What is your model railroading skill level?

[n2mopac]

I consider myself an intermediate modeler. I have been at this about 10 years, I am working on my second layout. I feel confident to complete any kit and to re-engineer kits (kitbash) to suit my needs. I have completed several scratchbuilt structures with good success and feel confident in building scenery. I am not a custom painter and do not do some of the super fine detailing that many other do (those N scale grab irons are TINY!!!). Thats where I am, where are you?
Ron

[lupo]

I am an rentry modeller with I think intermediate skills, built several lay-outs at young age, few years away, did some commercial kitbashing in between.

[AntonioFP45]

Intermediate,

My strong areas are in painting, body work, and scenicking. My weak areas: electrical and electronics. Fortunately I have a very good friend who is a former electronics technician and is now a computer systems expert who is a modeler!

[Anonymous]

Since I failed to climb the Model RR 101 grade, this is a refresher course for me.

[Anonymous]

I am intermediate. I have been involoved for quite some years in the hobby. Only now am I beginning to explore kitbashing and ways to use materials in different ways.

[Anonymous]

Intermediate- I can do just about anything that needs to be done on a layout. But am not the greatest because I still learn of easier & better ways to do things all the time.

[mikebonellisr]

I've been modeling for over 25 years and I'm still a intermediate.There are so many aspects to this hobby,and my modeling skills keep improving so I don't see myself as ever becoming a master modeler...there is always something new to learn,but I'm having a ball!

[CP5415]

According to the above criteria, I guess I'm a basic to intermediate modeler.
Still working on my track laying, electrical plan & designing the scenery

Gordon

[Noah Hofrichter]

I qualify for the intermediate critera, except i haven't yet scratchbuilt something. I will have done that here pretty soon though as I 'm entering in Grayhound chalengers scratchbuilding competition.

Noah

[Big_Boy_4005]

I was the one who said pro. I have done layouts for others on occasion, worked in a hobby store, and built models for a living. I have never entered any contests, but I don't think I would win.

[Anonymous]

I'm sort of between novice and basic, but I voted novice because I won't be starting a layout until (hopefully) summer. Until then, the Q in HO scale will just have to be content with building up locomotive and car rosters.

[AggroJones]

Some areas of our hobby, I am an expert. Others I would be novice (like DCC).
Overall I'd say high intermediate.

I wish I had a digital cambra to show ya'll some of my work!

[Anonymous]

Used to be a spert, now I'm an EX-spert![(-D]
Seriously, going by the criteria of the poll, thats about right. I've done custom work for others, just never felt like entering a contest. Why? Cuz there are NO contests anywhere near enough to be convenient.[V]
Thats ok, I don't need no stinkin blue ribbons!
As long as the ink on the checks don't run![:D]

[IRONROOSTER]

Intermediate for me. I'm on my fifth layout. As others have said I'm pretty good at somethings and not so good at others.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Well as my signature says if it's made of wood I can build it. Bench work no problem. Track work-good. Electrical- great, until you throw DCC into it. Senery
fair. I did do some mountains at age 11 on a slot car layout which turned out good. Models and painting are fine until weathering. I could probably scratch build some nice structures if I had that whole rack of balsa /bass wood from the hobby store sitting next to me, styrene? not sure, it's not wood[:D]

[Anonymous]

Never done any professional stuff. Having based my answer on your criteria, I answered expert. However, I think other modellers would be better qualified to make any decisions about my modeling skills!

[Roadtrp]

I voted novice. I've been back in the hobby for 3 months, and have built one rolling stock kit. Everything else has been RTR or built-up. I plan to do more kits for both buildings and rolling stock, but I'm afraid my scenicing will always be somewhat limited due to my minimal artistic and carpentry skills.

The first time around I was a kid and had an extensive Lionel layout. But my dad did all the "heavy lifting" on that one... I just manned the throttle and watched the trains go around the track. So this is the first time I've tried to build a layout myself.

