Bringing new people into the hobby ( not necessarily kids )

[wdcrvr]

Hi

I started building a layout five years ago.  I am in Columbia, Il which is just across the river from St. Louis, Mo.  I looked around for a club to be a part of, hoping to find people who wold be willing to give me advice and encouragement.  I found out that there was a club with a large HO layout in the Kirkwood area of metro St Louis.  I went there one evening when they were having a work session.  There were about 6 to 8 guys present.  When I walked in the door they looked at me like I was there to rob them at gunpoint.  After introducing myself as new to the hobby they procedded to completely ignore me.  No welcoming comments, zip, nada, zilch!!  I walked around the layout for awhile, trying to get comfortable with being there.  As much as I was interested, I just could not get past the feeling that I was not at all welcome in their private little world.  So, I left and have never gone back.  I now have a semi-constructed HO layout (14' x 18') in my basement, no thanks to them.  I have been fortunate to find this forum to get answers to my many, many questions and have only a few times run into someone who was not kind in their response.  This forum can do a lot to promote the hobby to those who come here.

Thank you to all who have been so helpful to me.

wdcrvr

 

[cuyama]

By the way, for those in the New Jersey area, there is a similar Meet this weekend in Scotch Plains sponsored by the Garden State Division NMRA/Layout Design SIG/Operations SIG. You need not be a member of any of the groups to attend, but there is a modest charge to cover facility rental. The event includes number of experienced and knowledgeable clinicians, layout tours, and more (even door prizes). I am sure that newcomers to the area or to the hobby will be welcomed.

[riogrande5761]

BRAKIE

 Jim, Let's put aside your modeling style.

By modeling style you mean my RTR Athearn engines (and similar Atlas etc.) with the fragile parts?  Thats about all I have these days - I sold off the stuff that I would not care if a child got a hold of, to raise funds, to get the stuff I like.  So my modeling style isn't really compatable with children running wild and unsupervised and no ropes to hold back most of the crazies. 

I don't really want to spend more money on a second set of stuff for that purpose when I'm trying to scare up enough for my current modeling goals.  I got involved with a modular group to have a chance to actually run a few of my trains for once, and most of the shows they do they have ropes set up - but as it happened, not that last show I ran at.

I found for public display running its best to use Athearn BB cars and locomotives or the newer Bachmann locomotives and BB,Roundhouse,Trainman or Accurail cars.

Why?

No need to explain, I already figured that out, trust me.  "I ain't thick"  (Thats what my wife says to me when I point out elementary things to her.  Now I can identify with her more, thanks Larry!   )

I didn't go into that much detail above but what I brought to the show was mostly Accurail, Details West, E&C and Walthers kit based models, which are about as cheap and crude as I had - I have very few blue box models left.

The public doesn't know or care what tape of model choo-choo is running in fact most just glance over the train as it rolls by.

I had worked that one out, thanks! 

Cheers, Jim Fitch