OK... so I now have six Life-Like Proto 2000 undecorated Mather Boxcars that I have longed to own for more than a decade.
My loving wife was excited for me when I won the auction. She was thrilled at how happy I was when the cars arrived. She was glad I enjoyed assembling them.
So tonight (actually 3:00 AM), I am in my workshop watching the Canada vs Finland Women's Hockey game and assembling a Tichy USRA Single Sheathed Boxcar kit. She says "are you assembling another one of those Mather cars?"
I said no, it was a Tichy USRA car. Then... she asked what the difference was, because they looked the same to her.
I said... look, this car has three diagonal braces on each side of the sliding door, the Mather cars only have two.
Her look was priceless, then she said it "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! For ten years all I have heard is how badly you wanted Mather cars and it was just because they have fewer braces? That is ridiculous! They look EXACTLY the same!"
Then she left.
So, what have you done to make your spouse say "You have got to be kidding?"
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I suspect that my answer will not be as tongue in cheek as you were hoping for, but my answer is "nothing", and I hope your wife was making the comment in jest.
My wife supports all aspects of my modelling. If I was to show her a similar example she would no doubt state that my attention to detail was amazing. She does joke with our friends and her workmates about my hobby, but never in a derogatory way.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
That's a great story!
OK... Look at the crane in my avitar. I've audibly dreamed of building it since before we were married in '81. I actually started on it in Dec '06
It's 1/24 scale. Well, it's supposed to be. (we'll call it G scale here) After spending years scratch building it, at about 95% complete, (8 functions are RC) I decided that it's proportions were about 16 scale inches too tall at the deck height, the carrier is 7 scale feet to long, and the whole thing about 9 scale inches too wide. This is in comparing it with real 1/1 cranes in what would be it's weight class, about the heaviest for a lattice - truck crane.
That has been bugging me for a while. So after taking about a dozen pages of notes, measurements, drawings, etc... I decided to make it right. Extensive rebuild of the carrier, and less but still considerable work to the upper unit.
When she found out I was up to my chin into the overhaul, well, she didn't use the phrase word for word, but you know "The Look" when you see it, right?
Dan
Suggesting trains in the dining room. It's not like we ever use it - it's more of a museum of old china.
But noooo. Dining Rooms are for dishes silly rabbit.
She doesn't exactly support the hobby but she is very tolerant and accepting of it - as long as it stays in the basement where it belongs.
Paul
The only time my late wife said "you're joking right?" is when I went from my standard Kodachrome film to Fujichrome--plus a new Cannon 35mm camera just to take photos of trains.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
hon30critter I suspect that my answer will not be as tongue in cheek as you were hoping for, but my answer is "nothing", and I hope your wife was making the comment in jest. My wife supports all aspects of my modelling. If I was to show her a similar example she would no doubt state that my attention to detail was amazing. She does joke with our friends and her workmates about my hobby, but never in a derogatory way. Dave
Same as Dave, my wife supports my hobby and I don't get "you've got to be kidding" comments from here.
My first wife was very antagonistic to my hobby, part of the reason we didn't get along. That would have been the type of comment I might get from her.
I imagine those who have train hostile wives would be most likely to get those kinds of comments.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I think I can only recall one "you've got to be kidding" statement from my wonderful spouse (as it relates to trains or model trains I hasten to add): I had just poured "Magic Water" two part resin on my modeled creekbed and per instructions and suggestions was blowing on it to make any air bubbles rise up and disappear. She could hear me blowing and blowing and blowing and came from another area of the basement because she thought perhaps I was having another stroke.
When she heard my explanation she said the phrase in question, or one like it.
Another time I was weathering the "perfect" edges of plastic flatcar decks using a drywall screw and it made a very odd noise. She came down to investigate. When she heard my explanation she said "Good idea," but I have a hunch her actual meaning was "you've got to be kidding."
Dave Nelson
She didn't actually say you've got to be joking...
But when we talked about what it would cost build my layout, she just said, "Fine. You can use your $30 a month allowance on anything you want."
Pretty soon I'm going to run out of things to sell.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
I haven't gotten that particular phrase yet, but in my early enthusiasm, I guess I talked about trains too much, so I got "Honey, can you please talk about something besides trains? It's getting really old really fast."
