I won’t for one reason…It is what it is—a tourist trap not meant for modelers in general but, the uncaring,uninformed general public that ooh and ahh and enjoy the layout and that’s ok by me.----just don’t expect me to visit…
fuzzy decals and crooked paint lines are not under that category especially if it’s someone asking for more seasoned eyes to look over their work, try: stating that someones layouts are not worthy of ones praise just because it’s a one train layout. I;e an example of a confrontation I had with another member here.
“have you ever seen one of his layouts” exact quote, exact context
If I mess up a decal line or it’s fuzzy and I miss it, I wouldn’t mind constructive criticism especially if I ask. But when it’s a blatantly visible insult, unprovoked insult then by all means that falls under my “personal” belief. nobody else has to look at it like I do, but when someone wants to bash my work while theirs remains unseen. I have a problem with it, a big problem. There’s a difference between constructive criticism and being rude just for the sake of being rude.
Or do you feel it’s ok to bash others over something that has to do with their situation and why their modeling is limited to certain things. I’d like to give DCC a whirl, I’d like to have a big layout, I’d like to have more model railroading equipment. My model railroading falls under the limitations imposed upon me by the real world.
Gary,
With all due respect,I was not going to reply,to any of this thread,but your last sentence sounds like a cry for help…What ever I have done,or will do,I find it was not imposed on me by the real world,total war maybe,but not freedom of choice. Wisdom,should come with learning…
Cheers,
Frank [:)]
Frank,First I agree with the learning and the first thing one should learn about railroads in general perfection is not in their vocabulary especially if one models the 50s-80s era.We can start by a in depth study of railroad photos from those years and that means looking beyond the main subject of the photo.
It was no cry for help, it was a statement implying that my model railroading(when I can, what I can do, and how I can do it) is affected by forces outside of my model railroading world. I’d have a layout set up by now, if I was working and had the money to do so but I don’t because work won’t give me hours and I’m saving every last dollar I have.
Gary,
I will say again; with all due respect,When I was younger,I at times had two jobs,to be able to have the things,that I needed,or desired to have,did not keep them forever,but long enough to keep my head further above the water and the real World limitations imposed on me,if they’re were any,had nothing to do with me wanting to do better,it required action and determination…As far as that Northlanz thing,I really don’t care…But I do agree,with what some of the other posters had said,that it is a trap,for tourists,that don’t know any better and probably don’t care either,just wanted something to do,so they paid for their entertainment…
Cheers, [:)]
Frank
I understand that but I can assure you that I have not been sitting around waiting for work to get their act together. I’ve been looking, and doing what I can to stay above the water. it’s escalated to where I’ve pretty much sold some of my model trains, just so I could pay for my college education.
Hi guys
I read this with interest.
It seems to me that the layout is being judged on a model railroad basis in which case it will fail every time
Even if it is a top class railway like Miniature Wunderland it will fail the model railroad test.
Because its not built as a model railroad and was never designed to be one.
They are designed and built to be public entertainments so good or bad they have to be rated on that basis. where they entertaining yes or no
Poor maintenance is going to get a fail every time insufficient or poor facilities of any kind is going to get a fail every tine.
A model railroad can never be a public entertainment its not designed for that its designed to be a model railroad.
To be a public railway entertainment means adding a lot of things that we would perhaps put on a toy railway to amuse children or for the wow factor that again make great entertainment.
and also the odd discrete only adults would understand and get a chuckle out of things
Invariably these will all be lighting or mechanical things of some sort that have to be maintained in first class working order.
Perhaps we should take elements of the showman type things and incorporate them into any layouts we build for model train shows.
After all the public is paying for our clubs for the next twelve months and expects to be entertained as well as see first class layouts.
Just a few thoughts.
regards John
Gary,
Rude is rude, and there’s no excusing it. However, the idea that someone must show their own work before criticizing someone else’s is flat out wrong.
