REVERSE RUNNING: Get off the computer and do some modeling ! Stepping outside the box with a contrary view
railroader actually built stuff and did the hobby. As publications like Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman appeared on the scene, ever more interesting model railroading content began to fill their pages and the so-called “armchair” modeler was born.
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– by Joe Fugate
T
he modern Internet makes it easier than ever to connect with other model railroaders and to find useful modeling information online – often for free! Model Railroad Hobbyist is no exception in this regard. However, like anything fun, surfing the web and hanging Page 154 • Issue 8 • Jul/Aug 2010 • Reverse Running Editorial
out on model railroading forums can become something of an addiction. It's easy to start thinking of yourself as an active model railroader just because you frequently talk about model railroading on the Internet modeling forums. Talking about modeling and doing modeling are NOT the same thing, so watch out! In the early days of the hobby, before there were even magazines about the hobby, anyone who called themselves a model
Now you could read about the hobby, look at pictures of great modeling, and literally immerse yourself in reading and thinking about model railroading – but never actually DO any modeling or even hold a model train at all. With today's Internet, it's even easier to get addicted to this sort of armchair behavior. Through emails, forums, podcasts, and places like Facebook and Twitter, you can literally burn up hours reading about and discussing model railroading. That's all well and good, and if anyone, anywhere, appreciates having a good, online audience, it would be us at Model Railroad Hobbyist. Having readers who are passionate about discussing
the hobby is great. However, we still believe the most hobby satisfaction comes when you DO the hobby, not just talk about doing it. Go build some models, and then take some digital photos of your work, or shoot a short video of your new pride and joy running through a nicely modeled scene. Then come on the MRH site and do a show and tell of this latest project! Tell us what you've learned, how you maybe made a mistake or two and then fixed things. Those are the posts we all love to see and hear about the most! By the way, thanks to emerging devices like the new iPad, it's going to become easier to take MRH to the workbench or layout as a reference as you work – so MRH can become leverage to help get you off your laurels and do some modeling ... So resolve that it's time to get off the computer and go do some modeling!
Tell a friend ...
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