What do you do for a living or is mrrding your living?

[loathar]

Hey look! Als BACK!!! I've got to admit. This ones pretty original Al.

[ouengr]

I am a Land Development Engineer in central Oklahoma.

[Pathfinder]

Forget it troll, you're exposed and your secret is out. When I find out who you are, my lawyer will be in contact.

Good, because he posted this as well:

I pledge to SMACK Pathfinder right upside his head too!!

here: http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1231595/ShowPost.aspx (on page 2).

I knew it could not be you but this will casue lots of issues for you, to bad. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Forget it troll, you're exposed and your secret is out. When I find out who you are, my lawyer will be in contact.

[Ted Marshall]

I'm so glad we've got that straight. Now that he's exposed, maybe he'll go away.

 

I knew that couldn't be the real jeff wimberly. I hope they don't kill this thread though.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

That's not me. That's a troll intent on causing trouble. Check the anemic post count.

[Ted Marshall]

Why are you suddenly displaying only 17 posts? What happened to you? You always seemed like a really nice guy.

[AggroJones]

I....Aggro.

[Pathfinder]

Interesting, almost 25% are retired.  I guess that is just a function of an ageing population.

[Ted Marshall]

What the heck just happened? What happened to Jeff's tirade toward Dave Vollmer? I went to post a reply, but got an error?

[larak]

I'm a chemical engineering student. Once I graduate, I will have more time and money for MRR, or so I think.

In my experience one either has time or money but never both simultaneously. You will do OK with engineering. It's a great field.

Karl 

[NeO6874]

Computer science student... I have less than no money, college is great.

 

Maybe I'll actually be able to MAKE money in a year after I get out...  

[rgappel]

I'm a chemical engineering student. Once I graduate, I will have more time and money for MRR, or so I think.

[Dave Vollmer]

I'm a Major in the United States Air Force.  I'm a weather officer.

Right now I'm assigned to NC State University.  I'm in my third (and final) year of my PhD in atmospheric science (specifically dynamic meteorology).

Next year I'll be reassigned to Headquarters Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, NE.

Here's me at work (before I pinned on Major) over Baghdad in 2003:

[larak]

Associate Professor - pay stinks hours are good, Electrical Engineer (freelance), Semi pro historical researcher and writer.

[secondhandmodeler]

I own a non-profit organization that sells mens clothing.  Well, were not technically a non-profit, but we don't make any money yet!  All kidding aside, I own a mens clothing store called Gerrits For Men.  Starting up your own business sure takes a toll on the cash flow.  That's why my wife gives me a hard time for spending even twenty dollars on trains.  Model railroading is my little piece of sanity.

[modelmaker51]

I started life as an army brat in Germany. After putting myself through school as a carpenter for a degree in electronic engineering, I was an audio/video tech-rep and designer, worked for Fisher-Sanyo and JVC in Europe for almost 20 yrs until I decided to get out of the rat race. I've been working in the MR business since 1989. I started out custom painting, then worked for a custom layout builder and now still do all kinds of custom MR work. I haven't had to "work" for a living for almost 20 years. Being independant has allowed me to help take of my dad (Alzheimers) until he passed in '96. Now I'm taking care of my mother who is now 84.

[lvanhen]

Have worked as a commercial photographer - had my own studio.  Auto mechanic - had a small performance shop.  Carpenter/cabinetmaker/historical restorer - had my own Co for 30 years & retired 10 years ago @ 55.  Bored out of my skull after 3-4 months - worked part time at a LHS (earned $10 - spent $15!).  Went back to work full time 8 1/2 years ago at Home Depot - turned 65 last month - will collect SS next year & move to south Jersey closer to grandkids - will probably still work part-time - hate to do nothing!  New house will be a basement with a couple of rooms above!!

[GAPPLEG]

Currently working for GE , where we build the real thing. (GE locomotives) 3 more months and I'll go to MRR for my fun. Retirement finally after 38 years here.

[on30francisco]

I'm currently retired because of a medical condition so I can devote any amount of time I want to model railroading.

[rrebell]

I'm retired, still part time landlord. Used to be a renovation expert but that was many moons ago. Was hoping to be retired again along time ago, never realized that having kids took so much time and money!!!!!!

[BRVRR]

I'm a retired Coast Guard Naval Engineer(30-years) and work part time as the curator of a police museum. I'm about to retire again and collect my SS before it is all gone!

[Driline]

Please Tell me jobs for this field are lucrative and that he will NOT be spending the next 10 years of his life living in my basement working at Wal-Mart passing out smiley faces.

IOWA!!! I have friends here in NYC from Iowa. Well, the ultimate answer is good, this is an industry where once you get outta college you have to kinda make your own way. But there are some must dos to be successful:

Don't try to start your own design firm off the bat...
1. Pay your dues... it's partly a learning experience; as necessary as college is the first job or two become kinda like grad school. Tell your son to STOW THE IGO AND NOT TO BE AFRAID TO LEARN. This industry is now flooded with premaddonas... everyone thinks thery are the best.
1a Learn to take critisim by a. observing where it comes from, if this person doesn't know what they are talking about: disregard them b. If they do know their stuff: take the advice c. In either case if the person is outwardly rude: feel sorry for them

2. Although production is very boring, it MUST be mastered. Be aware that unless your son intends on doing production forever (there's nothing wrong with that) be sure he does not get pigon-holed into this.

