Am I the only one?

[Bruette]

I am curious,
I only have trains, a few buildings, accessories and track on my layout. My layout is 12'8"X6'8" ply wood covered in heavy brown contractors paper. I have almost no artistic talent. I don't customize anything. My layout is a hybrid O/HO almost no realism at all and I love it, the trains are the stars of the show for me. The only thing realistic about my trains are the locomotives and consists of cars. Except for my Tyco spirit of 76 train and that has the same cars it came with. Just like my Mom gave it to me back in 1974 It was a toy and it looks like a toy and I love it! It also runs great, but took some work to get it running, but it was worth it to me.
I appreciate the level of talent and work that goes into the details, weathering, scratch built structures, scenery and all the other things that make for amazingly realistic layouts. Some of the pictures I have seen on this forum I need to look at with a magnifying glass to see that it is a model, they look so real!
What I like is my things to look brand new as if they just came out of the box. Even as a kid I did not customize my cars beyond OEM technology. I always said I am a mechanic not an engineer. My sisters friend said 'your car is all show no go". I can say my cars always started, ran and stopped when they were supposed to, just like my trains
Maybe my grandsons will take up where I have left off and build some realism into our layout.
Am I the only one?

 

[Cjcrescent]

Anyone can learn anything. If you think that the rest of us started at our current skill level, then I'm sorry, we didn't. We all started like you, no skills or no idea how to do something. It just takes practice, practice, practice!

 

[Bruette]

Anyone can learn anything. If you think that the rest of us started at our current skill level, then I'm sorry, we didn't. We all started like you, no skills or no idea how to do something. It just takes practice, practice, practice!

Thanks for your encouragement and your input. I agree, but I am not interested in learning. I have no desire to be artistic. I was just wondering if I was the only one. Don't get me wrong I admire the amazing things I have seen other railroaders do. To do anything great you have to have a passion and desire to do it. I just don't have it. I am happy to watch my trains run. I enjoy doing the maintenance. Lately I have been buying broken trains to restore because all of mine are running good.

 

[trailrider]

When you started grade school, you didn't know how to read or write. You had to learn. Same with model railroading: you need to pick up some books on the basics of creating a layout, or improving it. Then, you can read up on wiring, scenery, or whatever phases you want to pursue. Take me, for instance... I've been model railroading since I was about 8 years old. That's 63 years, off and on. I was out of the hobby for about 20 years...just no time. When I came back into it, and built my present layout, I used the techniques I learned over the years. But, I have had to learn about such things as DCC versus DC. It's a continuing process. So, don't get discouraged.

 

[Bruette]

When you started grade school, you didn't know how to read or write. You had to learn. Same with model railroading: you need to pick up some books on the basics of creating a layout, or improving it. Then, you can read up on wiring, scenery, or whatever phases you want to pursue. Take me, for instance... I've been model railroading since I was about 8 years old. That's 63 years, off and on. I was out of the hobby for about 20 years...just no time. When I came back into it, and built my present layout, I used the techniques I learned over the years. But, I have had to learn about such things as DCC versus DC. It's a continuing process. So, don't get discouraged.

Thank you, but I am not discouraged. I am a retired/disabled industrial mechanic and the mechanical and electronic elements of model railroading are fun to me and very simple. Electric is easy E = I x R very straight forward. I use to build and sell my own private label computers. Digital electronics is not complicated, it's only binary code.
I am just not at all interested in the artistic aspect of model railroading. I am sure I could do a fair job if I wanted to, but I don't want to. I have no interest in art.
For example; I bought my first house and I immediately painted the interior to surprise my first wife. I painted the entire interior of the house in Duron shell white I even used semi gloss on the baseboards in the kitchen and bathroom. That is the same paint you would find in the majority of apartments. My wife said "what about color?!" I said "what about it?" she said "why didn't you use some color?" I said "why would I" It was a perfect paint job no spills, no missed spots, I honestly did not understand what she was upset about, that is me.
Is there anyone out there like me that is not interested in building the artistic elements of model railroading?

