You know you have prototype-itis when: You read topics like this and start feeling guilty about not doing as much work as others, in super detailing the interiors of rolling stock, buildings and... :uhoh:
Just setting off the 8000 miles to the SP Coast Line from the UK; now thinking will the rock dust samples get through US FSA searches and UK Customs! Failed to collect samples last time, so off we go again and really looking forward to the trip. Peter Nottinghamshire UK
I love playing this game. European license plates start with random letter that correspond to the origin city, and sometimes you make railroad or lessor reporting marks like BN, PSCX, SSW, etc. Very few actually understand our affliction....
When you buy a place 40 feet from a major commuter rail and the main line between Boston and Providence for Amtrak. You keep trying to record the sounds and extract them from the video.
I recall a license plate number starting with PLM. Some people may think of "palm" or "plum." Some ferroequinologists might think of "Pullman." From the Model Railroader track plan a few years back, I thought of "Paris - Lyon - Mediterranee."
I have actually counted rivets numerous times in my most recent build of a Mojave Northern saddletank; also spend two whole days climbing all over and inside the prototype to get measurements and photos of every tiny little detail part, every steam line, air line, sand line, water line, fitting, valve, gauge, you name it. Even went so far as to use scale wood for certain parts so that the paint could be worn through to the wood underneath. It can consume your life, but it's well worth it. As for freelancing, I can somewhat see the appeal of it. Sometimes spatial limitations or historical records don't allow for any complete adherence to any one specific time and place, and it's easier to just pool different inspirations to strike the balance between what you want and what you can fit. In my case, I'm now without a layout and in a new scale, and my interests are not just clear-cut San Diego & Arizona Eastern in full. I've finally been able to build the Mojave steamer that I've seen since I was a kid, and I have a new flair for Mexican steam. I've gotten around this by adopting the "proto-freelancing" approach. The SD&A sold an engine off of its roster to the Mojave Northern, so it's plausible that it could be reworked into a trade that brought MNRR #3 to San Diego. In another case, the Tijuana y Tecate (the Mexican portion of the SD&A) never owned any rolling stock, but if it did, then a Mexican steamer or a leased SPdeM engine could occasionally wander up into the stateside portion of the line. At the end of the day, run what you want, where you want it, but I've found that it's much more enjoyable and engaging if it is at least somewhat rooted in truth or believable adjustments to the truth, and the researching portion of model making is one of the most immersive aspects of the hobby.
Sooo, what your saying is: double heading a U.P. bigboy with a DD40AX... is sacrilege? ? But... what if it works? ok ok even I am twitching at the thought... but being a bubblehead... all I have to say is: "hold my beer... rum rather.. and watch this!" Lol