Michael, If someone other than Overland Models would release an affordable Little Joe, we'd both be in trouble. I stick to a strict D&RGW, 1980-87 Moffat Route requirements, and Little Joes could never have operated off their home rails, but I would have an EF-4 (E78 please!) and would build a cool diorama for it.
History will repeat itself if folks don’t learn from it the first time around. We haven’t and it is. Way back in the whenever, model railroading took a big hit for a while, especially HO scale and to some extent the other scales. The culprit then was slot cars. Today it is the younger generation’s fascination with using their thumbs on those little electronic boxes. And there have been bouts of inflation coupled with a recession, high gas prices, and high unemployment, which is where we are today. Heck we even have a dust bowl in the Southwest. Last one was back in the 20s and 30s folks. And a number of good hobby shops closed in the 80s and early 90s due to poor management in failing to realize that you have to keep reaching out to build new customer bases by other means, not just a sign above the door and word of mouth. And a few closed when lousy service and attitude finally caught up with them. The various groups on the internet devoted to the real 1 to 1 railroads are slowly drying up because a lot of those roads have been long gone, and the knowledgeable folks that were former employees on those the roads, some dating into the steam era, have passed, and their presence and knowledge is no longer there to provide interest and guidance. How many folks on this board can say that they have stood beside, and watched daily, real live work a day steam locomotives, pulling revenue freight. Or a lash-up of F units, or a big articulated, with a mile of freight running at track speed. Back then trains had a lot of visual interest. For the younger folks today, well the consists are pretty plain in my opinion. Probably the reason why so many of us old geezers like the transition era. And then there is the cost of the hobby. A passenger car close to $40 or $50 and a switch near $20 to $30 apiece, and a lack of folks who just plain like to build from scratch or use kits. Locomotives now approaching the $300 per price and freight cars at $20 and $30 ea. With today’s circumstances spending that for a hobby is the first thing to go, and one of those little video games is certainly cheaper. Now I am retired after a long time in the saddle. I have two good retirements not affected by markets and two more supplemental retirement funds of which only one is affected by any market or economic trends. Yet if I was just getting into N scale I would have to reconsider due to the higher costs, and the lack of availability of some of the things I like. HO or Hon3 would be far more appealing to me. Fortunately I got into N scale a long while back and have built up a good collection of the things I need. And what I could not get I built. So I am in the position of occasionally acquiring something when it finally comes out and it usually isn’t a financial strain. But the days of going to the show and picking up ten or fifteen cars from the Bachmann girls at $3 apiece, stripping the heavy cheap paint off that hid the details, buying a $1.50 jar of paint, and a couple of sets of decals for $2 apiece, and then converting to MTs for about $1.50 a car are long gone. If N scale can get the costs under control just maybe it can become a serious contender to HO scale and the video game.
Here is my excuse for slow modeling: I am in the process of building a fairly large layout. It takes up most of the basement of my 11x25 addition to my house. The furnace is also in this room. Anyways, it has a double track mainline that I almost always have 2 trains going in each direction. So anytime I want to work in a certain area, I move the trains out of the way. Then it happens- Bam!! - the trains are moving and they keep moving and moving. I get watching the trains and the reason for moving them is forgotten. I still have track to lay in some areas. I like the movement and the sounds that go with it so much that I don't get much modeling done. I run DCC and now have had a laptop for over 6 months so I can use decoder pro. I have maybe 1/2 of my fleet matched ( to the engines they will be consisted with ) with the rest still waiting to be matched. I have plenty of material to do scenery work, I just get distracted. Well, that's my excuse for not doing much anyways. Craig
Naw, they had only 12 of them. If split up between 3 years that would not be so hard to afford. So let's be optimistic that some day, someone, somwhere might acutally do them. just dreaming. have fun! Michael
2011 was an extremely active model railroading year in our house because my 14 year old son suggested that we move our layout down to the basement, and take advantage of the extra space there to expand it. This is the N scale layout I have discussed previously here, which started on two boards of homosote in the two large drawers which occupied all the space under his bed. Once these were moved to the basement, we joined them together, and then surrounded them with more homosote boards so that we now have a layout size which is about 5 feet by 10 feet. We already have built a first main line surrounding the old boards, and for Christmas we got enough turnouts, flextrack and roadbed to add a second main line loop and a long siding. This has been a wonderful way for my son and I to spend time together.
i have been a member of this site since 2009 and this is my 42nd post. I log in everyday or so bc i enjoy seeing everyones' work and the progress that people make on their layouts--Jamie your blog included-- however, if i notice that someone isnt posting new topics or showing movement on their layout/blog i might not visit it for a while. i myself have little to contribute to the modeling community right now as i am an active duty Army officer returned from a year in Afghanistan and right now in training but hope to start building a shelf layout come march when i move to my new duty station. Until then i will show off some weathering and continue to drool over others' layouts hahahaha as for the "Winter Layout Party 2012," why hasent it been started? i'll look around here a bit at today's postings and if i dont see one then i will start the new thread. hope everyone had a great christmas and or hanukkah!
