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The Roundhouse: Episode 10
Well, I think i might consider myself as exiting that youth stage at 23, but I’ve been modeling continuously since 2003, even with girls and cars and all the other good stuff people get into as they grow up.
Unfortunately, I don’t really think that time competition is the only thing impeding model railroads and youth. I think parental or adult support is VERY important. Its easy for a kid to set up a loop of Bachmann EZ track, but advancing beyond that is a different story.
Young kids, and even teenagers, need someone to drive them to stores to pick up the supplies, and they need someone who can show them how to do the basics (benchwork, wiring, etc). And lets face it, many young people don’t have much of an income. They might get an allowance, or have some money from birthdays/holidays, but other than that, they are reliant on a parent or someone to purchase the models and supplies.
Bottom line, if no one supports their hobby, it will choke and die. They’ll move on to something else.
Another issue is that you guys touched on was the issue of exposure, noting that some kids probably don’t even know what a railroad is. I suspect most trains that young people are exposed to are not easy to model, such as local commuter agencies. In many cases, these trains a far more visible than the class 1 freights, which may only operate at night or very infrequently.
Modeling a specific commuter train or mass transit unit can be VERY difficult, since most are not readily available, and when they are, they are usually limited production and/or resin kits, and are almost always expensive.
Again, if your inspiration is not an easy train to model even if you do have some skills, you’re going to move on to something else. If there aren’t any other trains really capturing a young person’s interest, they’ll probably drop the hobby all together.
Nice episodes with Steve Haynes. I wasn’t a PECO user until this year and now I am sold on their turnouts (Code 83 HO scale).
Please file 13 the clock/timer.
Youth today have many more distractions than those of us years ago. When we only had 3 TV channels, no MTV, or cable. I mean, we actually played baseball outside rather than on a TV screen or computer. The hobby can continue, but being appealing to the next generation must be achieved somehow.
I totally agree with Christian’s comments. If my Dad not make the big investment for a power pack and show me how to wire it up; I would not have stayed with the hobby. Ample copies of Model Railroader laying around the house also helped keep up the interest too.
Gentleman
Great feature but the single most “negative” to people coming into the hobby today I believe is clearly cost. Rolling stock is hard to find under $30.00 and when was the last HO locomotive made that was under $100.00?
Thanks,
Mark
As always, very interesting episode. I think the Roundhouse was a great idea, and I hope it will continue for a long time to come.
Keep up the great work MR
Interesting listening to them talk about youth in model railroading. I’m 19 and have been a railfan and model railroader my entire life!
I grew up as a Jr. Modeler. In the mid 1980s thru the 1990s MR; being my favorite rag really kept me discovering and pushing my skills. I had a few mentors, no past on, and now I’m 37 and I’m working with a range of ages 12-21 passing on the skills that inspired me. The new crop of modelers are SHARP, don’t let misconception make you think otherwise. Tthey are very dedicated and absolutely love the hobby. Believe it or not, there are lots of them too!
Loved the credits where this episode featured “The Other Guy.”