Scratch building in 1991

[kgstakes]

Looking through some old MR magazines and came across this model of the month by John Reynolds.

Today, I don’t think some people have the patience to build this masterpiece.

Read the article about it and you will be impressed as much as I am.

 

[Marlin39]

I have spoken to many vendors, attendees, and shop owners when I have a swap meet table about this. The general consensus is that people don't want to build anymore. It's a time, cost, and age related skill issues (eyes, steady hands, etc).

I love to build stuff, then I fill up a swap meet table, and sell them off to cover my costs. 90% of what I bring is gone in the first 3-4 hours.

I remember back in the 1980's-early 2000's using plans in MR, MRC, and NG&SL Gazette to build stuff. A lot of those old plans have now become laser cut kits.

 

[kgstakes]

I’ve built many buildings from MR it was always exciting as a late teen early twenty year old opening the magazine and seeing what plans and layouts were in there and if there was another model of the month.

Course back then there were ads for all kinds of stuff from custom decals to new structures to people custom building layouts for you if you wanted. Loved it back then. I subscribed to MR & NG gazette. Both great publications for the modeler and scratch builder.

Yeah today people either don’t have the time or the “want it now” people. I would dare to say that most people in the hobby don’t like to scratch build or even where to start.

I followed Malcom Furlow, John Olsen, Bob Frary (don’t know how to spell last name sorry) and others. Even have all the VHS tapes from when MR did hope to videos.

Lastly, I wish Campbell kits were still being made and others that you had a box of strip wood and you went after it. Those were nice kits. I know laser cut kits are the norm now a days and I’ve built some but the old kits were great kits.

Still a great hobby don’t matter how you do it just enjoy!!!

 

[Marlin39]

I’ve built many buildings from MR it was always exciting as a late teen early twenty year old opening the magazine and seeing what plans and layouts were in there and if there was another model of the month.

Course back then there were ads for all kinds of stuff from custom decals to new structures to people custom building layouts for you if you wanted. Loved it back then. I subscribed to MR & NG gazette. Both great publications for the modeler and scratch builder.

Yeah today people either don’t have the time or the “want it now” people. I would dare to say that most people in the hobby don’t like to scratch build or even where to start.

I followed Malcom Furlow, John Olsen, Bob Frary (don’t know how to spell last name sorry) and others. Even have all the VHS tapes from when MR did hope to videos.

Still a great hobby don’t matter how you do it just enjoy!!!

Dave Frary & Bob Hayden We followed the same people.

The Trackside Modeler

This channel is about model railroading, model scenery building, modeling tips, tools and techniques presented by Dave Frary.

www.youtube.com

 

[kgstakes]

Always liked the cartoons in MR

 

[kgstakes]

Dave Frary & Bob Hayden We followed the same people.

The Trackside Modeler

This channel is about model railroading, model scenery building, modeling tips, tools and techniques presented by Dave Frary.

www.youtube.com

Funny you should say that, I’m reading in the February 1980 MR a layout they were building

 

[Marlin39]

Funny you should say that, I’m reading in the February 1980 MR a layout they were building

View attachment 245270

The first HOn30 layout they built, "The Elk River Rwy", got me started in HOn30. That lasted until about 10 years ago when I sold everything off. Too small for my aging eyes.

This is the last critter I built and the only HOn30 photo I have left.

 

[Bruette]

@kgstakes I am one of those people who have never built a model, not even as a kid. I had a few given to me as gifts when I was a boy. I opened one, took a good look at it, closed the box, and never opened it again. The idea of building a model has never appealed to me. I have always felt it was beyond my talents.

Having said that I do admire the skill and craftsmanship it takes to build a model, especially from scratch. True artistry in my mind. The kind of art I like to look at, not some abstract thing I have no idea what I'm looking at.

Now when I might enjoy building models and I might have the patience needed; my hands are all but useless. There is more required than desire when it comes to models, It takes skill.

I love to build stuff, then I fill up a swap meet table, and sell them off to cover my costs. 90% of what I bring is gone in the first 3-4 hours.

That is a win-win! Everybody goes home happy and you have room to build more!

Thank you, gentlemen, for this thread and the posts. I found it all to be fascinating.