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Model Railroading - A diverse learning experience

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  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 4, 2017 6:13 AM

richhotrain
 
BMMECNYC
 

 

Rich,

Just in the internet age...so the last 20 years or so. 

 

 

 

OK, but one still needs the qualifications to write such a book.

 

Rich

 

I guess Psychology could be added to the useful skills list.

  • Member since
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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, March 4, 2017 8:41 AM

BMMECNYC
I guess Psychology could be added to the useful skills list.

Probably more then you think..If a Psychiatrist wrote that book he/she may need to see another  Psychiatrist  for counseling.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, March 4, 2017 8:47 AM

BMMECNYC

Have you ever stopped to think about just how diverse a skillset one has the potential to develop in this hobby. 

Yes, many times.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by mlehman on Saturday, March 4, 2017 1:01 PM

richhotrain
Is anyone on this forum qualified to write a book about the history of the hobby? I doubt it.

As a historian with a minor field in the history of science and technology, I could take a crack at it, probably overqualified if anything. I'm familiar with the sources and have actually been alive for roughly half the time that would be studied. Is there a grant available?Big SmileWinkLaugh

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by Medina1128 on Sunday, March 5, 2017 10:27 AM

And, as we get older, steady hands and our vision come into play. I wonder how many of the younger modelers scratchbuild or kitbash, or do they pay more for an assembled model. As I evolved, and my skillset with it, I relied on learning and acquiring the skills and tools needed for scratchbuilding. This is simply because what I wanted to model isn't available. 

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, March 5, 2017 11:58 AM

mlehman

 

 
richhotrain
Is anyone on this forum qualified to write a book about the history of the hobby? I doubt it.

 

As a historian with a minor field in the history of science and technology, I could take a crack at it, probably overqualified if anything. I'm familiar with the sources and have actually been alive for roughly half the time that would be studied. Is there a grant available?Big SmileWinkLaugh

 

I hereby grant you authority to write the book.  Laugh

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, March 5, 2017 1:34 PM

One thing that has been overlooked so far..

Our hobby is a forever learning process..Ever notice when you think you have all the answers to model (say) Hooten Hollow & Western in 1960 some new information jumps up? 

And it is true there was a "real" Hooten Hollow & Western.It was a friend of mine freelance HO railroad. He had five Atlas Chessie GP7s with HH&W on the cab as well as 7 Atlas GP7s lettered for Hooten Hollow & Western.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
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Posted by PRR8259 on Sunday, March 5, 2017 7:10 PM

My history would be different from your history.

Before there were daycare centers, when my parents wanted to go shopping, I begged to be dropped off at English's Model RR Supply.  They had no problem keeping an eye on me.  As the home of Bowser, and with parts on hand for many manufacturers' lines, they had over one million parts on hand.  You could assemble complete Rivarossi or Mantua engines just from new parts if you wanted to.  By age 12 they would not wait on me, but said "you know where it is.  Go find it, yourself."  That store was/is "home" to me.

It became my first job and I learned many valuable lessons about hard work and life there, and just about every day, Lewis English, Sr., came around and said "see, isn't working in this factory job the reason you want to finish your engineering degree?" He was a degreed chemical engineer.

One day I made a mistake that cost Lee English more money than I made in an entire summer.  He was ticked but did not even really yell at me, and the next day it was like nothing ever happened.  He is possibly the nicest boss I ever had.

I vividly remember some of the challenges faced by Bowser, the first N5C shots, Lew Sr. Ordering the shell redone because scale rivets disappeared under paint film.  I remember Lee's joy after the first screw making machine arrived and they could make their own screws.

Most of all I remember a lot of great people, and I think of them when I buy a steamer some of them would have liked...I also remember many great customers I had the privilege of helping...sometimes when they are busy I still will help a customer out.  It was the retail customers who got me into brass.  We would meet at the McDonalds across from Enola Yard and go to Timonium as a group, then often go to Dick Kaiser's attic to run the new brass acquisitions.  Dick just passed away recently.

And I thank Howard Zane for getting me back into brass after a 15 year hiatus.  He happens to be about the only guy I personally know still playing with brass steamers.

I remember many great Saturday morning conversations at English's, still ongoing to this day though the people have changed.  I get there about every other week for pro baseball lessons for my son.  Several local guys made the major leagues.

That is my history and really all I would have to say.

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