selector Maybe the message in all of this is that, in our own spaces, we are The Kings. Why we do what we do the way we do it is nobody's business but our own. We spend the bucks, we get the yucks. Live and let live,...but please, stop the continual chest-beating about how much better you are than I, or that your way is better than mine. If I agreed with you, I'd be doing it your way. I don't. -Crandell
Maybe the message in all of this is that, in our own spaces, we are The Kings. Why we do what we do the way we do it is nobody's business but our own. We spend the bucks, we get the yucks.
Live and let live,...but please, stop the continual chest-beating about how much better you are than I, or that your way is better than mine. If I agreed with you, I'd be doing it your way. I don't.
-Crandell
While this appears to be the philosophy of many forumites, then they also shouldn't get your nose bent out of shape when someone tells them that they don't like what you've done or expresses an opinion that doesn't correspond with their own.
Thinking about the whole idea of getting more satisfaction out of scratchbuilding or kitbashing than the simply buying something RTR I was thinking back to how a few decades ago say when some wanted a GP35, let's say, they would start with a wide body Athearn, cut the body off, split it in two and narrow the hood to the proper width, add new fans etc, remotor the chassis etc., etc. I don't know anybody who still does that since there are some many units out there now that have scale width hoods. Would I get more satisfaction doing that vs. buying a nice RTR Kato unit or even a new RTR Athearn with the RPP GP35 shell? No, I view it as a mis-allocation of time. The point being is that as things (technology, manufacturing process etc) improve, some of the old ways of doing things are not always relevant now. I'd much rather spend my time, money and effort adding detail to that already scale width hood than taking some old Athearn body shell and cutting into pieces to make a scale width hood just to be able say I did it. The cost savings isn't worth the time it would take.
Reading this thread makes me feel like the oddball. I have done scratch building, craftsman kits, shake the box kits, and RTR. And I plan on doing more of it all in the future. I even have Lionel 3 rail trains I set up and run from time to time.
I don't know which side of this Great Divide I'm on - all three I guess. I don't care, if it's trains I love it.
Enjoy
Paul
BRAKIE Robt. Livingston Different drummer? Maybe. I love scale accuracy, super detail, and all that, but bringing a loco back to life with my own hands and ingenuity is really satisfying. IMHO there's no other feeling in the hobby that can compare. Think of the skills gain..
Robt. Livingston Different drummer? Maybe. I love scale accuracy, super detail, and all that, but bringing a loco back to life with my own hands and ingenuity is really satisfying.
Different drummer? Maybe. I love scale accuracy, super detail, and all that, but bringing a loco back to life with my own hands and ingenuity is really satisfying.
IMHO there's no other feeling in the hobby that can compare.
Think of the skills gain..
Precisely. I may not be the best in terms of getting the model right the first time---but I'll keep trying because I like it!!!
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
A month ago I responded to a "serious model railroader" posting and had my response removed as being undiplomatic and insulting; the moderator advised me that if I didn't like a response 'ignore it'.
I am not a "serious model railroader"--I am an N-Scaler and, hence, beneath contempt! First off I am a diesel afficionado! About ten years ago I bought a couple of "pre-Walthers" Life-Like PAs instead of purchasing much better running Kato units; I don't use Atlas Code 55 track but use Micro Engineering product instead--if postings here on the forum are an indication it is more difficult to work with than Atlas track but I've been using it for so long and have created templates to facilitate its bending and I'm comfortable with it; I tried hand laying track when I first got into N-Scale but, as I have related, I never got into that aspect of track laying and eventually went to flex track; I don't purchase ready-to-install switches but instead elect to build my own a necessity mandated by the fact that when I got into N-Scale Code 55 track a quarter century ago the only switches available were #6s, a size fine for industrial trackage but hardly conducive for the high iron; I have yet to shed my motive power and rolling stock of unsightly cast on detail but that is in my future; heresy-of-heresies, I actually have a handful of Bachmann Spectrum dash-eights that run great. Add to the list the fact that I am a freelancer, which is indicative of basic laziness.