Good news is, I did, and she's actually shown some enthusiasm herself now when I talk about my plans. So the key here, gentlemen, is to diversify the conversation. I don't know that she'll ever be into it the way some of the wives I've read about here are, but there may be some hope.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
Well, there was the time she saw me placing windshield wipers on an "Uncle Irv" GP38-2.........
SeeYou190....So, what have you done to make your spouse say "You have got to be kidding?"
It used to be almost anything, but she's pretty-well given up on talking to me at all....just as well, I suppose, 'cause apparently I don't listen.
Wayne
My wife didn't say that phrase, but the intent was the same: "Nooo waaayyy...!"
It was when I showed her this stacked product seven years ago with the highly recognizable local glacier in the background:
Nowadays I just get the occasional eye-roll after a visit to one of my local dealers, return from a train show or get a delivery. I can usually deflect it by asking about her trips to Jo-anns and deliveries knitting and sewing supplies. Fortunately she doesn't have access to my inventory list that I created in Excel. I'll probably be able to buy a little grace if I get her that long-arm quilting machine that she's been hinting for the last few years...
Left Coast Rail Nowadays I just get the occasional eye-roll after a visit to one of my local dealers, return from a train show or get a delivery. I can usually deflect it by asking about her trips to Jo-anns and deliveries knitting and sewing supplies. Fortunately she doesn't have access to my inventory list that I created in Excel. I'll probably be able to buy a little grace if I get her that long-arm quilting machine that she's been hinting for the last few years...
well im collecting all 25 HO scale big boyi have 13 and im scouring fb market place for deals , do you think i can get the 25th big boy without getting that:#] phrase wish me luck
I was looking at a couple of Stewart Fs at a train show and when I said I couldn't decide, she said "They're F units! Get them both!"You may now all be jealous.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Bayfield Transfer RailwayI was looking at a couple of Stewart Fs at a train show and when I said I couldn't decide, she said "They're F units! Get them both!"You may now all be jealous
My wife always makes me buy things at swap meets. She picked out a Woodland Scenics log truck at a recent show and bought it without my knowledge.
I always spend more when she is with me. This is expecially true when it come to brass. I probably wouldn't even have half the brass locomotives I have if it were not for her. However, I doubt she could tell an F unit from a Trainmaster.
.
The only thing that (so far) has ever made my GF say "You've got to be kidding" is the one time we were on a rare mileage fan trip and, after having been on the train for over 8 hours, they decided to take a side trip down another line that originally weren;t going to go on, which added like another hour to the trip. Made me wish I had picked the final segment as my cab ride segement, because those guys got an extra long stint.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerrare mileage fan trip
I forgot about this. About fifteen years ago the Seminole Gulf Railroad took out the tracks to the limestone quarries on Alico Road.
Right before this they had a "last run rare mileage fan trip" down the sidings and into the quarries. When I explained to my wife what a "rare mileage fan trip" was she said... "You Have Got To Be Kidding Me!"
Well, PWRS is on the way home from just about anywhere for us and they have all my modeling info on file. So one day I was sitting at the computer when my wife came home and she slipped an Atlas Gold Series Trainmaster over my shoulder and said "I stop and bought you a present".
Sometime later I was running my Rapido coaches on the layout and she came in and asked why I wasn't pulling them with the engine she had bought me. I explained that there was no steam generator in the engine with that number. Oh, she said.
So a couple of weeks later she came home and I was sitting at the computer and she passed another Atlas Gold Series Trainmaster over my shoulder and said, "the guys at PWRS assure me that the engine with this number was equipped with a steam generator". They were right.
Nothing I do could ever phase my wife. It took me forty years to find her.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
A few months ago I was bent over sideways and backwards trying to tweak some wiring when my wife wandered in to see what I was doing. I tried to explain that the odd shape of the train room made a few areas difficult to work in (we designed our house with no square rooms, and my interest in the hobby was dormant at the time). After some discussions about minimum radius/ clearance etc, she says “Why don’t you just build a huge man cave attached to the east end of the garage and build whatever you want?”
Hmmmmm. Wheels are a turning, but that decision is at least a year out and a discussion for another thread.
