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Does Your Wife Give You Grief About Modeling Time?

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  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Monday, May 5, 2014 1:54 PM
As long as I spend the weekend daylight hours either working on house/yard projects or with her on her errands, she doesn't give me much grief how I spend my night-time hours.

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by tin can on Monday, May 5, 2014 1:51 PM

Yes.

Remember the tin can; the MKT's central Texas branch...
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Posted by zstripe on Monday, May 5, 2014 1:58 AM

Not since I taped her mouth, tied her up and put her in the closet. Whistling

Naw really, when I did have one, she was pretty good, as long as she got what she wanted. She liked driving the custom cars, I had though. I've been happily divorced for twenty years now. She remarried and my son's tell me, her and her husband bicker all the time. They both don't even like going to see her.Laugh Laugh

14 years retired now, 8 grand kids, I do what I want, when I want. Now if only my body will hold out.

Frank

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  • From: West Australia
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Posted by John Busby on Monday, May 5, 2014 1:13 AM

Hi all I am only copping grief about.

"When is the big shed you built for the trains actually going to start having the big layout built in it, and your trains and mine start moving into the shed".

regards John

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  • From: Mesa, AZ
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Posted by RideOnRoad on Sunday, May 4, 2014 6:28 PM

First, it is always something to me to see a thread rise from the dust and get new life.  It is especially interesting to a relative newcomer to the forum, as I get to read something I would have otherwise never seen.

As for my wife, like many others, she is incredibly supportive of the hobby.  She was almost as excited as I was to get started.  She built the first structure, a general store, and has plans for a whole farm on the layout.  She also expresses admiration for the work I do.  (Feigned or real, it matters not to me--it still makes me feel good.)  I count myself lucky.

Edit:  One other benefit of participating here, I get to feel young.  We have been married for 30+ years and that pales in comparison to many of you.

Richard

  • Member since
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  • From: Spartanburg, SC
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Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Sunday, May 4, 2014 6:07 PM

My wife is awesome! Not only did she not dump me when I first brought her to my bachelor pad and showed her my old Cherokee Foothills layout, which was at the time in my bedroom propped up on a dresser and a set of cheap plastic shelves, she gave me the second bedroom in our first apartment together as a train room! She also rode the Catskill Mountain Railroad with me on our first vacation together and the Durango & Silverton on our honeymoon. For my 30th birthday, she took me to the NC transportation museum. Last but not least, when I showed her a picture of the BLI PRR Mountain I reserved, she correctly identified its wheel arangment. Could not ask for a more supportive wife.

it also helps that she tends to go to bed early while I'm a night owl.

Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.

www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com 

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Posted by pvrich on Sunday, May 4, 2014 5:42 PM

My wife is my partner in our layout. She built all the buildings you see in this picture and learned landscaping. so now I do track work, electrical and maintenance

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  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Sunday, May 4, 2014 5:27 PM

richhotrain
Cripes, I would have been happy with a 4 x 8 layout and a single loco.

Hmm

Cheers, the Bear.Whistling

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, May 4, 2014 5:21 PM

My wife really bugs me.  She is always hounding me to expand the layout, take up more of the available basement space, spend more money, buy more locos and rolling stock, etc., etc., etc. 

Cripes, I would have been happy with a 4 x 8 layout and a single loco.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by njguy on Sunday, May 4, 2014 5:12 PM

My wife is the BEST!!!  She encourages me in my hobby but we also take time to do things together and that keeps us both happy and close. When I work on trains she will visit the train room and see what I'm working on and when I finish a project or structure the first thing I do is proudly show her my work. I also bouce ideas off of her and she has accompanied me to hobby shops when we travel and to a few train shows. She also gives me ideas and her imput on my planned projects. Everything I model is personal such as names of stores using family member's names and influences from places we like to go. She does the bills and when we have some extra money she will say you can spend X amount, go make a train order. She may not be doing the modeling but she is very much a part of my layout.   I AM ONE LUCKY MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

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Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, May 4, 2014 1:55 PM

PWRS is on the way home to our house from most places. My wife will stop in there and buy me something the way someone will buy flowers for their spouse. PWRS has my wish list and likes on file. They help her out. She has on two occasions brought me home an Atlas Trainmaster gold series Loco, Rapido coaches and a few other things like a Proto SW1200.

