"Just Get it Done!'

[Big_Boy_4005]

If you stop and think about it, this could be viewed as a sad comment on today's society.

Instant gratification has run rampant, everything has to be fast or faster. We don't have the time to travel by train any more, the airlines are too slow. We communicate at the speed of light, and anything less is unacceptable. Its no longer about getting there, its about being there.

We used to think that all of these modern conveniences would save time so that we would have more time to do the things we enjoy. What happened to all the time we saved? It certainly isn't earning interest.

Have we taken technology too far, or is our definition of model railroading out dated?

I'm not trying to change my position, but rather trying to figure out what happened, and understand how and why this hobby got to where it is today.

[joecool1212]

I've been in this hobby since I was 8. Im on my third layout . First 2 were never finished with scenery, never mind other stuff. For the first time I have changed couplers to KDS. Installed better wheels and trucks on some stuff and even remotered 2 engines. I want to get involved with weathering and scenery this time around. But it took me 30 years to get here and Ive only assembeled blue box kits never kitbashed or scratched built anything. I guess it took that long to get up confidence level. I like RTR stuff and it is'nt bad. If I started with all RTR stuff I might have had time to move on faster. Although Might not have had as much money left. Joe

[Roadtrp]

I also want to 'get it done'. My primary objective is also to be running trains. Right now it's been less than a month since I received my first equipment. I've got a pretty decent track layout, 4 built-up buildings, a pre-fab tunnel and a dandy 'value pack' of deciduous trees from Woodland Scenics.

The trees were nice. They made my pre-fab tunnel look decent enough that I don't gag when I look at it. [;)]

Right now I don't have much time. I am at the peak of my career and typically spend 45-50 hours per week at work, as does my wife. My weekends are spent doing yard-work, helping my wife clean the house, and about once a month making a 6-hour round trip twice during a weekend to bring our daughter home from and then back to college. I just plain don't have time for the kit or scratch built stuff.

But I will hopefully retire in 8 years (or for sure in 11 years) and THEN I will have time to approach the hobby like I would really like to. Then I may well toss 75% of the inexpensive RTR and built-up stuff that I have accumulated. But in the meantime, it has served me well. It has let me act on my great love of trains, and given me a vision of what might be possible in the future. When I run my trains around my present layout I don't see what exists right now. I see what I dream will exist 15 years from now.

Please don't take my dreams from me just because I don't have time to pursue them right now.
[:)]

[Anonymous]

Over time the hobby has changed due to improved techniques, materials, and construction of just about everything in the hobby. When people first got interested in the hobby, almost everything had to be scratch built. From batteries running engines to hand laying everything, what have you. Most layouts were never "finished."

Many today want a "finished" layout so they can move on to operations. Operations in the early days was barely a consideration; today there are those whose main interest is operations.

Then there is the great in between who want a little of both, scratch building and ready to run. I myself would be happy if my layout were further along in its completion. I would rather be running trains.

[Anonymous]

you are right.

[Big_Boy_4005]

That's an interesting observation, and I agree. Here's some more food for thought. There are a lot of different skills needed to build a MODEL RAILROAD. Most people can't be an expert at every aspect needed to COMPLETE the task. Everyone's taste and skills are different. The NMRA has the Master Model Railroader program for anyone who wants to try to become accomplished in a number of catagories. I think there are 11 on the list and a person needs to complete 8 to achieve the title MMR. For all the people who are in this hobby, only a select few have ever earned this title.

I have been in this hobby for over 30 years , and have never scratch or even kit built a car or locomotive, that's just not how I want to spend my time.

[Anonymous]

I'm finding it stranger and stranger that so many people on this forum are lamenting the fact that ready-to-run stuff is supplanting kits and the like.

The reason it's strange is that there have to be an equal number of posters saying things that amount to, "What's the fastest way to..." or "I don't want to mess with all the work that goes with...." or "I don't have time to...."

If people are going to say they want the easiest possible way to lay track/run trains/build scenery, then it's no surprise that the manufacturers are going to give them exactly that.