MRR Snobs

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly
But if you like running a Conrail 0-6-0 hauling a 36 foot wood box car followed by a couple of modern husky stacks on an oval of snap code 100 track and spend time seeing how fast it will go that's your decision. It's not the way I'd do it - but if it puts a smile on your face - then I would consider you a successful model railroader!! After all - even though we often times forget it - isn't that what it's all about?

Well said Dave. I agree whole heartedly with your entire response, but in particular the final paragraph which I quoted above. At the end of the day, the only person you have to please is yourself. If you like blue mountains and purple sky and running 85' triple stack auto racks on a 0-6-0 Mogul, then knock yourself out. You're not wrong in doing so. You're not accurate in a prototypical sense, but your not wrong.

I think people get to caught up in realism sometimes. Personally I like realism, and am striving for a high quality, realistic looking layout. I don't think wanting to do your best makes you a snob.

That said I think there are times when people get their panties in a bunch over their opinions on what's right and wrong in the hobby. Hopefully the forum readers will look at those answers and take them with a grain of salt. I've heard people on here espousing all sorts of snobbery and then when you actually see pics of their layout it's not exactly "expert" quality work. I knew this guy who used to maintain my mainframe computers at the office years ago. That was a high tech job back then and I knew he made a lot of money. He used to brag about how he drove a BMW. I was impressed. Then I saw the rusted out, 20 years old, bald tired, hunk of junk. Yes it was a BMW, but not the sleek, shiny, chromed out dream machine my mind had lead me to believe it was.

So make yourself happy. Do what you want. Be proud of your work. And always remember...it's a hobby, not brain surgery!

Much Love,
Trevor[:)]

[Adelie]

There are snobs everywhere, both inside and outside of the hobby. There are an awful lot of everyday decisions made by people today that are based largely on what somebody else is doing, so they can "one up" them. And we have largely lost the ability to disagree, somebody has to be "wrong," even on the many list of things where there is no definite right or wrong.

In MRR, part of the perception of this may start at the top. Years ago, John Allen, John Armstrong and Linn Wescott were among the leaders of the hobby. They knew their stuff, took their modeling seriously, but also had fun with it. That fun showed up in their layouts and in their writing. There was a definite human side to what they wrote. If one of their articles was the first thing you read entering the hobby, you might feel both overwhelmed and at ease at the same time. The harshest criticisms I remember reading were about poor trackwork and "banging together" more kits than a layout could possibly hold. These were your friends giving you advice and tips.

Imagine coming back to the hobby or coming in the for the first time (maybe with your 8-year-old son, like many of our dads did), and your first exposure today is one of Tony Koester's columns. My guess is that you would not get the "at ease" feeling. You'd probably feel more like you were getting a lecture from your doctor about your bad eating habits than being talked with about a hobby. I'm certain Tony is a great modeler, too. I'm certain he is passionate about his work, and gets a feeling of satisfaction from his many successes. But I'm not sure "fun" enters the picture, at least from what I read in his writing. Some folks are just like that, and maybe Tony is one of them. I don't mean to single him out, but his column comes to mind in this discussion.

In our "Loyal Order of the Yard Goats" lodge called model railroading, there is room for rivet counters, those who will be challenged to their limits by building and maintaining a rough rendition of the Turtle Creek, and every level of perfection and interest in between. I think we have that balance, judging by the conversations I have with people at train shows and the LHS. But, this is a hobby, and it should be fun. If it does not give that impression, recruiting new participants will become more difficult.

Maybe our problem is just that we have the rivet counters at the table by the front door! Whose on the welcoming committee, anyway?
[#welcome][:D]

[ClinchValleySD40]

No, I don't think the attitude is any worse now than ever. The internet gives people access to more and they'll probably see/hear it more, but it's always been there. Some people that consider themselves "experts" like to throw statements like this out to show everyone how much they know.

Main thing to remember - it's a hobby and there is absolutely no right or wrong way to do it as long as you enjoy yourself and have fun.

Do NOT criticize or give advice to anyone unless they ask for it.

[rogerhensley]

"...the bar may be set too high..."

Sorry. Why is there a bar at all? If you want to detail exactly as the prototype, feel free, but don't try to others that they must do as you do. I used to enjoy Tony Koester's column, but now feel that he has 'gone off the deep end' with the notion that everything must be realistic as he sees realism.

I don't think so.

