Reverse Running
T
hese days it seems the
ultimate in the hobby
has become ever
more detail on our models.
We’ve become so detail-hun-
gry that manufacturers keep
adding those details to satisfy
us, to the point the typical
ready-to-run HO freight car
has gone from less than $10
in the 1990s to now 20 years
later pushing $35-$45.
I can remember when Kadee’s
more detailed HO freight cars priced in the $25 range seemed
very expensive. Now-a-days, a $25 HO ready-to-run (RTR)
freight car seems cheap!
Do we really need all this detail? If you’re building an operating
layout, especially a layout over 200 square feet in size, I would
argue this level of detail
is overkill.
When you’re building a larger layout, you need lots of cars –
often dozens of each kind of car, and hundreds of cars in total.
Let’s say we’re talking 200 cars in HO that you need, and let’s
say you can get them all as RTR models (that’s debatable if
you’re a prototype modeler, but we’ll go with it for now). If
you can get all the cars you need for $25, that’s still a cool five
grand! If you go fancy and pay closer to $40 per car, now you’re
talking eight grand.
Reverse Running: Stepping outside the box with a contrary view
by Joe Fugate
The case against more detailed cars
That three grand difference will buy you a very nice wireless
DCC system with a bunch of fancy wireless throttles. In other
words, that’s a lot of money.
But beyond the money aspect, I would argue all that detail is
largely a waste on a larger layout. When I’m doing prototype
operations, I typically have a lot on my mind. If the car is rea-
sonably weathered and has good basic details done in place, I
frankly don’t notice how much brake rigging or stand-off grab
irons a car has.
Ask me later which cars in the train were $40 uber-detailed and
which cars were nicely weathered Blue Box specials with some
detail upgrades like better stirrup steps and I could not tell you.
Yes, those super-detailed cars look great in up close model
photos. But do they make the op session more fun? Not at all.
One big reason this detail is a waste is because when you’re
operating, the trains are moving. Have you ever tried to item-
ize car details on a car when it’s in motion? It’s tough to do. Or
even if the train is standing still, the cars may be buried in yard
track three or sitting in a passing siding while the hot freight
rolls by in front on the main.
In short, we of the hobby media have done a disservice to the
hobby by promoting all this super detailing. Sure it makes great
photos, but as an industry we’re killing doing the hobby-in-the-
large by mere mortals – only the most wealthy need apply.
Isn’t it time we decide enough is enough, and start promoting
what’s reasonable instead of pushing the level of detail ever
higher and taking the price of your average HO freight car over
$50 in the next few years?
I mean, c’mon! It’s time we modelers flock to the cheaper
equipment and show the industry there’s still a market for
more affordable cars. Let’s vote with our pocketbooks!
MRH-Aug 2014
