Join the NMRA. A good NMRA- division will have meets and you can attend or not attend. Many people already have operation sessions.
YGW
Studies show that the more 'social' you are the better your odds at longivity. From the Stanford Universtiy website:
"Being connected to others is nice, but is it important?
Being connected to others is nice, but is it important?
In our crazy society, social ties are pretty far down on our “to do” lists, but connection to others is turning out to be more important than we thought. Studies indicate that “social capital” is one of the biggest predictors for health, happiness, and longevity. The problem: we often do not recognize the importance of social connection. Our culture values hard work, success, and wealth, so it’s no surprise some of us do not set aside enough time for social ties when we think security lies in material things rather than other people."
I have my own layout that I work on but I'm also a member of a large modular club. I can either attend the meetings or not, it's my choice. I can work on my layout alone or seek advice and expertise from some of the more experienced members. We have a large show coming up soon at the Museum of Aviation Warner Robins, Ga. where we have the chance to show model railroading to the general public, most of whom don't realize what a great hobby it is, whether you're a loner of club member or just have friends over to run trains.
Below is a photo of the exhibit we set up showing the HO layout in the foreground and the N scale in back. About 6000 people will come by to see us that week.
There are times I want to work alone on my own layout but there are times when I like to socialize more.
Jarrell
Jarrell,
I will respectfully repeat, not you, nor anyone else on this forum, know much about the other aspects of the personal lives of those discussing this topic.
You are most welcome to make model railroading your outlet for social interaction, I will not judge you for it - some of us choose not to. You have no way to know about the rest of my life, so, I must say I slightly resent the implications of your post.
Somehow suggesting that I would be "healther" if I was a more "social" modeler.
A typical viewpoint of many self appointed elites today "but we know better what is good for you than what you know for yourself", well no thanks Hillary.........
Security lies not exclusively in possessions or in relationships with others - Franklin said - "any man who gives up the smallest measure of liberty for security has niether"
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Jarrell, I will respectfully repeat, not you, nor anyone else on this forum, know much about the other aspects of the personal lives of those discussing this topic. You are most welcome to make model railroading your outlet for social interaction, I will not judge you for it - some of us choose not to. You have no way to know about the rest of my life, so, I must say I slightly resent the implications of your post. Somehow suggesting that I would be "healther" if I was a more "social" modeler. A typical viewpoint of many self appointed elites today "but we know better what is good for you than what you know for yourself", well no thanks Hillary......... Security lies not exclusively in possessions or in relationships with others - Franklin said - "any man who gives up the smallest measure of liberty for security has niether" Sheldon
Getting a little grumpy there aren't we Sheldon.
The OP defined a Lone Wolf as someone who likes to work on his layout alone.
I have to agree with Sheldon here (except for his political comment). There are many ways to have social connections outside of model railroading.
I don't have any studies to hand, but as I recall, the benefit of social connections is not an infinite upward linear progression. At some point it starts to level off. And people are different - for many people having some quiet time alone is very beneficial. Not to mention the satisfaction of building something by yourself the way you want it.
Paul
jacon12 Getting a little grumpy there aren't we Sheldon.
Yes, clearly too much "social interaction"
ATLANTIC CENTRALA typical viewpoint of many self appointed elites today "but we know better what is good for you than what you know for yourself", well no thanks
You know the same could be said about forum members that fully believe if you don't model to the Nth degree or have the up to date and 100% correct models then you're just playing with toys since they don't meet today's so called "standards"..
On the other hand while I been a member of several clubs over the years and can talk to any member I end up making few friends with my follow members because of their personality or whatever..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE ATLANTIC CENTRAL A typical viewpoint of many self appointed elites today "but we know better what is good for you than what you know for yourself", well no thanks You know the same could be said about forum members that fully believe if you don't model to the Nth degree or have the up to date and 100% correct models then you're just playing with toys since they don't meet today's so called "standards".. On the other hand while I been a member of several clubs over the years and can talk to any member I end up making few friends with my follow members because of their personality or whatever..
ATLANTIC CENTRAL A typical viewpoint of many self appointed elites today "but we know better what is good for you than what you know for yourself", well no thanks
Agreed and understood!
Just look at some of the flak I have taken over the years for stuff like shorty passenger cars, DC, no sound, simplified CTC, etc. I have actually received private messages telling me I should not repeatedly talk about, explain or defend my views on modeling because they are outside the "mainstream".
See why I'm happy to model alone.........
And I don't need brass accuracy or every model perfect to have fun..........
BRAKIEYou know the same could be said about forum members that fully believe if you don't model to the Nth degree or have the up to date and 100% correct models then you're just playing with toys since they don't meet today's so called "standards"..
