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Model Railroading Cliches, Logical Fallacies & Just Plain Unprototypicality

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  • Member since
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  • From: West Australia
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Posted by John Busby on Sunday, June 12, 2016 8:58 AM

Hi Lone Wolf and Santa Fe

OOH!! Thats different and ice dragon no less, won't burn you but its breath will certainly make you a whole lot cooler just not the way you would like.

That was miserable not giving the dog a propper tree shame on youWinkBig Smile

thanks for the pictures

regards John

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Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, June 12, 2016 8:11 AM

John Busby
Just because it was different.

John, I can go along with different.

I once saw a display layout that had a 8" Godzilla,HO Army tanks,rocket launchers and a  Movie crew. The streets was blocked off and he added spectators behind the barricades. Very nice overall. The following year the movie set was gone from his layout and I notice new  buildings.. I spoke at length with him and he told me he likes to keep his layout fresh.

IIRC the layout was a well detail 4x8 with a single loop of track some industry sidings. It was build for display even though he would occasionally switch the industries. ..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by John Busby on Sunday, June 12, 2016 4:14 AM

Hi all

Well if you really want to cause a contraversy do what I did,

I figured every one has another @#!^%&%$# wedding on thier exhibition layouts

some that should have had the chimney sweep present did not.

I think the wedding tends to get a bit well over done at exhibition's.

So OK I thought Langley do a nice horse drawn herse kit pall bearers the whole thing coffin included.

So I thought I know I will do a funeral instead well, Oh Dear!! good thing guns are illigal in Australia other wise I think I would have been attending my own funeral.

But if I ever do another exhibition layout I think I will be obstinent and a right royal pain with capitals and do it again.

Just because it was different.

regards John

 

 

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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Sunday, June 12, 2016 12:15 AM

DAVID FORTNEY

Uncle butch,

your opinion on what makes a layout sounds very elitist to me and I'm sure to others.

I get to see allot of layouts from very simple to very complex. A few people I have were a few guys with physical and mental issues who have built layouts that were simple but very attractive. Would you tell them you would not like to see them? 

They are very proud of what they accomplished and they love to tell you all about it. It is very therapeutic for these types of people.

To demean the types of layouts that you don't like just shows what kind of person you are.

 

I see, so free speech and opionions are welcomed, untill someone takes your words out of context and becomes offended.

you win , wont ever happen again

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:30 PM

Going back to my model railroading roots - Contemporary (1964) Trackside Photos had a remarkable number of Ideal cardboard factories (sawtooth roofline) and Eric Stevens coaling stations.  As for the latter, was a kit ever offered, or were they all scratchbuilt?

My headscratchers are things that would only last a short time in real life that are caught in a stasis field on a layout that claims to represent a ten year time span.  These include track repair work, the cop chasing the burglar (mask, striped shirt, bag of loot...) and just about any kind of 'under construction' scene.

I also shudder at inappropriate bridges, either far too expensive for the application (200 foot truss over a rural road, a minor stream and a one track rail right-of-way) or structurally unsound.  Okay, I admit that most of the guilty modelers have never studied strength of materials...

As for the rabbit warren, if you build through broken country you will have lots of tunnels, sharp curves and bridges.  I have even seen a prototype for the cliche Lionel 'hump with a portal at each end' tunnel - but only one, and it had a valid reason for being that way.  My own 'rabbit warrens' are pretty obvious as to purpose, and each is on a point-to-point route with two visible ends.

As for the Edna ("New River") mine being a prepackaged kitbashing project, second the motion.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by chutton01 on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:13 PM

Lone Wolf and Santa Fe
As for punny names here is a sign for Caliente Used Cars. Caliente is Spainish for hot.


Doesn't count against you if it's a real business. Also, you get bonus nacho points for using using model and not real images of vehicles and figures for your sign

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Posted by DAVID FORTNEY on Saturday, June 11, 2016 10:56 PM

BRAKIE

David,While I may not like those types of layouts personally  I still enjoy looking at them.

Why?

Brings back memories when the hobby was simpler with those painted green hills filled with lichen trees. Just the smell of lichen brings back a lot of happy memories.

 

I'm with you Brakie, not my cup of tea either but I like looking at any train layout and not just Ho. Every layout has something that is interesting and maybe something i never thought of.

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Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, June 11, 2016 10:47 PM

David,While I may not like those types of layouts personally  I still enjoy looking at them.

Why?

Brings back memories when the hobby was simpler with those painted green hills filled with lichen trees. Just the smell of lichen brings back a lot of happy memories.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by USMC_Grunt on Saturday, June 11, 2016 8:56 PM

I look at the burning building this way. A building is only going to burn for one day. Unless you are going to model a specific day over and over again (and I've read about modelers who do), it really strains reality to have the same building on fire day after day. It might make an interesting feature on a diorama but I wouldn't put one on my layout. For those that do, well, it's your railroad.

 

[/quote]

Isn't this so for any vehicles or figures on a layout UNLESS you move them around for each operating session? For that matter,,, Do the seasons or weather change on a layout? Its not normally a sunny bright cloudless day EVERY DAY :-) But hey if you like it that way...build it that way!

