Model Railroader - April 2007

[r.cprmier]

Sheldon;
Having had met both Howard Zane and Tony Koester, and having had the chance to talk with them, I find that I am more inclined to tap into the trememdous wealth of information and smarts they both posses; as well as their experiences in this hobby.

I can agree with you to an extent about the context of MR, rather than the format, as I have seen the former, especially in their DVDs.  I have somewhat departed from using MR as the backbone of my reading, and am now more inclined to get into the lesser trod, much more technically astute areas.  A greatly refreshing person here is Scott mason.  WHile I sense the same droll humour in both he and George Sellios, I can both respect and identify-connect-with both men in my thinking; because I am going where they are now; especially as a modifier, craftsman type kit builder, and scratchbuilder;so I will take all the help I can get.  To me, there are not too many other better sources-and George's wife, Cathy, has a great smile.

I think a great deal of personal satisfaction is had when I can "ape" one of Bob Van Gelder's kits-or at least create a reasonable facimile thereof...Or when I build one of Steve and Sharon's kits (F&C) and it actually comes out good!!  Taking the parts lines of the late Cliff Grandt, and Don Tichy, and expounding an existing production kit, or peering into the westering haze, and come up with my own scratchbuilt concoctions grabs me...But...this is where I want to be in this hobby, and what I want isn't neccessarily what should be the elixer de jour for every one else here.  I am a serious-and hopefully somewhat accomplished- hobbyist-not a fire-breathing edict.
To me, putting together, f'r'instance, a turnout set using Central Valley componets is the type of stuff what grabs me....and to me, what grabs you or anyone else here is just what is going to make the world go 'round.  I like it that way!

Rich

[Atlantic Central]

Rich,

It seems we are much in agreement. The main reason I go to the Timonium shows is purchase the latest F&C kits. I only once spoke to Howard breifly, but many I used to model with at Severna Park know him well. Never met Tony, but have corresponded with him by e-mail a few times. I actually limit my model socializing a bit and keep to a small group of friends.

I have been doing this long enough to know what I enjoy about it, and what does not interest me. While I enjoy and do build lots of kits and do lots of kit bashing, some mild, some major, I have lost all enthusiasm for being a rivet counter and am often just has happy to buy and Athearn box car, put better trucks and couplers on it, weather it very lightly and send it on its way in the next train.

My goal now it to reach relative completion of  a moderately large frelanced layout and enjoy operating it. And, enjoy just watching the models I have built operate on it.

I never could get deep into the prototype modeling thing, although I do work at making the real railroads (B&O, C&O, WM) that interchange with my Atlantic Central reasonably representitive of their prototypes and maybe a little ironicly, I am considered by many modelers I know very versed in the prototype.

I have never met George Sellios, but have built a few of his kits years ago. I have great respect for his obvoius talent, but his layout turns me cold. It is too depressing in my opinion. I am in this hobby for pleasure and to think of the world as that dismal and run down is depressing not fun. And I do not feel it is a realistic presentation of that time period. But I feel a lot of models are over weathered by a lot of people.

Maybe it is my personal profession as a Residential Designer and Historic Restoration Consultant that does not allow me to see the world as run down neglected wreck. Or maybe it is my own values of hard work and respect for property and the work others have done before me. But is just the way I feel.

Rich, thanks for sharing your thoughts, it is always informative and interesting when I see your name on a post.

Sheldon

[John C]

Both MR and RMC seem to have a lot more advertising in them than in the past.  That's not all bad - as part of model railroading is the product knowledge that goes with it.  An honest evaluation of tested products would be nice though - instead of politically correct nonsense.  I do miss the how to do it, build a dollar model etc. type articles in both publications.  I know that MR is promoting their online (purchasable) files, and maybe that's why there are fewer topics presented in print.  I have a number of years of both magazines, but I'm beginning to think that something like the Narrow Gauge Gazette might be more helpful as far as building things from scratch goes.  Alas, all things change with time.

[newyorkcentralfan]

I don't agree.

O scale models using HO track  to represent narrow gauge has always been called On2-1/2 in MR.  MR has always used the foot nomenclature for narrow gauge, not inches.

They're not renaming anything.

But it seems now more than ever they have lots of agenda's but no real direction. They have latched onto some supposed trends and tried to make them gospel, or they jump into niche areas with no respect for established conventions in those groups. Some examples:


Trying to "rename" On30 to On2-1/2.

[r.cprmier]

To me, using HO track for anything O scale is somewhat out of proportion.  Maybe it is just me, but it does stand out.  One difference is in the tie dimensions.  A really "properly" scaled O scale tie would be a bit more stout than the HO fare.  This is not to say that people shouldn't use HO scale track for On30 layouts-to advocate such would make it appear that I perhaps have way too much time on my hands.  It is only my hazy observations, viewed from an imperfect window, out onto an imperfect world.
I do think that On30 is a very nice alternative in the modelling world; especially what I have seen from Bachmann.  I do have some, but I think that ultimately, I will keep it more or less at HO, HOn3 and Fn3 scales-  Sort of like dating three women; all named Diane...

Rich

[Atlantic Central]

newyorkcentralfan,

Do you personally know anyone in that scale? Ask them what scale/guage they model in. 99.9% of them will say "On30" not "On2-1/2". Every manufacturer who makes it calls it On30. I am personal friends with a number of noted and published modelers in that scale. They all call it On30 and share this same complaint about MR. Who died and left Model Railroader in charge of "correcting" a whole segment of the hobby?

Sheldon

[SteamGene]

Let's see.  A three foot narrow gauge railroad is called "n3."  A two foot narrow gauge is called "n2."  A five foot broad gauge is called b5.  I think there were some narrow gauge roads that were two and a half feet wide and were called n2 1/2.  So MR is consistent in calling On30, 0n2 1/2.  On the other hand, the company that created it called it On30 as does just about everybody else. 
OTOH, I know soldiers who weren't born when the M-1 rifle left the inventory and they still call the box that holds the bullets a "clip." 
Gene

[jsmvmd]

Gene,

There is a story about the Army Sgt. instructing the troops in the use of the M1 US 30 Army, who, when asked if it was not the same as the 30.06, replied, "I don't know anything about civilian calibers!"


Best, Jack

[newyorkcentralfan]

Do you personally know anyone in that scale? Ask them what scale/guage they model in. 99.9% of them will say "On30" not "On2-1/2". Every manufacturer who makes it calls it On30. I am personal friends with a number of noted and published modelers in that scale. They all call it On30 and share this same complaint about MR.

I don't really care what they call them.

Model railroader has been publishing articles using the nFOOT nomenclature at least since the early 1970s, which is a far as my collection goes back to, maybe earlier.

As for people currently using nINCHS, there will always be inadequately educated people who don't know the proper term making up some half assed description because they don't know any better.

Just watch news people talking about tanks when standing in front of self propelled artillery pieces.

Who died and left Model Railroader in charge of "correcting" a whole segment of the hobby?

Since they first defined the term they obviously get to. That's how things work in the real world.

[Hunt]

newyorkcentralfan and others,

MR using On2½ and not On30 followed the name of scale paradigm for the NMRA Standards.

BUT in July 2004, the NMRA Standards were changed. The replacement of On2½ with On30 was one item of the changes.
http://www.nmra.org/standards/S-1_2StandardScale.html

[SteamGene]

I've known/heard of lots of folks who confuse self-propelled artillery with tanks, including a regimental commander of the 11th U.S. Cavalry.   I had one of his how battery commanders as a classmate in 1-73 AOCC.
Gene