I blame my lack of modeling progress on the preponderance of loose women in the area that'll do nearly anything for a hot meal...
With the exception of Trainboard, most of the boards are full of BS. I feel that is a big reason that a lot of folks seem to have dropped out. Personally, I don't post as much. The internet ain't what it used to be...it's full of people who like to start flame wars and, to me, that makes a lot of folks afraid to post anything. I don't model much in N anymore; I think HO (and larger narrow gauge) fits my middle-aged eyesight much better. I first started in N back in '74. Just my thoughts.
My drop in participation, except for a recent surge as benchwork for my new layout has commenced, has been mainly due to my job relocation, maintaining two households, buying a fixer-upper & performing remodeling on said home, as well as jungle deforestation/yard work. Hobby purchases are down for me mostly due to those factors, but also because I'm focusing on track & turnouts- the behcnwork was virtually free, only shelf brackets and sheetrock screws. Economy-wise, my field is more resistant to downturns than most, and I make enough to justify my going to college 35 years ago. Never been laid off, but have to travel afar to work at times (my photo albums in Railimages are proof). Come 2012, I don't see much that I need to buy outside of track, turnouts & scenery materials, since at this stage in my life I have all the locomotives & freight cars I need. Besides, I'm 55 years old now, and see no reason to score big amounts of model RR stuff, nor boast about it. It's a HOBBY, for crying out loud. I'm happy enjoying what I have.
Friscobob:Besides, I'm 55 years old now, and see no reason to score big amounts of model RR stuff, nor boast about it. It's a HOBBY, for crying out loud. I'm happy enjoying what I have. ------------------------- Bob,I'll soon be 64 and I still like the excitement of buying a new model-IMHO one never gets to old for new toys-well maybe when one becomes too old and too feeble.LOL! Maybe when and if I reach 70 I might sell my trains and just "retire" from the hobby..Then mayhaps not.
Hmmmm.... lets see now... this post from outta the blue just got me thinkin'. Someone else posted that the NEXT Kato train would be a PACIFIC... some figured it could he a 4-6-2 'Pacific' class. Others figured it would be a Union Pacific FEF3... but... there is another 'Pacific' line that would create a lot of buzz around the water cooler... Chicago, Milwaukee, St.Paul & Pacific! A Little Joe EP-4 could be just the model they are contemplating... it is very similar to the GG-1... and may share many of the existing chassis components. Futhermore... the consist might be already tooled as well... from COLA or other previous runs. WOW... I'm not a Milwaukee Road modeler... but I'd be a buyer of this!
Hey Brakie, I'm 71 years old and am not about to sell my trains and retire from the hobby. I'm just getting started and enjoying teaching my 6 & 8 year old grandsons how to use dcc and how to respect the fine machines that we now enjoy and look for in the future. It's a hobby. Have fun and as Bob used to say " have fun, run steam ". Carl
I do hope he was not teasing us! Meanwhile, I'd like to see Boxcabs, as they would fit modeling of either electrified Division.
Focusing on just the participation aspect of the OP question, I would give the answer of attitude. I will not go into depth on the economy, what manufacturer is or is not releasing, or other hot button, easily debated topics. If you want to see my take on a lot of those issues, see my blog entry, Winds of Change. Personally, I have done more model railroading in 2011 since my divorce in 2008. I had two big changes in my life, moving and a new job. That still did not push Model Railroading to the back. In fact I went to two big shows, met up with a lot of fellow TB members, did up the first Galesburg Tribute Locomotive in N since 2004, spent a large amount of time doing research on my B&M layout, worked on said layout and have done a lot of writing. I have not spent a lot of money. I don't need much since I'm modeling a 6' X 3' area. I bought one Kato GS4 on a whim, I paint and detail all my engines for both my primary railroads, B&M and CB&Q and to a small amount, BNSF. New releases don't excite me. Revenue and non revenue cars, same as above. The most I have spent on Model Railroading is in gas, going to shows and research. The inactivity stems from some not all of the attitudes on this board. There is plenty of modelers here who are busy working on layouts, structures, locomotives and posting recent railfan events. The problem as stated by Tracy earlier, is that many want to pontificate on why Brand A track is better than Brand B track or how the latest run of passenger equipment is ruining ones life because the color is two shades off. Many gifted modelers post updates here everyday. Some of the layout work on here is just amazing and helps push me to do the same with my layout. Rather than just go on one of my many Cranky New Englander tirades, I will just answer the original question by saying, if I spend hours of research on a subject, post pictures, ad data and many hours of typing this all down here at TB only to have little to no response or worse, someone taking the mother of all rabbit trails that leads to a flame war, why should I post? I have not given up on TB, in fact I come here more often as I have an obligation and I do enjoy those of you who do post updates on your work. To those who post updates and hints, do not think your work goes unnoticed. Last, money spent does not equate a direct proportional rate in time spent on this hobby. Times are tough, true. Read some of the magazines during war time and see how modelers made due with card board and house hold supplies and achieved wonderful results.
Don't think I won't ever buy something new (to me, anyway) again........... .......nothing just jumps out at me as a must-buy right now. EMphasis on the last two words...........but I like your attitude.
