Have you ever stopped to think about just how diverse a skillset one has the potential to develop in this hobby. If you put your mind to it there is really quite a lot.
Here is a partial list:
-Carpentry/woodworking
-Electrical
-Electronics/Computer Programming
-Electrical Engineering
-Mechanical Engineering
-Print/Drawing reading and interpertation
-Historical Research
-Civil Engineering (structural)
-Civil Engineering (railroad)
-Photography
-Problem Solving/trouble shooting
-Machining (if you were to build your own models out of stock metal).
-Precision instrument reading
The best part of this hobby is you get to pick and choose what you want to learn about. Those are my thoughts, what do you think?
BMMECNYC,
You've hit the same basic list I tell others when talking about what is great about model railroading with a couple additions:
Art & sculpture (Backdrops & scenery anyone?)
Plus the benefits of creative expression, stress relief, and a hobby that doesn't necessarily have ongoing maintenance costs like the keeping of certain animals, club memberships (unless you so choose), etc. If I don't want to spend a dime on my model railroad for a six month stretch I can still enjoy it. Hard to say that with woodworking, horse riding, shooting, golf, etc.
Mike
I forgot painting.
BMMECNYC I forgot painting.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain BMMECNYC I forgot painting. You also forgot soldering. Rich
You also forgot soldering.
And each one of the OPs skills listed can also drive a "subhobby" of the hobby, based upon ones own interests.
I would categorize them along different lines as well. Operational planning, structure building, track laying, scenery and painting, electronics, and of course...model building.
- Douglas
If the women don't find you handsome, they can at least discover you're handy.
My wife appreciates this. Helps her put up with the ugly
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
That's a good list and added more.
Wait until you build/start one (I am) and finding it harder than it sounds.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
There are other skills that can be added to the list.
Variants on "game theory" or "Role playing" for the operators. I suppose even the "socialization" element that goes with operating, or serious club membership or NMRA organization activities, can be listed (and for sure there are those who lack those skills!).
Map reading and creation. Topography.
Speaking and reading second languages is helpful to many.
Time management.
Technical writing is a skill in itself and those who author articles, or kit instructions, benefit from that skill.
The science of light and color.
Metallurgy.
And for those of us who are married -- the art and skill of negotiation!
Dave Nelson
BMMECNYCThe best part of this hobby is you get to pick and choose what you want to learn about. Those are my thoughts, what do you think?
Oddly enough I never found the use for 90% of the things you mention on your list simply because I never needed to learn that in my 60s years in the hobby.
I've always been a KISS modeler and I have used Atlas Selectors for block wiring on my five loop layouts.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
dknelsonAnd for those of us who are married -- the art and skill of negotiation!
I think this list can be MUCH bigger, here are some that I would add:
Research
Buyer/Purchasing
Budgeting
Project management
Arch/Drafting
Operations
Artist
CEO
Event organizer ( hosting and operation session )
Educator
These are just a few off the top of my head. The main point as BMMECNYC stated is that there is a lot to this hobby and it can attract a very diverse crowd.
YGW
You left off "Pontificating in self-righteous high dudgeon about rumors of articles that I have not read."
Based on recent threads, that's a huge component of some folks' model railroading lives.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Geology
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Creative Swearing: "#$^$#!%!$# my T%$#%@#$ brass train just hit the @#$%@# ground!"
Budgeting: "If I save $50/week and don't eat lunch I can buy that new train in 2 months"Politics and Oversite: "Wife: You don't need another train....Husband: I'll clean the garage and do dishes and give you two nights off with dinner away from the kids....Wife: okay done"
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
BRAKIE BMMECNYC The best part of this hobby is you get to pick and choose what you want to learn about. Those are my thoughts, what do you think? Oddly enough I never found the use for 90% of the things you mention on your list simply because I never needed to learn that in my 60s years in the hobby. I've always been a KISS modeler and I have used Atlas Selectors for block wiring on my five loop layouts.
BMMECNYC The best part of this hobby is you get to pick and choose what you want to learn about. Those are my thoughts, what do you think?