ATLANTIC CENTRALJust look at some of the flak I have taken over the years for stuff like shorty passenger cars, DC, no sound, simplified CTC, etc. I have actually received private messages telling me I should not repeatedly talk about, explain or defend my views on modeling because they are outside the "mainstream".
I think you're both trying way to hard to find something to be offended about.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I'm interested in controlling my social interaction, so internet forums and train shows are a good way for me to interact with other modelers, while retaining the ability to leave a conversation when the topic shifts to something I'm not interested in. As others have mentioned, I don't want help with my layout per se, but I would solicite help for certain projects that I would not feel comfortable doing myself.
Which seguaes into Sheldon and Jarrell's comments above. I think any interest is more enjoyable if it is shared with others...probably healthier too....but to Sheldon's point, the interests have to be similar in order to get the depth of interaction that's beneficial. Otherwise, it becomes shallow small talk.
Example: I'm not that social because I don't find too many people in this hobby who are interested in modern shortlines. They just aren't. They want to talk about big Class 1 railroading during the days of yore, but railroads that rely upon 2 or 3 second hand locos, hardly anybody knows anything about.
As an example, the perfect locomotive for the type of railroad I'm interested in would be a high hood GP9, with fore and aft working ditch lights. Perusing ebay for years for a locomotive similar to this produces very little results. No manufacturer produces anything like this, and hardly any models customized by others ever show up in the secondary market.
My conclusion is that such a locomotive is of no interest to about 99% of modelers, so the types of railroads and layouts such a locomotive would run on is out of the interest of 99% of modelers. So I have nothing too much in common with 99% of modelrailroaders to sustain a discussion beyond about 20 minutes.
For technical questions, I can come to the internet. For enjoyale socialization about the hobby in ways I am interested, I am pretty much alone.
- Douglas
Regarding being offened, no I'm not looking, seldom does anything others say or do offend me.
But, I don't tell others how to live, and I'm not looking for any advice from others on the subject.
Doughless I'm interested in controlling my social interaction, so internet forums and train shows are a good way for me to interact with other modelers, while retaining the ability to leave a conversation when the topic shifts to something I'm not interested in. As others have mentioned, I don't want help with my layout per se, but I would solicite help for certain projects that I would not feel comfortable doing myself. Which seguaes into Sheldon and Jarrell's comments above. I think any interest is more enjoyable if it is shared with others...probably healthier too....but to Sheldon's point, the interests have to be similar in order to get the depth of interaction that's beneficial. Otherwise, it becomes shallow small talk. Example: I'm not that social because I don't find too many people in this hobby who are interested in modern shortlines. They just aren't. They want to talk about big Class 1 railroading during the days of yore, but railroads that rely upon 2 or 3 second hand locos, hardly anybody knows anything about. As an example, the perfect locomotive for the type of railroad I'm interested in would be a high hood GP9, with fore and aft working ditch lights. Perusing ebay for years for a locomotive similar to this produces very little results. No manufacturer produces anything like this, and hardly any models customized by others ever show up in the secondary market. My conclusion is that such a locomotive is of no interest to about 99% of modelers, so the types of railroads and layouts such a locomotive would run on is out of the interest of 99% of modelers. So I have nothing too much in common with 99% of modelrailroaders to sustain a discussion beyond about 20 minutes. For technical questions, I can come to the internet. For enjoyale socialization about the hobby in ways I am interested, I am pretty much alone.
Great point. On this forum you and I have had lots of good conversations, but being a modeler of a 1950s Class I, I would have little to offer you as a close modeling buddy.
I simply do not have knowledge base that could offer you much, I pay little attention to current railroading, short line or otherwise.
I accept that the most highly detailed brass models are still just merely toys, only more expensive ones...so I play with the few I do have, and I realize that no model is perfect, nor do I think others should do as I do.
I'm in my 40's and like steam, and steam from beyond my area of the country at that, so I'm already in quite a minority there. Most folks I know now model current day NS. Nothing wrong with that, but I just don't have anything to offer them, and I have no interest whatsoever beyond perhaps the Heritage paint scheme units.
I know one guy who models 1960's-1970's and I can better relate to him as we are only two years apart and can remember Penn Central, good or bad.
John
carl425I think you're both trying way to hard to find something to be offended about.
Ha! The only thing that upsets me is seeing my coffee cup empty.
DoughlessExample: I'm not that social because I don't find too many people in this hobby who are interested in modern shortlines.
Dougless,We would get along pretty good talking about modern short lines. I been a big fan of short lines after reading about the Aberdeen & Rockfish in MR way back in 61/62.
I've tried to focus on a Class 1 but,always drift back to a short line-usually freelanced based on a real short line or a combination of several short lines.