The difference between myself and a lot of modelers.

[Jetrock]

For me a good chunk of the fun is building and modifying kits. I have bought ready-to-run items before if the price was right (and "used" is pretty much "ready to run" in my book) but prefer kits, since I don't have to disassemble a kit and typically I do end up at least partially taking apart RTR stuff for repainting, detailing, etcetera.

[NZRMac]

I read somewhere in these forums,
If you don't have time to it right the first time, when will you have time???

And a friend of mine has this expression,
Hurry up and wait.

Ken.

[Anonymous]

I guess the quick answer to your issue is, if you don't want RTR, don't buy RTR. I haven't had the RTR folks proselytizing at my door while I'm trying to work or watch a football game, so I guess I haven't noticed a controversey raging.

Everyone approaches this hobby differently. Except for a few DPM buildings, nearIy all the structures built or planned for my layout are my own design and scratchbuilt. However, I have little interest in scrachbuilding or assembling rolling stock or locomotives any more than is necessary. Modeling the 1917 era in N Scale means a lot of what I need has to be scratchbuilt or kit-bashed but I'd buy RTR in a heartbeat if it were available. It has nothing to do with being in a hurry. It has everything to do with using my time as I want to.

That's my approach to model railroading, and since I don't give a hoot that your opinion differs, you're safe from my trying to change your perception.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

I guess I agree and disagree with you (is that possible?). There are some things that I definately do not want ready to run. Structures for one. I love building them, painting them and bashing them every now and then. Rolling stock also. I'm in love with the "shake the box" kits. They are inexpensive which allows me to "play" with them ie: kitbash, repaint, detail etc and if I mess it up - hey, no big deal. RTR. Track. I've tried handlaying and can't get the hang of it. Give me flex track and ready made turnouts. (Of course there are some that say flex track isn't RTR as you have to make a roadbed and ballast - hmmmmmm interesting thought). Locomotives? I go both ways with that, I enjoy putting together a kit as well as placing it right out of the box onto the layout.

I don't think there is anything as a strickly RTR or "model making" hobbyist out there. I'm sure there are folks that will say that anything other than cutting your own ties and laying rail is "not modeling." Is kit building assembling a "shake the box" which takes only a few minutes, a knife and a screwdriver or a LaBelle craftsman kit which is basically scratchbuilding with a plan? There are still some diehard hobbyiest out there that think that a computer isn't really yours unless you build it component by component (remember Heathkit?)

Not to start a war, but I think that each person not only has to establish what they want to spend more time on, what they want RTR and what they want to build. For me the joy of having some RTR stuff (DC powerpacks, DCC, track) is that it allows me to spend more of my hobby time building other things (structures, painting rolling stock or whatever).

I will agree that the joy is in doing. The question is what one enjoys doing.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you 100%. I build a little at a time and run trains same time. There is so much that can be done with the hobby there should be no rush. It's a hobby not a devine calling. It should be fun and not rush work

[jdolan]

I agree with you whole heartedly, the most fun from the hobby is to be able to say that you built it yourself. It also is great for releiving the stress of a hurry up lifestyle. I would rather build things myself than have all this RTR stuff shoved at me that costs twice as much and all looks the same.

[Anonymous]

An on going and constantly renewing thread within this forum is model builders Vs RTRers. The RTRers espouse they do not have the time to build. The builders espouse they don't want the manufacturer building the model they want to build themselves. My question on this subject is where did the hurry come from? The only hurry I ever feel about my hobby is when can I get down to the layout or work bench and work on the latest project! Once I am down there, I would like time to slow down. However, just the opposite occurs.

I started my layout in 1988. There was some hurry to get road bed and track down and wired so I could run trains. This didn't take too long as I worked on the layout in stages and always made sure I would be able to just run trains, if that's what I wanted to do. All the track is down and operable now and has been since 1990 or so. Scenery, backgrounds, structures etc. are progressing and I would guess that the layout might be 1/2 sceniced and 3/4ths of the hardshell is done. I am very O.K. with this. It's my hobby and I don't care if the layout ever gets done! The enjoyment comes from the doing, not the getting done. You may think I am not goal oriented and your danged Skippy, at least with this part of my life, as the goal here is enjoyment.

So, this is where I am coming from. I don't want ready to run, as it just don't fit into my enjoyment of the hobby and I have concerns that it will change the future of this hobby and that is the modeling! For those whom disagree with me, this is certainly your prerogative. However, disagreeing with me isn't going to change my perception of how this hobby works!

I am interested in your opinions, ill-informed as they may be. (That is a joke, for you whom couldn't tell!)