For example, say someone paints a Powerhouse USRA Light 4-6-2 in Amtrak colors (platinum mist tender with Phase III stripes and a K5LA on the cab roof…and yes, I actually saw this) and posts pictures of it online while asking for comments. Are we allowed to say, “Um, Amtrak didn’t have any steam engines.” Or do we have to post pictures of our own custom painted steam engines before we can comment?
The issue here isn’t whether the rude person that was critical of your layout was a novice modeler, a master modeler, or just thinks that he’s Tony Koester/John Allen/Linn Wescott, it’s that he was a rude person. The skill level of your rude person is immaterial to the fact that they are simply rude. And that’s my point. You don’t have to post your own work to be critical of others, but whenever being critical, don’t be a jerk about it.
Paul A. Cutler III
Paul,I agree only if the poster asks for feed back on his modeling other then that I don’t think so since we have no idea of the modeler’s skills or if they have a physical handicap.
Being rude or just wanting to appear to be a “super” modeler is no reason to give unsolicited criticism regardless of what the model may look like-that includes that Amtrak 4-6-2 since the modeler is apparently happy with his creation…
ok fine it’s wrong, my apologies. it was just a personal belief for me that was all, criticism doesn’t hurt but when someone gets overboard and starts getting rude it was just a failsafe for myself.
that said I still take issue with the hypocrisy existing in the hobby.
Gary,
Just one more thing; Hypocrisy,not only exists in the Hobby,but all over the World,much larger,than any Hobby…You or I it doesn’t matter,others more knowledgeable have tried and failed,it is best to concentrate on taking care of your own life,then trying to change the World…There used to be an old saying,'‘Before going out and Changing the World,can you make your own bed first’…
Cheers, [:)]
Frank
one step at a time then.
If you ever get to the Cincinnati, Ohio area you may want to check out Entertrainment Junction http://www.entertrainmentjunction.com/ in West Chester, Ohio (along I-75, 22 miles north of Cincinnati, exit 22). You can see it on the right as you approach the off ramp. It’s a 25,000 square foot G Scale layout. Even though I live with a quarter mile of it, I finally went there last Christmas on a school field trip with my granddaughter and was really impressed. Timeline is from Pre-Civil War to Present. There is also play areas for the kids, good food, gift shop, hobby shop and more.
In downtown Cincinnati is the Cincinnati Museum Center http://www.cincymuseum.org/ occupying Cincinnati Union Terminal that houses several types of museums all in one place. In the Cincinnati History Museum area of the center there is an HO scale layout called Cincinnati In Motion that covers many of the city’s neighborhoods from 1900 through 1940’s. A very impressive recreation of Cincinnati.
Besides other museums of interest, the Museum Center is also the home of the Cincinnati Railroad Club http://cincinnatirrclub.org/ occupying Tower A of Cincinnati Union Terminal. Tower A overlooks the massive CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroad Yard.
The Amtrak also operates out of Cincinnati Union Terminal.
Hi folks,
I’m pleasantly surprised by the amount of interest in my post on Northlandz. Many thoughtful comments were made.
I have the following “comments on the comments”.
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I read the articles about the construction of the thing long before visiting. I also visited the website shortly before my visit. I knew that it was not an operational model railroad. That said, it is clearly and explicitly advertised as a model railroad and I DID expect to see more trains running through the scenery. Regarding the length of trains, I personally overheard all of the sentient (i.e. older than about 3) members of a family with no discernible knowledge of model RR as “we” know it, comment that “real” trains are not short. Its a sad statement that the management can’t be bothered to run long trains. The single one that they do run, proves that they could do it if they wished. I think they would find themselves getting many more positive reviews with more trains and longer trains.
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I repeat that the most impressive thing is the sheer scale. Howard Zane is one of only a few respondents who is willing to give any “cred” to this.
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For those of you who dismiss this display as having no redeeming value whatever, I do have to wonder if you took the time to view the structures and scenes? As I stated in my overview comments, many of the structures are quite well done - better than the “good enough” I would expect from a display of this size - and a number are completed to a high modeling standard.
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All the recent visitors do seem to agree that the display is in dire need of cleaning and maintenance.
Regards,
Steamnut