And I have no wi***o…
When it comes to my layout, I’m a lone wolf, but when it comes to the hobby, I’m very active in my local NMRA division sharing the hobby with others thorugh the web sites, clinics, Meets and Layout Tours. I listen to what others are doing, and am willing to tell what I am doing and display some of my structure models, but I far prefer to do as I wish on the layout. Oh, I certainly bring down a couple of grandsons and granddaughters, but no other modelers. Hey, I’m an old duck with a ‘mature’ layout and I guess that I like it that way.
Oh, don’t count polls done on a web forum as being anything other than the opinions of a handfull. They may or may not represent the hobby as a whole.
I suppose I am a lone wolf, but not necessarily by choice. I would love to have a few operators to share duties on my layout with, but my small area has no other modelers that I am aware of. I am not interested in someone else building my layout for me, though some educated advice now and then WHEN SOLICITED would be nice. There is a club within reasonable driving distance from me, but the dues are steep in order to maintain a club layout, and I would rather sink my limited $$$ into my own layout. I suppose that leaves me where I started . . . a lone wolf.
Ron
Aren’t we all lone wolves when it come to building our layouts and models??? I like help with certain stuff (benchwork comes to mind), but lots of other things I would rather do myself. Not because I am afraid some one else will mess it up, but because I enjoy doing these things.
I was a lone wolf for many years. I joined a round robin group about four years ago and my enjoyment of the hobby expanded exponentially. I learned an enormous amount and I have some people who I can talk to about things like grab irons and curve radi. Some one who can appreciate that scratch built water tank. I think my wife may be happier too because I have another outlet for my train activity and don’t bug her as much about it.
All of the guys I know still built their own layouts. We all pitch in to help each other when asked, but mostly it’s about cameraderie at trains hows, operating sessions and just goofing off. So I guess when it comes to certain things, I am a bit of a lone wolf, but think I am enjoying the hobby more now that I can share it with some other trainnuts.
Hi Guys,
I have always been a lone wolf, mostly because I hate having to be at a regular meeting of a club or group. Also, it’s difficult to get a bunch of guys together. A few years ago, my wife decided she would like to get a bunch of her high school friends together at our house. She called 12 women on a Thursday and they ALL came over the following Thursday. These were women with children, many of whom had careers. I would submit to you that it would be virtually impossible to get 12 men together, even with months of advance notice. Most would say that the "wife’ wouldn’t let them out of the house. Or, the “dog died”, or their mother is in the hospital. Let’s face it…most guys are “lone wolfs” and that’s that.
I do enjoy having a couple of train buddies over once in a while, but haven’t been able to get the 2 of them together in over 2 months…the wife needed hand-holding in one case and the mother of one needed a prescription filled…just happened to be on Friday night…Train Night.
Let’s face it, it’s fun to be president of the railroad without anybody telling you what to do or screwing up your enthusiasm with criticism and “rivet-counting” as we call it. I got downsized from my company after 22 years and considering the bull I went through those last few years, with politics, back-stabbing etc., I really don’t want to spend much time with “people”.
With all this negativity aside, I must say that I’ve enjoyed “meeting” you guys on this forum and have already learned much and had fun sharing some of my expertise.
Mondo,
Every Friday night a group has been meeting in a friends home, working on his layout for over ten years now - maybe more. It isn’t a club, just an informal meeeting of basically the same guys. Some come, then fall away, some come when they feel up to it, and have time for it. Others are as regular as clock work.
For some who don’t have a layout, this layout will act as " club" layout, allowing them to run their equipment. For the owner, he has been the project manager of his layout building for some time now. We all chip in and work on what we know, or acquire the skills to help out. I remember four years ago I can remember thinking I didn’t have a clue as to how to build panels for a layout - toggle switches, track plan and push buttons. Now I have built three of them for “John’s” layout. In fact, one group has issued us a challenge as to who will lay be the first to lay the “golden spike.” I think I have still have a copy, but you can read in it the good humour and fellowship that exists, trans layout.
I model by myself, though occasionally I will go to my friend’s house and operate his
layout with him. I think its fine to just have your own layout and do your own thing.
From what I’m reading here, the Lone Wolf trend is definately on the rise. Just a few years back, hardly anyone was a Lone Wolf but I guess experience has taught a lot of good people, some hard lessons, and I quess thats good, because if you’re not happy with a club, you won’t enjoy the hobby. I agree, the forum here is a sort of non-club, club where all of us can come and go at will and get to know one another in some sense. It’s good to know you folks are out there.
Kinda yes and kinda no. I have a group that comes to operate the layout, but that’s it. I prefer to make my own mistakes on my layout, that way I can’t get after anyone but me. I also model straight steam, so not many folks share my vision of model railroading in my immediate area. I do go to model railroad shows if and when they are held in my area. I make no effort to attend the big national events. Did it just one time. You want to feel totally alone? Go to the NMRA Big Show. I like losing myself for hours on end working on the layout or working on things that will eventually be on the layout.
