What kind of modeler are you?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
21

Well, you forgot dreamer. Kind of a variation of planner but the stipulatuion that someday may not arrive. Seems the longer I “plan” my future layout the longer it will take to complete.

I did just tear down a woefully inadequate layout, mainly because it didn’t support operatiuons the way I would like. I haven’t run a train in six months, going through with drawls righ now.

So what does a dreamer do? Plans the ultimate layout, trackwork, benchwork, scenery all the way down to planning staging track routing and siginals. Even a materials list. But takes forever to do even the smallest part of actual construction. As such in the last 3 months I haven’t layed any new track but I did get 4 Hullets for my Whiskey Island section of my “dream” layout. I need a table saw before starting to constrcut benchwork.

Of course the longer it takes to build anything the more time to plan things that can’t realistically be built.

See also: analysis paraylisis.

22

[quote user=“Motley”]

OK let’s hear it. What kind of modeler are you?

There are many different facets to this hobby, and all kinds of different modelers.

So I’m wondering, which one are you?

Are you a builder? You are working on the layout more than you run the trains. You like to work on scenery, structures, etc.

Are you runner? You like to run trains. You would rather just kick back and run the trains, even if your layout doesn’t have scenery.

Are you an operator? You run your layout with prototypical operations like a mini transportation system.

Are you a railfanner? You have a nicely detailed layout, but like watching the trains run through the scenery instead of operating.

Are you a tinkerer? You’re not satisfied with anything, and always thinking what to change next. Pull out this structure here, move these tracks here.

Are you a locomotive guy? You like locomotives, lots and lots of locomotives. You’re layout mainly consists of engine facilities.

Are you a rolling stocker? You like lots of rolling stock, building kits, weathering. Your layout mainly consists of yard operations.

Are you a collector? You may not even have a layout but have a nice collection for display.

Are you an accumulator? You keep everything, you have old stuff in boxes, you buy more than can fit on your layout. You are buying things for a future layout.

Are you show modeler? You take your module layout to shows and display them.

Let’s see, for me right now, I’m in build mode. So I’m a builder. I work on the layout more than I run trains. Even though my trackwork is completed. I’m also a tinkerer. Even though my layout is new, I know I’ll be always changing something.

I like engines more than rolling stock. I’m trying to start a nice collection. Starting from completely nothing just 9 months ago, I know have 12 engines.

23

[quote user=“Motley”]

OK let’s hear it. What kind of modeler are you?

There are many different facets to this hobby, and all kinds of different modelers.

So I’m wondering, which one are you?

Are you a builder? You are working on the layout more than you run the trains. You like to work on scenery, structures, etc.

Are you runner? You like to run trains. You would rather just kick back and run the trains, even if your layout doesn’t have scenery.

Are you an operator? You run your layout with prototypical operations like a mini transportation system.

Are you a railfanner? You have a nicely detailed layout, but like watching the trains run through the scenery instead of operating.

Are you a tinkerer? You’re not satisfied with anything, and always thinking what to change next. Pull out this structure here, move these tracks here.

Are you a locomotive guy? You like locomotives, lots and lots of locomotives. You’re layout mainly consists of engine facilities.

Are you a rolling stocker? You like lots of rolling stock, building kits, weathering. Your layout mainly consists of yard operations.

Are you a collector? You may not even have a layout but have a nice collection for display.

Are you an accumulator? You keep everything, you have old stuff in boxes, you buy more than can fit on your layout. You are buying things for a future layout.

Are you show modeler? You take your module layout to shows and display them.

Let’s see, for me right now, I’m in build mode. So I’m a builder. I work on the layout more than I run trains. Even though my trackwork is completed. I’m also a tinkerer. Even though my layout is new, I know I’ll be always changing something.

I like engines more than rolling stock. I’m trying to start a nice collection. Starting from completely nothing just 9 months ago, I know have 12 engines.

24

Michael,

I am in the all of the above category. I recently caught the operations bug which has led to some serious changes in the layout. I am getting good at prying turnouts and track loose. Some things have to be complete before proceeding with others.

Just enjoy it all,

Sue

25

Interesting…

At one time or another, I have been all of the above. Now, since I’ve been granted title to enough space to build a reasonable facsimile of my dream layout, I’m no longer an accumulator and have become much more a builder.

When it comes to model railroading, it’s impossible for a lone wolf to be anything but a generalist. Only clubs (or people who can afford to employ professional builders) can make a comfortable fit for anyone who is a narrow specialist. At the moment, I am mainly a builder (of the layout, and of some of the kits I accumulated against the day…) I am an operator. My inner (model) railfan will have to wait until the scenery is complete on the various sections of the layout (and the most spectacular area will be one where the benchwork is still future tense…) I am having fun, have been having fun and expect to continue to have fun - and, after all, that’s what it’s all about.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

26

AMEN.

Paul

27

My situation may be somewhat unique, and could very well sound like torture to most of you…

I got deep into trains about 2002 after a lifetime of dipping my feet back into the hobby sporadically (along with prerequisite childhood memories of an elaborate Lionel set). For the past 8 years I’ve bought up a sizable collection of Genesis, Spectrum, Proto 1000/2000 and IHC steam and diesel locos, over 90 Athearn blue box freight and passengers cars, and a few accessories. Lucky for my wallet, things were still cheap! Hardly any DCC or sound equipped models back then. Genesis Mikados and Spectrum steam sold for $100 or less. Proto and Atlas diesels were going for $40-$60 on ebay, Athearn blue box old stock in the hobby stores were $4-$7 each! I was able to collect an empire of colorful rolling stock and high quality locos and enjoy building up the kits for reasonable prices, unlike today where a good loco or freight car costs 3-4 times as much.

