bearman Byron, I enjoyed the article until the gratuitous comment about roundy roundy layouts.
Byron, I enjoyed the article until the gratuitous comment about roundy roundy layouts.
I read it as a toss-off -- in fun.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Bear "It's all about having fun."
I can’t understand anyone being offended by Brian Moore's article*. He's simply stating his opinion, preferences, and experience. Looks like he and his mates are doing some fine modeling and having fun.
*Oh wait, it’s the MR Forum, now I understand.
I am with Sheldon in terms of my original post. There was no need for the author of the MR article to take a gratuitous swipe at modelers who build a "roundy roundy". And, I am not making any judgements about who is the best modeler(s) in the world.
Tinplate Toddler Sheldon, you are lucky to be ATLANTIC CENTRAL one of those Americans with a big basement to build trains in Not everywhere in the world do people have the space and the funds to build big dream layouts. In Europe most model railroaders are quite happy with small layouts or even just a module they can take to a meet. The fun in model railroading certainly does not correlate to the size of the layout one is able to build. Asided from the Japanese, the British are certainly among the best modellers there are. I´d say that the work of an average British "railway modeller" is far above and beyond what you will see here - but sometimes in spaces unbelievably small.
Sheldon,
you are lucky to be
ATLANTIC CENTRAL one of those Americans with a big basement to build trains in
Not everywhere in the world do people have the space and the funds to build big dream layouts. In Europe most model railroaders are quite happy with small layouts or even just a module they can take to a meet.
The fun in model railroading certainly does not correlate to the size of the layout one is able to build. Asided from the Japanese, the British are certainly among the best modellers there are. I´d say that the work of an average British "railway modeller" is far above and beyond what you will see here - but sometimes in spaces unbelievably small.
This is not about large or small or amount of resources, it is about the condesending ideas that true point to pint is "better" and that the "group" experiance is "better" than the individual layout "owner".
I run my layout as a "point to point" for opps sessions, I just save all that work of restaging trains before and after.
But I also like "display" running.
The article had several very condesending comments about several topics to say the least.
Agreed, I have said size does not make quality or fun - and I have started the discussion of size vs complexity - they are not the same thing.
But if one does have room for staging yards for 25 trains that are 50 cars long, then one needs 1250 cars and 75 locos, and they will make it out of the boxes.
Sheldon
PS - as for the living conditions or the social economics of the UK or Europe vs the US, that's not really a topic for this forum, or one I care to discuss, and maybe not even one for Model Railroader.
We get cautioned on here if we get to far a field of model trains, yet our host has published a story full of subtle digs at us "rich Americans".
Again I submit, at least here in the Mid Atlantic and the Northeast of the US, there are more "basement empires" of 1000 sq ft, or more, than many want to believe.
Not because we are "so rich" but because our life choices and situations allow it.
ATLANTIC CENTRALone of those Americans with a big basement to build trains in
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
bearman Regarding "Big Time US Railroading In the UK", I have a "roundy roundy" continuous layout that floats my boat, and I am very well, I assure you, Brian.
Regarding "Big Time US Railroading In the UK", I have a "roundy roundy" continuous layout that floats my boat, and I am very well, I assure you, Brian.
I agee, I like continuous run layouts as well, preferably with hidden thru staging.
True point to point layouts suffer from too much "getting ready" to run trains and not enough running trains.
With hidden staging and continuous loops, trains are always "ready" for the next opps session.
But what do I know?, I am one of those Americans with a big basement to build trains in.........
And the idea of limiting my modeling to what a bunch of other people decide they want to do, not in this life time.
Those guys seem to be doing nice work, and if that kind of operation is good for them, well then good for them.
Guess I am no longer the social type in this hobby, no interest in lugging stuff around either. Invite some guys over, sure - spend hours driving and setting up modules - no thanks.