3. The bigger cash is usually near the cities but this is not a rule.

4. As in all industries be aware of those that want to take advantage, again this can be a learning experience.

5. Finally YES, as long as he is at least half way talented and interviews well he can expect $35,000-55,000 to start depending on whats available in your area. Start finding that out now.

DanZ
VISION

Thanks for the info. In that case I'll go ahead and rent his room out. (More money for the trainlayout).

He was an honor student in engineering and dropped out because he was bored.

So, you can see my frustration after he changed his major to "Graphic Design". His artistic skills are excellent and he has won local college awards for his endeavors, so I guess I'll give him a small break.

[Driline]

sfrailfan, you mean to tell me that you have friends from Iowa living there in New York City; these people are definitely in need of the services of an EFT Practitioner - put them in touch with Chip SpaceMouse immediately!!!

LOL...You're killing me

[loathar]

Nothing right now!!!
I've been in printing for over 20 years as a pressman and production manager. Then I had to move to the middle of nowhere to take care of my mom. No descent print shops within 50 miles of where I live. Most of the good factories around me have closed or laid most of their workers off. Been out of work for almost a year now.

Driline-Graphic artists make pretty good money in the printing biz. About $30K-$40K to start depending on the area. You can make REAL good money in a big city like NY or LA.

[R. T. POTEET]

sfrailfan, you mean to tell me that you have friends from Iowa living there in New York City; these people are definitely in need of the services of an EFT Practitioner - put them in touch with Chip SpaceMouse immediately!!!

[Pathfinder]

I am in the forest industry as a registered forest professional, running my own consulting firm.  I specialize in auditing forest practices (I am a certified environmental auditor) as well as putting on training sessions for environmental management, WHMIS and other related stuff.  In BC, we have a huge push towards having all workers in the woods safe certified, and I am working with a variety of companies getting them through their training and auditing needs.

I have never done model railroading as an income generator and probably never will.

[Nagrom1]

I  am a student. I work at a corner store on weekends. Hobbies include fishing, hiking, mrr, and I am a volunteer firefighter (for about a month now, anyways). Some hard to make a model railroad on part time work while trying to keep a car going.

 Nagrom

[sfrailfan]

Please Tell me jobs for this field are lucrative and that he will NOT be spending the next 10 years of his life living in my basement working at Wal-Mart passing out smiley faces.

IOWA!!! I have friends here in NYC from Iowa. Well, the ultimate answer is good, this is an industry where once you get outta college you have to kinda make your own way. But there are some must dos to be successful:

Don't try to start your own design firm off the bat...
1. Pay your dues... it's partly a learning experience; as necessary as college is the first job or two become kinda like grad school. Tell your son to STOW THE IGO AND NOT TO BE AFRAID TO LEARN. This industry is now flooded with premaddonas... everyone thinks thery are the best.
1a Learn to take critisim by a. observing where it comes from, if this person doesn't know what they are talking about: disregard them b. If they do know their stuff: take the advice c. In either case if the person is outwardly rude: feel sorry for them

2. Although production is very boring, it MUST be mastered. Be aware that unless your son intends on doing production forever (there's nothing wrong with that) be sure he does not get pigon-holed into this.

3. The bigger cash is usually near the cities but this is not a rule.

4. As in all industries be aware of those that want to take advantage, again this can be a learning experience.

5. Finally YES, as long as he is at least half way talented and interviews well he can expect $35,000-55,000 to start depending on whats available in your area. Start finding that out now.

DanZ
VISION

[Ted Marshall]

I'm a land survey party (crew) chief by trade but I lost my job in March. The extremely weak housing market which drives the local economy here has left me looking for work where ever I can find it. I've even tried to get work at local grocery stores and fast food joints but with my [honest] resume and extremely good pay earned over the years that they can't even come close to, they pass me over. I'm not the only one affected here either, by no means. The local unemployment rate is almost 10%. For every job that I've applied for, there have been a dozen or so other applicants. My lack of experience doing anything other than surveying isn't working in my favor either.

The last 6 months have been particularly hard because I've had to sell much of my mrr stuff on ebay. So I guess you can say that mrring has been my living. I'm not selling any more though, gotta keep my BLI locos and favorite cars.

My girlfriend has been really cool floating me since my benefits expired a few months ago but she's really getting irritated now. She earns good money as a bank manager but not enough to support both of us.

I have a modular, double track, HO code 100 floor-layout that I made for my apartment. It's 15' x 12', has 34" and 36" radius curves with numerous crossovers and is built on 3/4" plywood. It's r/w width varies from 6" to 10" and is kept together with dowels and steel mending plates. It is quite rigid and heavy. I disassembled it when I moved in with her back in May; I live with her now. Needless to say, I haven't used my layout any time latey.

Here a link, if you'd like to see what it looks like: http://tinyurl.com/2e6x83

I may have to move away to another part of the state or even the country if I'm to continue the pursuit of my (our) hobby. I doubt that if I take a $9.00 or $10.00 an hour job around here, I'll be able to continue mrring. I'm used to earning twice that amount which is how I was able to get started mrring seriously in the first place.

Maybe when we're in Chicago next month, I'll find employment opportunities in surveying and convince her to move there. Who am I kidding? She'll never move away from Florida.