Well Sheldon I couldn't have said it better. I agree with you 100% and give a stamp of approval to your observations. However, I stopped listening to critics long ago, I"m not into the hobby to please anybody but myself and I couldn't give a rat's butt what others think. I do things my way, I like my way, I've been doing it my way for almost 30 years now and no, I won't change my ways unless I want to.
Ya know the truth in life is that there is just no pleasing some people.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
BRAVO SIR!
I am and will always consider myself a newbe and am intrested in all opinions and trials. But sometime I feel very intimidated and do not ask questions for fear of the replys I have seen. Not that I would stop asking if I really need help or an opinion but sometimes we forget this is a HOBBY FOR FUN. Then take it to the next level but leave each to thier own if they don't follow.
Just my thoughts,
Gary
Geared SteamI have a 4x8, that according to many is a because I'm scared to saw wood, (LOL)
Pics Pics! Lets some Pics of your layout. I too chose to build small. Something I could complete in less than 4 or 5 years.
Maybe it's a span of attention thing...
Back in the dark ages before the first Kadee couplers, I learned to hand-lay track because I couldn't afford anything pre-assembled (on fiber ties with staples.) I also learned to assemble kits, because the only RTR locomotives were produced by custom builders, at prices that would buy you a pretty good motor vehicle. At that time, you went to the movies and sat through the whole three hour film, not to mention the cartoon, the serial and the coming attractions. Nobody tried to sell anything on the silver screen.
Today it's possible to buy a shake-the-box layout and equip it with motive power and rolling stock that, theoretically, can be moved from the box to the layout with no intermediate steps. The present level of popular eyeball-filler takes an hour to tell 20 minutes worth of story, with six interludes during which folks try to sell a dozen products and services totally unrelated to the drama they interrupt.
So, maybe those of us who learned to do things the 'old-fashioned' way are anachronisms in an 'instant-gratification' world. Being a lone wolf by nature, I can live with that.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Here Here
I just found out that according to some, I'm not a "serious model railroader" because I use a Bachmann EZ Command, and I have no need to advance to a "better" system. My Shays don't have ditch lights, I have no need for "advanced programming" the cv's. Lights on, Lights off, forward , reverse, my speeds are great with the factory settings, slow, slower, more slower, about stopped, almost stopped, stopped. I'm trying to figure out where to send in my "serious" patch in exchange for "just dabbling".
My Bachmann HO Shays work great, yes I replaced the gears for NWSL, but tweaking is part of the hobby right? Or is this just for the "serious" guys with the Digitrax Super Mountain Command 400 (with power windows) DCC Systems? I had a heck of a time finding an HO Atlas or Kato Shay, my emails go unanswered. They just want to sell me powered boxcars.
My "fragile" Atlas code 83 just keeps working, the switches required a tweak, but again, isn't that expected in MRR?
I have a 4x8, that according to many is a because I'm scared to saw wood, (LOL) and I'm suppose to build a HOG with a duck under. It must be good cuz its got a Yahoo Group dedicated to it! I spend hours operating my evil 4x8 knowing I shouldn't be enjoying myself, that is is against all laws of the Serious Model Railroading Gods, and sooner or later, the thugs will kick me door down and confiscate my NMRA Gauge, NWSL Chopper II, Xacto knife, HO scale rule and all of my MRR, RMC's and videos.
In the end, the experts don't know as much as they think about what I want; and as long as they know this; they won't be bothered by what I'm doing "wrong"
It's a hobby.......
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Dave VollmerAtlantic Central; very well put. I agree 100%. Sometimes it takes a little work to have everything you've ever wanted.
That is it---I like learning about how to do things and doing them---
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/
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
Prototype railroads have to satisfy many customers. Some are happy, some are not.
My railroad only has one real customer - me. And it does very well at that indeed.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Maybe we´re both from planet Zog? I consider this a hobby and as such it have to be fun.
I don´t build a prototype layout based on a specific day in history, neither do I run all expensive locos.
I do what satisfies my needs for fun and recreation, and if that means doing it my way? Oh yes!
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
ATLANTIC CENTRALAnd 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.
It may very well be thaty there is a sort of divide----I've been wondering about this myself---when you consider that there is a lot of blather about whether 'X' company is going out of kit based rolling stock----oh well ---some of us will just go and do the mfg and base it on what was done before---build the marketI use whatever mfg that has a model of any RS# around---some get detailed a little more--oh the horror! He builds them up!! ohno ohno
BTW--you'd think that if something has worked for 40+years that there is no issue but some people find issueing issues with issues
As it is was and ever shall be ---enjoy the hobby in all its forms
Can't help but agree here.
My Athearn locomotives run great as do my Athearn BB, Roundhouse, Accurail freight cars
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
My wife and I just returned from a trip to Cumberland Maryland where we spent the day riding the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, a great train ride and wonderful fall mountain scenery.
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:
People who consider Proto2000 diesels (or Bachmann Spectrum steam), especially older ones, "low quality", with that nose in the air "Atlas and Kato are much better". Maybe they are, but they don't make the prototypes I want and they are like Ford's vs BMW's. The BMW is 10% better but costs 40% more.
Posts about Athearn and what they will or will not make, when fact is you could likely get the plans to our next defense project easier than finding out what Athearn is REALLY going to do next.
Endless criticism of Atlas track, really just because it does not have a snob price, or because the last time the critic looked at a piece was 1968.
People who "assume" facts not in evidence, like how big home layout curves are, or how long my mainline run is, how many freight cars/locos one needs/has, what kind of control system one uses, what some likes or dislikes, etc. Others may have interests, wants, situations and resources completely different from yours, don't assume.
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.
Maybe not. And maybe the "divide" is not just "in our heads" but truely exists because our heads see this hobby so differently in some cases.
So for whatever it is worth:
My Proto FA's run great, so do my GP7's and PA's, even if a gear or two needed replacement.
My Atlas track works great, and I will admit hand layed is the best, and I know how, but I don't have the time or the interest for the large layout I'm building.
I run DC and don't need/want/like sound in small scales like HO.
I'm building a layout that is large but relatively simple. One yard, one passenger terminal, long mailine, large curves, easy grades. My choice, I understand if yours are different.
I run Athearn cars and Kadee cars and everything in between.
I freelance and model three prototypes, but gave up rivet counting years ago, it got boring.
And I encourage everyone to enjoy the hobby in whatever way they like, but please, don't assume everyone enjoy's it your way. After 40 years in the hobby and working in a few hobby shops, I have seen lots of different approaches, none are wrong if your having fun.
No call for censorship here, quite the oposite. Just thinking out loud about other's opinions and comments.
Sheldon