...And then yesterday I told her I was building a model of "The Crane Shed" to scale length. Anyone living in Central Oregon prior to 2004 (when it was demolishedat night without permits) knows what The Crane Shed, a historic landmark, is.
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+crane+shed+bend+or+images&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=WTJwI4owp6MFgM%253A%252CFfFjIOsvbyDz3M%252C_&usg=__akRMnO5BrOhmzb3FTxtS7Cug6OQ%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjquMrjpKfZAhVI_WMKHQGJB-MQ9QEIMjAB#imgrc=WTJwI4owp6MFgM:
When she heard it would be 5 feet long, that's 435 HO feet, well, it was the expression on her face that said it.
My wife is an angel about my hobby. I can only think of three scenarios she questions my judgement:
1) She never could understand why I wanted to paint my brass steam engine. It was a beautiful brass color, why would you want to cover it up?!! (I never did paint it. I ended up selling it!)
2) Every time I tear down a layout and start over (which has been many times!).
3) Repeatedly changing scales.
Bubbytrains
I am right there with you on all three of these things.
Bubbytrains1) She never could understand why I wanted to paint my brass steam engine. It was a beautiful brass color, why would you want to cover it up?
I have painted only two of my brass locomotives, and about a dozen brass freight cars. My wife acts like this is a crime when I do it. She actualy loves to see the unpainted brass locomotives running. "They are so pretty!"
Bubbytrains2) Every time I tear down a layout and start over.
I am about to start the fifth home layout of our marriage. I have made many sincere promises that this one is the last one. She has never been anything but horrified when I take out the Saws-All and rip a layout apart.
Bubbytrains3) Repeatedly changing scales.
I have only switched scales once in our marriage. She was not happy about it. She liked N scale better than HO. She always thinks I don't have enough space in HO, and she points out how much more I could have in N.
Southgate ...And then yesterday I told her I was building a model of "The Crane Shed" to scale length. Anyone living in Central Oregon prior to 2004 (when it was demolishedat night without permits) knows what The Crane Shed, a historic landmark, is. https://www.google.com/search?q=the+crane+shed+bend+or+images&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=WTJwI4owp6MFgM%253A%252CFfFjIOsvbyDz3M%252C_&usg=__akRMnO5BrOhmzb3FTxtS7Cug6OQ%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjquMrjpKfZAhVI_WMKHQGJB-MQ9QEIMjAB#imgrc=WTJwI4owp6MFgM: When she heard it would be 5 feet long, that's 435 HO feet, well, it was the expression on her face that said it. Dan
What exactly was the crane shed? The only information I can find is whats there now with the same name.
Thanks.
SeeYou190 rrinker rare mileage fan trip . Oh man, I forgot about this. About fifteen years ago the Seminole Gulf Railroad took out the tracks to the limestone quarries on Alico Road. . Right before this they had a "last run rare mileage fan trip" down the sidings and into the quarries. When I explained to my wife what a "rare mileage fan trip" was she said... "You Have Got To Be Kidding Me!" . . -Kevin .
rrinker rare mileage fan trip
Oh man, I forgot about this. About fifteen years ago the Seminole Gulf Railroad took out the tracks to the limestone quarries on Alico Road.
man i got down here to late to make that trip
Hello all,
Luckily, that phrase has never come up in regards to model railroading.
I usually hear that phrase when talking about skis or snowboards.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
Mine says that with everthing train related, but then I feel the same about sports which she loves and has a clothing clolection for each team she follows.
I don't get that phrase, but when my wife saw me hand laying wood ties she remarked, 'have you lost your mind?'
When she sees the credit card bill for my brass engines! Dont have that many, but what I do have is really nice. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
Has anyone considered that if your wife saw this thread she would probably say "you have got to be kidding!" ???
I'm just kidding around, although I don't have a wife, my mom gives me the "really?" Look every time I ask to go to the Hobby shop, which usually involves the purchase of a 15 buck Accurail kit, she has asked this question on more than one occasion "why do you need another car kit?" I politely say "to build a collection/roster." Then comes the bewildered look!
I'm not even dating yet, but when I do I hope my girl shows at least some interest in my hobby as will do with her hobby(s)...
Happy model railroading...
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!