Nit pickers and rivet counters have always been with us, but I see it as being far worse today than it has ever been. I have absolutely no intention of spending $30 to $50US for a boxcar because someone thinks that it better matches a prototype somewhere. Perhaps it does, perhaps not, but if it's THAT important to you, don't come to my railroad.

As for detailing and scratchbuilding, they aren't lost arts but they certainly have become endangered species.

Model as you will and buy it all ready-made if you wish. Enjoy the hobby your way, but don't tell others what they are expected to do. It just drives folks away from starting what is a great hobby.

[dknelson]

sometimes Tony Koester has an offputting way of phrasing things. While he acknowledges that there are different valid approaches, he tends to say that those who take a position different than his own simply "inadequately understand" what prototype modeling is. Patronizing is the word for it.
Curiously, he now seems to snear somewhat at freelancing but whenever he has a point to prove he runs a photo of his old -- freelanced! -- layout.
Dave Nelson

[RMax1]

One of the things I do is look at the polls on this forum. If you take a look the majoriy of the people are middle of the road. They freelance and use prototype as a guide. There are a few people that are rivit counting snobs with more money than sense. Those are a smaller number and a minority. Some of them are a good source of historical information. They are also the kind of people that eat their peas one at a time in left to right order with the proper fork. People you don't really want to hang around all day with and keep your hair. If they are happy, well ok take it with a grain of salt. The cost of this hobby is expensive. Way too much in some cases. There is a limited market out there. Just not that many Model Railroaders to make cost effective. Example look at Railroad book prices. They are out of sight! I splurged a while back and reserved a Proto 2000 UP E8 A/B set. Sound,DCC the whole 9 yards. That is a very rare thing. Most of the time I bargain hunt like a big dog. If you run across the snobs just be polite go uh huh yeah ok that's nice and move on. Otherwise an arguement will develope and arguing with rocket scientist is irratating. Takes dynamite or a cutting torch to be effective.

RMax1

[davekelly]

Isn't bashing rivit counters a form of snobbery? I don't consider myself a rivit counter, but have no problems with those that do. If that's what makes them happy that's cool. To say "there are a few people that are rivit counting snobs with more money than sense" or "those that want the most prototypically correct boxcar better stay away from my railroad" is just as bashing as saying "those that run bachmann are running junk."

Just my opinion.

[brothaslide]

It's interesting to look back at the recent past. Athearn produced models such as the SD45, GP35, etc. which had a scale 6" too wide hood and there were two radiator grills instead of 3 for the SD45. Nobody paid too much attention or cared that much. Today it's much different but I don't think this has resulted in being a snob. I find the snob attitude with people who take this hobby so seriously. You'll always find the overly committed folks in every group. It just seems like this group is growing amongst model railroaders.

[davekelly]

Just because a person is overly committed to the hobby does not make them a snob. I'm sure I am seen as over committed by some and under committed by others. It depends on where you stand on the spectrum. A snob, in my opinion, is one that feels everyone should do things their way as it is the only way to do it. Thus an "overly committed" person can be a snob as can the "underly committed person." As an example: These are snobs: "If you were really a MRR you'd use XYZ locos with sound decoders." These are also snobs: "I don't have as much time as you to spend on the hobby as you don't have as many really important things that need to get done." A non-snob? The guy that has spent 2000 hours scratchbuilding a totally accurate HO 2-8-2 locomotive down to individual bolt heads that visits your layout spies the Atlas structure kit you just finished and placed on the layout and says "hey - you added a coal mine - cool!"

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Just because a person is overly committed to the hobby does not make them a snob. I'm sure I am seen as over committed by some and under committed by others. It depends on where you stand on the spectrum. A snob, in my opinion, is one that feels everyone should do things their way as it is the only way to do it. Thus an "overly committed" person can be a snob as can the "underly committed person." As an example: These are snobs: "If you were really a MRR you'd use XYZ locos with sound decoders." These are also snobs: "I don't have as much time as you to spend on the hobby as you don't have as many really important things that need to get done."

Well put.

QUOTE:
A non-snob? The guy that has spent 2000 hours scratchbuilding a totally accurate HO 2-8-2 locomotive down to individual bolt heads that visits your layout spies the Atlas structure kit you just finished and placed on the layout and says "hey - you added a coal mine - cool!"

And offers advice or criticism only when asked to do so, and then starts with..."What I do is...." or " A technique that has worked for me is...", instead of "You should have done it this way..."


