Over time, I've been reducing my hobbies to model railroading and railfanning. The nice thing about the latter is during my 2 years as a traveling healthcare contractor, I was able to railfan coast to coast.
Wow, Zombie thread is right! Craig Martyn started this when he was 16 and in high school! That was like a lifetime of products ago! The railroading is pretty intense between work and modeling, but there are a good number of people that know me strictly as a 'Marching Band Dad' because of eleven consecutive years of working with our high school groups. I'm not sure if it's really a hobby, but it sure eats a lot of time and it's in my blood about as bad as trains. Old drummers never die - and it's in the genes - I have three sons that are outstanding percussionists, one now on a college scholarship.
Well, many over the years, but have been slowing down on most of them in my old age. For the most part, the only real active one now is n scale modeling, trading. I was real big in RC Modeling including RC off road racing (cars & buggies) and RC Pilot (aircraft), but that hobby has been shelved for nearly 15 years now. Always talk about breaking that stuff out of mothballs, but odds are, it will eventually all be given to one of the kids, or grandkids. Another life long hobby is vintage hot rods, and classic cars. I have never been without something in that arena. I have built several vintage hot rods over the years, and at the moment only have one, which is a 1948 Plymouth P15 2dr Sedan. However, it is not a hot rod, it is pretty much a stock survivor. Will never give up my hot rods and classics, but being disabled now, can't get knee deep as I used to. But, My N scale stuff fills a need..
Well, let's see. I'll rule out golf, tennis and basketball, as those are sports where I'm intensely competitive. Sports decline with age, while hobbies get better! On the first day, for a long while, I built replica and restored original American antique furniture. I also custom-built modern furniture along Scandinavian lines. I still do on occasion, but only small pieces. On Tuesday, I design houses. On my mid-career break (1991-1996) I got a contractor's license and built what I designed. I still design them for family and friends. On Wednesday, I model ship and bridges as part of my N scale empire. On Thursday, for years, I made architectural models, mostly of residences, but some commercial. On Friday, I have fish ponds in my backyard, one large, one small. On Saturday, I still do occasional artwork, mostly in pastels. And I do photography, but that is semi-professional. On Sunday, I rest and watch sports. Or dig holes and till gardens for Jeanne's passion, which is gardening.
I do mountain biking, hunting, and play guitar and bass. I like having indoor and outdoor hobbies in our four climate setting.
C-47. One of my all time favorite airplanes. Is that one an authintic WWII C-47? Or a DC-3 Repaint? Any history on it? Cool..
It's the real deal, has the most evident peices of it's service, the drop bundle farings underneath at the wing spar. After service in the USAAC, it went into service in Canada and I cant remember much more. We bunked in our GP tent right next to it. If you all have a chance, the Reading Airshow is only a few weeks away. Reenacting is the other money hog.... I've almost picked up everything that a normal trooper would have had...and I'm talking down to vintage soap in the footlocker. The only thing that will take awhile is a reproduction (dummy) parachute rig. It's amazing how much they were just given, but today cost $$$$$. The real fun are the tacticals, think modern wargames...only without the MILES Tac gear. Tanks...Armored cars, Jeeps, Kubels, Sudz even...planes! It puts in perspective what they really did do not so long ago! It even reverberates to what the modern day soldiers go through.... It also shows how today is not so different from yesterday. T
Interesting to see this thread resurface. I read a lot of books. Terry Pratchett, Jack Whyte, and the late Robert Jordan are among my favorite authors. I tell people that I have around 200 DVDs, but its probably more than that now. I like to watch a movie every night before I go to bed. I like to listen to baseball on the radio while I do train stuff (Angels are trailing the Jays 3 - 2 as I type this). I play online games, but not as much as I used to. For years Everquest was my main free-time activity. I made up the name Lownen for an EQ character five or six years ago. I have currently have characters named Lownen on Runescape and Puzzle Pirates. I also build web sites for friends sometimes. I built L.A. Oracle Users Group (though I don't maintain it anymore) and I built Glenna Tabor Consulting also. I've started a few novels that I doubt I'll ever finish and publish. Best!
Interesting thread - I have a few other interests and hobbies besides N scale trains: -American history, particularly the French-Indian War and American Revolution through the War of 1812 -Mountain biking -All things Camaro -World War 2 aircraft (especially Me-109 and P-51) -Drawing and illustration (I majored in art - though it's not what I do for a living) -Traveling - mostly for work, but I enjoy it so a lot of the time it doesn't seem like work because I am always going somewhere new -Music - used to play bass guitar a long time ago back in the hair metal days, but unfortunately I never became a rock star, which is too bad because my high school band "Scratch & Sniff" totally rocked.
My other hobby is restoring our 18th century home (circa 1770) and building 18th century reproduction furniture (Bartley Collection). I have 3 rooms to go and the house is finished. Then I'll just try to keep up with the with the normal wear and tear.. George Picyk
I like to cook. Am always trying new things. Lately I have been experimenting with Quinoa, energy food of the Inca.
