First, it all depends on what we individually want to get out of model railroading. That being said, the following is subjective, but it can be a huge factor for SOME of us…
Well stated Paul. I lean heavily on your use of the word “modifying”. For me, track planning is the most difficult aspect of RR modeling, and the part I don’t enjoy at all. I am fine with the more technical- mechanical things, but my layout design had to come by long hard evolution.
It really is “civil engineering”, and it just had to be developed the hard way, at least for ME to enjoy MY layout. I do finally like the layout.
Many of us have layouts in unfinished basements, attics annex rooms or even detached, dedicated buildings (I seem to recall onewolf contributing many photos of his building/layout).
My layout began with a concrete saw and jack hammer as I had to move the laundry tubs and machines and relocate the drain lines. Then came studs, insulation, drop ceiling, wiring, lighting, flooring, finish drywall and carpentry.
It is all part of a skillset needed for a successful/comfortable/clean layout environment.
So, add home construction skills to the list.
Add geology, too, as I had to learn about Sharon Conglomerate so that I could have the correct rock formations for my modeled area.
I am in this hobby 55 years now and I have built numerous layouts since I got started in 1963. The first few were just what a teenager is able to accomplish, but the last ones were -weel, one could say little pieces of art.
Then disaster struck in form of an illness, which has taken away much of my ability to control my hands. Handling “hot” tool, like a soldering iron, or “sharp” tools has turned into a hazard with a high risk of bad injuries. I am glad I can still handle knife and fork an, yes, I am still able to place a loco on the track, but just because it has pizza cutter flanges.
I have come to terms with that illness and found a way to stay in the hobby. I am even building a small layout, which is a rather primitive layout, build on a simple table top, using Marklin´s infamous 3-rail AC tinplate track.
Most of the items on that list are now beyond my capabilities, as I lack the “hands of a watchmaker” I stated in my earlier post. But I still have the eyes of an artist, the persistence of a long distance runner and the heart of child, which enable to come up with something which is a small miracle for me!
That is the point of the idea this thread was associated to. It looked like it was degenerating into a “what is a REAL model railroader” thread, so I let it go.
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It looks like it came back, so I edited the original post again to include some new ideas.
Okay, I’ll try to offer something a little more positive.
I’m not sure that it would be considered a facet of model railroading, but one of the most important “skills”, at least for me, is imagination. I wouldn’t be in this hobby without it.
Wayne, I fully agree because that is the base root of the hobby.
I have limited my facets of the hobby to the ones I feel is important to the hobby as far as basics and advance operation,freight cars that fits the era I model and ISL designs based on prototype.
Another true facet is to fully enjoy your modeling style.
Brent, if I may, what Wayne may take issue with is “need” to be an ambassador. I agree with Wayne, being a model railroader does not mean we need to do that. You are welcome to yes if you find that is some thing you desire to do, but many can enjoy the hobby without needing to be an ambassador. I’d guess the more socially outgoing would be best at preaching the gospel of trains be while the more introverted, less so.