Dan

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Just because a person is overly committed to the hobby does not make them a snob. I'm sure I am seen as over committed by some and under committed by others. It depends on where you stand on the spectrum. A snob, in my opinion, is one that feels everyone should do things their way as it is the only way to do it. Thus an "overly committed" person can be a snob as can the "underly committed person." As an example: These are snobs: "If you were really a MRR you'd use XYZ locos with sound decoders." These are also snobs: "I don't have as much time as you to spend on the hobby as you don't have as many really important things that need to get done." A non-snob? The guy that has spent 2000 hours scratchbuilding a totally accurate HO 2-8-2 locomotive down to individual bolt heads that visits your layout spies the Atlas structure kit you just finished and placed on the layout and says "hey - you added a coal mine - cool!"

Dave, I have to agree with you. When I said "overly committed" I wasn't refering to time spent on the hobby but rather attitude. "You must model this way or that or you're not a true model railroader!" "All we do is talk about trains and nothing else!" Just look at how some people respond to off-topic posts here on the forum. So we are in aggrement.

However, some people do spend too much time on hobbies at the exclusion of family friends, and their own health. I knew a guy who would go out RC Car racing almost every weekend and would not spend any time with his wife and kids on the weekend. That's over comittment; it's totally selfish and not healthy.

[Anonymous]

I'd say they're in every hobby - there will always be some who insist that to be a "real" hobbyist you have to have the latest kit (usually the most expensive brands). Personally I feel that you can achieve superb results with cheap equipment and skill - I've seen steam locos ruined with an appalling brush paint job but described as "great" when they could have done it quicker, neater and cheaper with an aerosol can. I've also seen articles moaning about a new RTR model but accepting gaping problems with a kit such as poor fit of parts (neither was in MR by the way).

I do think that some take it far too seriously. While I admire their dedication, I can't follow it - it would be too much like writing essays. I'd rather do enough research to allow me to figure out what's still out there and what can operate together, as with a fictional museum line I'm free to run anything I like within reason - For example, I have C&NW Bilevels because the IRM has a set, and they do make sense - can move a lot of people in comfort and load/unload quickly, as well as not needing to run round at the end of the line. Still trying to explain how a German diesel-hydraulic loco and cab car have turned up though...

[SpaceMouse]

I'm a snob. I think we all may be to a certain extent.

I can go to someone's layout and see all the beautiful work done and think "He really should weather that tower. It is just too clean for this area. See if it is something I know how to do then everyone should do it. This completly ignores the fact that although I have some 20 structures on my layout, I've only gotten around to weathering 3.

Mostly though, I know how to keep my mouth shut. I follow Bambi's friend thumper's advce: "Iffn ya can't say sumthin nice, doant say nuthin tatall."

When I find the inner snob cropping up, I look around and usually I find something that puts me in my place.

[Jetrock]

QUOTE: triple stack auto racks on a 0-6-0 Mogul

See, this is the kind of thing that a model railroading snob finds funny.

Dragging triple-stack auto racks behind a Mogul is fine. Heck, I watch 1930s era diesel locomotives pull modern lumber spine cars at the CSRM every week. But the only time you'd find an 0-6-0 Mogul is if the pilot wheels got torn off by something!

Snobby? Maybe. Funny? Well, maybe a snob would think so!

[steveblackledge]

You will always get the crackpot who mocks and turns up his nose at other peoples hard work, i don't give the one's with the snobby attitude the time of day.
if you make something and you like it, to hell with the critics and snobs

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by whitman500

I've been back in the hobby now for about 6 months and am a fairly regular reader of these forums. One topic that keeps popping up is whether the hobby has gotten more expensive and, if so, whether this is driving people away.

One thought I have had is that many people are turned off from the hobby because of what they view as the impossible standards that the community seems to have set. I've detected in many places an attitude that says "a layout must have DCC, sound, be prototypically accurate with all the right equipment, buildings, etc."

A question I would pose to those who have been involved in the hobby longer than I have is whether this attitude has gotten worse over time. For example, I recently bought two books on realistic model railroad design: one by John Armstrong (originally published in ~1960) and one by Tony Koester (published recently). I was struck by how different their attitudes were. Armstrong had a very relaxed view of how realistic your layout had to be while Koester repeatedly disparaged layouts that didn't live up to a certain high standard of quality/accuracy.

