Do you have a "buddy" or are you a "Lone Wolf"?

[cwclark]

not by choice I am a lone wolf...I live in the country and here in Texas it's not a popular hobby..(the popular hobby - shooting at "deer crossing road signs" with a 12 gauge shotgun on a Saturday night is not my idea of fun)...I wish i had people interested in the hobby over from time to time and it sure would make running the railroad empire a lot easier... Chuck

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenh

Although I've read MR for a few years, this forum is the first "contact" I've had with fellow RRs. From reading MR, one gets the idea that everyone has about 10 guys over each week for a session and another 10 that helped build the layout. I live in a small community and the nearest LHS is nearly 100 miles. No clubs, no shows, etc. But now I have all of you. Gives me a warm feeling! Thanks.

Well then WELCOME, Ken.

I know how you feel. I've been into the hobby since 1956 when I was three years old and received the almost mandatory Lionel train set around the Christmas tree. Switched over to HO when I was eight and a couple years later I discovered MR mag. I would read about all these big layouts, and see all the pictures, too, but had never seen anything like that in "real" life.

Years later I fell away from the hobby for the usual reasons for a good fifteen years. Was cleaning out the basement a dozen or so years ago and found a box of some of my old train stuff. Went through it and got the bug again. House was too small to start a layout, I thought, but was able to utilize a section of the basement and built a room down there to keep out bugs and mice (lived on the edges of two cornfields!)

There was no local hobby shop to visit nor any modelers I knew about. I was going it alone the first couple years when I read an article in the local paper about model railroaders in the area. I couldn't believe it and had no way of contacting them. It took me another two or three years before I caught an announcement in MR (see, another reason to read it!) concerning an NMRA division meet in my area (for a change!) that was open to the public. As they say, the rest is history.

I went and met some decent, friendly guys who had a local, informal model railroad club and got to see a couple of their layouts which were open on tour after the meet. When I got to the third one I didn't leave to see any others. This guy modeled the New Haven and at the time it filled a good three quarters of his basement (it now takes up the entire basement). What I had been seeing in the model RR mags since I was a kid actually existed in "real" life! It sounds silly but it was actually an emotional experience for me. I felt like I had finally come home or found others like me, or some such...I wasn't the only one anymore.

I ended up joining their local group and have been a member ever since. I even found out one of the members who was working at the time, had a small, unadvertised model rr store he would open up in the evenings when he got done with his day job. He's now retired and has a much larger, real store. These guys have helped me over the years and have become friends. That guy with the basement filling NH layout turns out to be from Chicago where I am originally from. I now go to run trains or help him build his layout almost every Friday night now. They are there when I need help, but normally I still like just working on things by myself. Maybe it's habit! But I now have friends to help me when I need it.

In a way, now you do too!

[Anonymous]

I am lucky enough to have TWO buddies who model with me. They are my 6 and 10 year old daughters.For now the 6yr old is content to her cheap battery powered G scale(I think) set and the Lego train set, as she is still pretty rough on things at her age[:)]. I got the 10yr old started at age 7, on HO scale, but she is switching over to N scale so she can have a small layout in her bedroom, instead of the 4x8 foot HO layout she I built. We had to move it out of the house to make room for a guest who was staying for several months, and the only extra room was the "train room".....which we never did get back when the guest moved out[:(], I think we got the shaft on that deal[:p]!!!!

[chapmon]

Right now I'm a lone wolf out of necessity, since there is a LHS here, but noone that models what I do or really my age to hang out with or model with me. I'm always on the lookout, since it's more fun to do modeling together for inspiration.

Mike[:D][8][8D]

[sparkingbolt]

Like most, I model alone. I do have a few friends who think the layout is cool, but don't even begin to model themselves. One may start. These guys are more than willing to help if some was asked for. They never take cheap shots either, as some non modelers have at times.

I like emeraldisle's take above on this forum. I have gotten info here that has had a dramatic impact on my layout...some even good! [:D] Dan

I should add that my wife is my biggest supporter by far, even though she doesn't actually lay her hands on the layout.

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Neerie

I like challenges, and I've always been the nobody-touches-my-toys-but-me type of kids, always affraid that someone might screw things out (it's ok if I screw up, but I'll be so mad if someone else screws my stuff). I love to learn new stuff and try things out, wich is part of the reason I want to work alone and not join a club where I'd "play" with other's train and where people would play on mine.

If I ever have kids, I'll buy them their own railroad kit so they can play along side mommy, but they would be damed if they touched mommy's layout.

