No Railroad Modelers?

I'm one of those, but not as radical as the guy I read about (and saw photos of) who modeled the water lid on his N scale locomotive tender so it would flip open and did the "wet" water paint trick inside!

The narrow gauge fans are particularly fanatical about accuracy...

ragc

My principal interest is in the motive power.  I super-detail (a model RR term meaning what I build is not a toy, but a model of a prototype) all my equipment, and either build my steam locomotives from kits, scratchbuild them, or modify existing pieces.

I believe the distinction and separation has more to do with the way a large number of Model Railroaders are into the hobby to run the equipment, not to accurately model.  These hobbyists are not that interested in accuracy: they view their models as "toys".  On the other hand, there are those whon are so fanatical about modelling that their layouts are just display shelves where their equipment can go through all their scaled motions in a straight line in accurately modeled and weathered scenery representing an actual location.

It is an interesting separation.  Modelers don't like their work called toys, while railroaders actually play with their stuff!

I guess I fall somewhere in the middle!

I belong to a model railroading forum and you would be surprised at how many people on there enjoy running their trains but also scratchbuild or purchase detailing kits to modify the manufacturers oversights in accuracy, improper ladder, hand brake in the wrong place, poor paint colour etc.

Many of them frown on the term toys as well.

Surfing on both forums there is quite a bit of information similar when it comes to modeling techniques applicable from scratch building, kit builds to dioramas.

I've seen several examples of WWII German armored RR car.  Probably some Soviet/Russian examples as well.  I would think that a model of Hitler's "Amerika" locomotives, flak cars, etc would be an interesting build.  All sorts of possibilities out there.

I would love to see a railroad section here!

My first love is for aircraft, rail is second. I don't delve into it all that often, and I don't have a layout....yet! I do have a cheap train (weathered and graffitied with family names) and a few buildings for a village under the X-mas tree.

My principal interest is in the motive power.  I super-detail (a model RR term meaning what I build is not a toy, but a model of a prototype) all my equipment, and either build my steam locomotives from kits, scratchbuild them, or modify existing pieces.

I believe the distinction and separation has more to do with the way a large number of Model Railroaders are into the hobby to run the equipment, not to accurately model.  These hobbyists are not that interested in accuracy: they view their models as "toys".  On the other hand, there are those whon are so fanatical about modelling that their layouts are just display shelves where their equipment can go through all their scaled motions in a straight line in accurately modeled and weathered scenery representing an actual location.

It is an interesting separation.  Modelers don't like their work called toys, while railroaders actually play with their stuff!

I guess I fall somewhere in the middle!

The Diorama Forum has lots of info that would be useful in model railroading.

Regards,  Rick

ragc

There seems to be no place in the Discussion categories...

there isn't one here and I also assume it is because of what Aaronw posted

my primary build interest is military vehicles in 1/35 but I also build cars and trucks in 1/24 - 1/25 and paint HO modern rolling stock 

I don't have an running layout and don't plan on building one anytime soon but like to build and paint modern freight prototypically 

RXR threads will pop up here from time to time

I usually post over at the Trains.com forums.  I lurk over here every once in a while.

Just from reading the literature, it seems to me that there is very little communication between model railroaders and other model builders.  And even when similar techniques are used in model railroading, it seems like the techniques were developed more or less independently, and not as a result of any direct interchange between the groups of modelers.

At least that's the way it looks to me.

As a model railroader too I wouldn't complain to see something added about them, but the topic of model railroading can become so vast that they take up entire forums alone, even a specific scale.  While I have a couple rolling stock kits of my grandfathers everything now is ready to run mostly.

Of course I'd like to see artillery have its own section too instead of having to share

If I had the space I would go back to RR. I started with N scale, liked it so much that went up to HO. I had a 4X8 layout with a small yard, a couple of spurs and a main line. It was really fun and relaxing doing some switching with the KB couplers. I imagine the equipment have come a long way in the past 15 years since I left the hobby.

There are a few static scale locomotive kits out there, for those who want to model them but not run them, so maybe a forum for them would not be out of place in the FSM forums.  I still have the Revell "Big Boy" on the not-started-yet shelf, and wouldn't mind getting ahold of that old kit of the General.

There are also a few imports of really ancient but important kits like Stephenson's Rocket and Trevitheck's coal mine loco.  I have the Rocket, and do intend to start it one of these days.

Aaronw is probably correct.  Kalmbach may segregate subjects according to their publications.

I have been modeling everything since the 1960's and see no distinction myself.  In fact, what I know about weathering and dioramas I learned from modeling railroads!  Current projects, now that I again have time are:

1) Picked up a Model Shipways Gjoa I started 25 years ago.  I have posted a progress shot of this in the "ships" section here.  Getting my "sea legs" back with this model before attempting the much larger and demanding No. 2 on this list.

2) Found a 1/8" scale Model Shipways Frigate Essex and it goes up next

3) Africa diorama involving Tamiya's 1:35th scale Stuart in British Desert Rat drag, Tamiya's Brit 8th Army figures, and MiniArt's 1:35 Brit Tank Crew

4) Bowser USRA Mountain locomotive in HO scale, super-detailed for the Central of Georgia according to prototype photos

5) Korean War air combat diorama involving Minicraft's North American F-86F Sabre and Airfix's MIG 15, in 1:72 scale

6) Revell's Robert E. Lee paddleboat in some diorama situation not planned yet

7) HO scale train layout representing typical Southern US railroading, with Southern Railways, Central of Georgia, and Georgia Railroad equipment running on interchange tracks

8) If son does not remove from our basement soon: Russian Winter diorama involving T-3x ? (too lazy to go look) tank, German and Russian figures, etc.

9) Graf Zeppelin - in fact, leaving today to visit daughter who found it at a discount store and bought it for me...

So anyway... happy to see all the great stuff you have here: I hope to learn much by studying your posts... just include a locomotive or train every once in a while...

It is probably because Kalmbach also runs a railroad magazine.

http://mrr.trains.com/

Although we do have a car model section even though they also have Scale Auto, so that is a bit odd.

Now that it has been mentioned and other mediums are represented in the forums, I'm a bit surprised that there isn't a forum for them. Like all models, it would be a nice to see the trains and buildings they build.

Thanks!  It was not listed, but it's good to know!

we usually talk about railroad equipment in armor but not layouts.