Been modeling long?

[Anonymous]

At age 7 I received Lionel for Christmas. Four years later I got a Varney docksider. Since then I've modeled in HO, N (back when Rapido and Lone Star pioneered OOO scale), two-rail O and now S. I find S scale (as opposed to American Flyer) to be the perfect size, but try to keep up with developments in all scales.

[Anonymous]

At age 7 I received Lionel for Christmas. Four years later I got a Varney docksider. Since then I've modeled in HO, N (back when Rapido and Lone Star pioneered OOO scale), two-rail O and now S. I find S scale (as opposed to American Flyer) to be the perfect size, but try to keep up with developments in all scales.

[Anonymous]

Model railroading is great at any age. I think it'll extend your life too! I'd say it's good for the soul.

[Anonymous]

Model railroading is great at any age. I think it'll extend your life too! I'd say it's good for the soul.

[Anonymous]

I have been involved in model railroad for many years. I even sold model railroad part time so I could get more stuff for my layout. Now I am retired and really enjoy putting more and more time into it. My last stretch has lasted for 12 years but counting all my time, it has been over 25 years. The best part of modeling for me is all of the parts! ;-))

[Anonymous]

I have been involved in model railroad for many years. I even sold model railroad part time so I could get more stuff for my layout. Now I am retired and really enjoy putting more and more time into it. My last stretch has lasted for 12 years but counting all my time, it has been over 25 years. The best part of modeling for me is all of the parts! ;-))

[Anonymous]

As near as I can figure I've been in Model Railroading since 1947. I can remember in my teens in the early 50's having the oppotunitiy to visit the layouts of the Shortflaggers. This was an informal group in the northern suburbs of Chicago with members including names like Ravenscroft, Berry, and Bradley. The original Skokie Valley was really awesome although you had to duck pretty low to get into the room. After all these years I'm still learning, building, and, most importantly, having fun.

Bill Bell

[Anonymous]

As near as I can figure I've been in Model Railroading since 1947. I can remember in my teens in the early 50's having the oppotunitiy to visit the layouts of the Shortflaggers. This was an informal group in the northern suburbs of Chicago with members including names like Ravenscroft, Berry, and Bradley. The original Skokie Valley was really awesome although you had to duck pretty low to get into the room. After all these years I'm still learning, building, and, most importantly, having fun.

Bill Bell

[douginut]

Since 1957.
with an active layout or not I have kept in the hobby through Model Railroader. Like an anchor that keeps me from drifting away MR has kept up my interest. It has allowed me to feel "up" with the hobby in those times when circumstances just didn't permit active modelling. Through discovering that my daughter enjoyed the trains more that my son. Then having him rediscover the hobby for himself as an adult.
Years of N-Track modules, and fun in limited spaces in N-scale.
MR is the glue that holds this hobby together. Other magazines are great but MR is the keystone of this hobby.

Thank you.
Doug, in Utah

[douginut]

Since 1957.
with an active layout or not I have kept in the hobby through Model Railroader. Like an anchor that keeps me from drifting away MR has kept up my interest. It has allowed me to feel "up" with the hobby in those times when circumstances just didn't permit active modelling. Through discovering that my daughter enjoyed the trains more that my son. Then having him rediscover the hobby for himself as an adult.
Years of N-Track modules, and fun in limited spaces in N-scale.
MR is the glue that holds this hobby together. Other magazines are great but MR is the keystone of this hobby.

Thank you.
Doug, in Utah

[Anonymous]

52 years and I've had a layout nearly all of that time. I had no layout from 82-84 but I belonged to a modular club..

[Anonymous]

52 years and I've had a layout nearly all of that time. I had no layout from 82-84 but I belonged to a modular club..

[alpreston]

I too have been active off and on, but probably for more than 30 of my 56 years, starting at age 3 with an OO trainset which was a bribe to keep my little hands off my father's scratchbuilt brass loco collection.... Mostly I've used HO, with a preference for HOn30 for the last 36 years, but have dabbled in OO, OO9, N, On2 and HOn3

[alpreston]

I too have been active off and on, but probably for more than 30 of my 56 years, starting at age 3 with an OO trainset which was a bribe to keep my little hands off my father's scratchbuilt brass loco collection.... Mostly I've used HO, with a preference for HOn30 for the last 36 years, but have dabbled in OO, OO9, N, On2 and HOn3

[Anonymous]

I started with Lionel HO layout built by my Dad at age 4.That makes 39 years in the hobby. I've seen a lot of changes since 1965. Started my boys off with Athearn and P2k. As another modeler posted, the RTR stuff is fantastic nowdays, but I really wonder if the hobby will be better off if the crafts of scratchbuilding and kitbashing are "lost" to the ages.

KarlB
www.fcsme.org

[Anonymous]

I started with Lionel HO layout built by my Dad at age 4.That makes 39 years in the hobby. I've seen a lot of changes since 1965. Started my boys off with Athearn and P2k. As another modeler posted, the RTR stuff is fantastic nowdays, but I really wonder if the hobby will be better off if the crafts of scratchbuilding and kitbashing are "lost" to the ages.

KarlB
www.fcsme.org

[Anonymous]

Built first layout in 1946 using a plastic Dockside engine from AHC as power (belive it was a Rivarossi model) and car battery as electric source. We had no electric power lines where I lived at the time, only kerosene lamps for night time reading, etc. Remember the Kix ceral boxes with the RR cars on them? I built most of them for static display. Still prefer to build over R-T-R.

