MRR Snobs

[jacon12]

Not around here, none that I've encountered at any rate. I'm probably the newest newbie of them all, having just started my first layout about a month or two ago, so you know I've got a million and one questions. Each one has been patiently answered, sometimes with brevity, other times with long, detailed explanations. You know, it takes a lot for experienced people to give of themselves day after day, sometimes repeating the same answers over and over. But, around here they do it. Not the same ones ALL the time, I think ya'll swap out turns or something.
My other hobby/vocation has been photography and in the last few years digital photography in particular. Now depending on the forum you go to (some very good, others bad) you can run into some REAL snobs in that hobby. Camera bodies can cost over $4'000.00, over a thousand is quite common. A first class 300mm lens will set you back another Three grand. A really good carbon fiber tripod with ball head.. oh.. $300 to $500. And some of these people buy the newest body everytime one comes out.. like once a year. But, then there are some absolutely great people in it that know its not the equipment its the person using it and thankfully they way outnumber the snobs. So, it's everywhere, cars motorcycles boats planes and trains. This place, come to think of it is really special in its lack of them.
Jarrell

[ksax73]

I think valid points are made in the initial post. I personally never go by the standards that are set. I simply go by what I see and decide just how closely I would like to match the prototype. This is basically determined by my time, resources and money.

If it were up to me, one would not be able to tell the difference between the prototype and my layout but that's not the case now so I work with what I have.

My advice to beginners is to go at your own pace and constantly educate yourself. Before you know it, you'll be up to those "high standards" that are set.

[Anonymous]

I know I'm not the friendlist on the forum & I'm sorry. Have a great night .

[Anonymous]

I was in this hobby for 31 years.Even worked at a few hobbyshops. Now I have stopped with just about everything dealing with it. It seems that there are too many people who are lazy that they cant or dont want to put something together,or make something using their imagination,and hands,let alone what nature may have for a person to use.Now its all about ready to run products,DCC stuff,and who knows what else.It use to be fun "modeling" anything and everything associated with the hobby,though now it isnt that way anymore. Yes times have changed and that,but who the hell wants a RTR locomotive that has stuff on it,or in it,that someone else may NOT want . Why should I pay $100.00 for something that I feel is not even worth it.I've said this time and time again the key word is "modeling",and this IS what the hobby is suppose to be about.

[davekelly]

So I guess we have one vote for "yes there are folks that put down the way others desire to pursue the hobby because they are not pursuing it in the correct way."

[oleirish]

[:)]This hobby is no different than any other hobby(train,planes,boats)There are those who are never happy,those who have lots of money,those like me who get by with what we can afford,[:)]Snobbs yup we got them but you find them everyware[^]
OLE'IRISH

[Anonymous]

Granted, there are indeed MR snobs, but there is a larger group of us that can be refered to as MR slobs. Mr Koester has always tended to be on the extreme end of detail, realistic operation, duplicating the real thing and the like. If you follow his work you will find he is quite accomplished and very good at what he does. Others of us simply enjoy the hobby. I model a railroad that supposedly links the Camas Prairie (UP, NP) with the Milwaukee Road. My operating rules come from the Chicago & Northwestern, My locomotives represent a leased fleet (anything I want to run). The car roster does reflect the markings of the type cars that would appear in the part of the country I model, but the cars are not all super detailed, exact models of a given prototype. I still run a few old Varney paper sided cars, some old metal Globe cars, some Silver Streak, some Central Valley, even some old Athearn (both metal and plastic). The bulk of my car fleet has been rebuilt asdetail specific freight cars along with some high end resin kits. My layout is not an absolute representation of any real railroad, but it looks like a railroad to me. It operates like the real boys do including following all the rules of operation put forth in the Chicago & Northwestern operating handbook. It is good enough for me and those that come to help operate it. The overall effect is pleasing to me, no other opinion matters. My train control is the forerunner of the current DCC stuff, it is the CTC-16e system described in a series of how-to articles in MR some years back. I have added aftermarket sound to most of my locomotives just because I like the noise. Those that want to spend the big bucks on the very top of the line high zoot equipment have the absolute right, those of us that rebuild old stuff, junk kits and the like, have the right as well. It is a hobby! There is no absolutely right way to approach our hobby with one exception, you must (MUST!) have fun. Time to put the soap box away.

Steam will rise like the Fenix from the ashes, diesels will be put into city parks.

Tom

[railroadyoshi]

Evolution
just a thought

[hminky]

There is also the other snobbery. Correcting one of the resident Poobah's on a forum and being ignored by that group from that point on. Facts always being irrelevant to a discussion.

Just a thought
Harold

[davekelly]

tpaulsen,

If you're smiling doing things your way and you like seeing others smile when they do things their way (and it is pretty obvious that you fit both descriptions) you sound like a non-snob model railroader to me!