I also like to scratch build. I do have some kit stuff, but it is disappearing as more and more scratch built items make it to the layout. I find this also puts me in a separate slot, one not many modelers in my area are interested in. So I bump into the crowd when it pleases me and I stay away from the crowd the rest of the time.
I have no axe to grind about the hobby. I approach it in the manner that is most pleasing to me, the manner that generates the most enjoyment for the time I spend. I am not part of the “inner clan” that has a need to be in the spotlight. I am quite possibly a model railroad nerd, so far out of the current mainstream that I am happy.
I tried the NMRA, they put me in the Dayton (Oh) Division, about 21/2 hours away, instead of the Ft Wayne (In) Div, about 50 minutes away. Guess I could have gotten it changed, but like a true lone wolf I just went about my railroading and let the membership expire.
I also agree with the idea that my RR is MY world, and I like that. Any small bit of control over your life without outside influence is rare these days.
But don’t misunderstand, I would gladly wa***he feet of the masterminds of model railroading to just be able to sit with them and pick their brains. There are sooo many things I’m not to accomplished at, and I know they have met and solved each problem that I stumble over.
Some folks are social creatures, and some …not so much.
Its a choice we make, and then live with.
Why does everyone think that it is either lone wolf or club? You can be out and about with others, round robin groups and such, without ever being close to a club.
Clubs are okay for some people, but not me. But I’m definitely not a lone wolf. I operate regular in a round robin group. We host an ops weekend every year, about 80 people attend from all over the country. We also travel to others ops weekends and have a blast.
Do not link clubs and not being a lone wolf. You can share your enjoyment of the hobby, meet some really great people and not get close to a club.
Larry, I think the point that most people are trying to make is that in many cases, they may have had bad experiences with clubs or groups and the preverbial nit pickers that only show up to critisize. I’m sure at one time or another, you’ve met up with one of them. I think personally, that Round Robins will take the place of large clubs in this country, as organizations go. There will always be a few clubs around but thier numbers will slowly dwindling in favor of the Lone Wolfor, as you say, Round Robins. At least in a round robin, if you don’t get on with someone too well, you don’t miss out on the association with others at that level. you can pick and choose. As for the NMRA, I’ve always wondered what they do with all that money they collect every year in dues. Aside of the magazine, what else do they really do that cost that much??? I don’t know.
Lone Wolf here but like Rick pointed out,not necessarily by choice.I see many advantages to a small round robin group helping each other with thier layouts.Like any group,it takes the right bunch to make it work well and those of us in rural area’s just do not have the numbers of modelers that metro area’s have as a base to pull from.
The best thing i see is the continued motivation gained from a small group and the talent gained from individuals experiances.Not everyone is good at all things but we all excell in 1 or 2 things making a small group vastly superior in developing a very nice layout and helping to develop several others along the way.
We wouldnt model with just anyone,just like not just anyone becomes your fishing buddy.It takes time to find that group that just fits and i wi***he option were there for me.The nearest large city is Duluth and commuting 65 miles 1 way for a modelling session on a consistant basis wouldnt really appeal to anyone.
So i continue as a lone wolf but do have a couple friends to do meets and railfanning with
I’m doing large scale which means I’m already marginalized by the HO dominated NMRA and I’m indoors, not garden variety, which puts me on fringe in the LS community.
So I do what I do and I dangle my feet in both ponds, and as far as I’m concerned, the waters just fine!
I wouldn’t mind being friends with one or two other persons who had an interest in the hobby. Unfortunately most people that I’ve met in the hobby have a bad attitude towards the fun part of it. I feel this is a hobby and we’re here to have fun regardless of the scale, gauge, prototype, or modeling methods we do. I’ve tried going to clubs and division meets but found the people there very cliquish and snobish. For now I’m a lone wolf modeler and get my information from magazines, the internet, and books. By the way this forum is great and very informative. I wouldn’t mind meeting some of the people that post on this forum.
I? I am a lone wolf. mainly becuase i dont know of any modeling clubs around. I would like to join a club to learn more, as this is still relitively new to me. Its mainly the modeling side of this great hobby that i want to learn how to do and i do best with hands on person to person learning. a place i could go to ask questions while being taught to, say, rescheme a car or install dcc would rock
if anyone knows of a rr club between new haven, old saybrook and middletown - drop me a line - mulletsailor@hotmail.com
I’m a Lone Wolf when it comes to the actual work of building my layout, but I’m sociable as all Heck when it comes to asking for and getting advice from fellow model railroaders. My trips to the LHS often turn into hour-long bull sessions with the guys there, because even at MY age, there’s still a lot of stuff to discover about this pretty amazing hobby. Haven’t tried the local club here, but I always admire what they do when they have Open House, and they seem really anxious to answer any of my questions, stupid or not. As far as my own layout, it’s in the garage and accessable to the neighbors any time they drop by and watch me either working or operating. So, to answer the question, it seems that I’m half and half.
I model alone, Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa with nobody else!!! Sorry to corrupt George Thorogoods lyrics. Wasn’t it Groucho Marx that said “I wouldn’d belong to any club that would have me as a member”.
