Is this hobby only serious if you buy brass or have DCC?

[darth9x9]

To answer the thread question: No.

I know of many serious modelers who don't own any brass and they run straight DC. Conversely, I know two people who dabble in the hobby and they have a couple of brass pieces sitting on a shelf but have no layout.

Some people buy brass for its 'collectableness' and others, like myself, have a couple of brass pieces because no one makes a decent model in plastic. Take for example a GP-15T. The Walthers version can't hold a candle to Overland's version. The Chessie System Historical Society worked closely with Overland to produce an awesome model of a Chessie GP-15T.

One last thought: some people consider themselves 'serious modelers' and they only run TrainZ or MS Railroad simulator. So I guess it is all a matter of perspective.

[Dough]

FWIW, I'm not the most serious modeler by any streatch. In fact I barely get any time to do it at all. However, I am also a big MoW fan and their are very few manufacturers of MW equipment except for those who produce it in brass.

[newhavenguy]

I'd say brass locomotives are for those modelers that want a specific model already detailed for a specific class of engine (or building) on a specific railroad. I don't this it has anything to do with how serious the modeler is.

[tomwatkins]

I agree entirely. It's a big broad hobby with lots of different aspects to it. That means there are a lot of different ways to have fun with it, and whatever way a person chooses to go, it has to be fun or there is no point to it.

I choose not to get upset or excited about the licensing issues or the law suits. If I were in the model railroad business that would probably change, but I'm not, so I won't.

I personally don't collect brass but I do enjoy looking at beautifully built and detailed models. I do run DCC and I really like it. For me it's the right choice. But there are some superb model railroads that don't feature it.

It's all about personal choice and what constitutes fun to an individual model railroader. We need to enjoy what we are doing and be accepting of other people's choices.

Have Fun,

Tom Watkins

[the-big-blow]

Are Brass locomotives only meant for "serious" railroaders.? I mean I like brass locomotive collecting and some people call me too serious(deer in headlight look) for paying so much money for a locomotive
while that someone is sitting on 700 katos down in his basement without any
parts put on them. If I want to pay $1600 for a model of lets say a UP 3
unit turbine(which by the way no manufacture besides Overland has decide to
make Way to go Overland!!! ) that's my choice. To each his own. Same goes for DCC, some people love it some people don't.

The Big Blow