Anyway, my point is that there has been a lot of handwringing in this forum about the hobby becoming too expensive. However, I think that argument only covers part of the problem. If the standards are too high for the average hobbyist to meet in terms of their resources of time, talent and money, then the hobby won't attract and keep new people. Thoughts?

I've found there are "snobs" with higher standards in almost everything there is anymore... Some of them are that way on purpose while some are that way by nature.

Aside of model railroading, I belong to a cowboy action shooting club, and we have more snobs out there than anywhere I've ever seen. They actually stand around with their noses up in the air waiting for someone to attempt to be friendly with them so they can be rude to that person. They don't like me because I'm a nobody that out shoots the crap out of them-and because my cowboy outfits look good and fit me better than theirs do. I listen in on their conversations and 99.% of the time it's about "what they've got"... They make me sick. They're the same kind of people that have to drive expensive status symbol vehicles and be out in front on the road, live in expensive houses in subdivisions built especially for their kind by their kind. I was told one time that when you have a college degree and make the kind of money that the upper class do, then you have the right to be a snob. I wish I could have slapped the person that told me that...
I say to hell with them. Enjoy your hobbies your way. If DCC isn't your thing, never mind it. If layout scenery isn't your thing, don't worry about it. Just do the best you can and have fun. That applies to model railroading and life in general...

trainluver1

[tsasala]

In some cases there is a "right" way to do things; however, there are very few instances where there is only 1 way to do something. If you can't accept alternate approaches along with your own, you have some growing to do as a person.

QUOTE: No offense is intended to the author of the above, but I think this exemplifies the perception gap at work. Big, complicated layouts deserve coverage if they're well executed, and a lot of the modelers who have the ambition to build them also have a similar ambition to pursue other areas of the hobby, such as writing articles and taking photos. It seems natural to me that such big projects will get disproportionate coverage based on the above, and from the fact that a huge layout logically would have a lot more going on that its builder can milk for articles than can a smaller layout (even given that both are of equal quality).

I'm a big boy, I can take it. For me, it's all about balance. I really like looking at the big layouts and they do deserve their coverage. However, I was reading in MR about how one author hand-laid 1800 bricks on a bridge. That's a little intimidating and a little crazy IMHO. That level of super details should be showcased for those who aspire to that level. However, basic track work should also be covered to encourage people to state a layout the "right" way.

Funny, there is another thread about how MR has become too basic. My position is that it is not basic enough *at times*. My other hobby is quite expensive and riddled with snake oil salesman. An extremely popular online magazine, which is dedicated to advanced hobbiest (some border on professionals), started a column on the basics to help encourage people of all skill levels to get involved. In that hobby I have a good deal of experience and consider myself very advanced. However, I like reading the basic articles for refreshers and looking for new trends. However, I also find myself disagreeing with the article and grumbling under my breath about how I would never do it that way. What goes around comes around.

When you boil it all down, it seems that eveyone here is in basic agreement with everyone else. So, where are those snobs ;)

Peace.

-Tom

[Anonymous]

I wiil tell you of my limitations, and one of them is artistic ablitity which is very poor. I model present day and have couple of cars that are out of place, and engines lacking the finer details. If some one snobbs my layout, I do not care, I get alot of ENJOYMENT and I bulit it with my own two hands.

[selector]

I agree with you largely, Tom. I must say that I find the 'regulars' on these forums to be gentle, genial, and generous. You can see clearly that their personalities and experience vary by their tone and syntax, but virtually everyone I have had the pleasure of dealing with has been respectful and helpful. May it always be thus. [:)][tup]

Oh, and if I have been less so, I invite anyone to send me an e-mail privately and let me know. I can stand correction or guidance, and will respect tremendously any person who has the courage to contact me and tell me that I have been a snob, snooty, patronizing, and so on. I say this with sincerity because this forum, and you fine people, are important to me, and I would gladly accept any criticism in order to keep in good standing.

[davekelly]

selector,

You have nothing to worry about as do 99.999999999999 percent of the folks on this forum. Sometimes we get passionate and type something without thinking and hit the "enter" button. Most often the post is later edited or a "I didn't mean it to sound the way it did" is posted later. Let's all have fun!!

