Modeling survey question - just curious.

[J]

I've seen some excellent modeling work in this forum, no doubt about that.  However, would you say that most modelers here spend most of their time building & detailing locomotives & rolling stock, or are they also in the process of building a layout?  From my own experience, it seems like there's only enough time for one phase of the hobby or the other.  Do most prototype modelers also have a layout?  Any thoughts?

Thx

[Deleted]

I can only speak for myself. But I cannot even get myself to break away from locomotive modeling to build myself a freaking diorama for display. I am going to attempt it again after I finish my U30C project. I am not holding my breath though.

I would like to have a layout, but I do not have the room for anything substantial. I do have the time for it, it is just that I do not manage my hobby time well. I am overly consumed with fine scale diesel modeling.

[simulatortrain]

I just work on the equipment as I am in college and really am not in a position to start a layout right now. After I get out I plan on building a small layout, although a different era and location than what I eventually plan to model.

[AJ Kleipass]

I live in an apartment. A _small_ apartment. So there isn't much room for a layout - nor is there anything that can be disposed of to make room for one. Rather than totally surrendering to my circumstances, I'm focusing on assembling and detailing a fleet of rolling stock for the model railroads in my mind in the hope of one day having the space to run them.

On the up side, I'm saving hundreds of dollars by not needing DCC or sound decoders.

[iomalley]

I think my dad described me best. He said I was real good at detailing locos and cars, but my psyche is subconsciously telling me I'm gonna suck at scenery. He's probably right. So I keep making excuses to starting a layout...

[mkl194]

Here's a story that doesn't directly answer your question but you may find somewhat interesting....

My dad is a really good painter. He's done at least a hundred paintings and pencil drawings in his life that I've seen, and more that he gave away that I haven't seen.

One time when we were at out cabin by the lake I saw a painting of a Cowboy's face on the wall in the cabin. I hadn't seen it before and was struck by the incredible detail. I looked like one of his and I remarked that I hadn't seen that one before.

He said "Oh no, that's not my painting, my brother (obviously my uncle) painted that."

I was really impressed and told him it was incredible. He told me that his brother was a much better artist than he was.

I then asked where were some of his other paintings. He said: "He's a perfectionist and never completes any of his work because he isn't satisfied with the results."

I've thought about that statement for many years. When I look at the locomotives I did 20 years ago when my eyesight was sharper, I'm still struck by the fact that I actually did the things like eyebolts and pin head sized details all over the place.

When I started modeling again I quickly learned what a perishable skill super detailing really is. I also learned from that it's far more important to complete a project than it is to perfect it.

That being said, I find that having several tiers of modeling gives me more satisfaction. Some locomotives get the full on treatment to be showcase pieces, and second tier is models that are already pretty good get some touch up and then the bottom of the heap is the part where I hack and chop and bring life to Frankenstein's Monster because it's just plain fun.

The layout itself is growing out of the testing tracks I use, for example, to make my fleet of DD40's pull 10-15 86' Box cars without derailing on partial 22" radius. I like to test grade changes a lot using wood shims under life-like power loc track and lots of wavy flex track. I also like to handlay fasttracks switches from time to time.

I like to think that I shouldn't build something I'm not going to run...