 

[Gary B]

I sir, am your polar opposite. My Rail Empire is an artistic statement, if not a particularly good one. The trains are animated props in the story to me. The wonderful thing is we both can enjoy the hobby and appreciate each others efforts. Then of course we have the operators who run their world as if a full size company. Not my bag and doesn't sound like yours either. There is a lot of space in this hobby for all kinds. Relax and enjoy running your trains! (Something I seldom every actually do)

 

[RBMNfan]

My uncles 'layout' is an O gauge loop on a couple plywood benches. Its temporary and comes down after a week or two.
My layout is N scale and about half way between bare and finished scenery. I have focused on realistic operations and scenery work has slowed to a crawl.
I wouldn't be satisfied with my uncles layout but it keeps him mostly sane.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bruette]

Exactly my point Gary! You hit the nail on the head! Trains are fun for many reasons for many people. I bet your layout is a fantastic work of art! I have some artists in my family, I did not get any of that DNA and they are never completely satisfied with their work. It must be an artists trait.
I love to admire the work of the artists that build true to life looking railroads. Believe it or not I even enjoy museums and art where ever I find it. I believe the inspiration to do these great works of art comes from deep in the soul. I just don't feel that inspiration, but I do admire the work it creates.
I also admire the effort that goes into those true to life working scale railroads. I have read a bit about it and it seems to be a great logistical effort! You are right, it is not my bag, but I applaud the railroaders that do it.
I do have a deep and truly indescribable love for my trains. I am so happy to be a part of what I and many others consider the world greatest hobby.
Thank you for your input and I do and I will continue to relax and enjoy my trains. I hope you find more time to do the same, each in our own way.

I sir, am your polar opposite. My Rail Empire is an artistic statement, if not a particularly good one. The trains are animated props in the story to me. The wonderful thing is we both can enjoy the hobby and appreciate each others efforts. Then of course we have the operators who run their world as if a full size company. Not my bag and doesn't sound like yours either. There is a lot of space in this hobby for all kinds. Relax and enjoy running your trains! (Something I seldom every actually do)

 

[Bruette]

Thank you for telling me about your uncle! I can understand why your work would proceed slowly, especially in N scale. My local train shop has some displays in N scale and they are very cool to watch them run. It is so realistic. I even have 1 N scale set, Bachman's "Spirit of Christmas" because it was the only one that would fit with my table top Christmas tree. I love Christmas! I have a tree in every room and a train for almost all of them.
My trouble with N scale is the size. With my arthritis it is very difficult to work with and nearly impossible to work on. Last Christmas one of my grandsons was playing with my N set and he is always pushing the limits of everything and kept changing directions at full speed, It was too much for the linkages of the steam locomotive and they came apart. Repairing it took almost an hour, that convinced me that N scale is beyond my capabilities. Now I keep him playing with the Lionel Christmas sets. From my experience nothing is more reliable and durable then Lionel.
Keep having fun with your trains!

My uncles 'layout' is an O gauge loop on a couple plywood benches. Its temporary and comes down after a week or two.
My layout is N scale and about half way between bare and finished scenery. I have focused on realistic operations and scenery work has slowed to a crawl.
I wouldn't be satisfied with my uncles layout but it keeps him mostly sane.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

[FCL2117]

Is there anyone out there like me that is not interested in building the artistic elements of model railroading?

Of course there are, and you should not let anyone tell you what you 'should' or 'should not' do with your own hobby.


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[Bruette]

AMEN! That is good to hear. I have only been in the hobby full time since last October and I had not found another one like me, but I do live a sheltered life. I have always been the kind to go my own way. When I was younger if everyone was going right I felt an irresistible urge to go left! As I got older learned to I decide what is best for me, but I still feel that urge.
Thanks for your input.

Of course there are, and you should not let anyone tell you what you 'should' or 'should not' do with your own hobby.


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[logandsawman]

Is there anyone out there like you?

In some ways, I am exactly like you because I have my original locomotive. And, the last locomotive I bought came in a pacific flyer box with a gond, boxcar, and caboose; and that stuff is hanging on the wall in the original box. Occasionally that stuff comes out and goes around the track. Now, I am working on the plywood suspended platform which will hang from the ceiling, where the main attraction will be the floating train going around the living room.

I think it is cool that you are different in a bunch of ways, too.

I wondered what you meant when you said you were in the hobby full time. Now I have an idea.

Later, logandsawman