[jimrice4449]

There's a lot of talk lately, in the political field, about "The Big Tent" (or its absence). Let's apply it to MRRing. I have something approaching awe for somebody who wants to model the Yosemite Valley RR as it appeared on a particular June day in 1940 or 30 miles of the NKP St. Louis line in 1950 or the SP/ATSF line from Bakersield to Tehachapi. We're fortunate in having the resources available that we can do that if we choose. The "snobbery" problem arises when we apply our own (or THEY apply THEIR own) criteria of what's desirable to somebody else's work.
Case in point. At the present time on the psgr portion of my RR there sits on the staging tracks, a 1950 Golden State, and a 1937 Denver Zephyr. In the depot there is a 6 car train of Southern heavywieghts with an Ms-2 Mountain on the head end and a 1942 Afternoon Hiawatha train w/o an engine. There are those who, applying THEIR criteria would be appoplectic at this mix of geography and eras. By my criteria everything's cool since I want (among other critera) to model every non-commuter train I've ever ridden on and I've ridden on three of those trains. (The other one's there because it's just so purdy...another criterion).
Basically each of us is the best judge of what constitutes a "good" model railroad.
As for Model Railroader being too "basic", let's not forget that, at any given time, there are those of us who"ve just started and other old phartz like me that started in the forties with a Varney box car kit w/ embossed paper sides. The magazine has to have appeal to beginners or before long there won't be any old phartz like me or any manufacurers supplying goodies for a no longer existing MRR market

[JohnT14808]

One thing I have discovered about people who may be classified as snobs, is that nothing that I can say will probably change their mind or attitude. Like SpaceMouse, I just kinda sit back and keep my trap shut and listen.....I learn more that way.

[cmrproducts]

Being a SNOB or having the appearance of being a Snob can come in many ways.

The Nube is overwhelmed when visiting a Club or a home layout that has been around for a few years.

This comes from the Nube’s newness to the hobby and relative lack of experience. I have been model railroading since 1978. I had the traditional Christmas train sets way back but in ’78 I wanted to start building a real layout. I visited as many Clubs and layouts as I could but I felt that they were way too advanced for me. I did finally join a club and I found that my ideas were as good as any of the other members. Although I believe my club was unique in this respect as we all got along in the social aspect and the (I’m better than you) never showed.

Now 20 years later I still am a member of the Club and we welcome Nube’s. Most of the membership, also have home layouts that are well along. We usually try and introduce the Nube’s to all of the home layouts. This is to show them as many different ways of doing things and to also show them that you can build any size of layout and have fun.

Now my layout is one of the larger layouts of the group and I probably overwhelm the Nube’s when they see this layout. But I also explain that I also started out with a 4 x 8 and have progressed up through a 9 by 12 room and now am working on a 25 x 75 room full.

Does that make me a snob just because I have this large of a layout? I hope not! It is just that I felt that I needed this big of a challenge! After building 20 plus layouts over the years at the Club and helping other members build theirs I felt that building a large layout, mostly by myself, would be the way to keep me challenged and it does!

But the members of our group also try and emphasize that building a layout, any size, is an important way to learn modeling skills.

But it seems that once the Nube has built his first layout (4 x 8) he soon looses interest. And this is where we seem to lose a lot of our club members as they find running around in a circle not much fun after a while. Some build another layout and others just move on to other interests. The club members have started operations on a number of their home layouts and this has helped the Nube’s find out what model railroading is all about. Some modelers feel that this might be a Snobbi***hing, as they feel I do not want to learn a bunch of rules just to run a train.

With operations the layout starts to concentrate on a specific era, year or railroad. Now the Nube’s may feel that this is Snobbery as there is no room to run anything they want. Some modelers can carry this to an extreme. Although the members of our group have not yet had this happen it may as we move further down the modeling experience.

And the work Nube is defined as those modelers that may have been onto the hobby for less than 5 years, or only have a passing interest in the hobby.

BOB H – Clarion, PA

[MAbruce]

I think we've beated the "snob" out of this topic. [swg]

[tsasala]

A local club near me recently had an open house (which they do every month). I listened intently to the members talk about the GP this, SD that, and all the 2-8-2 thingys (<- illustrative examples). However, what I found most interesting was the Thomas The Tank Engine scooting around the track, attracting the attention of all the 3,4,5 year olds in the crowd (and some of the adults). Clearly the club understands that operations has to be mixed with fun. I look forward to more interaction with them in the future.

I may not be interested in operations now, but as Bob points out, that's likely to change over time. It's only snobbery if you look down upon someone who just wants to watch the trains go around.