I may not be that great, but I am enjoying it IMMENSELY!! I play with my trains for at least an hour or so every day!! [:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

...I wish I had a digital cambra to show ya'll some of my work!...

We do too ;).

I averaged out to be an intermediate too. It was the fact that I do hand-bend grab irons, uncoupling levers, etc. in N-scale that kept me up in that category.

---jps

[CNJ831]

Based on the criteria listed I guess I'd have to go with Expert+. I'm a devoted scratchbuilder and kitbasher (nothing on my layout came directly from a box), plus a number of my models have won their catergories in regional NMRA modeling contests over the years.

CNJ831

[Anonymous]

I stopped doing custom painting and detailing for others a few years ago and never entered any of my models in contests. I would much rather be refered to as an experienced model railroader than an expert or pro.

[dano99a]

Intermediate

I strive to be an expert but I feel I have a lot of modeling to do before I'd call myself an "expert"

[Anonymous]

i'm an intermediate modeler i'm fairly far on my layout and i have scrathbuilt a bridge.

[jfugate]

Modeling the prototype SP Siskiyou Line means that you have to scratchbuild or kitbash a lot of things. Been in the hobby since 1967, so that means I'm 37 years in the hobby now (wow, that long?).

My favorite scratchbuilding material is styrene ... the stuff's amazing. Easy to work with, easy to glue, and the parts come out crisp and clean. Here's my trestle that was scratchbuilt using styrene:



Or click to see a jumbo size photo:
http://siskiyou.railfan.net/images/train/p09.jpg

[DavidH]

It seems to me that the categories are slanted more towards model building than model railroading. There are a lot more things than this that go into the building of a large model railroad, particularly in smaller scales.

David

[n2mopac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

Modeling the prototype SP Siskiyou Line means that you have to scratchbuild or kitbash a lot of things. Been in the hobby since 1967, so that means I'm 37 years in the hobby now (wow, that long?).

My favorite scratchbuilding material is styrene ... the stuff's amazing. Easy to work with, easy to glue, and the parts come out crisp and clean. Here's my trestle that was scratchbuilt using styrene:

This is a pretty impressive trestle. By the way, my descriptions were only meant as some sort of guide to give a little more objective meaning to these terms as "basic" and "expert" can often mean quite different things to any two given people.
Ron

[espeefoamer]

My category wasn't listed.Quite a lot of equipment, but no layout.

[on30francisco]

I'd say I'm an intermediate modeler. I've built some kits and a few layouts, kitbashed, and scratchbuilt some structures and rolling stock. I really enjoy superdetailing the structures and rolling stock that I scratchbuild out of wood. I prefer scratchbuilding to crafttrain kits. I love working with wood as opposed to styrene but use styrene where appropiate. I do not enjoy painting too much (especially with an airbrush) or tinkering with locos to make them run right but do these things when I have to. I also like doing and superdetailing the trackwork (handliad and flextrack) and am good with electronics. I use commercial turnouts whenever I can. I have never entered any contests and have no interest in them. I'm in this hobby for fun and relaxation.

[Kimble]

Novice here.

Though wee had a big layout as a kid, and I built a couple of structures, I have no scenery or track experience. I think if it came to a rolling stock kit, I could do well. I know how to use an airbrush from my miniature war-gaming days and have built a few airplane and ship models over the years. I just bought my first locomotive and I'm debating weather to repaint the shell to the RR I want.

We'll just have to see.

Rob C.
Portland, Maine

[Junctionfan]

Unfortunately I don't have a layout and I haven't been around the building part enough in the club to go beyond novice.

I guess for humour sake, I am a pro at being a novice or a novice at being a pro.

[fec153]

Basic/intermediate. On third layout due to Andrew and two moves. Made many changes to first and third pikes. Minimalist -no scenery. Bare bones. Have put together over 250 kits. No scratching or kit bashing. Very good at cleaning track.
Phil