12-11-2010, 12:53 PM
BR60103 Wrote:We all have different ends for our modelling. I think that the purpose is to run trains -- either around in circles or back and forth in yards. The trains need to be reasonably representational of something that ran or could have run.
It used to be that the only way to do this required a machine shop and a carpentry mill. So we spent years building the trains before we could run them.
Some, though, enjoy the building as end in itself (like the fellows that build plastic aircraft). They build and then either display it or sell it. I read one comment by someone who loses interest in a layout when the building is done and all that's left is to run it.
The unfortunate thing is that the unbelievably detailed RTR models we can buy today have somewhat discouraged those who can build, eliminated a lot of the midway kits where you could learn the techniques to be applied to scratchbuiding.
I recently discovered Tichy. I had heard of them of course, but had never built or even seen one of their kits. I was looking through the Walthers catalog at the LHS a few months ago. I was looking for 40 foot flat car kits that could be bashed into the funny looking ore cars used to haul crushed ore from the quarry to the cement plant in Victorville,Ca. The only kits I found were by Tichy, so I ordered a 6 pack. They are so nice I almost hate to cut them up, and their prices are quite reasonable. For anyone who wants to build kits, I would highly recommend them. The problem for modern modelers is that their models are from the 1930's & 1940's, so if you model much past the 1950's they are probably out of your era.