In 1981 my wife and I attended the NMRA convention in San Mateo, Calif; one of the layouts on a tour was an N-Scale layout with about 250 feet of track. As I was leaving the bus I overheard one guy say to another, "Don't bother going in there! It's only an N-Scale layout." That "only an N-Scale layout" got featured in MR, RMC, and N-Scale magazine. The brass hat is now deceased but his layout was quite inspirational and the detail he had incorporated into his layout was instrumental in my adoption of N-Scale a year down the road.
As I said, "I'm not a 'serious model railroader'--I'm an N-Scaler." When I read some of the bellyaches I am sometimes inclined to ask myself if I, too, have not taken up residence on a different planet.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Some of my best model railroad times in the recent past have been resurrecting a couple of old celler-rescued Bowser and Mantua steam locomotives that would not be considered state of the art by anyone. These engines were seriously corroded and moldy, but the old open frame motors could be coaxed back to life, and the drives could be adjusted to peak efficiency and a surprisingly low noise level (although I never believed steam locos should be silent). A few scrounged detail parts from too-far-gone Rivarossi engines, and all is well with the world.
Different drummer? Maybe. I love scale accuracy, super detail, and all that, but bringing a loco back to life with my own hands and ingenuity is really satisfying. And, the cost is very low. And, these engines can actually pull a heavy train up a grade, at a reasonable main line speed, or switch at walking speed. The enduring part of the hobby is in the building and running, for me, using old-school DC (which ALWAYS works!).
AMEN, now the choir can sing and we all go to our railroads.
Bob
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I have to agree. When I received my $200 Paragon 2 Hudson W/O Decoder, I had to rewire it, and add a bunch of other stuff to get it running. And after fixing the valve gear, I found out that the wheels are slightly out of quarter, and so it runs with a limp. And yet my $26.99 Walthers Trainline GP9m can pull the Hudson backwards up a uphill grade while the Hudson in reverse. And for DC, that’s pretty darn good. As for Arthern Blue Box, My father’s kits have survived the years, and the SD45 he has worked great after a cleaning of the wheels and a oiling of the bearings. To my standards, a Trainline, Trainman, Blue Box, P2K or Spectrum is all the same. Sure the Spectrum looks a million times better and costs more, but for now, the way I see it is to get locomotives that have solid drives and are reliable, and upgrade as my skills improve. To me, it is satisfying looking at a superdetailed locomotive that you have now, and reflecting that this locomotive originally had grab irons that were straight, molded lines and the marker lights were circular bumps. As for Atlas track, I use (Gasp!) Atlas Code 100 at near 18 degree radius. Hey, it solid, and it keeps up with the beating it recives. As for couplers, I use a mixture of Kadee's and Accumate II couplers. They bolth perform to my standards. Sure I'll take the Ford and the Doge; they are reliable bases to improve upon.
Really good post Sheldon and I agree with the majority of responses on here. My layout is anything but common. Unfortunately, I bought a townhouse 2 years before getting into this hobby after a nearly 25 year layoff. The unfortunate part is lack off space, I would have loved to have a basement for a permanent layout but that is not an option, atleast until we upgrade into a newer house. Anyway I don't have enough space but I have found another option by using life like power-loc track which some have suggested is junk.
In expensive ok I can buy that, but what it allows me to do is not have to worry about benchwork or putting track on cork bed to get it off the floor but rather set up my 18' X 12' layout in under an hour and a half. I do this by storing sections of track under the couch and when it is time to set up the layout the sections just snap together.
Oh here is another thing that some will scoff at. I run Athearn 6 axle trains and I run them around, wait for it. 18'' radius track with overhang. Ah the dreaded overhang. Wait that doesn't look realistic, why don't you have larger radius turns? Go back to the first paragraph to answer that one.
In the end, I use what I want to make my layout work for me and if it puts a smile on your face then so be it. Pretty soon I will adding my 7th loco to go along with my 75+ rolling stock fleet.
Have fun everyone and until next time.
Will
Sheldon,There is a "divide" in the hobby..And guess what? Surprise! Its as old as the hobby.It was there in my dad's modeling era,its here today and will be in the years to come.
I remember the time if you bought RTR brass locomotives you was not a "real" modeler after all "real" modelers build theirs from kits or scratchbuilt.
You was looked down upon with contempt if you bought RTR locos and cars from Varney,Cox Linburg or AHM.The Athearn RTR cars was also frowned on.
