Earlier in my life I was into the social, comraderie, club, NMRA thing, to the extent that I helped to found two clubs and held elective and appointive office in others. During most of that period I had no practical way to build anything beyond a test track on my own.
By the time I could start thinking in terms of building something significant my personal modeling goals had hardened into concrete. Those goals were widely (and wildly) variant from those of the local model railroad community in my several post (USAF) retirement venues.
Today I answer to that Spanish greeting, Senor Citizen, have some health problems that make me a less-than-happy camper and am married to a lady who looks on all but blood (and marital) relatives as potential enemies. I also have the space and disposable income to build my, 'Last in this lifetime,' dream layout - my way, at my pace, doing what I like and not subject to anyone else's vote or veto.
Does that make me a lone wolf? Come by some evening when the moon is full...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - 1:80 scale, analog DC, MZL system)
Well I am at least a "semi Lone Wolf" for a number of reasons:
First I do belong to a local round robin (not a club), and they are a great group of guys, but I do find my interests not always "in sync" with much of what they are doing. Second, I have a busy family and work life, which often conflicts with meeting nights and weekend group activities and allotting time for actual modeling is really more important to me than modeling social time.
Second, I have helped a number of the group members work on their layouts. Some of them welcome all the help they can get. others, like myself, prefer our layouts to be "our own work".
Third, I like building models as much as running trains - building models is a solitary activity that I find challenging and relaxing - I like peace and quiet. One of my principal layout goals is a moderately large layout that can be operated prototypically by a group AND operated by one person for fun or display running as well.
What I model is clearly influenced by where I grew up and my background in general, but what I model is not influenced by where I live or the interests of other modelers I currently "know".
A few thoughts on traditional clubs:
First, to John (4-12-2), I understand your feelings about your sons, but I think you may be failing to realize not everyone is a "kid" person, in this hobby or not. Some of those guys go to that club meeting to get away from the wife and kids.
I was fortunate to be granted membership into a well known club at a young age - 15 - and I was a special exception to their general rules - but I was already well indoctrinated into the hobby years before that age, and was working in a hobby shop at 14.
Today, at age 55, I have absolutely no interest in being a member of a formal club with a club layout, etc. - Yes, when it comes to trains, it is all about ME. - it is my outlet.
And to be honest, when it comes to kids and this hobby, I am largely indifferent. If my youngest grandson shows an interest, I will support that - if not, that's his choice - it will not dramatically "fulfill me" or disappoint me either way - I'm not one to have those kinds of expectations of other peoples behavior.
So I'm happy to build my trains, run my trains, and socialize just a little, and enjoy the piece and quiet doing so.
For me the hobby is about building the models and the layout first, and other people are a distant second, and as the hobby has moved away from model building, I find I have less and less in common with many of the others in the "hobby" anyway.
Sheldon
John,
There is nothing 'wrong' with doing the 'Lone Wolf' thing. The problem that I see is that you may be painting yourself into a corner. You have lost the 'social' aspect of modeling. I like to model the Milwaukee Road in the transition era, and in SW Wisconsin. Do you think I am going to find any modelers with similar interests in my town? I live in SE Minnesota, and the only rail action in my town is the regional DM&E. And we lost our LHS about 6-7 years ago. I have one close 'train buddy' who basically models anything/any era C&NW/CGW/M&StL/UP that he sees. Because of my son's interests(BNSF/Amtrak or anything with a 'flashing' light) - I do have some BNSF diesels and freight cars - I run them at the club. I do attend NMRA regional/divisional meets - Again. the 'social' aspect and it opens my eyes to new ideas/products for my modeling. I used to live in a large metro area, with multiple LHS's, several clubs and lot's of modelers. When I moved to SE Minnesota, there was one LHS & a few modelers. Basically I was a 'Lone Wolf' and I found several other guys with train interests at the LHS. Now, we have no LHS, and a club 28 miles away that is less than 10 years old.
We do now have a club that has a layout. We have about a dozen members, and we do allow 12 year old kids as long as they have a 'sponsor' and that sponsor is actually there with them. That said, we have no 'junior members' at this time. We do have several open houses each year and we make sure kids get to 'run' a train when they are there. I can understand the rules about small kids - Too many things to be injured with 'under' the layout, and a very short attention span. Young teenage boys are great as long as they are given a task and are supervised.
I was a single custodial parent with a 4 year old - It can be tough to get out to do any model stuff. By the time he was about 8, he would go to the train shows with me. He attended his first NMRA National show when he was 13, and was quite helpful. He even 'worked' at the Digitrax booth that year and for several year following that when we attended the National Train Shows.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I'm a lone wolf, I'd like to be part of a group but other activities eat up a lot of my time. though my upcoming layout will be able to support 2-4 train operations, I'd probably end up running them alone. that being said, it should add some complexity to train operation.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
So who out there admits to being a "lone wolf" modeler? Why or why not?
As for me, I am a lone wolf modeler basically for the following reasons:
1. I live in PA but have always somehow preferred the southwestern U.S. desert regions--since I was a small child, when we had a large backdrop mural of Bryce Canyon, Utah, on the wall behind our train layout. Here in Central PA, very few people have similar railroad interests, and I'm very sorry, but Brunswick Green or N&W heritage/Norfolk Southern Black just does not excite me--though I have tried multiple times--I am unable to retain interest in the local railroads.
2. My favorite large Central PA train store has approximately 5 "Santa Fe guys" and about the same number of "Espee fans" as customers.
3. The known Santa Fe guys in PA are all into pretty much their own thing: Some steam era, some passenger operations mainly, a couple 1990's or later era; nobody that I personally know who lives within 90 miles of me is into the 1970's/'80's era, and I do not personally know any of the Espee fans at all, not a single one.
4. The SFRHMS and the East Coast Santa Fe Modelers, for the most part, are into the pre-1971 era Santa Fe. I did not find enough in those organizations of what I was interested in to keep me interested in being a member, period. They are fine organizations containing some great people and wonderful modeler/historians, but just do not appeal enough to me--especially since I now prefer SP more.
5. I had a pretty good friend who was into trains and tolerated my interest in the Southwest, but unfortunately he was bipolar, went off his meds, and actually took his own life almost a decade ago--leaving behind a beautiful wife and 2 young boys who miss him very much.
6. Job/family/church worship leader time constraits somewhat encourage me to "do my own thing in my own basement".
7. Local model railroad clubs do not allow child participation under age 12. They also fail to grasp that at 13, boys like girls and stuff other than model trains, so they are losing many potential members. I most certainly refuse to join if my sons are not welcome--and that has been made crystal clear. Plus the guys are just plain weird--or weirder than me--lol.
John