Hey I was just wondering if this is an only hobby for any of you. I generally don’t engage in the face-to-face aspects of model railroading - mostly because I have so many friends already that I can’t maintain those relationships the way I’d like to from other hobbies.
Other than MRR, I play D&D (Dungeons & Dragons), and the occasional computer game (either D&D-related or Train Simulator 2016). I also paint a lrage number of miniatures for use in my D&D games (funny how the modeling supplies for this and MRR overlap!)
I used to be into working on old computers and cars, but there is only so much time in a day/week/month/what have you.
Anyone else in the same boat (too many hobbies makes too many friends?)
I am 63 and disabled, probably about the nominal age group for MR. I was spending all my time working on the layout. But I just got a part-time job as a merchandiser for a very well known “greeting” card company. It will be only about 15 hours a week so I still will have plenty of time doing MR things.
Also since the age of 10 I have been involved with photography. Back in the day I actually got a gig taking pictures of computers and other equipment for catalogs. Very lucrative. I had my own darkroom at our house but when I went to ASU I lost all my equipment. I put it away until November last year when I got a new digital camera and lenses. Now it is just a hobby.
I am also lucky because the RR Museum is here in San Diego with layouts galore. I am a contributing member. I get a lot of ideas from being there.[8-|]
Way too many (expensive) hobbies: scuba diving, nature photography, underwater photography, boating, fishing, RC boats, long range precision/tactical shooting.
Too many hobbies and not enough time is my motto. Model railroading, gardening, woodworking, playing the piano, something I try to devote at least an hour a day, fishing, photography and reading.
Main hobbies were model railroading and photography and I have recently taken up rc flying. I would emphasis that I fly airplanes and not any of the very popular drones.
My photography costs have dropped noticeably thanks to digital technology, no more dark room, although I did keep a couple 35mm film cameras which I still use on occassion.
My model railroad costs have not dropped at all and like most other items have risen.
Remote Contol flying is not quite as expensive as RC auto racing, typically cars are far more detailed and costly than airplanes. Only problem I have is living in a small house with no basement my new problem is storage, RC airplanes take up a fair amount of room.
With my RC flying I spend far less time with my model railroad layout during the summer, winter was when I would spend just about all my time with my model railroad layout, but then I came across skis for some of my planes so can fly during the winter on nice calm days.
Im 16 so I’ve got many other hobbies, like robotics, photography, railfanning, cooking (dont question :P) and computer games. Model railroading is my favorite though [:D]
Model railroading is pretty much just a winter hobby for me. During the “outside” seasons, I am building a place on our property in northern WI., along with fishing, and I also fix up old garden tractors.
Before:
After:
Mike.
EDIT: BUT…no matter what season it is, I always have an eye out for trains.
Before I moved to Virginia in 2009, (2000-2009) I did play old fashioned D&D with some friends but it was kind of a game night I did while I was single and had some good friends to hang out mainly. I wasn’t super into the game itself but more the fun of playing with a particular set of friends. Since I moved away from there, I no longer play it. One of my friends who knew the game super well did all my character setting up anyway; it’s too much bother for me.
I used to scuba dive, backpack, snow ski, photography etc, and travel and lots of other things but for the past 15-20 years with child support and now a daughter in college, one hobby is all I can can afford right now. Believe me, with the prices of the newer trains, I can’t afford another hobby. If you can, be thankful!
Before I met my 2nd wife, I used to play a lot of video games too since I didn’t have space for a layout; in fact thats how I met her - but now that she is over here and we’ve been married and both working full-time, thats fallen by the wayside. After we were married, we did still play that game together for a couple years, but it’s gone down hill since and sadly gone to crap so we are no longer happy with it.
I also do woodworking and astrophotography. You think MRR is a money pit, try doing some astrophotography! On a side note, our friends here at Kalmbach also publish Astronomy Magazine.