[a8wprl]

I know what you mean. It does not matter what hobby you have, there are always those who do it more and better. It seems to be a prerequisite to criticise someone elses work. I have modeled remote airplanes, remote ships, stactic airlanes, static ships, and now I am doing HO guage trains. I have discovered it is not important what anyone else does or thinks about my work. What is important is whether or not I am satisfied with the result. I model for the enjoyment not to set a standard. I have seen what I considered inferior modeling but the modeler never knew what I thought because he was doing his best. I can only hope others would feel the same about my work. Not everyone has the money or time to invest to make sure his model and/or layout is right on. To those that do, I say bravo, but don't look down on those that don't. Don't overlook them either. Maybe I am missing the point of your comments, I don't know. Do your modeling for yourself in the way you want to, and with the resources you have. Happy railroading.
Ray

[Kurn]

Sure,we're snobs.Like any microcosm of society.I model a small unnamed city near Pittsburgh served by the B&O in 1957.To do anything else would be unthinkable.I don't have the latest gadgets or even rolling stock.I kitbash and approximate.But if anyone were to put down my layout they would be shown the door.I've been to train shows where if you don't have the latest wizardry you are somehow inferior........but then there are also those old guys that can't stand anything newer than a horn hook coupler.And the Lionel people...and the brass guys.All in all though,its better than my other hobby,motorcycles.REALLY some snobs there.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by whitman500

I've been back in the hobby now for about 6 months and am a fairly regular reader of these forums. One topic that keeps popping up is whether the hobby has gotten more expensive and, if so, whether this is driving people away.

One thought I have had is that many people are turned off from the hobby because of what they view as the impossible standards that the community seems to have set. I've detected in many places an attitude that says "a layout must have DCC, sound, be prototypically accurate with all the right equipment, buildings, etc."

A question I would pose to those who have been involved in the hobby longer than I have is whether this attitude has gotten worse over time. For example, I recently bought two books on realistic model railroad design: one by John Armstrong (originally published in ~1960) and one by Tony Koester (published recently). I was struck by how different their attitudes were. Armstrong had a very relaxed view of how realistic your layout had to be while Koester repeatedly disparaged layouts that didn't live up to a certain high standard of quality/accuracy.

. Thoughts?

Both men you talked about have done a lot for the hobby, but this is a hobby and not a living to us. If you enjoy your layout, large or small, simple or accurate, that is your business. I enjoy have a test track and running on a club now and then. I have never seen a layout that is perfect, and don't expect to soon.

Just enjoy the whole thing about being able to create an illusion that you can never see in One to One scale.

[scubaterry]

Well I will wade in here. I have been in the hobby for less than two years and it has been the most relaxing, self rewarding , FUN thing I have dedicated myself to in many years. My detail work leaves allot to be desired as my hands are as big as baseball mitts and my eyes are shot. But if someone wants to critique my work thats ok I have allot to learn. I need and appreciate constructive feedback. If that person is overly critical or snobby well then I doubt I would have another conversation with that individual. I love a challange and when I complete one of my "Bashes" I look at it fondly ugly or not because I built it myself. Personally I have not encountered any snobs since I started frequenting this forum in December of last year. I doubt I will meet any in person as I am the only MRR in the Florida Keys area. As a matter of fact I have had nothing less than very friendly, helpful responses to my questions even the very basic ones. I look forward to finishing up this tour down here so we can move back up to N FLorida and actually meet other MRR.

[Anonymous]

A lot of water has passed beneath the bridge since I first started to read MRR magazines and arm chair my lay out. The cost of the hobby is small in terms of the amount of enjoyment it provides, and how well you can budget toward your goal. I think John Allen equated the cost of his layout, motive power and rolling stock as close to that of a luxury automobile. He however spread that cost over a number of years, and a tail fin, bumper, door handle at a time.
The cost of anything worth while is always high, or it would worthless, Those who value what you have done may never let you know, and those who criticize do so for one of two reasons: 1) they offer constructive criticism, or 2) it is Thursday and you are their victim of choice. Learn from the first and put on the armor to stave off the second.
I am concerned with is the availability of inexpensive kits, both rolling stock and motive power, and the advent of the "perfect" RTR models. Perhaps I did not provide enough of a market for those items to be continued. Long live "Dino", the 0-4-0 Yard Goat from John Allen's whimsy. Didn't the Gorre start out as a 4X6 layout?