What the hell are you doing? The frequent questions about my LAJ layout, all well meaning and coming from long time ‘friends of the cause’, have been posed in the most delicate and diplomatic manner. Translated into plain English however, they boil down to, “What the heck are you trying to accomplish with the layout […]
Category: Opinion
Moving From Technician to Artist
When it comes to leisure pursuits, it’s not necessary to be particularly good at the activity in order for it to serve its purpose of being relaxing and enjoyable. For example, I enjoy running, playing basketball, fishing, and surfing but have no delusions of being particularly competent at any of them. Not only am I […]
All Done, Now What?
Following Up on a Successful Launch By far the biggest obstacle facing the entry level modeler is overcoming inertia, getting that first layout off the launching pad, and operating reliably. Doing so is an enormous achievement. Things flow much easier after hitting that first milestone. The primary reason I’m an advocate for smaller, simpler […]
What Is “Accuracy”
Avoiding the Placeholder Trap When we say something has been modeled accurately, what exactly do we mean? Does it mean that we’ve performed a careful survey of the bristling details on a specific locomotive, documented them on an excel spreadsheet, tracked down said details, and meticulously applied them? Can we go back, compare […]
Our Hobby and the Press
If I had to pick one entity that is the lifeblood of our hobby, I wouldn’t even have to stop to think about it. Without question, it’s the model railroad press, particularly Model Railroader, Model Railroad Hobbyist, and Railroad Model Craftsman. The healthier the magazines are, the more robust their circulation, the better for […]