Poll #3 RTR over KITS

[vsmith]

its both good and bad, RTR gets more people into the hobby and Kits are a great challenge for experienced modelers. OTOH, RTR sucks the life out of the hobby for more experienced modelers, and kits can scare off newer modelers.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roadtrp

I like trains!!!
[:D][:D]

And just what the heck is so bad about that??
[?][?]

After I've been with it a bit, I may well decided to get much more serious about the modeling end of it. But in the meantime, I'm out there buying stuff from the LHS and the internet, stuff that probably has a higher profit margin since it is built. Thereby keeping the LHS guys in business so folks like you who want to build everything from toothpicks can!

[bow][#ditto][bow][#ditto][bow][#ditto][bow][#ditto][bow][#ditto][bow][#ditto][bow]
I voted RTR. I have nothing against kits; it's just that when I see something I like I want to get it home, watch it run, and have fun doing so. What's wrong with that???

Okay, Emerald--I think I've responded to all of your polls![(-D]

And I thankyou[:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

Emerald, when do you think you'll have enough information to compile and subsequently post your findings? It should be interesting to read.

Andrew

[dehusman]

The problem with the vast majority of the "polls" on these chat groups are they are not comprehensive or are constructed to end up with the results the creator wants. Poll #2 is an excellent example of this. The only possible option is to pick something that is "wrong". It doesn't allow for the possibility that things are "right". For example if 1000 people read the survey and 990 of them decide that nothing is wrong with the hobby and so don't participate, then the other 10 all vote for "RTR". The results of the poll will "show" the the "problem" with model railroading is RTR, even though 99% of the people in the hobby don't think there is anything wrong with the hobby.
Another problem is that most polls do not have a statistically representative number of participants, so the results really don't mean anything as far as the hobby as a whole.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

The problem with the vast majority of the "polls" on these chat groups are they are not comprehensive or are constructed to end up with the results the creator wants. Poll #2 is an excellent example of this. The only possible option is to pick something that is "wrong". It doesn't allow for the possibility that things are "right".
Dave H.

Dave, Poll #2 questions what's wrong with the hobby, if anything. The creator of the survey did include the option of voting for "Nothing" for those who see no problems within the hobby. I think many of the pollsters make strong attempts to include all possible categories in which to cast a vote.

The polls aren't scientific and should always be viewed as such, which creates room for friendly agreement or dissension. I would consider a margin of error when reviewing results. In any event, polls are created to be fun. They are not necessarily a definitive view on what many modelers feel; they simply shed light on what the participants think.

[CBQ_Guy]

Maybe Yes, Maybe No was my vote. I don't like the high prices of the RTR stuff but they are outselling the kits so those participants in model railroading is apparently being served...and satisfied. On the other hand, the less kits of reasonable cost available can't help but to keep the kids and those on a tight model railroad budget away from hobby particiaption.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan

Emerald, when do you think you'll have enough information to compile and subsequently post your findings? It should be interesting to read.

Andrew

probably do it this weekend.

[BRAKIE]

I have mixed feelings over RTR engines and cars..I think they will help the hobbyist while also hurting the hobbyist at the same time.You see I fear that some of the basic skills will be lost..However thankfully some cars are not truly RTR as one must add some parts such as grabs and steps.Not to mention one needs to change out the couplers for more reliability..
Now I prefer a Athearn or MDC car kit over those kits that has a thousand and one iddy biddy pieces..

I do like the looks of the RTR cars over the kits..The Athearn Genesis,5344 and 5347s comes to mind as well as the IM RTR cars.

[on30francisco]

I like both. RTR for locomotives and kits for rolling stock and structures. I don't enjoy building most craft train kits and would much rather scratchbuild - preferably out of wood.

[fec153]

emerald-I have put many mdc-accurail and bb's together. well over 250. I had to get a friend to put together two tanker kits from intermountain as I couldnot.[B)][:(]. Ialso had to pay someone else to put all the grabs and small details on a kato loco. I just don't have the talent to do craftsman kits. But I also do not have the money to spend on rtr unless it is something special I really want-Not need-WANT.
Fla.Phil

[ericsp]

I posted a poll back in July that asked something to the effect "if all kits and RTR products were available as both kits and RTR, which would you buy?" with somewhat similar results (kits won). For some reason, I just do not like buying a car, taking out of the box. and putting on my layout, it is no fun to me. I have nothing against RTR, I just wi***he companies would not assemble some of their products and offer them as kits (they aren't extruded, or injection molded as one piece, except for some detail parts). Maybe if we boycott RTR (until they offer more kits) and all told the manufactures that we want kits too, they would offer some.

Walthers says that they have gone to RTR because that is what most people want. However, all of the polls I have seen here indicate otherwise. Is Walthers wrong or are people who like kits more likely to come here than people who like RTR?

[ClinchValleySD40]

I prefer R-T-R because I don't have time for kits at this point. I absolutely love the Atlas freight cars. If I had plenty of time, I'd probably stick with kits.

[Anonymous]

I voted yes and no. For myself I prefer kits. I hardly ever pass up a chance to get one of the old Ambroid kits. But the reality is that the ACF Centerflow that I built from one of those kits, while good, cannot compare to some the better RTR products.
Working part time at a local Hobbytown, I encounter many people who do not, or claim to not have time to assemble the more difficult kits. They want to have trains but feel that they will never get there if they have to build everything.
I think that there is room for both without polarizing the hobby. However, for myself it is kits forever!

Cliff Smith