What about rolling stock or structures? Can limited funds be an
advantage? Instead of purchasing all the latest highly detailed
rolling stock for $50 per car, develop the skills needed to add
details to existing rolling stock.
Before you think, "I can't do that -- upgrading used cars," con-
sider the tools and parts needed are minimal: X-Acto knife, pin
vise with drill bits, tweezers, the necessary detail parts, paint,
decals, and the willingness to learn. If you ruin the first few
cars – so what? You only spent a few dollars on each one: con-
sider it the cost of getting some hobby training.
If during this process you come up with a innovative way to
achieve the results you desire, you have developed something
better and succeeded at it.
There’s a satisfying sense of pride and a feeling of accomplish-
ment every time you look at what you have created, knowing
the obstacles you overcame to finish it. You're then encouraged
to do more, and to push the limits of your abilities.
I know it works this way for me. If you can purchase what-
ever you want, you will never know that sense of pride or
accomplishment.
The time you spend building the models adds value to them.
They serve as reminders of what you have accomplished in the
hobby and how your skills have grown. I say the purpose of the
hobby is to become railroad
modelers
. If you buy everything
that you want, would you really be a railroad modeler or just a
train collector?
As Plato said “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
