Reverse Running commentary
I
recently read a
modeler’s blog
where he was
lamenting that there
were just too many
copycats in the hobby
and few original thinkers
left. Gone are the days
of the hobby original thinkers like Frank Ellison and John Allen.
The implication of this copycat line of thinking is that being “orig-
inal” in your modeling is a higher ideal than being a “copycat”.
Well, hold on a second.
Isn’t the hobby of model railroading about copying a full-sized
original in miniature? Even the proto-freelancers generally
take a full-sized original and just alter it slightly with a different
paint scheme or a few minor detail differences.
What if a modeler really took this lament to heart and tried
to be totally original? What would we end up with? Fantasy
model railroading, that’s what.
Trains on Mars, or Trains on Middle Earth – now that’s certainly
less of a copycat! But I don’t see that being any higher of a
modeling ideal than prototype or proto-freelance modeling.
So what about the other extreme – modelers like Tom Hokel?
Tom, if you may recall, is among a handful of modelers who
model other modeler’s layouts, in this case a very convincing
Reverse Running: Stepping outside the box with a contrary view
by Joe Fugate
Copycats
interpretation of John Allen’s now defunct Gorre & Daphetid.
See the July 2012 MRH for more on Tom's efforts.
Is Tom any less of a modeler because he copies someone else's
layout look and feel? Doesn’t it still take good track laying skill,
good scenery modeling skill, and good skill with locos and roll-
ing stock? Or maybe even
more
skill to pull it off well?
And isn’t prototype modeling popular these days? Aren’t the
best prototype modelers better
copycats
?
By definition, model railroading is making a minature copy of
(aka, copycatting) a full-sized train, is it not?
After all, how many ways can you model steel wheels running
on steel rail? Who says “being original” is some kind of holy
grail? Or why is being “a copycat” so terrible?
I mean come on – it's a hobby for crying out loud, it's not a
competition for the next Nobel Prize!
So where’s the problem? Frankly, I don’t see it.
Oh, I agree the hobby could use more good role models, and
that's one reason MRH has been doing the Allagash Bash and
promoting Mike Confalone's Allagash Railway so much lately.
Mike’s approach to the hobby is so much more than just mod-
eling 1980 Maine in April. Mike’s methods include a lot of great
insight we believe all model railroaders can benefit from, if you
will truly look beyond his locale and season.
But here again, we’re recommeding Mike's hobby philosophy
and techniques are worth imitating – worth
copying
, if you will.
As far as I’m concerned, as long as you’re having fun, you’re
doing the hobby right.
Copying or not copying has
nothing to do with it.
MRH-Mar 2014
