Where do we fall on the modeling spectrum?

[BRAKIE]

NP2626

Really!  Nobody's judging anyone?!? 

Only you..

[Anonymous]

I started out as a definite "1" with my first layout. It had all the features we despise - tin plate track (Marklin), Plasticville structures (Faller & Kibri), a grass mat as scenery. Believe, I was proud of that layout, but then, I was only 11 when I built it. My next layout was maybe a three, my last layout maybe a 7 or 8. Nice progress in nearly 45 years

I am just starting on my final layout. It will be completely freelance, but following prototype practice as much as is possible in a model. I am aiming at a 10, but will be happy with a 9.

[Burlington Northern #24]

BRAKIE

NP2626

Really!  Nobody's judging anyone?!? 

Only you..

that stuff happens on gaming forums *shudders* terrible stuff... terrible. we're all here to enjoy trains or are we?

[BRAKIE]

Burlington Northern #24

BRAKIE

NP2626

Really!  Nobody's judging anyone?!? 

Only you..

that stuff happens on gaming forums *shudders* terrible stuff... terrible. we're all here to enjoy trains or are we?

Use to happen here a lot and usually started with you're not a real modeler if you blah,blah,blah and if you don't  yadda,yadda..

Those were dark times on this forum.

We could never have this civilized( and yes its civilized) discussion during those times.

[Burlington Northern #24]

BRAKIE

Burlington Northern #24

BRAKIE

NP2626

Really!  Nobody's judging anyone?!? 

Only you..

that stuff happens on gaming forums *shudders* terrible stuff... terrible. we're all here to enjoy trains or are we?

Use to happen here a lot and usually started with you're not a real modeler if you blah,blah,blah and if you don't  yadda,yadda..

Those were dark times on this forum.

We could never have this civilized( and yes its civilized) discussion during those times.

I know what you're saying that's how the Battlefield 3 US forum used to be, except they went after your game stats. some people are just out to ruin it for others.

[MisterBeasley]

Originally, I had a Lionel train set that I tried to turn into a more realistic layout, but after a while I switched to HO for the realism.  That was back in the early 1960s.

Now, I model the early 1960s.  A good part of that, I'm happy to admit, is to recapture the era of my youth, the time of 19-cent gas, tail fins on cars, and car hops.  Back when we feared the Russians as much as we now fear our own government.  When trains had cabeese and boxcars had roofwalks.  Back before spell checkers told me "cabeese" and "roofwalks" weren't real words.

If, on the other hand, I went back to Lionels, I would want to recapture the layout of my youth.  If you're going to model 2-rail in O-scale, great, but I would take great joy in embracing the Zen of Lionel, with tight turns on sectional track, Plasticville buildings, cows looping through a stock car with the doors near the ends on an oval raceway, a G-scale crossing guard popping out of his shed and all the other wonders of that layout.

[ChadLRyan]

Hmmm,
Lots to consider....
Chadley is a 1.75
yup
I can assemble, & sometimes, (good days) paint, & wheather sometimes....
Electronics, well, sometimes...
Layout = [none] a (-9) oooopppsss, yup....

There it is... The Truth.........

[csxns]

TA462

I don't want a grass mat layout and Tyco trains

That was the only things that the LHS sold in my area when i started playing with Trains.

[Burlington Northern #24]

TA462

Burlington Northern #24

I could care less If I could't match someones level, I have a long life ahead with lots to learn but one of the most basic things one can do with their diesels is paint white the railing(according to prototype) did that to my locos. happiest camper ever, they look so nice now it feels right.

Just curious but don't you want to try to be as good as the modellers you read about in the magazines?   I don't know about you but after I got my first train set, bought my first Model Railroader and read it I thought WOW, I don't want a grass mat layout and Tyco trains, I want to be just like the guys I just read about with the detailed incredible looking layouts.  

I do but, I lack many of the skills that MRR crew has like weathering, I'd like to do it but if I mess up I'm stuck with that mistake. my layout is basic on all levels scenery consists of glued down artificial dirt and T's custom trees fine green grass. the road is horribly misshapen smooth it. the track work is barely decent even on it's best days. I wouldn't mind the tyco stuff but eventually I'd want to move up, I didn't give a number to myself because the BN on my future layouts will be sharing track with 2 fictional railroad companies. I also plan on doing a number of custom units. 

[Burlington Northern #24]

TA462

BN24, it wasn't that long ago I was in your shoes.   On my first real try at building a layout about 8 years ago I got to say it was brutal.  Poor track work, poor looking scenery and poor looking loco's and rolling stock.   You say your weathering is bad.  You should have seen mine, lol.  Practice on anything you can, thats the only way your going to get better.   Buy up that Tyco stuff and LifeLike lower end stuff at shows JUST for the purpose to practice on.   This is my opinion but I find too many hobbiests in general are afraid to do a poor job on a project so they simply don't try.  They are afraid of screwing up a perfectly good model.   Models can be fixed.  I can't even tell you the number of layouts I've seen where NOTHING is weathered or even painted.  Walthers kits built right out of the box with no paint.   Its weird.   Don't sell yourself short, you could very well be one of the next model railroaders we read about in the magazines.   The ones that deep down we ALL want to be like. 

I guess. I'd like to try weathering and putting graffiti on some of my cars I have a ton of bachmann and lifelike stuff. next layout I'm definitely triple checking and this time around will have power to the tracks before I permanently afix them. no track nails next time, no smooth it. thank you TA you've instilled some confidence in me.