Large Scale Central

Greetings from Southern CA

General Discussion
#21

Patrick,

So you think you might want to get into large scale after browsing this site? Better think long and hard about it first! You need to know that this is an insidious, creeping, all-consuming habit. You heard right … a HABIT! Others may call it a hobby or simple recreation, but they’re just kidding themselves.

I used to be a typical, happy-go-lucky model railroader. Sure, I’ll admit that I played around a bit with large scale in the past … I mean … haven’t we all played with toy trains at some time? But I never really thought about large scale for serious model railroading.

And then I stumbled upon this site. An innocent lurker at first … just like you. It didn’t take long for them to hook me. All kinds of help, sources, and invaluable tips. And the pictures … holy crap … these guys are serious!

But it was the people. Friendly, smiling people. Folks like Ken, and Ric, and Andy. You know who the usual suspects are. “Try it, you’ll like it,” they said. “Come on over to the dark side.”

And I fell for their trick. I was hooked. I unwittingly fell into the dizzying madness of their world without even realizing it. It seemed so innocent at first … just a little old K-27 … I’ll just keep it on the mantle. Right! Before long, I realized that I was planning my vacation schedules around the next show or convention or battery powered steam-up.

I used to buy model trains as an afterthought. Now, I almost need to enlist the aid of a financial planner before embarking on a new purchase. And then there’s all the after-purchase rework required … batteries, receivers, controllers. And the layout … I can’t stop it from expanding. A few hundred more feet of rail today… 6000 more ties tomorrow … it keeps getting worse all the time! And to think, my descent into this crazy life style only took a few short years.

I’m sure there are at least another hundred insidious things I could warn you about, but you wouldn’t believe me. You probably think you have better self control when it comes to handling your “hobby.” But you won’t. It might take you a bit longer to fall for their tricks, but you will. Oh yes … you will. And you’ll love every minute of it!

Welcome aboard,

Bob

#22

Pardon my slowness to welcome. Welcome Aboard!

#23

Pleased to meet you, Patrick.

(Somebody might want to warn you about me)

#24

Sheesh, Bob, you welcoming him or tryin to scare’em off…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#25

Ken Brunt said:

Welcome. Don’t mind the saw dust on the floor, the beers cold and the nuts a free and plentiful…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

…especially the nuts. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

BTW, WE do live-steam here in yUK. And don’t be misled by the fact that we live there - we also live in Ontario and Oregon, thank G*d.

And welcome indeed, just in time for Santa to bring you some new BIG stuff.

tac

Ottawa Valley GRS

#26

Patrick, if you have not already found it, George Schryer’s site is a must read for people starting. Mine (link below) is also patterned after George’s and has about 650 pages.

And welcome!

Greg

#27

And I really want to get involved locally. A club sounds like a great way to really enjoy the hobby.
Modeling anything tends to be a very solitary endeavor but g scale seems to be quite a bit more social. Maybe its the outdoor aspect?

Well, most are social, but then there are folks like me, vehemently anti-social. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)I am just kidding. The social side of the hobby is the best part. I have met some really wonderful people (and an egghead or two) because of this hobby.

And don’t let Bob scare you. Although he has a point, it doesn’t hurt, and in fact its a lot of fun. And its totally legal, unlike some other ways you can spend lots of money and have fun. Me I am a cheap bast, frugal person, and I have fun in this hobby. So you don’t have to spend a small fortune to play.

#28

Ken Brunt said:

Sheesh, Bob, you welcoming him or tryin to scare’em off…(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I don’t know Ken, but I think Bob’s little dissertation is one of the cleverest things

I have read on here in a long time but then what do I know (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Rick

Oh yea, and welcome to Patrick!!

#29

Welcome aboard!

#30
Patrick McGrath said:
And I really want to get involved locally. A club sounds like a great way to really enjoy the hobby. Modeling anything tends to be a very solitary endeavor but g scale seems to be quite a bit more social. Maybe its the outdoor aspect?
My wife and I are involved in our local club, as far as SOCIAL, I think social has to do mostly with the main age bracket that is involved
with this hobby. Mostly elderly people are in this G scale hobby, and elderly people love fellowship.
Welcome to the Large scale hobby and to LSC. and have fun.
Dennis
#31

I would think that the majority of our members are in their '60s-'70s. We do have many that are younger (a generation back) and seem to be picking up more all the time.

We have a few member families that include both parents (into their '70s) with their grown kids ('30s-'40s with young children of their own), who do may the “heavy lifting” during open houses and on construction projects.

#32

Humm, Maybe we can have an anonymous age survey. Might be interesting.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#33

I am anonymously XXXXXXXXXX years old.

tac

#34

Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your new hobby. Later RJD

#35

Age survey. Oh yea. Well in dog years, I should be dead. I used to be the youngest member of what ever model railroad group I was in, but now, that is no longer the case. Time marches on, and I get a year older every year.

#36

On the Celcius scale, I am 20 years old. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-innocent.gif)(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

#37

Ron Tremblay said:

Hmm, Maybe we can have an anonymous age survey. Might be interesting.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

My mirror is a liar, but my loving sister says it’s evident that I’m 65 going on 6. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)

Then again I’ve been going on 6 for a decade now…

John

#38

Are we working with physical age or mental age

#39

Devon Sinsley said:
Are we working with physical age or mental age

How about a check off box for all. And i dont want to steal the topic. sorry about that. (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#40

Bob Hyman said:
But it was the people. Friendly, smiling people. Folks like Ken, and Ric, and Andy. You know who the usual suspects are. “Try it, you’ll like it,” they said. “Come on over to the dark side.”

Now Bob this is not true! Out of those three the only one that is friendly and smiles is Ric. I caught Andy smiling once and for the next week I kept looking to the sky for the 7 horsemen. It was a rather haunting experience!