymous]

I'm basically a lone wolf. The only person that helps me is my wife other then her help I do it myself.

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

I have a friend come over and help about 4 times a year. I go to his home and help him about 6 times a year. I go to another friends every Friday night to help work on his. And I go to another friends house about 6 times a year to operate on his, and very rarely give him a hand with building.

I can't imagine lone wolfing as there is some much to learn and its so helpful to have others show you how. The net is making it easier to build layouts as so many questions can be answered in forums.

[Anonymous]

i'm in a club otherwise i'm a lone wolf

[Anonymous]

Definately NOT a lone wolf![:)]
As an occifer and member of the FCSME for the last 12 years, I can't see how I got done what I did when I was a lone wolf! I also am part of an operating crew on another layout 1 night a week. The help I have gotten over the years, and the contacts made in the hobby have been tremendous. Likewise , the gratification that comes from teaching what I have learned to "newbies" has been great.
Why walk along as a lone wolf, when you can run with the pack[?]

[Anonymous]

When I started i had modeling buddies , My brothers and a few friends.
In my late teens I became a lone wolf for many years untill I got my son involved in the hobby. Then recently when I became a member of this and another forum I Have lots of model railroad buddies. THANKS FOR BEING ONE OF THEM.

[Eriediamond]

I voted as a club member, but I probably should have voted a lone wolf. I live in "red neck" country where a good looking pick up truck is one with the fenders all beaten in, with one head light to light the ditch and the other the telephone lines, with the tail gate missing and a "junk yard dog" riding in the back with a blue bandana around its neck. There a very few model railroaders in this neck of the woods and our club is small because of it. I'm an over the road trucker and don't get home much except for a day or two on the weekends and some times have to stay out up to three weeks at a time. This leaves very little time for model railroading, much less making club meetings, so I quess, even though I do belong to a club, I am still kind of a lone wolf also. But then I do have the help of Bubba (=^..^=)!!!!!!!!!!!

[BentnoseWillie]

My group is more of a "pack of lone wolves". No meetings, no dues, no bylaws, etc.

http:///www.umg.pcstj.ca

[AntonioFP45]

Two fellow modelers and I support each other. [:D][:)][8D]

One, my closest friend is a skilled modeler whose taken the DCC plunge and is guiding me as well. The other is my wife's cousin who has also been infected by the DCC bug. We encourage and support each other, often by phone as since we're all working our modeling times are limited. It's very encouraging though! What we have in common is that each of us got slightly away from the hobby during the 90s, but now that high quality models and features like realistic lighting, independent control, and sound are available we jumped back in the hobby and are not looking back! [:)][^]

We do make an effort to go together to trains shows as they are now becoming more frequent here in the Tampa Bay area. [swg][tup]

[Anonymous]

If you're replying to this thread, or visit any online modeling forum, you are not a lone wolfer. a lone wolfer wouldbe one who has no contact with any other modelers, except maybe when he stops in his LHS to buy something.

You all have an extended network of friends and fellow modelers right at the touch of your fingers, some Hobbies don't have that and are true Lone wolf Hobbiers.

Jay

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN

If you're replying to this thread, or visit any online modeling forum, you are not a lone wolfer. a lone wolfer wouldbe one who has no contact with any other modelers, except maybe when he stops in his LHS to buy something.

You all have an extended network of friends and fellow modelers right at the touch of your fingers, some Hobbies don't have that and are true Lone wolf Hobbiers.

Jay

I'd say your partly right on this one except that I think many of us would benifit from someone's physical presence from time to time when we need that bit of hands on help or motivation.

[n2mopac]

I am a lone wolf, but in some ways would rather not be. I do prefer to do most of the modeling on my own layout myself. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment, not to mention that the time spent building is great therapy away from the stress of job and life. It would be nice to have a resourse to turn to in the flesh (as opposed to online) to help when I hit a wall. Unfortunately I live in a very small town (the nearest good LHS in 75 miles away). It would also be nice to have some friends to operate with. I used to live in Fort Worth, TX and had a couple of friends on whose layouts I would operate from time to time. Unfortunately I did not have a layout at the time. As I get my new layout running it will support as many as 5 operators. I hope to be able to find or inspire some modelers to operate with.
Ron

[mls1621]

My real start in the hobby happened about six years ago when I discovered that a neighbor had an N scale layout in his garage.

I introduced myself and began working with him on his layout.

In 2002 I built the benchwork for my own layout and got the track plan finalized.

Now the track work is complete, the scenery is well on the way to completion and it's scheduled to be on the home tours for our regional convention.

My neighbor and I share resources and abilities on both layouts. I've built several projects on his layout, a double track trestle was the first and the most recent is a scratch built hot metal car for his steel mill module.

He has a much better eye for color than I and he's always here when the scenery work is being done.

[ClinchValleySD40]

I used to be a lone wolf. Then I tried an ops session. WOW !!! Sure made a big difference.

I still say (always say) the best part of this hobby is the people. I'm in a round robin group that everyone is super great friendly. Great friends. Some of us take trips around the country to operate other layouts, go to conventions together, take wives out to dinner and just regular stuff. And they are great if you need help.

Please, if you are a lone wolf, consider sharing the hobby with others. There are more model railroaders out there than you realize.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I'm a lone wolf, but I wish I wasn't. I get occational questions answered at my LHS, but its not enough. I don't know of any other modelers in the area, or I'd want to hook up with them. So for the moment I run one man op. sessions with work order sheets of my own design, but I'd like to have other people help me.

Noah

[AggroJones]

Aside from me communicating with people on the internet, I am a lone wolf. I don't have a circle of modelling friends. I don't belong to a club.
Actually, I don't feel I could even be in a club around here, even if I wanted to.

[IRONROOSTER]

I am a lone wolf, except for this forum. Time is the issue here. If that changes then I'll probably join a club, just to see what a group can do.
Enjoy
Paul

[douginut]

Lone Wolf here,
though not by choice.
Work scedule takes me past midnight five nights a week and weekends am usually really pooped.
as with the other fellow, who had been a part of clubs I have happily been so at various times in my life and modelled with friends and family members.

And like the other fellow said here this is like a very informal club with a full spectra of opinion and modelling styles.

Doug, in Utah

[Anonymous]

Lone Wolf here. Tried the club thing, but wasn't really a good fit...too many people who wanted to "play trains" and not enough "model railroaders."

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty much in the same category as most people. I model alone, but I participate in this (and other) forums because I can pick up suggestions, give advice, see if a particular thing or technique is viable.

I used to belong to two clubs, but for whatever reason, they decided they didn't want me in their membership. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the large broadsword I carried to the meetings that did it......or maybe they figured that I bathed too often and they didn't like the smell of my bath soap. Gee, I don't know. Anyway, that's way off topic.

[MAbruce]

I started as a lone wolf, but recently joined the local Ntrak club and have started to interact with other modelers. I have not yet developed any “hobby buddy” relationships, but I suppose that will take a while. It’s tough to break into an established group. From their perspective, I have to prove that I’m not a ‘here today, gone tomorrow” member.

I think what saddens me the most about this poll is not the number of “lone wolf” modelers; it’s how it translates to the low numbers of “Mentors” and/or “Have a Mentor”. It seems to me that this hobby could be doing so much better by reaching out to the younger generations as mentors.

Perhaps these results also show that our hobby tends to attract introverts?