I dunno but,over the years I seen many things from control systems to modeling ideas come and go.I seen my fair share of "hot shot" modelers come and go and I suspect I will see few more come and go before I head off to that happy model railroad club in the sky or worst firing a steam leaking #9 in the lower inferno regions with a laughing engineer blowing what fire I have out the stack.
Heck,I admit I am a dinosaur modeler that enjoys the old simple ways of the hobby.I tried DCC and sound and liked it but,its not my cup of tea especially on a 1 horse ISL...I don't get excited with each wind change of the hobby.I seen to many come and go.
To me its the simplicity of enjoying the hobby,railfanning etc.I care not if the old Happy Hollow & Western never owned a SEICO boxcar.That HH&W car looks might sweet painted Blue with the NRUC logo on its door.
MILW-RODRWhy buy a new BMW when you can buy 2 new Chevy Malibu's (the fully loaded V-6 model) and walk away with a full bank account?
There's a reason why GM went bankrupt. And its not because they build great cars.....because they don't. Although the reliability of BMW has been dismal in recent years as well.
This really much ado about nothing. The hobby is evolving. Not to worry. Change is inevitable, struggle is an option. Back to model railroading.
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I would like to thank all for their thoughtfull and insightful responses. Reading the responses, especially Pastor Bob, has confirmed the positive in all this and better defined the subject in my mind.
I would like to add the following observation about this shift in the hobby.
In years past, when a modeler of beginning or intermediate experiance could not get something to work as he expected, his first thought might be to ask an older or more experianced modeler for help or advice, which was usually cheerfully given.
Today it seems, that some, not all, have a first reaction that is quite different. They immediately blame the product in question as being cheap, defective, etc, etc. Or, if they do ask for help, and are told you need to do this, or learn how to do that, they balk, asking WHY?, I paid good money for ..........
And while product design and assembly quality has and always will vary from brand to brand, choosing to only buy "the very best" in this hobby will limit your modeling choices considerably. Learning to make the wide range of great products out there work and represent what you wish to model will on the other hand provide you decades of fun and satisfaction as Pastor Bob explained.
Sheldon
I can't add much to the discussion except this. What we have is not as important as how we use it. If what we have brings us satisfaction then it has done the job. Even better (way better!), if we can use what we have to put a smile on someone else's face then we've really accomplished something. Remember the first time a train moved under it's own power on a stretch of track you built? That thrill had nothing to do with Atlas, Kato, DCC or BMW's. Our task as hobbiests is to pass that thrill on to others.
Bill
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig"
Geared Steam,
"They just want to sell me powered boxcars."
There are actually people on the forum who read all the words in a post because there are often little nuggets that are over looked. I think that a comment like the one you made, quoted above, grinny face or not, is one of the things Atlantic Central was talking about. Some people just have to sneak that zinger in. It's totally unnecessary to off-handedly insult a large part of the hobby, so why do it? Again, the grinny face doesn't justify it because you just finished expressing displeasure for those who criticize your modeling choices.
Ray
Ain't model railroading great? I started with trains at age 6 months and didn't know it because my father, a locomotive engineer for Santa Fe, couldn't wait to start "building an O scale layout for his son and him". in the 40's and 50's, as I was growing up and finding out about girls, sports, etc., I still spent a lot of time in his basement, and even managed to live at home while going through college, and was able to work for Santa Fe in clerical yard jobs during the summers to pay my way. That O gauge layout remained the "best" to me. then I left home, moved on, and discovered HO in 1959 but I still have a few cars and a loco from that O gauge layout on display in my basement. I have never been without an HO layout since 1959 and for the last 12 years have included a garden railroad out back with large curves, realistic track, etc.
My HO layout in the basement is on tour often, the current layout has been in existence since 1984, and for all purposes is a "finished layout", but I still update and change. Several years ago, while on an NMRA tour, a group arrived to visit. One was a loud mouth know it all. He had nothing good to say, criticized trackwork that I had built to get my MMR, criticized structures which had been judged in contests, complained about this and that. I stood very patiently until finally his group hustled him out. Afterwards, three of them returned to appologize for the obnoxious one. But, from that day, I adopted a policy, which is stated in print at the entryway when I am on tour, which states: "I enjoy model railroading, and I enjoy using the talents God gave me, and I enjoy the companionship of fellow modelers for operations, visits, etc. But, if you can't give constructive comments, or can't restrain your disdain until you walk out the door, then you are not welcome here. This is a hobby, and I enjoy it using what gifts and talents I have."
