Inversely proportional?

Depends so much on the individual: it is possible to be critical, but also relaxed, realistic, and able to really enjoy this hobby.

My primary interest is the main lines North from London. I now have a bigger choice in 'respectable quality' RTR OO than at any time in the past, including a large proportion of the common workaday stuff required in quantity for a good size representation of a main line operation circa 1960. I am still celebrating Bach's introduction of an accurate RTR model of the dia 1/108 16T mineral, the signature wagon of the time. A lot of other people must share this view, because every batch of the 'typical' unfitted grey in early livery produced so far, has evaporated from the shelves like the snow in spring. The BR mk1 coach range is adequately represented at last, (fifty years after it entered service) and there is a good choice of types of two distinct design eras of Pullman cars to a very good standard. We are promised an LNWR type heavy freight loco, we are getting an accurate as can be hoped for prototype Deltic, most of the BR standards and later LMS types are now available, there is actually some mixed traffic and freight power appropriate to the ECML.

There are some aspects of UK RTR that could do with further improvement - and I am going to start a thread on one of them - but is my glass half full, or half empty? I hope you can guess from the tone of this posting.

QUOTE (ozwarrior @ 13 Nov 2007, 17:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I wonder what others think? Does a more relaxed attitude bring more enjoyment?

Regards,
Les

***It depends. I love adding my own touches and perhaps replacing details that to me let a loco down, or evenwhere a loco is excellent, perhaps adding a tiny detail or two that makes it a specific loco rather than just another of the same.... I enjoy it. I don't enjoy simply taking a loco out of a box and running it.... I never feel its truly "mine" until I've invested a little of me into it.

Others have their own preferences, taking great enjoyment in opening a trainpack and dropping it onto the track for the joy of just running it.

In BOTH cases, pleasure is equal as both pursue the hobby the way they want to.

I think the pleasure diminishes when the "hidden peer pressure" of the hobby is allowed to overcome the pleasure aspect. ie
"I'd like that loco but the guys at the club have said its wrong, so I won't buy it".

The same stops people doing things sometimes. For example many modellers will never ask for help as they don't want to be seen to be unable to do a simple task, or won't tackle a project for fear others will see them fail. Thats a real shame, as to me, much of the pleasure of the hobby is the constant learning and growing of skills, and the satisfaction that doing it yourself can bring....

To build on 34C's comment - My glass is constantly full - so many great models to build, so many things to do, so little time - and all of it great fun!

Richard

QUOTE (ozwarrior @ 13 Nov 2007, 08:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I agree it's an unusual title but I was struggling!

It's important for people to model what they want without criticism but I was thinking that the higher the bar one sets then obviously the choices diminish (in rtr terms). Does this in turn lead to more frustration?
For example if one rules out things like traction tyres, tender drive, 3-pole motors, tender gaps, flangeless wheels, pancake motors, front end shapes and so on then there's just less.
On the other hand someone who'll take pretty much any and all has more and is therefore more satisfied?
As an example if one says I won't buy a 67 as it's not up to my standards so I'll buy another 37 certainly can do so but there's less variety on the layout so there must be some dissatisfaction.
I wonder what others think? Does a more relaxed attitude bring more enjoyment?

Regards,
Les

As you state, an usual title, I agree the hobby should be enjoyed, if not hat's the point, surely it's to escape the humdrum of life. I basically create a major station in the 1950's, but there is such nice modern (current) stuff out, whether r-t-r or kits to make up, I would want to have some of these to run on my 1950's layout - purely for my own enjoyment to see what it looks like and perfomance. Our real life rail network has been so butchered and seems to be so basic, it appeals to me to see what modern railway stock would be like (just another fantasy). Anyway, I learned years ago not to worry about others criticism, unless I had ASKED for such an appraisal, that way my mind rest's easy!

Just enjoy whatever turns you on as it were - I am certainly envious of some of the great achievements of you chaps, and I look upon your talents as I did the real railways all those years ago - PURE ENJOYMENT and a delight to behold.

So inverse or not - just enjoy

Andy West

I find that having some restrictions keeps my love of models in check, so locomotives need to have been recorded in the region and period I model - West Riding of Yorkshire in the 50s. Further restrictions are enforced by my running requirements unless it's something I can fix myself, so no 3 pole motors but a lack of tender pickups I can fix which is just as well since Bachmann just don't do them. My locomotive roster is small so far, so locomotives which aren't DCC ready are at the bottom of my wish list. I am unlikely to buy the Bachmann WD as I have read reports it is extremely difficult to convert.

So yes, I am fussy but Hornby and Bachmann are bringing out enough models in different livery variations to keep me buying for some time yet though I may have to build my own kit built 0-6-0 models some time in the far distant future.

David