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[quote user="Dave Vollmer"] WARNING:  The following thread contains my opinion.  Yours may differ!I see three phrases which come out in various forms again, and again, and again.  These "mantras" as I call them have become so ingrained in some modelers that they almost become automatic.  I feel that these phrases have the potential to freeze someone's growth as a model railroader and possibly lock that person into a regime where he/she does not advance.1.  "It's my layout, I'll run what I want."Correct.  No one disputes this.  But, when someone does want to haul autoracks with a Big Boy or billboard reefers with an SD90MAC, he/she is not modeling anything a real railroad would do (Iowa Interstate Chinese 2-10-2s not withstanding!).  Thus it detracts from plausibility.  Also, people who lock themselves out from constructive criticism from fellow modelers discard out of hand any hope of learning from collective experience.2.  "Rivet counting is bad!"Were it not for pressure from so-called "rivet counters" I doubt that the high-quality detailed locomotives and rolling stock we enjoy today straight from the box would be available.  We'd probably still have generic 40' boxcars and approximate USRA steamers.  Rivet counting is the next logical step for those who choose a prototype and wish to be faithful to it.  Honestly, producing an accurate model of the prototype can be very satisfying.  Rivet counting is a different way to model.  I cannot, and will not ever understand why some people hold fidelity to prototype, those real trains we all love, in such low esteem.3.  "Modeler's License"By itself, this term is not bad.  It describes the creativity we all have and the compromises we must make to attempt to recreate a very large thing in a very small space.  I use it myself.  But to some, it becomes an cover for the completely implausible.  If plausibility is not one's desire, then fine.  But most of us appear to want to be held in esteem among peers, and plausibility is a prime route toward this.  Does your railroad need a lot of explanation?  Would a layman see it and pretty much understand it without having to ask questions?We see the Joe Fugates, the Dave Frarys, the Bob Grechs, the Jack Burgesses, and so on...  They got to where they are by not holding themselves back with defensive dogmas.  They are not satisfied with a frozen level of skill and realism because "it's their layout" or "it's modeler's license."Fantasy layouts are fine.  In some respects, one I really enjoy (I'll pick on Bob Grech here) and a bit of fantasy, but it's plausible and it works well.I respectfully ask those modelers who stand by the above mantras not use them to discourage others who wish to sharpen their skills or advance past a generic layout.[soapbox]  I know this will probably start an argument, but this has been festering in me for some time.[/quote]1. it's my layout.Well not really.  Since it is both mine and my wife's, she has a large say in the matter.  This means, the structures and theme could be the 1990's and you wouldn't see a diesel.  Steam rules...PERIOD.  Oh that steeple cab, that's just to keep Chris happy...but honey that RSD-15 would look and sound cool.  "It ain't steam and it ain't electric, so no."  This has resulted in the steamers pulling hi-cubes, autoracks, and cryo-reefers.  If you don't like I suggest you take it up with her.  The club has on one or two occasions.  They gave up.  Plausibility is a polite fiction we tell ourselves to look like we kind of know what we are doing, and to feel like we are actually trying to pull of something more than is a rose colored view of the world that is/was."Also, people who lock themselves out from constructive criticism from fellow modelers discard out of hand any hope of learning from collective experience."  Yes like collective experience is the end all and be all.  I know that is not what you mean.  Personally and I know quite a few modelers around me that aren't looking for collective experience but the right answer.  Cases in point there are multiple ways to silence a BB athearn.   Which is the right one?  Anyone?  Is there one that works ALL the time EVERY time and that I won't have to tinker with again?  From what I have seen shared on the board, no.  So that means no one has got the fix in yet.   2. Rivet Counting is bad.A.) My BS is in History and Geography and my MS is in transportation geography.  I know what rivet counting can do.  It can bog you down in the minutia that will eventually be absolutely squat.  This is not to say that Rivet Counting is bad.  A certain level of rivet counting is in all of us.  At some point people either say enough or not enough.  I want an engine/car/MOW/scenery that looks reasonable and FITS with its surroundings.  A super-detailed Kadee LS&I PS-1 looks a bit out of place next to a BB PS-1 in the scheme.  Somewhere in between would be nice.  This is not to say that I don't like the Kadee, but it looks better sitting next to a nicely detailed loading dock, than in the regular consist. Also see comment about 2-6-2 below.B.) My current job is working at a level of real world detail that is both staggering and mind-numbing.  Why the heck would I want to bring that home with me?  MFF and WAGS work best at home."I cannot, and will not ever understand why some people hold fidelity to prototype, those real trains we all love, in such low esteem."  Because some of us have learned just how pointless it is, past a certain point.  Brass is a great example, am I glad it exists, yeap.  Am I annoyed at how much it costs? yeap.  Am I annoyed that it is the only way I can get certain locos? yeap.  Would I prefer if I could a brass loco that had the detail of a good plastic engine and the reliability of said plastic engine?  Yeap.  I would be perfectly happy with a CMStP&P 2-6-2 stripped of all its minor detail save backhead, running boards, railings and coal bunker.  3.  Modeler's LicenseThis is where we get the "I don't really care" part of the discussion.  As I have explained up above the reasons for certain aspects of the layout are useful in avoiding unneeded and unwanted arguments, plus they save money.  We all use it to avoid (sometimes) messy bits of history.  I hope that there are not many people that model WWII German Arbeitet Camps, but I can say that's one piece of history that I don't want to model, but say the Pullman strike or Calumet Mich Copper Strike or the occasional chain gang, not a problem, yet strangely many railroads depicting the south or industrial scenes have neither.  For that matter how many one or two finger amputees do have running around our roads, I don't.Esteem by ones peers...boy that's loaded.  Quite honestly I hope I never have the esteem of my peers, because that means that I have failed...myself.  I could honestly care little about what people think of me or my modeling abilities.  It is enough that my hobby provides me with a release of stress, something to do with my wife and nieces and nephews and occasionally as something I do by myself to get away from all of the above.  If the club wants me have a fairly detailed consist or structure I will do so to the best of my ability, because it was stipulation of all of the membership, but if it weren't a requirement, I probably wouldn't. [soapbox] My question for all of the above that think that it is their concern, whether asked or not, what another model does is WHY?  Advancing the hobby?  Please don't take it wrong, but your not.  I know I don't the hobby and I have been requesting designs for YEARS.  Providing a support group?  Quite frankly it's kinda pathetic what we do.  It's even more pathetic that certain members of our hobby think that criticism and nit-picking do ANYTHING but drive people away.  I have seen various members of this board who seem think that somehow this helps, I got to wonder how.  Are these people hoping to shame, cajole, or brow-beat people into doing better?  Nicely phrased, well worded and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and praise is more likely to do that than any other single factor.  Of course the same people that are ardent critics are probably the same people telling my wife that "girls don't run trains."[xx(][:(!][soapbox]  I consider the best shows we have in the club to be the ones where the club isn't praised for the layout or the rolling stock and traction, but for the fun the members are having with one another.
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