I have noticed the gulf developing between the people who enjoy the hobby to the extent of their talents and abilities, and those who enjoy being superior in their attitude of what is right and wrong, their way always being right, and I have realized that I would rather host a group who have a love for the hobby, and express it in whatever God given talents they have and are happy, versus the grumpy old men who feel it is their duty to bring everyone up to "their standards".
I know many of the other MMR's and have found a common desire to build up, not tear down. It was asked in a forum question several months ago, where are the MMR's. They are here, but not to flaunt but to help.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL As I read through some of what has been posted in my absence, I start to wonder when I left the model railroading planet I was on before. Actually, this is not a new condition, just one made more obvious to me by being away a few days. I mean no disrespect or criticism to those with different views but I am amazed by: (snip) And this one takes the cake - I understand people of all ages and skills like model trains, and the increase in quality RTR models has fueled interest and activity among people who otherwise might have avoided a hobby of building, requiring mechanical/electrical skills - but when those people, who can't or won't learn the basic skills of this hobby, post their disatisfaction with prodcts that have worked well for 40 years (example: Kadee coupler springs), or complain about the most minor adjustments needed on new locos, etc, than I really do wonder if I am in the same hobby. No call for censorship here, quite the oposite. Just thinking out loud about other's opinions and comments.
As I read through some of what has been posted in my absence, I start to wonder when I left the model railroading planet I was on before. Actually, this is not a new condition, just one made more obvious to me by being away a few days.
I mean no disrespect or criticism to those with different views but I am amazed by:
(snip)
And this one takes the cake - I understand people of all ages and skills like model trains, and the increase in quality RTR models has fueled interest and activity among people who otherwise might have avoided a hobby of building, requiring mechanical/electrical skills - but when those people, who can't or won't learn the basic skills of this hobby, post their disatisfaction with prodcts that have worked well for 40 years (example: Kadee coupler springs), or complain about the most minor adjustments needed on new locos, etc, than I really do wonder if I am in the same hobby.
No call for censorship here, quite the oposite. Just thinking out loud about other's opinions and comments.
Sheldon, it's not simply your preception alone in play here, as others have already affirmed. Like it or not, a very significant dicotomy has developed in the hobby over the last decade or so, increasingly separating the traditional craftsmen model railroader from his RTR, gotta-have-the-latest-most-expensive-stuff, bretheren, many of whom, as you point out, lack much in the way modeling abilities and are often less than willing to learn. In many respects it's becoming a case of collectors vs. modelers.
Now to be clear, this is not meant as an attack on RTRers and those who have lately come into the hobby. Rather it is simply a statement of fact. The situation is one clearly evident in the on-line forums, where you find that in most cases the craftsman types have initiated their own sites and very few participate in the "general" or introductory-level forums, resulting in many false impressions of the hobby's general make-up. In many instances sites differ so dramatically in content and direction that it's a stretch of the imagination to believe they represent the same hobby.
And, I'm afraid, not only is the divide separating the two groups likely to widen in the future, I feel one faction will increasingly become less aware, nor care, that the other even exists. Such was the case when Hi-Rail and tin-plate trains were spun off from the scale hobby back in the 1950's. Unfortunately, the situation results in a progressively distorted view of what the hobby is based upon and highly biased views concerning the norm prompted by a particular site's cross section of participants. Above all, don't take what you see, or hear, on any one given site as being truly representative of hobby norms, or averages.
CNJ831
Did anyone read the two articles in the latest MMR magazine?
Both guys modeled their way! Go figure.
Great looking layouts to boot!
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
Your comment made me think of a lot of things, but where we stand in the hobby now vs the older hobby equipment is almost like light years ahead technically.
Lets just say compare LL/Walther's Berkshire with Bachmanns. You can pick-point compare features, but you get what you pay for, but compare it with the Rivarrossi they are both light years ahead.