Personally when I see a layout that is "prototypical" and the vehicles are driverless or during night sessions, the lights are on everywhere but the headlights of the vehicles...that makes me smile. Doesnt bother me since I proscribe to the 'it's your railroad... build it....run it...enjoy it' as you see fit!

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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, June 11, 2016 8:52 PM

OOPs!

Now the fire in the IRS building has spread to the thread. Darn plastic fire hydrants!!

Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

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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Posted by DAVID FORTNEY on Saturday, June 11, 2016 7:45 PM

Uncle butch,

your opinion on what makes a layout sounds very elitist to me and I'm sure to others.

I get to see allot of layouts from very simple to very complex. A few people I have were a few guys with physical and mental issues who have built layouts that were simple but very attractive. Would you tell them you would not like to see them? 

They are very proud of what they accomplished and they love to tell you all about it. It is very therapeutic for these types of people.

To demean the types of layouts that you don't like just shows what kind of person you are.

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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Saturday, June 11, 2016 7:21 PM

Well here is the cop pulling someone over scene.

But this is an old picture and the CHP is now on display at the car show.  California CHP along with Go Carts and Sprint Cars in the promotional area

 

Here is my building that is burning. It is on a movie set where it is lit up every day, just like the real ones at Universal Studios. Relax. It's only a movie. Colossal Mantis Attacks!

Here is the dog and fire hydrant. (Near RR crossing sign)<b><font size=+1>Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Sports Pub</font></b>

Here is the Walthers backdrop.

Sorry I don't have any dinosaurs but I do have a dragon.

As for punny names here is a sign for Caliente Used Cars. Caliente is Spainish for hot.

Sorry I don't have the mill or the mine, and the people around campfires on my layout are campers, not bums.

Anyway this was a nice excuse to share some pictures. Enjoy you hobby. If you're smiling you're doing it right.

j...........

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Saturday, June 11, 2016 7:06 PM

Guy Papillon
 
UNCLEBUTCH

But,,dont show a picture of an ovel of track,tyco rolling stock,horn hook couplers,unpainted snap together building and Hot Wheels, and call it a "layout"

IMO to call that a layout is a insult to all the folks that spent thousands of hours of work to get thire "layouts" to look as close to real as possible

 

 

 
With due respect for you opinion, what do you consider a true layout? What is the lower limit of what you consider acceptable as so? How many hours should be invested in a real layout? How much money one should invest to be considered a layout owner?
 
 
 
 
 

a model ; a small object,usually built to scale,that represents an existing object.

 you can invest as mutch time and money as you want/can. You can do what ever you get enjoyment from,your trains,have at it.

Just dont compare your "toy train set" to my "Model Railroad"

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Posted by howmus on Saturday, June 11, 2016 6:12 PM

My favorite JPU on the SLO&W...  And yes I am leaving it right where it is!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by steemtrayn on Saturday, June 11, 2016 5:05 PM

gmpullman

 

 
mvlandsw
After you cut off the 3" pipe do you add a scale air hose that is too short to couple to another car?

 

 

IF I live long enough, I might get around to adding air hoses and angle cocks to my 400 or so freight cars...

Regards, Ed

 

Those angle cocks... Will they be open? Or closed?

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Posted by Guy Papillon on Saturday, June 11, 2016 5:01 PM

UNCLEBUTCH

But,,dont show a picture of an ovel of track,tyco rolling stock,horn hook couplers,unpainted snap together building and Hot Wheels, and call it a "layout"

IMO to call that a layout is a insult to all the folks that spent thousands of hours of work to get thire "layouts" to look as close to real as possible

 

 
With due respect for you opinion, what do you consider a true layout? What is the lower limit of what you consider acceptable as so? How many hours should be invested in a real layout? How much money one should invest to be considered a layout owner?
 
 
 
 

Guy

Modeling CNR in the 50's

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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, June 11, 2016 5:01 PM

mvlandsw
After you cut off the 3" pipe do you add a scale air hose that is too short to couple to another car?

I don't go out of my way to add air hoses. If they're already there, i.e. Exactrail, Tangent, Kadee, Genesis, some brass, etc. I'll keep them.

IF I live long enough, I might get around to adding air hoses and angle cocks to my 400 or so freight cars Confused but for now I'll rely on the engineer using the independent brake Thumbs Up

It's not really that the air hoses are too short, it's that the coupler shanks are too long—and necessarily so on our laughingly tight radius curves.

It's all about compromise...

Regards, Ed

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Posted by mvlandsw on Saturday, June 11, 2016 4:51 PM

gmpullman
 
hon30critter
That ought to light the discussion up a bit!

 

If that doesn't... this will!

How about the big chunk of bent pipe sticking out of the bottom of the coupler?

Don't read me wrong—I love and exclusively use Kadee's excellent products—but it seems amusing to see a superbly detailed model with everything on it accurately scale-sized and then you see that big chunk of 3" steel pipe sticking out of the bottom of the coupler Whistling

Personally, I clip all mine off. 

Have FUN, Ed

 Hello Ed,

   After you cut off the 3" pipe do you add a scale air hose that is too short to couple to another car?

