Summer Model railroading?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi Guys

Do you guys continue to model throughout the warmer months or do you just shut down the layout and try to spend the time outdoors. I enjoy doing the yardwork and cleaning up outside when its nice out so that take MR time away there. And Also Im a huge baseball fan ( Playing,watching, playing the video games and of course fantasy baseball ) so that takes up alot of time because If Im not out playing I am reading stats on who to add to my fantasy team while watching the game on the tv,lol. I quite enjoying sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and reading a baseball stats book or one of my MR magazines for ideas to incorporate into the layout in the fall. Plus Im looking forward to some railfanning in the nice weather

If I do anything model railroading it will just basically run a few trains and maybe weathering some freight cars. But in the next few weeks the layout will gradually become quieter and quieter. But I find its nice to step away from the layout for a while and not think about model railroading then when you come back your coming back a clear mind and 100% motivation

Jeremy

2

I leave it alone from the mid part of April until mid October. Do my other hobbies then, R/C airplanes and sailing.

3

I think the winter is my slower time on the railroad as my garage is a bit chilly unless I give the heater a head start. The warmer months are more productive time, where I can have the garage door open and have natural light in.

4

My current layout and work bench are in the cellar. On a hot day it is a good place to retreat to for a quick, cooling break from haying or whatever other job the farm has for me. Probably some slower, but then I’m on the slow side anyhow. If my layout was in the “trainroom” I might find it a little too warm some days in the summer.

I have a TV/DVD/VCR player near the bench and trainroom door, so I can watch sports or whatever I want, whether it is raining or too hot to want to work. (Can only procrastinate so long.)

Have fun,

Richard

5

For me it’s about 50/50

I don’t spend any less time in the train room during the summer as I usually only spend evenings in the winter working on the railroad.

6

Well, I will repeat something I have been nkown to say before.

“I use to be well rounded until I learned what I really liked”

I do yardwork because I want my property to look nice, for my own viewing pleasure, and the viewing pleasure of others, but I don’t really enjoy the yardwork - except the grass cutting - because I have a really cool GRAVELY tractor to do that part with.

I don’t follow sports or play sports - winter or summer.

My layout room is fully heated and air conditioned, so time of year has little effect on my model railroading activities. And summer provides no more or no less distractions from important stuff like trains than does any other time of the year.

Sheldon

7

I’m with Richard and Sheldon. Both the mancave/model shop and the layout room are down in the cool, cool cellar. I do have other stuff going on and get outside more, but the model railroading continues year round.

8

I’m a skier, so most years I spend a lot of weekends on the mountain and away from my layout. Summers are traditionally a better time for me to model. I don’t enjoy hot weather or beach activities, so you’re more likely to find me in the train room with the AC on than worrying about getting a sunburn or worse outside.

9

I think this year will mirror last year to some extent. NHL playoffs are about to start and that is serious business in this house. Trains are pushed to the back burner while us fans attend to cheering on the team.

After playoffs end, school will have about two weeks left so after that we will be off in our trailer we bought last year. Once again spending at least some of the time in the Selkirks and Rockies watching those monsters on the CPR mainline grinding their way up towards the continental divide. Bear spray in one hand and a Rum and Coke in the other by day, and in the hot springs at night.

Life is great now I am officially retired. My kids are 10 and 13. We leave the end of June and don’t have to be worried about being home until mid September when school starts. Last year we were gone most of July and August except for one brief pit stop at home.

Of course there is always time for a tourist train or two or three or four.

Can’t wait for Summer![8D] I am always glad to have the trainroom waiting for me once the kids are back in school. It fills the void.[:)]

Brent[C):-)]

10

Nope, I’m not a seasonal hobbyist. If I have the time and I get the urge, I will work on models and run trains regardless of what season it is.

11

Cool Pics Batman, at least your guys team are going to the playoffs, lets just say I think the leafs will be golfing in a few weeks. Very cool how your retired so that when the kids get done school you can take off for the summer.

12

Although this thread appears slanted towards year rould model railroading, at this point in time. My guess is: general opinion will be fair weather outside lowers the amount of attention paid to this indoor activity. This only stands to reason!

However, there is no right or wrong answer here and the opinion I’ve expressed, is as meaningless as any opposing opinings! What possible difference does any of this make?

13

I model year round. My train room is under heat and air. In Florida, sometimes it is hot enough that retreating to the train room at midday is a relief.

14

True, it makes no real difference, likely the OP was simply curious about others habbits.

But your “guess” has no basis in fact and is no doubt slanted by your own habbits and interests.

The informal “poll” of this thread represents more basis in fact than your guess.

Personally, I hate summer weather. It seems unlikely you have ever spent a hot, muggy, 95 degree, 90% humidity, July or August day here in the Mid Atlantic if you think warmer weather sends people outside. Generally around here the only place it sends them is to the Mall or the pool if they don’t have A/C.

Maybe, combined with the abundance of large basements, this is why this area seems to be a “model railroad mecca”. People not only build trains in winter, but as a number have suggested, retreat to their cool basements in summer to escape the heat. For me it is actually the second floor of the 32 x 40 garage, but again, it is fully heated and air conditioned.