I own RR and BLI/PCM y6b's compare between the 2. I look at the detail on the RR then look at the PCM, then look back at the RR, and say to myself, that detail looks fuzzy compared to the PCM. Thats the difference between technologies. I regeared, filed down flange sizes on my RR, then I buy the PCM, it outperforms my RR for all the work I put into it. I am going YAY for BLI/PCM.
But then there's this other side of the coin, and its done by masterful effect.
In an old issue of MR is a layout made by F. Lee Jaques in O scale. F. Lee Jaques was a museum Diorama artist. He painted for effect. His layout was done just like that and is absolutely amazing for what he did.
He built his steamers that looked like they were your super heavy massive Y6B like engines, with that monster crawl upgrade look, yet they were small 2-4-4-2's. Mountain scenery and backdrops expertly painted with snow scenes so real you swear you were quivering in the cold.
F. Lee Jaques took concept and simplified it for effect and works. His layout is on display at the Minnesota Museum of Mining.
Driline ATLANTIC CENTRALMy Fords have gotten me everywhere I need to go and been economical and reliable to own. I think you meant to say Toyota or Honda.
ATLANTIC CENTRALMy Fords have gotten me everywhere I need to go and been economical and reliable to own.
I think you meant to say Toyota or Honda.
They too make great cars, but I prefer and need larger and roomy vehicles generally outside their product choices. My pickups need 8' beds and, I considered an Avalon, but the new Taurus was a better value and has all wheel drive. Read the reviews its getting.
I've never been to Cumberland, Maryland, however there must be something in the water there that makes people speak the truth. You make heap big sense, Kemosabe!
Jimmy
ROUTE ROCK!
Silver PilotJust the same applies with locomotives and rolling stock. Rubber band drives, sure they worked, would you trade your Proto FAs for an Athearn rubber band drive F unit. Unfortunately, some of the forumites don't want to admit that not all locomotives or rolling stock is created the same. You can have your Bachmann Spectrum diesels for the most part, I'll stick with my Atlas, Kato, Genesis and even P2K locos. There is a noticeable difference in quality and detail. Sure you can add some of the stuff thats lacking, but in some cases to do so would cost more than buying the next step up. Just as some have lamented in the Athearn Kit thread about how by the time you spend the money to upgrade the BB kits wheels and couplers and add some details you've spent almost as much as a RTR car, the same applies to locomotives.
Didn't really read what I wrote, did you. I said nothing about Spectrum diesels, only Spectrum steam. Yes there are differences between products, and you are welcome to only buy the "BMW's", but, as I stated, those companies don't make the locos for my period/interest. My loco fleet contains Spectrum steam, BLI, Genesis, Proto2000 steam and diesel, Intermountain and others. But Atlas and Kato are not really interested in my money based on the models they choose to make. And that's fine, I'm very happy with what I have.
Silver PilotOh yeah - you can have the Ford, I'll take the BMW.
As for real cars, I worked in the BMW dealership and drove lots of them, great cars, but I will keep my money and spend it on trains, thank you. My Fords have gotten me everywhere I need to go and been economical and reliable to own. That is all I want from a car. I built hot rods in my youth and got over all that.
I'm open to new ideas, I have imbraced a lot of them over 40 years. But the "group" you refer generally rejects anyone who does not imbrace "every" new idea. Not really as "open to debate" as you claim from my experiance.
On a different planet? Possibly! Ever seen Planet of the Apes? They return to the same planet, just in a completely different time. Has anyone ever thought that perhaps the hobby has progressed, past them by and left them standing at the station?
As technology advances and gets applied to this hobby, what was once considered very good might now be consider below par. As mentioned, take power/control systems and layout design. It used to be considered the norm and standard practice to have train operators remain stationary. On large layouts they ran their trains (using DC of course) from an operating balcony that over looked the entire layout. As kids, or maybe even as adults, we used to think that those little gold box throttles from Tyco were good enough to control our trains and power our accessories. Then you discovered MRC power packs with things like momentum and finer speed control. So we swapped out our gold boxed for shiny coppoer colored MRC power packs like the 501 sitting in a box. Then operating concepts changed to walk around control. Technology kept changing and soone that 501 power pack got replaced with a solid state one, then we wanted walk around control. So we did some looking around and found out that there were even better power systems out there. One's that featured walk around control with memory so our trains didn't stop when we went from one town to another was we walked along with our train. I remember the club I was in had a throttle with multiple brake and momentum settings so you could simulate the respons of a heavy freight train or a short local.