I live in a small apartment and never set up even a shelf layout. There just isn’t the room, and I never knew if I’d being moving from year to year–that’s the main reason. So all train running has taken place on a four foot test track on my desk, back and forth. Needless to say I practiced the one tie per minute crawl on many a loco. I concentrated on modifications mostly, like adding weight to locos, changing the entire blue box fleet to kadees, painting custom details, decaling unlettered locos and cars, lubricating locos, creating small tabletop scenes, and constructing a few buildings. I learned to get get satisfaction from inventive tasks, like changing the unrealistic factory headlamp to a yellow LED in all my steam locos or adding crew to locomotive cabs, or building my own track cleaner car from an Athearn boxcar using a piece of spring-loaded masonite. Then I started buying used freight car lots with broken pieces and restoring them. I replaced many a broken boxcar

28

Builder 40%

Railfanner 30%

Operator 25%

Tinkerer et. al. 5%

But the mix varies depending on the phase of the moon, the weather and a host of other things.

29

Fits me to a ‘T’ although I tend to do a lot of ‘re’-modelling too—

30

I am definitely a locomotive guy. I like diesels, especially diesel locomotives with body styles from the 1940s and 1950s.

31

Short answer is a resounding YES. I am constantly building things (two new moduls on the living room floor right now); I love to run trains (can spend hours with a train on a simple loop); I belong to several operating groups; I am down at the track watching trains every opportunity; my workbench is full of tinker project (I am the MASTER of installing sound in Railcommand) units; I have seas of match rolling stock for era/road/etc.; I collect Alco PAs, EMD FTs, and E units, billboard reefer (non-beer), passenger trains, and caboose; I accumulate things that I can find when they are a good deal (just got about 30 Lionel O-32 remote turnouts for $10); And I regularly show at the Great Train Expo, regularly enter various modeling and photo contests.

Then there are the areas you didn’t mention. Helping out railroad oriented organizations. Vvirtual modeling with computer software and games. Layout desiging seems to be missing from your list… Then there are all the train games where one builds railroads and conqures the gamming world 18xx (tile) series, Empire Builder (crayon) series, Rail Baron, Tycoon, Rails through the Rockies, Silverton, etc, etc.

32

I am “All the Above”.

At one point or another, I go through several phases at one time… and I can go through it several times in a phase.

There is no hope for me.

:smiley:

33

[quote user=“Motley”]

Are you a tinkerer? You’re not satisfied with anything, and always thinking what to change next. Pull out this structure here, move these tracks here.

Are you a locomotive guy? You like locomotives, lots and lots of locomotives. You’re layout mainly consists of engine facilities.

Are you a rolling stocker? You like lots of rolling stock, building kits, weathering. Your layout mainly consists of yard operations.

Are you a collector? You may not even have a layout but have a nice collection for display.

Are you an accumulator? You keep everything, you have old stuff in boxes, you buy more than can fit on your layout. You are buying things for a future layout.

34

Great question! For me too, I am several and some not on the list.

Planner: For some reason I find drafting, dreaming, to be great fun. It used to be on paper but now, I use CAD. I have several solar homes planned with train rooms that have evolved. Of course there are layouts planned in the existing house, including N, HO, and G layouts.

35

Great question! I would say my preference is probably operations.

But in order to have a layout you can operate, you have to build it.

And in order to build a layout for operation, you have to plan it carefully.

And to plan a layout carefully, you have to learn at least a bit about how railroads work.

And (for me, at least) in order to have a truly satisfying layout, it has to make sense – geographically, historically, economically. So you better learn a little bit about all those things, as well.

And there are other pleasures along the way, like learning about the development of railroads and equipment, and choosing and buying era-specific locos and rolling stock.

But before you even get started, you better be a dreamer. Because chasing the dream layout is what this hobby is all about. I’m guessing that few of us even get close, and those who do keep dreaming up improvements to keep them busy.

36

I’m a very cranky modeler[^o)]

37

I dunno? I have…

…built, bashed or scratched at least 40 locomotives

…built and dismantled at least 3 incarnations of my layout while at the Plywood Pacific stage

…but finally finishing my latest and smallest incarnation of a layout.

…like to run trains, but dont care for Ops

…collect pre and post-war mechanical Marx, but not anything else.

What am I?

38

[quote user=“Motley”]

OK let’s hear it. What kind of modeler are you?

There are many different facets to this hobby, and all kinds of different modelers.

So I’m wondering, which one are you?

Are you a builder? You are working on the layout more than you run the trains. You like to work on scenery, structures, etc.

Are you runner? You like to run trains. You would rather just kick back and run the trains, even if your layout doesn’t have scenery.

Are you an operator? You run your layout with prototypical operations like a mini transportation system.

Are you a railfanner? You have a nicely detailed layout, but like watching the trains run through the scenery instead of operating.

Are you a tinkerer? You’re not satisfied with anything, and always thinking what to change next. Pull out this structure here, move these tracks here.

Are you a locomotive guy? You like locomotives, lots and lots of locomotives. You’re layout mainly consists of engine facilities.

Are you a rolling stocker? You like lots of rolling stock, building kits, weathering. Your layout mainly consists of yard operations.

Are you a collector? You may not even have a layout but have a nice collection for display.

Are you an accumulator? You keep everything, you have old stuff in boxes, you buy more than can fit on your layout. You are buying things for a future layout.

Are you show modeler? You take your module layout to shows and display them.

Let’s see, for me right now, I’m in build mode. So I’m a builder. I work on the layout more than I run trains. Even though my trackwork is completed. I’m also a tinkerer. Even though my layout is new, I know I’ll be always changing something.

I like engines more than rolling stock. I’m trying to start a nice collection. Starting from completely nothing just 9 months ago, I know have 12 engines.