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One other "take" on model railroading (the one that I prefer, of course) is
not to worry too much about the detail of models vs. prototype, or even
scale, as long as you can recognize "that's a boxcar, that's a hopper,
that's a Pullman, etc." I prefer to go deeper into the actual running of
the trains: consists, yard switching, schedules, hauling raw material to
the factory and picking up finished goods to haul to the freight depot to be
distributed to the townsfolk, etc.
For this, it doesn't matter if you're 6-wide, 8-wide, or 20-wide for that
matter, only what fits in your residence (without getting stepped on!).
The reason that I chose Lego to model trains with is that everything comes
apart and goes back together easier, I can build a new layout every night if
I want to, and packing things up for shipment around the world is much
easier (a critical fact to consider when you're in the military and move
every 1-2 years).
--
William A. Swanberg
CPT, SC
Commander, 229th Signal Company (TACSAT)
swanberg@msn.com
"Tony Priestman" <Tony@you-rang.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:WxiQCaA6Lho4EwoJ@you-rang.demon.co.uk...
> On Wed, 9 Feb 2000, Larry Pieniazek (<Fpoosu.HrL@lugnet.com>) wrote at
> 22:22:06
>
> >
> > I'll be blunter. Everyone on this thread, are we actually disagreeing • about
> > anything here??? I don't think so, really.
>
> Probably not.
>
> I think either John G misread my post, or I misunderstood his
> disagreement, because I ended up wanting to write the same thing again
> :-)
>
> I guess I'm just trying to get people to express their objectives a bit
> more clearly when talking about their designs.
>
> Modelling trains with LEGO is fun and a challenge, but scale modelling
> it ain't, so talking about scale is just a waste of time.
>
> There. I think that's what I meant to say :-)
> --
> Tony Priestman
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I agree with William here - there is so much more to model trains* than the
phsical realism of the models. I would love to explore automated operation,
bar-coded freight yards and more 'realistic' operation, all possible using
Lego trains of course. As others have pointed out, it is pointless trying to
build a 'scale' model out of Lego, 8 wide or whatever but I have never seen a
mainstream model railway built to 'scale' AND featuring interesting and
intensive operation. Reason is the fragility of the delicate models prevents
handling and overscale working cranes etc. are just not tolerated. This is
where Lego trains really score - Flexible design with robust construction
(even when dropped).
Jon
*(There's a lot more to life than model trains too!)
In lugnet.trains, William A. Swanberg writes:
> One other "take" on model railroading (the one that I prefer, of course) is
> not to worry too much about the detail of models vs. prototype, or even
> scale, as long as you can recognize "that's a boxcar, that's a hopper,
> that's a Pullman, etc." I prefer to go deeper into the actual running of
> the trains: consists, yard switching, schedules, hauling raw material to
> the factory and picking up finished goods to haul to the freight depot to be
> distributed to the townsfolk, etc.
>
> For this, it doesn't matter if you're 6-wide, 8-wide, or 20-wide for that
> matter, only what fits in your residence (without getting stepped on!).
>
> The reason that I chose Lego to model trains with is that everything comes
> apart and goes back together easier, I can build a new layout every night if
> I want to, and packing things up for shipment around the world is much
> easier (a critical fact to consider when you're in the military and move
> every 1-2 years).
>
>
>
> --
> William A. Swanberg
> CPT, SC
> Commander, 229th Signal Company (TACSAT)
> swanberg@msn.com
>
>
> "Tony Priestman" <Tony@you-rang.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:WxiQCaA6Lho4EwoJ@you-rang.demon.co.uk...
> > On Wed, 9 Feb 2000, Larry Pieniazek (<Fpoosu.HrL@lugnet.com>) wrote at
> > 22:22:06
> >
> > >
> > > I'll be blunter. Everyone on this thread, are we actually disagreeing • about
> > > anything here??? I don't think so, really.
> >
> > Probably not.
> >
> > I think either John G misread my post, or I misunderstood his
> > disagreement, because I ended up wanting to write the same thing again
> > :-)
> >
> > I guess I'm just trying to get people to express their objectives a bit
> > more clearly when talking about their designs.
> >
> > Modelling trains with LEGO is fun and a challenge, but scale modelling
> > it ain't, so talking about scale is just a waste of time.
> >
> > There. I think that's what I meant to say :-)
> > --
> > Tony Priestman
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Jonathan Reynolds wrote:
> This is
> where Lego trains really score - Flexible design with robust construction
> (even when dropped).
Well, I'm not so sure about the robust construction even when dropped
part. I think most creations disassemble themselves when dropped on the
floor. The difference from fine-scale models is that chances are nothing
actually broke, and even if a brick or two break, chances are you can
easily replace them.
--
Frank Filz
-----------------------------
Work: mailto:ffilz@us.ibm.com (business only please)
Home: mailto:ffilz@mindspring.com
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In lugnet.trains, Frank Filz writes:
> Jonathan Reynolds wrote:
> > This is
> > where Lego trains really score - Flexible design with robust construction
> > (even when dropped).
>
> Well, I'm not so sure about the robust construction even when dropped
> part. I think most creations disassemble themselves when dropped on the
> floor. The difference from fine-scale models is that chances are nothing
> actually broke, and even if a brick or two break, chances are you can
> easily replace them.
>
> --
> Frank Filz
>
> -----------------------------
> Work: mailto:ffilz@us.ibm.com (business only please)
> Home: mailto:ffilz@mindspring.com
It's all relative. Five minutes to replace a few bricks versus Several months
painstaking skilled modelmaking/painting. I know which I'd rather do!
(cue 'age of instant gratification ruining classic creative toys' debate)
Jon
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