Larry,
He did say "you get to pick and choose" - so you made your choice. Others results will likely vary and that's OK, too.
cuyama You left off "Pontificating in self-righteous high dudgeon about rumors of articles that I have not read." Based on recent threads, that's a huge component of some folks' model railroading lives.
I've read it. Also the paper copy showed up today. I guess that thread got a little out of hand for a bit.
mlehman If the women don't find you handsome, they can at least discover you're handy. My wife appreciates this. Helps her put up with the ugly
Red Green show!
That is a big one, helps when you let her pick a prototype that she is interested in...
BMMECNYC That is a big one, helps when you let her pick a prototype that she is interested in...
That depends if she loves bright pretty colors or chooses the Chessie System because of the cat.
mlehmanHe did say "you get to pick and choose" - so you made your choice. Others results will likely vary and that's OK, too.
Very true and all is welcome..Like I said KISS modeling been my style for the pass 60 years..
If a S Scale plan said the building was 45' then I measured 45' on my HO scale rule. The why fore is simple I always hated complicated math.
Here's a list that I came up with when I was putting together my website:
Art
Architecture
Automotive
Business/Economics
Carpentry
Civil engineering
Construction
Detailing
Design
Electrical/electricity/soldering/wiring
Environment
Farming/Horticulture
Geography
History
Humanities
Industry
Landscaping
Lighting
Materials
Modeling
Painting
Sculpting
Signaling
Woodworking
And there's plenty of interesting sub-categories to any of these...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
richhotrain cuyama You left off "Pontificating in self-righteous high dudgeon about rumors of articles that I have not read." Based on recent threads, that's a huge component of some folks' model railroading lives. What does that have to do with the OP's initial question, to wit: Have you ever stopped to think about just how diverse a skillset one has the potential to develop in this hobby. Rich
What does that have to do with the OP's initial question, to wit: Have you ever stopped to think about just how diverse a skillset one has the potential to develop in this hobby.
I think it was practicing the skill of judging others. Or else it was scarcasm.
My career was in IT - which covers programming as well as problem solving/trouble shooting.
That pretty much covers most of the topics listed. What carpentry I know was learned in projects not related to model railroading.
-Historical Research - I'm a history buff. It certainly helps with prototype research, but the skill was acquired outside the confines of the hobby. Ever read Henri Pirenne's "Economic and Social History of Medieval Europe", Max Weber's "Protestantism And The Rise Of Capitalism" or Carl Becker's "The Heavenly City Of The Eighteenth Century Philosophers"? Definitely not MR related, but always worth the read, but then so is Samuel Eliot Morison's 15 volume history of US naval operations during WWII.
I wonder if Byron (Cuyama) will ever write a history of the hobby in the Internet age. "Pontificating In High Dudgeon - Model Railroading In The Internet Age, A Sociological Study". I'd read it.
Andre
andrechapelonI wonder if Byron (Cuyama) will ever write a history of the hobby in the Internet age. "Pontificating In High Dudgeon - Model Railroading In The Internet Age, A Sociological Study". I'd read it.
I would read it, but only if it was offered as a hardback book, no digital edition.
BMMECNYC andrechapelon I wonder if Byron (Cuyama) will ever write a history of the hobby in the Internet age. "Pontificating In High Dudgeon - Model Railroading In The Internet Age, A Sociological Study". I'd read it. I would read it, but only if it was offered as a hardback book, no digital edition.
andrechapelon I wonder if Byron (Cuyama) will ever write a history of the hobby in the Internet age. "Pontificating In High Dudgeon - Model Railroading In The Internet Age, A Sociological Study". I'd read it.
richhotrain BMMECNYC andrechapelon I wonder if Byron (Cuyama) will ever write a history of the hobby in the Internet age. "Pontificating In High Dudgeon - Model Railroading In The Internet Age, A Sociological Study". I'd read it. I would read it, but only if it was offered as a hardback book, no digital edition. The title alone would put me off. Is anyone on this forum qualified to write a book about the history of the hobby? I doubt it. Rich
The title alone would put me off. Is anyone on this forum qualified to write a book about the history of the hobby? I doubt it.
Rich,
Just in the internet age...so the last 20 years or so.
BMMECNYC Rich, Just in the internet age...so the last 20 years or so.