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MRH staff notes - 4
4. Brass collecting can be a hobby unto itself, and an "investment."
Some collectors would never dare to run a brass model.
5. Prefers reading and admiring other peoples' work over doing it
him/herself.
6. Intimidated by technology and/or others' modeling skills. Prefers
something simple like an O27 trolley running back-and-forth on
an unscenicked track.
7. Too tired after work to spend time with the hobby.
8. Health issues.
“My dad was a good example of 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8. For my entire
childhood and into my early-40s, he said he wanted to build a lay-
out, but he never did. He did buy lots of junk fromNY/NJ mailorder
hobby store sales (remember the grab-bag specials?), and even
built a fewmodels over the decades. When he died in 1989, I
inherited this stuff, but sold or scrapped all but a few items.
“He read MR and RMC every month, but never started a layout of
his own. Even after I built an HO layout in my basement, he didn't
start one of his own. He had the space and funds available and my
offer to help him plan and build, but he never took advantage of
these. By this time, his health was a factor, but not a major factor
until years later.
“Looking over the points above, I can imagine some content in
MRH devoted to each point. I think focusing on (and validating) a
reason for being an armchair modeler and then discussing how to
enjoy that aspect of the hobby could useful.
“For example, take #1. There's nothing wrong with buying and
displaying models! We could discuss how to display rolling stock
attractively (maybe with photos as background), where to find
good deals on models (eBay),
and include links to MRH
articles on basic kit-assembly
techniques.
“Next we could discuss #2, and
go into how satisfying it can be
to learn things about railroads
of years past. How they oper-
ated, the equipment they used
and the structures they built.
Explain how to find information
in libraries, at train shows, from
historical societies, or online.
“Or how about #3? It's easy
and inexpensive to build a
simple diorama or switching
layout, even without any scen-
ery. Buy an 8' 1x12 pine board
at Lowe's and tack down some
flex track. Hook up a basic DC
power supply and run your
favorite engine. Add some cars,
and you're running a train.
“Item #4 would be a piece o'
cake if you got a brass collec-
tor to write it up.
“Even #5 and #6 could be
fleshed-out along the "what's
wrong with that?" line. If
people enjoy and appreciate
MRH-Apr 2013
