Unknown coupler to me?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

HO guys refer to "credit card modelers" - modelers who wait for the manufacturer(s) to announce the exact models they want/need and when that happens the credit card modelers whip out their credit cards.

They also support the storage unit business...and I've cleaned out a few too many full of models in boxes from guys that just bought and bought never doing anything else. One presumes that is what made them happy....

[up148]

I think the CC modelers are prevalent in 3R as well......maybe not so much now with production slowing down......but, just saying.

[sarge]

If you could have everything you want, whenever you wanted, it would no longer be a hobby, and certainly wouldn't be very interesting.

HO guys refer to "credit card modelers" - modelers who wait for the manufacturer(s) to announce the exact models they want/need and when that happens the credit card modelers whip out their credit cards.

Not convinced I agree with it; borders on an "I'm right and you're wrong" belittlement of those who aren't at the high end of the spectrum of railroad modellers or collectors of the finest brass, but are average model railroaders.

Why it's a hobby and interesting isn't because of denial. More like the breadth of it all and the variety of ways you can escape life for a few hours. The person that buys all their rolling stock could very well teach you how to make a tree or wire signals or, yeah, even get your boxes out of the closet and build a layout.

That "credit card modeller"probably can throw it back just as easily, "blacksmiths", "hoarder", "racing 'round the Plywood Central".

[Rufus T. Firefly]

If you could have everything you want, whenever you wanted, it would no longer be a hobby, and certainly wouldn't be very interesting.

That's more of a statement of finances than much else that has little to do with disqualifying anything as a hobby. Interesting is in the eye of the participant; the beholder is not really relevant.

[bob turner]

You guys are going to ding me for that silly comment, but have no time to check out my attempt at resurrecting a twelve wheeler?

Let's say you wanted a D&H Consolidation with water tube boiler, in Proto-48. Let's also say that Amazon can get one to your door on Tuesday, to your specifications, for a hundred bucks, free shipping. Is the thrill still there?

[up148]

I get it. I left HO because it became boring with everything I wanted at my fingertips. O scale took some looking, building, kit-bashing and modifying and that appealed to me. I think the model train hobby has lost some of that in the past several decades.....like everything else in our world. Just because it's convenient, doesn't mean it's better.

[sarge]

You guys are going to ding me for that silly comment, but have no time to check out my attempt at resurrecting a twelve wheeler?

Let's say you wanted a D&H Consolidation with water tube boiler, in Proto-48. Let's also say that Amazon can get one to your door on Tuesday, to your specifications, for a hundred bucks, free shipping. Is the thrill still there?

For you, no. For the other guy, his day is well and truly made. That's my whole point.

It's easy for any of us to assume the other guy has the same goals and values each of us might. I do it all the time, but perhaps my time on the industry side of things has me a bit more aware of it. I still have to remind myself my hobby only has to satisfy me and, when I get on a tear about hating sound or handlaying track or how lowering freightcars is a requirement, the other guy for whom sound is his gig isn't somehow "wrong". He or she is being true to themselves.

As far as your twelve-wheeler, well you don't have time for my plastic freightcars, do you? We're all fascinated by different aspects. That's why this hobby has the staying power it does.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

You guys are going to ding me for that silly comment, but have no time to check out my attempt at resurrecting a twelve wheeler?

Looked and okay. Not my cup of tea or can of Pepsi or my shiny thing....but it makes you & others happy.

Have you ever looked at the trolley and traction stuff I post? Sarge's plastic cars are neatly done. I build freight cars form a pile of sticks for entertainment.

Let's say you wanted a D&H Consolidation with water tube boiler, in Proto-48. Let's also say that Amazon can get one to your door on Tuesday, to your specifications, for a hundred bucks, free shipping. Is the thrill still there?

If it were what I was looking for, damn right it's a thrill! Score & Celebrate! I've been done with the "First you have to suffer..." aspect of this hobby. Yes, I like a challenge, but it's my challenge and if I can get to the finish line faster, easier, let's turn the crank, and roll.

Now I just have to decide if I think I can insulate a Wagner drive with my meager skills and shop,

[bob turner]

Okay. I take it back.
Yes, I admire your work and Sarge's freight cars - and his scenery. You guys get plenty of feedback without me plastering my name on each and every thread.
I am probably the odd guy out. I personally would be totally bored if all I had to do is dream up something obscure and it would show up on my doorstep two days later free shipping, for cheap.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I personally would be totally bored if all I had to do is dream up something obscure and it would show up on my doorstep two days later free shipping, for cheap.

Test it out and see if you are.....there's only so much time to be endlessly on the search/hunt for some that doesn't exist.

[sarge]

Ruf, I think you're missing his point (if you'll pardon me, Bob)

For Bob, building it is his passion, not buying it. The classic railroad modeller/model engineer/O scaler.

Bob and I share that passion, though I might be more interested in the model railroader side of the hobby than he is, or than you are for that matter. It makes our world go 'round.

So, a little light humour, poking some fun at ourselves and the view taken of us by the other scales (so don't get offended, anyone!)

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Ruf, I think you're missing his point (if you'll pardon me, Bob)

For Bob, building it is his passion, not buying it. The classic railroad modeller/model engineer/O scaler.

Don't think I am actually, being something of a builder myself looking at the 50+ boxes of completed rolling stock and trolley/traction stacked up here in my office for this year. I get reminded about that by the better 1/2 now and again....time to enter stuff into the inventory and I was waiting for snow....

I'll buy stuff, but very selectively based on a combination of impatience and my time being better spent building something I cannot buy at all. Case in point, the Class B steeplecab that I posted up recently. Probably could build it but why bother when that's available. Got 2 more in that series to attend to this year if we can get maybe 3-4 decent weather days. Got a stack of other traction to build that's not ever been available, so it's really a function of available time vs. available model vs. wallet. Time is the most valuable commodity.

I might be more interested in the model railroader side of the hobby than he is, or than you are for that matter.

Not sure that's entirely true either; matter of priorities, space & time for me. My layout is complete and fully scenic'd. Never got around to putting it into OST since I always held it back as emergency fill, It's too small for more than 4 people in the room; maybe only 3 given the proportions of many, but well within manageable for little old me. Never was designed for or considered for Ops since I was unaware of and then only marginally interested in that activity at that time.

That lack of interest was probably reinforced due to those Ops circles around here being widely populated by folks disinterested in building much of anything other than having enough track down to run an Ops session. On that very point that you poke at, one on my local HO scale modeling associates is Ops exclusively, recently paid a service several body parts for someone to build, deliver, install a layout w/o scenery, and he has little interest in adding scenery, etc. Doing scenery, etc. just gets in the way of Ops....his call and joy.

I'd probably be more interested Ops were there more builders involved around here and less scorn and disdain expressed toward those that are....so I just head back into my shop now to work on the next set of projects.

Temp gets up today, that troublesome section of the barrister's stack might see some attention....not sure what had been stored in it, but seriously nasty....and I'll have to set up a fan to move the stench outside.

[sarge]

To each their own.

A new diesel build in plastic to be shown off so...

...the "Diesel Build" thread!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

...the "Diesel Build" thread!

Excellent. Hopefully a good number from others will follow on....

[up148]

Well, our hobby is very diversified (as are most)........but the main point is all of us, in our niches, can enjoy what we like and still be under the O scale umbrella. It's all good and educational. I know way more about "door stops" than I ever thought I would and some of it applies to my favorite part.