So true and how I hate to admit it but when I read this post the alarm bells started going off. It's not that I'm better then anyone else it's just that I like to do it my way!

[Anonymous]

I like challenges, and I've always been the nobody-touches-my-toys-but-me type of kids, always affraid that someone might screw things out (it's ok if I screw up, but I'll be so mad if someone else screws my stuff). I love to learn new stuff and try things out, wich is part of the reason I want to work alone and not join a club where I'd "play" with other's train and where people would play on mine.

If I ever have kids, I'll buy them their own railroad kit so they can play along side mommy, but they would be damed if they touched mommy's layout.

[Anonymous]

I have friends that are big into model railroading, But aside from getting tips & info. I prefer to be a lone wolf , Like what Mr. Frank Sinatra once sang about. " I did it my way "

[Anonymous]

I am a lone wolf because of what I model and where I live. I have an Om 1/45 scale Swiss narrow gauge layout. There is little interest in foriegn prototype here in the Great Basin so I soldier on alone by necessity not choice. If I had others interested in my chosen prototype and scale I would be happy to join "the pack".

I have been model rairoading since 1949 and am no recluse and am interested in all scales. Find that there is always much new to be learned.

[Anonymous]

Although I've read MR for a few years, this forum is the first "contact" I've had with fellow RRs. From reading MR, one gets the idea that everyone has about 10 guys over each week for a session and another 10 that helped build the layout. I live in a small community and the nearest LHS is nearly 100 miles. No clubs, no shows, etc. But now I have all of you. Gives me a warm feeling! Thanks.

[trainfan1221]

I have friends nearby with a layout, but I model alone.

[Anonymous]

I go over and help a friend.
and I also have a mentor...so...

[ddechamp71]

As a Z-scaler living in Europe and modelling north american, even if I wanted to belong to a club I should be commited to be a lone wolf....
Dominique

[CBQ_Guy]

I belong to a local round robin group and occasionally operate or work on other's layouts. Basically, I am a lone wolfie, though, as I have been for many years. I prefer to work on my stuff alone but at least now I have people I can call on if I need help with lifting or holding, etc. I appreciate the helpful info I can get from all on the forums, lists, message boards, newsgroups, et al. The rest is irritating or entertainment, depending on my read or mood at the time I see it.

[jfugate]

It depends. I do have scheduled work sessions from time to time on the Siskiyou Line, but I have found that motivation and skill do not always match, so I have to be careful.

Certain things I do myself, or farm out to someone I pay (loco painting) not because I can't do it myself but because the price is right and it saves me time.

As I get on in years (pushing 50), I find I have more to share with other modelers. As I have hosted visitors to the Siskiyou Line, I am finding they are curious how I do certain things and I end up sharing the how-to details with them.

Same thing with my web site (over 50,000 hits now). I regularly get emails about certain things and I end up explaining how I did them. This has all lead me to work with a video production outfit (myMemoirs Video) to do a series of in-depth how to videos on designing, building, detailing, and operating a large multideck layout. First video comes out late April, with the other 4 volumes to follow about once a quarter.

Sort of the ultimate mentoring, I suppose.

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Fergmiester

The other problem is finding someone who shares my skill or lack of skill level.

Anyone with similiar concerns?

I've been trying to find model railroad buddies here in Oceanside, CA. There is a local club but I'm not interested in joining a club. I tried to get involved with a modular group who met every couple of months to build but they were much more serious than I would want to be and they seemed not to include their familes.

Personally, I would like to model the Free-mo concept with fellow modelers who like to hang out and do other things that invovle family.

Sean

[Anonymous]

With the wealth of information out there, you almost don't need the mentor appoach. I model alone mostly due to time and personel prefences. I'll admit, i'm astickler for things being done to a higher standard. Not perfect, but as close to it as my skills will allow. Also this is a hobby i want to learn, from benchwork, to wiring, to track, to scenery. I have allready noticed that my skills in many areas have improved considerably. Of course there have been some messy failures, but of course, that means the success are so much more sweet.
I model hi-rail three rail, so i am a lone wolf in my area. However i am not interested in being snobbed by the HO set. Which i have at my LHS. This forum has been great for expanding my knowage, as has older issues of MR, RMC, and other mags. I am currently in the middle of leariing scenery, and it has been a pain. But now i am starting to get things to where i think they are truly starting to look really really good.
This is a great hobby, and i look forward to learing more in the future. Keep up the great posts. Bill

[MAbruce]

I started as a lone wolf, but recently joined the local Ntrak club and have started to interact with other modelers. I have not yet developed any “hobby buddy” relationships, but I suppose that will take a while. It’s tough to break into an established group. From their perspective, I have to prove that I’m not a ‘here today, gone tomorrow” member.