She usually comes in while I am at the computer and passes them over my shoulder while kissing me on the head. I married her at 40. We were friends for 14 years before that. She was at school becoming a Veterinarian and getting other advanced degrees and I was taking care of my bucket list.

I use to tell my friends that would ask me if they should marry someone, that just the fact they are asking the question should give them the answer. I never asked that question when the time came, no need, we both had done all the things we had to get out of the way before making a commitment (my long bucket list, her career) Life is perfect except for me being very beat up, but that is a small inconvenience considering all I have.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Sunday, May 4, 2014 10:55 AM

I wouldn't know as I've never had one. A wife that is. Trains and time to work on them? Plenty.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


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  • From: CA
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Posted by bruce22 on Sunday, May 4, 2014 10:21 AM
I don't ask her about her collection of shoes, she doesn't ask me about my trains... Seriously tho, we have been married over forty years so time arrangements were settled years ago. After we retired and bought another house I probably spent more than 30hrs a week for the first few years building a new layout - now almost finished - . She of times joined me in the room to share a cold glass of wine. So, no concerns here.
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  • From: upstate NY
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Posted by galaxy on Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:17 AM

Gee, 3 year old thread and I can't recall seing anything posted form Aikidomaster recently, I may have missed it. I DO remember him though.

I am SO lucky, MOH {My Other Half} shares  my love of trains, though growing up with a german mother and spending time every other year in Germany with grandmother for summers, MOH likes the European/German trains and RRs, not so much the American models.

Although I built a small HO layout, and there is no room for MOH to do an N scale layout, there is no arguement.

Although we have changed themes this  for year, we generally go to some tourist line that runs Steam Locomotives around the NE. There  is never any arguement! MOH enjoys running/breathing/coal belching steam locos as much as I do!

Have fun!

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
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  • From: North Dakota
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Posted by BroadwayLion on Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:03 AM

LION is single. Lives in a big cage with 34 other lions. Him has layout in old classroom above library.

LION gets no grief about layout, and seldom an issue when him ask zookeeper for some money for parts. Parts, resistors, wire seem to be ok. A request for another trainset would be frowned upon.. go figure.

Well, LION has no complaints, him gets other wrok done, makes trains when time he has.

 

Pray for Prey!

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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  • From: Charlotte, NC
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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Sunday, May 4, 2014 8:13 AM

TheK4Kid

What wife??????????????????Smile

Ohhhh the joys of being a bachelor!

 

LIke i tell my buddies! I still have all my toys!!Smile

 

You even have enough time to read 3 year old threads.  You are so lucky.

My wife of 46 years has not cost me any of my toys.  They have just been changed to OUR toys.  When we introduce people to our model railroad, she likes to point out the things that she bought me, or that were build at her request.

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, May 4, 2014 12:53 AM

I have just started my new layout in a spare bedroom, which really isn´t spare, as my wife and I share it. It´s our office, guest room, storage and laundry room. My new layout is quite intrusive, as it is T-shaped and will also have an extension right in front of the windows.

I had my wife share in the planning stage, so I had hoped she had been quite aware of what was coming up, but seeing a layout on a computer is very much different from reality. When I put up the benchwork, she had to swallow hard, but it didn´t take much time from a frown to a smile again.

My wife is very understanding and supportive. She likes the artistic touch to the hobby and often has valuable hints and tips for me.

She is for keeps - I am married to her for 30 years now.

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  • From: "Steel, Steam and Thunder"Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Posted by TheK4Kid on Sunday, May 4, 2014 12:22 AM

What wife??????????????????Smile

Ohhhh the joys of being a bachelor!

 

LIke i tell my buddies! I still have all my toys!!Smile

  • Member since
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  • From: North Carolina
  • 758 posts
Posted by Aikidomaster on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 8:28 PM

Well, my wife has decided that it would be a "good idea" for me to attend the MER convention in Cary, NC!! Our daughter, who is 26 years old (and was my modeling partner in the 1990's) wants to accompany me!!. Big Smile

I have sent in the application for the convention and booked the hotel. I am looking forward to my first Regional Convention in more than a decade. I am sorry not to have any model to enter in the structures contest. I have a few Fine Scale Miniature kits that I have built but not yet installed on the layout. Maybe I will bring one of those with me.Smile, Wink & Grin

Craig North Carolina

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    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
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Posted by mobilman44 on Sunday, September 11, 2011 7:08 AM

Hi!

