Model Railroad Hobbyist | May 2016 | #75 IMAGINEERING column Doug Geiger, MMR Freelancing fun in operating sessions... There are many degrees of freelancing, from strict adherence to the real world prototype to a whimsi- cal representation of reality. A very popular middle-ground is the proto-freelancer. This is a model railroader who models or follows a real railroad, but composes from their imagination the locale, or the name, or the setting, and even the era in which that prototype railroad exists on their layout. Purchasing already-painted locomotives and rolling stock in your favorite prototype scheme can save many hours of painting and decaling. Many model railroads these days fit the proto- freelancer mold. Arguments can be made on all levels for the appropriateness of freelancing, too. But whatever form your free- lancing takes, model railroading is broad enough for everyone. As you probably know, model railroading has many interesting and enjoyable parts. That is why the hobby is so interesting to so XX EXPLORING THE CREATIVE SIDES OF THE HOBBY • INDEX • TABLE OF CONTENTS