I think what saddens me the most about this poll is not the number of “lone wolf” modelers; it’s how it translates to the low numbers of “Mentors” and/or “Have a Mentor”. It seems to me that this hobby could be doing so much better by reaching out to the younger generations as mentors.

Perhaps these results also show that our hobby tends to attract introverts?

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty much in the same category as most people. I model alone, but I participate in this (and other) forums because I can pick up suggestions, give advice, see if a particular thing or technique is viable.

I used to belong to two clubs, but for whatever reason, they decided they didn't want me in their membership. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the large broadsword I carried to the meetings that did it......or maybe they figured that I bathed too often and they didn't like the smell of my bath soap. Gee, I don't know. Anyway, that's way off topic.

[Anonymous]

Lone Wolf here. Tried the club thing, but wasn't really a good fit...too many people who wanted to "play trains" and not enough "model railroaders."

[douginut]

Lone Wolf here,
though not by choice.
Work scedule takes me past midnight five nights a week and weekends am usually really pooped.
as with the other fellow, who had been a part of clubs I have happily been so at various times in my life and modelled with friends and family members.

And like the other fellow said here this is like a very informal club with a full spectra of opinion and modelling styles.

Doug, in Utah

[IRONROOSTER]

I am a lone wolf, except for this forum. Time is the issue here. If that changes then I'll probably join a club, just to see what a group can do.
Enjoy
Paul

[AggroJones]

Aside from me communicating with people on the internet, I am a lone wolf. I don't have a circle of modelling friends. I don't belong to a club.
Actually, I don't feel I could even be in a club around here, even if I wanted to.

[Noah Hofrichter]

I'm a lone wolf, but I wish I wasn't. I get occational questions answered at my LHS, but its not enough. I don't know of any other modelers in the area, or I'd want to hook up with them. So for the moment I run one man op. sessions with work order sheets of my own design, but I'd like to have other people help me.

Noah

[ClinchValleySD40]

I used to be a lone wolf. Then I tried an ops session. WOW !!! Sure made a big difference.

I still say (always say) the best part of this hobby is the people. I'm in a round robin group that everyone is super great friendly. Great friends. Some of us take trips around the country to operate other layouts, go to conventions together, take wives out to dinner and just regular stuff. And they are great if you need help.

Please, if you are a lone wolf, consider sharing the hobby with others. There are more model railroaders out there than you realize.

[mls1621]

My real start in the hobby happened about six years ago when I discovered that a neighbor had an N scale layout in his garage.

I introduced myself and began working with him on his layout.

In 2002 I built the benchwork for my own layout and got the track plan finalized.

Now the track work is complete, the scenery is well on the way to completion and it's scheduled to be on the home tours for our regional convention.

My neighbor and I share resources and abilities on both layouts. I've built several projects on his layout, a double track trestle was the first and the most recent is a scratch built hot metal car for his steel mill module.

He has a much better eye for color than I and he's always here when the scenery work is being done.

[n2mopac]

I am a lone wolf, but in some ways would rather not be. I do prefer to do most of the modeling on my own layout myself. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment, not to mention that the time spent building is great therapy away from the stress of job and life. It would be nice to have a resourse to turn to in the flesh (as opposed to online) to help when I hit a wall. Unfortunately I live in a very small town (the nearest good LHS in 75 miles away). It would also be nice to have some friends to operate with. I used to live in Fort Worth, TX and had a couple of friends on whose layouts I would operate from time to time. Unfortunately I did not have a layout at the time. As I get my new layout running it will support as many as 5 operators. I hope to be able to find or inspire some modelers to operate with.
Ron

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN

If you're replying to this thread, or visit any online modeling forum, you are not a lone wolfer. a lone wolfer wouldbe one who has no contact with any other modelers, except maybe when he stops in his LHS to buy something.

You all have an extended network of friends and fellow modelers right at the touch of your fingers, some Hobbies don't have that and are true Lone wolf Hobbiers.

Jay

I'd say your partly right on this one except that I think many of us would benifit from someone's physical presence from time to time when we need that bit of hands on help or motivation.

[Anonymous]

If you're replying to this thread, or visit any online modeling forum, you are not a lone wolfer. a lone wolfer wouldbe one who has no contact with any other modelers, except maybe when he stops in his LHS to buy something.

You all have an extended network of friends and fellow modelers right at the touch of your fingers, some Hobbies don't have that and are true Lone wolf Hobbiers.

Jay