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Re: Diminishing hobby?

I'd have to agree completely with Tony . Our society grows more sophisticated with every generation, and that includes our hobby. Yes, that F7A now retails for $125, but runs a heck of a lot better

By Ron Hildebrand <SteamFreight@...> · #19194 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

A quick comment before this thread is declared OT. Part of the cost perception is the great amount of new product that appears each month. In the 1970s or '80s the major producers like Athearn

By pieter_roos <pieter.roos@...> · #19195 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

You might be surprised how many teenagers are expressing their interests via Microsoft Train Simulator. Space required is no bigger than your hard disk, lots of freeware with payware add-ons for

By Dave Nelson <muskoka@...> · #19212 ·

Caboose brakes

I am working on a batch of the new Walthers UP CA-1 cabooses. They are nice models. But, I thought I would add, among other things, basic brake rigging. I am of course familiar with the standard AB

By philgulley · #19214 ·

Re: Painting brass

Bill Welch wrote Bill, the consensus seems to be that it's ok. Yet I have painted over 80 brass models, and I have stripped every one, and most of them got a soak in an ultrasonic cleaner to boot. I

By cf5250 <timoconnor@...> · #19191 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

I agree with Tony about this one being hashed to death, but there is one fun point I'd like about costs to make before I duck for cover.... Some time ago some wag figure out the cost per hour of

By Bill Schneider <branch@...> · #19192 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

I have no argument with the prices for rolling stock and locomotives today because I also feel that the quality has greatly improved and this you must pay for. The fact that I bemoan is the RTR

By Jim Scott · #19190 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

I love this thread every time it surfaces. But it's been covered in the hobby magazines for decades (similar worries), so there aren't many new whines. One can always find indicators that seem

By thompson@... · #19189 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

I, unfortunately, must agree that our hobby is diminishing. I'm an about-to-graduate high school senior and know perhaps ten other modellers across the country via email, and only one within The

By Kevin Slark <MoffatRoad@...> · #19188 ·

Re: "Black Diamond" Watermelon Shipments

Shawn Beckert writes: Well, the skiing analogy suggests they must be REALLY hard to eat... Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2942 Linden Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705

By thompson@... · #19187 ·

Re: "Black Diamond" Watermelon Shipments

Brown paper bags material may be a bit rough given the difference in scale and corresponding change in apparent texture. Regular paper painted or stained a brown kraft color might look better in a

By Eric Hiser · #19186 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

In the last 20 years of his life old Irv did not care if he made any money. He had his and it was more than he would spend in his life time. So if the company broke ever that is all he care about.

By ljack70117@... · #19210 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

My Granddad would get all over you if you told you wished for the "good old days". He would say "yes I could buy a loaf of bread for a nickel and you could buy a pound of hamburger for 10 cents" but

By ljack70117@... · #19185 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

Steve Sandifer wrote: I also built model cars and planes when I was young. Not the current generation. Been to an IPMS meet lately? There are twentysomethings and thirtysomethings that do some

By benjaminfrank_hom <b.hom@...> · #19184 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

Ted Culotta wrote: Resin freight car kits were $15 twenty years ago and are now $30+. That's life and the rate of inflation, not absolute cost increases. In addition, the $4 Athearn freight car kit

By benjaminfrank_hom <b.hom@...> · #19183 ·

Re: "Black Diamond" Watermelon Shipments

It's the /very/ common round, dark green watermellon. Here is a picture from a seed company: (Scroll down on the left.) http://www.beasleylawn-garden.com/seedstore.html Christian Tucker New

By Christian Tucker <ctucker1@...> · #19182 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

--- In STMFC@..., "J. Stephen Sandifer" <jssand@e...> posted the following, written by Dean Hale: I find the cost argument to be bogus. Old people always bemoan the fatc that houses

By tcschc <tculotta@...> · #19181 ·

"Black Diamond" Watermelon Shipments

List, While we're on the subject of loads: I've been corresponding with a gentleman in Longview, Texas who was a telegrapher and station agent for the Cotton Belt on the Texas Division. He's provided

By Shawn Beckert · #19180 ·

Re: Diminishing hobby?

muskoka@... writes: But the lower-end Athearn diesels and cars are still available, correct? So, yes, those with limited means cannot afford the higher-end items, but they aren't being cut

By asychis@... · #19201 ·

painting brass

Thanks to everybody that answered my question about the wisdom/necessity of stripping brass before painting. It is clear to me that the consensus is not to do so unless there is an exceptional

By Bill Welch <bwelch@...> · #19205 ·

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