Is Model railroading getting away from supplying quality track plans with lots of operational interest? In the March issue, on pgs 97-9, there are two separate plans to model the Virginian within a "small" area. One for HO and one for N.
Looking at these two designs there really isn't much to them, mostly they just go around and around, and even the "fiddle" yard is hidden on the HO version.
Although I too appreciate lots of staging, and suggested industries, I think both of these designs are lacking in good old fashion switching opportunities. It seems to me that since this new guy, Terry Thompson, came to be Editor of MR after coming from one of MR's other mag: Large-Scale railroading I think it is, that the emphasis has switched form building convenient, sometimes small, but operationally interesting layouts, to huge scenes, with only the ability to go around and around in circles, give the area consumed by the layout.
Mr. Thompson, also has been pushing DCC, and in this Issue He pushes it big, suggesting that over 20% of the market now uses DCC, which I find hard to believe. I do intend to switch to DCC, once I see that it has become more affordable. This month's article "getting started in DCC for under $500", is ridiculous! Very little is said about the current systems out there, and if the manufacturers think that every model railroader can just drop $500 on a DCC system they must be crazy!
For $500 I can buy a very nice TV, a nice Couch, save that money and put it towards buying a new car, or put it towards my car payment etc....
I think that many of the people running this industry forget that it is a hobby....HOBBY. Yes means our lives should not revolve around model railroading because it is a H..O..B..B..Y.
Ok now I'm on a role, I’m going to attack the WORLD"S GREATEST HOBBY CAMPAIGN......Not very many of those of us out there involved in this campaign care one iota about the Kids were are supposed to be bringing into this hobby. We care about insuring that in 20 years we will still be able to buy engines and rolling stock etc...This campaign is aimed at trying to persuade the youth that Trains are HIP! Its a Sales pitch. The other major reason is for the collector, who wants to make sure that his prized MIRCO_TRAIN fleet will sell for 4 times as much as he bought it in 20 years.
People, why are we so concerned that kids are spending more time playing on the computer than on trains...If the child likes Playing on his computer more than playing with a train...so be it. Maybe one day they will see how much fun it is, but to label Model railroading the worlds greatest is ludicrous. That is like slapping a gaurantee on an "a seen on TV iteam" only to get it home and see it does not works, which is what happens when parents buy their kids "train sets." This sales campaign, and thats all it is people, reminds me of JOE Camel, or Pepsi.. all bombarding our youth with images and trying to convince them that theirs is the best. Only with this, the manufacturers are using us..the model railroaders, to do the advertising, cause GOD forbid they should do it themselves. And yes I do know it was MR that started the campaign not the manufacturers, but please....
Ok I’m done for now...Putting on my FLAME-proof jacket, shoes, gloves, and helmet. Standing behind the flame retardant 4 ft thick brick wall, with a bucket of water handy and a fire extinguisher...opps almost forgot the marsmellows!
Ed
Looking at these two designs there really isn't much to them, mostly they just go around and around, and even the "fiddle" yard is hidden on the HO version.
Although I too appreciate lots of staging, and suggested industries, I think both of these designs are lacking in good old fashion switching opportunities. It seems to me that since this new guy, Terry Thompson, came to be Editor of MR after coming from one of MR's other mag: Large-Scale railroading I think it is, that the emphasis has switched form building convenient, sometimes small, but operationally interesting layouts, to huge scenes, with only the ability to go around and around in circles, give the area consumed by the layout.
Mr. Thompson, also has been pushing DCC, and in this Issue He pushes it big, suggesting that over 20% of the market now uses DCC, which I find hard to believe. I do intend to switch to DCC, once I see that it has become more affordable. This month's article "getting started in DCC for under $500", is ridiculous! Very little is said about the current systems out there, and if the manufacturers think that every model railroader can just drop $500 on a DCC system they must be crazy!
For $500 I can buy a very nice TV, a nice Couch, save that money and put it towards buying a new car, or put it towards my car payment etc....
I think that many of the people running this industry forget that it is a hobby....HOBBY. Yes means our lives should not revolve around model railroading because it is a H..O..B..B..Y.
Ok now I'm on a role, I’m going to attack the WORLD"S GREATEST HOBBY CAMPAIGN......Not very many of those of us out there involved in this campaign care one iota about the Kids were are supposed to be bringing into this hobby. We care about insuring that in 20 years we will still be able to buy engines and rolling stock etc...This campaign is aimed at trying to persuade the youth that Trains are HIP! Its a Sales pitch. The other major reason is for the collector, who wants to make sure that his prized MIRCO_TRAIN fleet will sell for 4 times as much as he bought it in 20 years.
People, why are we so concerned that kids are spending more time playing on the computer than on trains...If the child likes Playing on his computer more than playing with a train...so be it. Maybe one day they will see how much fun it is, but to label Model railroading the worlds greatest is ludicrous. That is like slapping a gaurantee on an "a seen on TV iteam" only to get it home and see it does not works, which is what happens when parents buy their kids "train sets." This sales campaign, and thats all it is people, reminds me of JOE Camel, or Pepsi.. all bombarding our youth with images and trying to convince them that theirs is the best. Only with this, the manufacturers are using us..the model railroaders, to do the advertising, cause GOD forbid they should do it themselves. And yes I do know it was MR that started the campaign not the manufacturers, but please....
Ok I’m done for now...Putting on my FLAME-proof jacket, shoes, gloves, and helmet. Standing behind the flame retardant 4 ft thick brick wall, with a bucket of water handy and a fire extinguisher...opps almost forgot the marsmellows!
Ed