Ever Feel Pressured to Conform to Other Modeler's Dictates?

[lupo]

I voted:

I've been fortunate enough to not have this issue to contend with

could be the advantages of living on the other side of the planet!

at swapmeets I look closely at the lay-outs but they are most european,
so I pay attention to what others do, but follow my own plan

[Anonymous]

Do the best you can and be proud of it!

[Anonymous]

I feel that we can always learn from others who feel inspired to use creativity or time and money (Skills too) to build a unique item in this hobby.

However, we should never be "Compelled" to try and keep up with the "Joneses" who may have access to resources and tools we can only dream of. Every person who participates in the Hobby either a first train set or a advanced modeler with CTC control has given of time, creativity and effort to inspire others to learn and enjoy something that has been very good to the Hobby as a whole.

My two cents

Lee

[vsmith]

So far I havent had any bad comments on my layout, but then again almost noboby has seen it. My brother thought it was really cool. But we dont get a lot a friends or family over we alway go over.

I had some bad experiences when I was younger but I ingnored the comments I got.

Today if someone said something I would first decide if what was said had any merit. I am open minded enough to consider all criticism but I will decide if it is relavent or not. If it has some merit I will consider a change. I have already tweeked my layout several times to reflect issues that came up between the paper layout and the real layout.

[CP5415]

I never feel pressured by anyone when it comes to MY layout.
I will listen to what people say about MY layout, locomotives & rolling stock & then decide for myself if what they say will make it better for myself.
As I start to buy Walthers & Kato's passenger car offerings, I do see the benefit of detailed rolling stock. Will this change my opinion of detailing everything to match? Maybe someday it will. I don't have time for detailing right now.
Right now I'm on a constant learning curve as I pursue the quest we've all started out on. The pursuit of the finished model railroad. To me, a persons railroad is his/her own. I would rather comment on the stuff I like about it than the stuff I don't. It makes the owner feel better about their accomplishments.

Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[mikebonellisr]

We can always learn...I'm open to suggestions.B ut, in the end,it's my creation.

[Roadtrp]

[#ditto]
I'm another guy who thinks like MAbruce.

Although I LOVE looking at the expert layouts others produce, I do not want to devote the time and money it would take to produce one myself. I've learned a lot in my brief time on this forum, and I certainly have tried to adapt some of the ideas. The idea of keeping my layout consistent with a particular geographic location and era is something that I have picked up from this board and tried to implement.

On the other hand, my scenery is very basic, and will probably stay that way for many years. At this point in my life I just don't want to devote the time that would be needed to make a highly realistic layout. But I really enjoy my layout and running my trains. I assume that over the years my thoughts on what I want my layout to be will change. For now though, I am happy with what I have.

[AntonioFP45]

I'm with MABruce,[swg][tup]

Observe other layouts, ask questions and take notes.

Years back I actually felt intimidated by TONY KOESTER. [V][|(] I would read his editorials and felt that a modeler of his caliber would find my modeling crude and "far below his standards" as even on a small layout my concept would be that railroads hundreds of miles apart would connect. This would give me an excuse to have SCL locomotives, New Haven, and Santa Fe units operate on the same layout. [;)]

But as I continued to buy and/or subsribe to MRR issues, and read Tony's columns I realized that he was a DOWN-TO-EARTH highly skilled modeler that would not put down our ideas or layouts. [8D][:)]He offers a lot of good suggestions for modelers that would like to pursue prototypical style layout themes and operations. I've picked up a lot of ideas from Tony Koester. [swg][tup][swg][tup]

None us should feel pressured from other modelers, but at the same time we must be careul to avoid putting pressure on fellow modelers. [8)] We really have to think before opening our "traps". [:0]

I made the unintentional mistake of strongly suggesting changes on a friend's layout. His response was friendly, but quick: You run your railroad the way you want to, and I'll run my railroad the way I want to." [;)][:D]

That was in 1978 and I still remember it clearly! He and I are still the best of friends along with our wives. [C):-)][4:-)][:X][:I]

Peace out! [^][:D][8D][8)][:)][:P][;)][C=:-)][{(-_-)}][(-D][swg][tup]

[MAbruce]

I have not had any “expert modelers” over to see my layout, but have been over to see a few of theirs. After I got over the fact that their work is light years ahead of mine, I carefully looked over what they have done and took mental notes. There is a lot to learn.

The overall realization that I brought away is the sheer amount of work and investment that one needs to commit in order to achieve a great layout like theirs. I don’t doubt that I could become proficient in the modeling techniques they possess; it’s the time and monetary investment that I don’t think I could ever commit to.

From a financial standpoint, if I had the money, the question would be can I bring myself to spend what is required? There is another topic going about the true cost of a large layout, and it has turned out to be a rather sensitive issue for many who don’t seem to want to face the truth of how much they have really spent on this hobby over the years. I personally think this hobby is far more expensive than it should be, but that’s just my view. But that “view” will certainly disqualify me from spending what is required.

From a time standpoint, again I would have trouble justifying spending the time that would be required. We have to face the fact that this hobby can be a huge sponge that soaks up vast amounts of time. I don’t have much time now, but after the kids have grown and left, and I’ve retired, that will probably change. But do I really want to spend all my time in the basement working on a layout, or hunched over a desk putting together (or detailing) structures. Sure I enjoy this hobby, but not to the level that I would have to in order to achieve the status of “expert modeler”.

So by virtue of being unwilling to surrender all my spare money and time, I doubt that I will ever reach the level of master modeling skills nor build that MRR dream Empire. There are just too many other things in my life that I consider more important.

[Anonymous]

I voted for #4. The only person whose harsh comments I'm willing to put up with are that of my brother, and even he knows not to pu***he envelope too far![:D]