Anyone who tries to make his model railroad as good as it can be given whatever limited resources and time he has available for the hobby is a serious participant in my book. It doesn’t matter if it is a 4X8 or a basement sized empire.
How about the guy who runs his trains on the kitchen floor, having to put it together and take it apart evertime, and watch it go in circles, or the the guy who spends at least 18 hours a day working and building the perfect layout with all the bells and whistles. In my book they are both serious about MR.
Not according to Some people here on this forum but I do agree with you.
Jeff
Is the modeler in the design / planning stage considered serious?
i am a kid, 13 years old, who in the most unprototypical way runs a union pacific and a chessie system loco in the same train, on my figure 8 layout. if you think that i am not serious about the hobby i don’t care, in fact you can get a life.
Does an obsession with locomotives qualify me as a serious model railroader?
What a tough question, and what interesting answers. Some folks obviously don’t like the lable “serious” because to them that means no fun in the hobby, high dollar expenses etc. Some folks use “serious” to mean one that criticizes everyone, is closed minded etc. Others say that “serious” is one that has fun. Still others think that “serious” means one that does nothing else but model railroading. I don’t think we’ll ever get a concensus here as everyone has their own ideas - none of which are more right than any others. This is very similar to “what is a real model railroader?” Although I’ve never seen this question asked, there sure are lots of posts where folks are more than happy to point out what stuff a “real model railroader” should use. (Still trying to figure out why some “I hate RTR and will never use it” use RTR track lol and I have yet to see a definition of what a “kit” is).
Don’t think we’ll any resolution on this topic.
I would think a hardcore model RRer is someone like John Allen (G&D RR). The rest of us that take the time to talk about trains on a forum such as this for example are serious RRer’s. [:D][:D]
I would say “hardcore” is defined by your time/money/etc. commitment to model railroading.
As I get older, starting a family, starting my own business, owning a home, etc., etc., I’m finding it’s very difficult to be “hardcore” about anything. I’m really learning about “everything in moderation”. Too much of one thing throws everything else out of whack!
Lots of hobbyists like to think that their involvement in model railroading is serious but, in fact, they are really more likely to be only on the periphery of the hobby (and that includes myself). I tend to agree with halwizer that it is guys like John Allen, Art Fahie, Lou Sassi, and others of a similar ilk, that are truly “serious model railroaders” and very few of the rest of us.
CNJ831
A serious model railroader is someone involved in the hobby who sees it as 4 dimensional art. These are the normal 3 dimensions of length, width, & height PLUS something sculptors don’t have: time and motion. Or, in other words, someone who sees the hobby as both art and science.
The only real hobby I have that I take seriously is hunting and drag racing.
Although I can appreciate the person who lays out some track on the kitchen floor, and the person who “Loves” trains, I think what they possess is “Passion” for the hobby which makes them potential hardcore and serious caraftsmen (or women), if they continue the pursuit of Model RR. The real “hardcore” individuals, who have developed the craft to such a great level of achievement, I agree with “halwizer” is people like John Allen, who have created layouts that have scenes that can’t be distinguished from real life, and contain super detail. Of course you have to have the “Time” and the “Money” to do something like that, and certainly most people don’t have those luxuries.
This does not take away anything from people who don’t have but a simple oval or a toy train, if they have the “Passion” then they may be the John Allens of the future.
Of course “Fun” is part of it, and to be “serious” does’nt rule out having fun.
If there is no happiness involved, then it is not of much use.
It’s like some one who is learning guitar. They might have the passion to play guitar, but they only know a few chords. Then there is someone like Chet Atkins who was a master of the guitar. Both players are passionate, but there is a big difference between the two.
That’s how I see it.
I’m a Classical musician by profession. I take my profession very seriously and I also enjoy it very much.
My hobby is model railroading. I take my hobby seriously and I also enjoy it very much.
I have a lot of fun making music.
I have a lot of fun working on my model railroad.
I share my love of my profession with a great many other people.
I like sharing my hobby with other people.
“Serious” and “Fun” are not mutually exlusive words. If they were, I would not be in the profession I’m in, nor would I have the hobby I have.
'Nuff said.
Tom
[:D]
Well said, Tom! I like the word “passionate” better than serious. Passionate can be fun. I tend to be passionate about the things I do whether it be Music, Community Service, My hobby, or just living. It if isn’t fun, then it is being done wrong…???
Is a person that creates a gorgeous model railroader serious? If John Allen just wanted to run his trains roundy roundy would he no longer be serious? Is the big time operations oriented person who runs on a strict time table using perfectly researched consits serious? What happens Tony Koester decided he didn’t want scenery on his new layout? Would he no longer be serious? How about the guy that builds a fantastic looking layout and operates it prototypically, but uses Tyco equipment? Does one have to have “it all” to be considered serious?
Actually Jeff, it’s more of a time passing thing with me than anything else. Also, once I’ve reached 1,000 postings, you probably won’t be hearing much out of me anymore.
Tracklayer
Serious!~ If we werent Serious about Model Railroading we wouldnt be here would we!!! Heck I like the real stuff toooo… Kevin
Fairly or unfairly, I think the term “serious model railroader” has become a cousin to “rivet counter”. Both terms are coming to denote individuals who are hyper critical and have an attitude of “if you don’t do it my way you’re wrong”. This seems to stem from some people’s desire to make an exclusive club out of model railroading that requires meeting an arbitrary steep set of conditions to belong. The unfortunate side effect of this attitude is to scare people off of model railroading by making the hobby appear too difficult for the average person to enjoy.
For many years MR’s slogan was “Model Railroading is Fun”. If we can’t convince people of that, pretty soon the hobby will be down to the “10,000 serious model railroaders” mentioned in another post; boxcars will be of museum quality and cost $200 each.
As always, my [2c] your mileage may differ.
Enjoy
Paul