Then we got tired of having a cable tying us down and discovered wireless control systems. But, still with all of this we faced the limitations of block control and need to control the flow of electricity to sections of track to be able to run our trains. Next someone came out with command control. I remember operating on friends layout using an OnBoard system. We were amazed at the possibilities for operating without blocks. As technology kept marching along DCC come out. And then wireless DCC - first infrared, then simplex radio and then duplex radio.
Just the same applies with locomotives and rolling stock. Rubber band drives, sure they worked, would you trade your Proto FAs for an Athearn rubber band drive F unit. Unfortunately, some of the forumites don't want to admit that not all locomotives or rolling stock is created the same. You can have your Bachmann Spectrum diesels for the most part, I'll stick with my Atlas, Kato, Genesis and even P2K locos. There is a noticeable difference in quality and detail. Sure you can add some of the stuff thats lacking, but in some cases to do so would cost more than buying the next step up. Just as some have lamented in the Athearn Kit thread about how by the time you spend the money to upgrade the BB kits wheels and couplers and add some details you've spent almost as much as a RTR car, the same applies to locomotives.
Unlike most others here I'll admit that there is a divide. But I don't think the divide is about skills or talents, it is about philosophy and approach. Some people advocate the approach of "what ever makes you happy" and the " who cares what anyone else thinks as long as you like it" philosophy. Other tend towards a more Socratic method where debate and opposing points of view are not only allowed, but encourage. An appproach where one learns from the open exchange of ideas, from doing something and having not only the good things pointed out but also the bad things pointed out.
Some modelers are more adamant about following prototype than others - what some will call rivet counters. Others follow the two foot rule - if it looks good two feet way then that's good enough. Still others follow the "d the torpedos, I'm doing what I want to do, its my railroad and no one can tell me what I can or can't do. Is there one right way. No, but there certainly are wrong ways.
Oh yeah - you can have the Ford, I'll take the BMW.
The beauty of this hobby is that we can be as zealous or as carefree as suits our whims and desires, and we need not please anyone else but ourselves (unless strutting your stuff for others is what we want out of the hobby. There's an irony!)
I love my layout. DC, code 100 track, #4 turnouts, Blue Boxes, and all! It's not suitable to all tastes, but it fits my desires and fills my need to escape into the Man Cave. What a great hobby we have!
"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley
I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious. -Stephen Wright
I have a DCC layout that has a bunch of things that look like kind of out of place( herein after called OOPS) locomotives---I developed a character name of Fred "howdhedodat?!" Thompson who is the proprietor of the Williston Hysterical Society's Train museum and collectors emporium. He's the perfect excuse----er----reason--(that's it!!) for the curiosa that end up there----
I also tend to build up a lot of elevators and feedmills---and still end up with a "Blue Circle" Audio semi plant on my layout----they do get their supplies by train---at least here--
I'll just keep doing my own stuff---
Have a good one---
Great post, I to get wierd looks as i shun DCC, sound, and profess my love to build craftsman kits on cold winter nights. RTR is nice and it has its place, as does the sound and DCC. But like many of you guys, I can live without it. Atlas track is great and I prefer it, I tend to use Peco turnouts since they power route but the rest is Atlas snap track. I have several Athearn engines, most live at the club layout as I prefer steam. My steam consist of an nice old Penn-Line PRR L1 Mikado, a PFM Berkshire and 2 PFM SRR PS4 Pacifics. While I went up a few steps for what I paid for my steam locomotives. I prefered to have a few really nice ones. I haunt shows for old kits, diecast steam engines and other old oddities. I have a nice collection of model railroaders from the 60's and would like to find more. There are great articles on actual modeling in there and not a ton of adds. There are the great old ads from PFM and other brass sellers that we nolonger see, Articles on how to superdetail a steam engine and track plans for small homes and rooms. Heck my layout room is 115" by 111" and I am still trying to figure out a track plan to fit in the room and leave space for my desk and a china cabnet in there. And keeping a 22" min radius curve to boot. Like someone else said, its a hobby. Keep it fun, keep it real and lets run some trains!!!
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!