I do my best to complete outdoor activities, both work and play, in the spring and fall.

Model trains is a full time hobby for me, I only have a few other “hobby” activities, and none of them are as “big” as my modeling, so available free time is the controlling factor, not time of year or competing activities.

Again, “I use to be well rounded until I learned what I really liked”.

I have no issue with those who’s activities are more varied, I’ve done a lot of di

15

A few more thoughts:

Brent went into some detail about is personal life and how model railroading fits into it. In my second post I did the same to some degree but left out “family” stuff.

First, let me add that I respect the choices of others, especially choices they are able to make via their own economic resources.

A few thoughts about how family plays into hobbies.

Model Railroading is a complex hobby when it comes to its “social” side. Some people’s families are engaged in the hobby with them, some not. Some modelers are VERY social in the hobby, some not so much so.

I belong to a local round robin group here in the town wher I live, other than that group, I am not overly social in this hobby.

My children are all grown, in fact I while I respect Brent’s choices, I can’t imagine being old enough to be retired (I’m only 54) and still be raising children. My oldest child is 35, my youngest 27.

My wife and I do help out quite a bit with two of our grandchildren, that’s more than enought kid action for me.

We all have different interests, life brings us all to different places, we all make different choices based on our situations.

I’m looking forward to as much peace and quiet in the train room or wood shop as I can get in the next 20 years.

I married at age 19 the first time, raised 3 children and 3 step children, all grown now, have run 4 businesses, had about 7 different occupations, built houses and cars from the ground up, designed and built all sorts of things and still managed to be a model railroader to some degree or another since age 10.

As for traveling in a RV with kids, going to sports events, entertaining friends, going to the beach, golfing, sking, being real “social” - like I said before - been there, done that - decided what I really enjoy and plan to more of the things I really enjoy and less of what others “think” I should do from here on out.

Sheldon

16

I agree with that. July and August are indoors for me. Even parts of June and September.

My model railroading is done year round whenever I have time.

Enjoy

Paul

17

Here in Georgia, summertime is my preferred modeling time. The heat, humidity and insects make being in the climate controlled basement train room a pleasure. Outdoor work gets done early in the day so when the temperature is at it highest I’m in the lowest level of the house keeping cool and working on my railroading projects. This is also the time I like to paint my rolling stock and put together whatever buildings I am working in. The patio is a perfect place for me to paint the models early in the day .

John R

18

My neighbors have a word for folks who enjoy the outdoors in July and August:

Loco!

And, no, that’s not short for your favorite Baldwin, Alco, EMD or Kawasaki product.

Air temperature 20 degrees above blood temperature and sun that will raise blisters through sunblock aren’t conducive to outdoor activity! That’s when I spend most of my modeling time working on rolling stock in my nice, climate-controlled office-workroom. The layout gets run in the early morning, while the garage is still at a bearable temperature.

Thanks to deteriorating health and the mechanations of oil speculators, travel isn’t much of an option any more. I used to enjoy it…

The only sport I ever really followed was gymnastics - but the new scoring system has killed that interest. Proof that the Chinese were cheating at Sydney just drove a final stake through its heart.

So, when does layout work occur? Any time the temperature in the garage is below 98.6 degrees F. and the spirit moves me. There are advantages to being fully retired…

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

19

It makes no difference. However for me, I spend time on this forum in lieu of belonging to a club. It gives me enough interaction with people with the same interest as I have, to satisfy my social need in the hobby. We have a large social circle as can be seen by the numbers of people that stream through our house each week. This forum fills the train talk void that our friends don’t.

I think there are some great people on this forum from all over the world. Being able to crack a joke or find out a little about people’s other interest or lives in general removes the sterile environment that so many forums have.

I am also interested in R/C planes, Skiing, golf and a few other things. I have had interesting conversations with fellow forum members on some other common interest through the PM feature of the forum.

The beauty of this forum is unlike attending a club, one can avoid people where personality conflicts may arise, yet get to know others through a common interest and may find a good friend or two in the process.

Anyone camping in the Canadian Rockies this year? Bring your lounger and stop by for a track side Rum and Coke.[B]

Brent[C):-)]

20

I have a finished, heated & air conditioned layout area - I can work down there any time of the year. However, summer yard duties and putting time in on the local bike trails eats into any model railroad time.

I just retired a few months ago, and will have more time(at least that is what I have been told). So far I have spent the last couple of months doing upgrades to the kitchen and closets in the house! Not much time for model railroading, other than going to some local train shows. I will be attending a regional NMRA convention in May, and then I suspect I will not be doing much modeling. I am removing the present layout, doing a ‘rehab’ on the room, and will start a new ‘retirement’ layout in the fall. The old layout(25 years old this summer) fills two walls of a 20’ by 25’ area. I have to get the rest of the house projects completed before I start on the new layout. A new gas fireplace, and all new floor coverings need to go in before I can start the layout.

Jim