Mark

 

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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Saturday, June 11, 2016 4:46 PM

First, let me say,I'll defend anyone to do whatever with there trains,it's your hobby.

But,,dont show a picture of an ovel of track,tyco rolling stock,horn hook couplers,unpainted snap together building and Hot Wheels, and call it a "layout"

IMO to call that a layout is a insult to all the folks that spent thousands of hours of work to get thire "layouts" to look as close to real as possible

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, June 11, 2016 4:16 PM

steemtrayn

 

 
NittanyLion

I'm always bothered by engineering impossibilities.  The rabbit warren mountain, for example.  You know exactly what I'm describing.

 

 

 

No, I don't.  Could you elaborate? (Sorry, I'm slow.)

 

I had to Google it, too...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_warren_layout

Regards, Ed

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Posted by steemtrayn on Saturday, June 11, 2016 4:05 PM

NittanyLion

I'm always bothered by engineering impossibilities.  The rabbit warren mountain, for example.  You know exactly what I'm describing.

 

No, I don't.  Could you elaborate? (Sorry, I'm slow.)

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Posted by Geared Steam on Saturday, June 11, 2016 1:33 PM

Because everyone should and do model what appeals to them.

its all fantasyland 

I see things that bug me, but it's not my choice, it's the owners.

 

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

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Posted by hardcoalcase on Saturday, June 11, 2016 12:35 PM

PRR8259
I'm not Catholic but I must go to confession:

This could be the inspiriation for a new cliche - a drive up window for a Catholic Confession... the sign says "Toot & Tell"

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Posted by PRR8259 on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:38 AM

As a civil engineer, the biggest thing I see wrong on most layouts (besides the despicable lichen trees that I don't care for, which also disintegrate too easily) are the unprototypically steep ground slopes that many folks have, approaching vertical.

In real life that usually only occurs in very high quality rock cuts, and then usually the telltale ribbons from blasting are visible on those rock slopes.  There are recent rock cuts along 4-lane highways in my area that have actually failed; fortunately PennDOT designed a "fall zone" at the bottom to allow for that.  They knew the rock was not all high quality.

Natural ground slopes in anything other than high quality rock should not exceed 1.5 (horizontal) to 1 vertical, with 2:1 or 3:1 being much more common.  Anything planted in grass that is actually mowed or maintained has to be 3:1 or flatter, desirably 4:1 for mowing.

One caveat: those folks modeling Pocahontas regions like the Clinchfield may see some steep cut slopes.  But the rest of us should not.

John

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Posted by PRR8259 on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:33 AM

I'm not Catholic but I must go to confession:

I have committed the unpardonable sin of running brand new Tangent Scale Models Penn Central G43C gondolas behind HO brass (non-excursion) steam power.  I've further compounded the unpardonable sin by running Tangent ICG orange covered hoppers behind the brass steam, too.

I had at least privately said I'd never run anything Penn Central behind steam, because we all know most U.S. steam was gone from actual revenue service by about 11 years before...

I can remember the 1970's freight cars, and I just like them...the diesels of that era, I can only vaguely remember.  Saw Reading big Alco's once when we drove past Reading and Allentown/Bethlehem on vacation.  That's my only memory of them.

John

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Posted by ricktrains4824 on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:05 AM

The old "fantasy" paint on locomotives, where an old, no longer existing, railroad has brand new power painted in their scheme and name. 

Yes, you all know which manufacturer I am referring too.

Yes, I am guilty of this as well. Big Smile 

(So what if Erie Lackawanna never lasted long enough to own ES44AC's, that is a "heritage" unit on my railroad! Whistling Smile)

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

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Posted by DAVID FORTNEY on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:03 AM

I think allot of you guys are missing the point. Allot of the things listed is what makes up a layout. Some are funny, and some are not but we are putting our own touches to our layouts that make them special to each one of us. 

No need to make fun of what some people do just because you may not like it. 

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Posted by G Paine on Saturday, June 11, 2016 11:03 AM

The dog & fire hydrant

Police car behind a billboard

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

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Posted by jecorbett on Saturday, June 11, 2016 10:58 AM

Steven S

Probably the single biggest cliche is the burning building.  Close behind are the hobo campfire and carnival.

 

Steve S

 

I look at the burning building this way. A building is only going to burn for one day. Unless you are going to model a specific day over and over again (and I've read about modelers who do), it really strains reality to have the same building on fire day after day. It might make an interesting feature on a diorama but I wouldn't put one on my layout. For those that do, well, it's your railroad.

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Posted by John Busby on Saturday, June 11, 2016 10:51 AM

Hi dknelson

The reason its not going to become a new cliche is because depending on your point of view it's iether an old one or a current oneBig Smile

The cops and donut thing has been done in many variations.

Well I think your going to hate a mate of mine.

He is going to do a variation on the police and donut store.

That being the store being held up and a total police overkill attendance

SWAT teams, ordinary plods, police chopper the lot.

I don't think the crim is going to survive that hold up iether that or it going to be a ten to life stretch in the slamer.

regards John

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