[Anonymous]

Built first layout in 1946 using a plastic Dockside engine from AHC as power (belive it was a Rivarossi model) and car battery as electric source. We had no electric power lines where I lived at the time, only kerosene lamps for night time reading, etc. Remember the Kix ceral boxes with the RR cars on them? I built most of them for static display. Still prefer to build over R-T-R.

[Anonymous]

Started when I was four, and I am still at it at age 27. So 23 years for me.

Phil - Ontario Eastern Railway

[Anonymous]

Started when I was four, and I am still at it at age 27. So 23 years for me.

Phil - Ontario Eastern Railway

[Anonymous]

I started as a child with a Graham Farrish OO gauge train set then Tri-ang OO gauge, when I was married at 21 we had a small flat and I had just discovered the Great Little Railways of North Wales so I built my first 009 Narrow Gauge Railway. I them moved up to 0N16.5 Narrow Gauge (7mm scale on OO Track). My wife bought me a Mamod Live Steam Locomotive which moved me up to SM32 16mm scale on Peco Narrow Gauge O Gauge track. With the introduction of Bachmann Locos & Coaches at affordable prices I started collecting American Narrow Gauge on Gauge 1 at the same time I got into 5" & 71/4" Narrow Gauge Locomotives someting I could ride & drive myself. After a hernia an several house moves I unpacked the Backmann by that time 20.3 scale was more available, I now have what I was looking for Big Locos on narrow track. I'm now 56 and teaching my first grand child the delights of railways, she loves it.
John Masters, Ottery St Mary, Devon, England.

[Anonymous]

I started as a child with a Graham Farrish OO gauge train set then Tri-ang OO gauge, when I was married at 21 we had a small flat and I had just discovered the Great Little Railways of North Wales so I built my first 009 Narrow Gauge Railway. I them moved up to 0N16.5 Narrow Gauge (7mm scale on OO Track). My wife bought me a Mamod Live Steam Locomotive which moved me up to SM32 16mm scale on Peco Narrow Gauge O Gauge track. With the introduction of Bachmann Locos & Coaches at affordable prices I started collecting American Narrow Gauge on Gauge 1 at the same time I got into 5" & 71/4" Narrow Gauge Locomotives someting I could ride & drive myself. After a hernia an several house moves I unpacked the Backmann by that time 20.3 scale was more available, I now have what I was looking for Big Locos on narrow track. I'm now 56 and teaching my first grand child the delights of railways, she loves it.
John Masters, Ottery St Mary, Devon, England.

[Anonymous]

I inherited the hobby. Father (an N-scaler since the start of Arnold) gave me my first train at the age of 7 (a Triang wind-up). Being 38 now, I've modeled in H0, H0n3 and now P87 over the years.

[Anonymous]

I inherited the hobby. Father (an N-scaler since the start of Arnold) gave me my first train at the age of 7 (a Triang wind-up). Being 38 now, I've modeled in H0, H0n3 and now P87 over the years.

[Salidoor]

I'am into models trains for over 25 years. I'am into "Via" and Alaska trains as well as any special trains lfor instance "The Coca-Cola" trains. I only got one problem and that iis that the hobby become quite expensive because our moey's value is so low.
Fank you for this oppertunity. I'am from Pretoria in South Africa.

[Salidoor]

I'am into models trains for over 25 years. I'am into "Via" and Alaska trains as well as any special trains lfor instance "The Coca-Cola" trains. I only got one problem and that iis that the hobby become quite expensive because our moey's value is so low.
Fank you for this oppertunity. I'am from Pretoria in South Africa.

[Anonymous]

Having been started in a love of trains by my father during world war two with homemade train made of scrap wood, thread spools and buttons it's hard to remember exactly when I got started . It was then the usual graduation through Marx, Lionel and several other brands of tinplate before a friend and his brother introduced me to HO trains. My first kits were a Globe silver Rock Island boxcar and a Mantua B&O gondola, shortly after that Athearn came out with their line of inexpensive plastic kits and every Nickel I made at various part time jobs went into buying them and the soon to follow plastic F7s. I wish we had some of the fine running equipment of today back then. Todays modeler don't know how great they have it.
Walter E. Kulpa Newton, Iowa

[Anonymous]

Having been started in a love of trains by my father during world war two with homemade train made of scrap wood, thread spools and buttons it's hard to remember exactly when I got started . It was then the usual graduation through Marx, Lionel and several other brands of tinplate before a friend and his brother introduced me to HO trains. My first kits were a Globe silver Rock Island boxcar and a Mantua B&O gondola, shortly after that Athearn came out with their line of inexpensive plastic kits and every Nickel I made at various part time jobs went into buying them and the soon to follow plastic F7s. I wish we had some of the fine running equipment of today back then. Todays modeler don't know how great they have it.
Walter E. Kulpa Newton, Iowa

[Anonymous]

Been in and out since around 1948, am in N scale now, developing a 80+s.f. layout.
Total years probably around 43, can't shake the impulse to "play" with trains, just a kid nearing retirement age.

[Anonymous]

Been in and out since around 1948, am in N scale now, developing a 80+s.f. layout.
Total years probably around 43, can't shake the impulse to "play" with trains, just a kid nearing retirement age.