04-12-2009, 10:10 AM
The second issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist came out yesterday for subscribers, two week wait for non-subscribers. I looked at it briefly this morning and Joe's editorial for this issue focuses on where the hobby is heading part one. An interesting point that he made that is probably appropriate to this discussion has to do with the recession's effects on the hobby. He suggested that the recession might actually increase the popularity of model trains and also increase sales! The jist of the argument is that it is less expensive to buy a craftsman type kit for $60.00 than it is to take a $3,000.00 trip to the Bahamas; and, while the trip last one week and it is over, the model will provide a week or more of fun and distraction from the current economic situation and then last the rest of your life on your model railroad. There is even a bright side for those who are out of work, in that most of us have kits lying around that are waiting to be built and are a good use of excess spare time while looking for jobs.