Wife # 2 is pretty much the ideal MR's other half.  She appreciates what I do, enjoys tourist train outings (we are going to the C&TSRR again in October), and just railfanning in general.  In fact, for a couple years she was a key punch operator for the SP here in Houston.  In our 11 years together, she has never said anything against the hobby or my participation.  And,she has often encouraged me in my efforts.

One of the keys for this is having an "other half" that has their own hobby.  My wife does computer graphics (and is pretty good at it), and other pastimes that keep her involved and enthused.  And of course, I support her fully in any way I can.

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by SMassey on Sunday, September 11, 2011 2:34 AM

I cant say we rode a train on our honeymoon but we drove cross country from Virginia Beach to Tacoma WA, following I-40 and chased a few trains! 

 

Massey

A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

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Posted by nssd70m on Sunday, September 11, 2011 1:39 AM

I get no grief from my wife about my model railroading and railfanning hobby. She usually says to me what it taking you so long to finish the layout. How many guys out there can say they rode a steam excursion(I rode on the Western Maryland Scenic in Cumberland) on their honeymoon? Earl...

Modeling the Southern, Norfolk & Western and Norfolk Southern in HO scale.
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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, September 10, 2011 9:22 PM

I cringe whenever one of these threads comes up where a fellow model railroader seems to indicate that they are held back or criticized by their spouse for pursuing the hobby. I wonder what else there must be in their relationship that would allow for one partner to be subjugated to the other.

I am blessed by having a spouse who encourages my model railroad activities (and occasional expenditures) even though I have retired and she is the main bread winner.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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  • From: Troy, AL
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Posted by BamaCSX83 on Friday, September 9, 2011 11:09 PM

No, I don't get grief about my MRR time, which is few and far between, but I do get the occasional "have you lost it?" look when I mention the price of some of the locomotives.  Heck, I figure she's a keeper as we went to Atlanta for the Greatest Hobby on Tour show in February, which happened to also be our wedding anniversary.  I also don't have much of a MRR budget as the bills and other household needs are taken care of first and foremost (this includes keeping the "rainy day" account topped up), but there are times when I can pick up a few small items.

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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Friday, September 9, 2011 9:21 PM

No grief.  In fact when I retired she said "I expect to see a railroad in the basement".  OTOH I don't spend every moment there.

Enjoy

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
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  • From: Kansas
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Posted by jamnest on Thursday, September 8, 2011 9:15 PM

No, my wife supports my trains hobby, but she doesn't understand.  She let me build a brand new 1800 sq ft basement for my trains and allowed me to place her dream home on top of the basement to keep the rain off of my trains.

She keeps a list of my MRR wants in her purse so she knows what to get for my birthday and Christmas. 

She went with me on my last trip to Caboose Hobbies in Denver and complaind that we drove 3 1/2 hours to Denver and I did not buy very much.

She doesn't like the long rows of old MR Magazines on the shelves in the den.  I told her I could get rid of them if I had the new MR DVD.  So she is going to order it for me.

She is a keeper and I am very happy.  It is not a one sided hobby relationship. She collects American Girl Dolls (Molly) and has about everyting in the catalog for her doll.

Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.

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Posted by rclanger on Thursday, September 8, 2011 8:32 PM

Nope, my wife was the person who got me back into the hobby by buying me some cars and other model railroad sfuff. Bonnie actually told me I could have a much larger room for my layout than the one I chose. Love my girl. 

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    December 2009
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Posted by Owendubya on Thursday, September 8, 2011 8:32 PM

Guys and (gals) I think we can safely say that for those that are single there are no worries regarding MRR. Those with a spouse, partner, significant other etc wind up having them fall into a few catagories:

     1) not interested and questioning your sanity

     2) not interested but respecting your hobby

     3) interested and involved to one degree or another.

FWIW, im unemployed, been married for 31yrs to my college sweetheart . so long as i put food on the table by gardening and hunting, i get little greif over my rr time. then again ive never tried  to model time :)  

 

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Posted by tatans on Thursday, September 8, 2011 1:48 PM

How many wives out there would love their husbands to be hanging around a train room rather than seeing the old guy living 3/4 of his life in a bar,  just imagine if the bar money went towards a train layout,  it would be featured on a 3 page spread in Model Railroading magazine.

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