Feeling Frustrated about it all!

At one time, yes.  Then I realized the hobby is about building, running, and enjoying what you have, not chasing the latest and greatest.  Otherwise instead of a hobby it simply becomes another manifestation of, for example, rampant consumerism or the "it's never enough" syndrome.

Rick,

as the song say "Be yourself not matter what they say"

Run trains for you not for someone else definition.

and enjoy the journey!!

Andre.

It is a hobby. hobby's are for fun. If there is more work than fun I'm not interested. Don

I think we all need to take a break at some point in the hobby. This in itself is not a bad thing. The benefits allow you to catch up on some other fun things in life and actually help fuel your fire to get back into the hobby. If your at a sticking point working on a project, it allows you time to think about the next step you want to take with it. 

 

I haven't run trains since taking my layout down three months ago. I could say it has been nice enjoying time with my family & friends. It is not to say my interest in trains is no longer there. Through this I have gained interest in modeling and building projects, weathering my rolling stock, & rail fanning. I appreciate this hobby for what it is, enjoyment from the realities of everyday life. 

Its easy to expect alot from yourself, then when you see other layouts you tend to say wow, why can't I do that, or why does my modeling look not as good.

I tend to mock things up as I go, it shows the intent and I know I will do a phase I,II, and III that will improve things a bit.

I have found the most rewarding thing is joining a local round robin club and this forum for support. Otherwise sharring the hobby becomes stagnant, and I tend to lose interest.

Rick, alot of folks get turned off because they can't get what they want...whatever it is they want...better looking engines, train control or layouts...you just have to realise your own ability 1st, then learn what you really can do...and can't even when trying your best...and ask questions here when in doubt.

Taking a plain jane MTH GG-1 and shaving off the molded hand rails, drilling new holes and bending new handrails will add a nice touch to that engine that it didn't have before{doing that now actually}...subtle things. Retweeking that corner of the layout with better trees and details...learning all the different ways to make mountains and hills, or to install a nice valley in your layout. It can be frustrating, but those here can help in nearly all aspects but one.....they can't make you ask for help or comments on your ideas...not saying you need help, but eventually everyone does in one way or another.

In the end, you have to make you happy....me, I'm eyeballing this GG-1 and wondering what if Great Northern got a hold of one of these to try - or even Milwaukee road...different can be good too.  

My initial reaction to your comments is you need to find your particular niche in the hobby of model railroading, Then pursue it ! If you flipflop around the many variables you can easily become disinterested, or at the very least more confused. By having a specific goal to achieve, you can refine your involvement to those particular items, methods, resources, etc...and don't let the several other options continue to drag you under. Define the era which interests you most, that immediately focus's the type of motive power and rolling stock to use, Choose a region to portray...your scenic developement will be all about that locale. Decide on your particular level of detail and realism...that will help your approach to anything you do with your railroad from that moment on. But if you continue to bounce about the hobby you will not be accomplishing anything...which is what caused you to start this thread in the first place...I think.

 

Bob

There is a lot out there.   I find hiking and biking to be better "clear your head" approaches to a lot of things, including model trains.

I have to admit it - I'm a "rampant consumer" - and proud of it!

Since moving and dismantling our nice layout last fall, I'm finding my interests shifting to thinking about structures and detailing some of the older pieces we have. Our move into a smaller place has me of necessity reducing our collection (I hate having trains packed away where we can't enjoy looking at them) and getting the new house in order.

I've joined a regional garden RR club and am looking forward to meeting some of those folks and seeing what they've built. Have acquired three large scale engines 'just in case'...

Bob's got it.  Now, just add a bucket or 2 of patience for seasoning instead of instant gratification that seemingly permeates all of our lives and focus in on just what it is you want to do with your hobby.

 

And relax and have fun with it, too!

Ricardo,

 

I entered in 2004, and quickly moved through: starting with Lionel traditional, then settled in with Premier, Atlas O Master line and Legacy products. During that quick rise(just a few years), I also became informed - I learned about the real equipment, and railroading.

 

Finding this forum, in the mid 2000's, sped up things considerably. Almost instant information.

 

Then "IT" hit; I still don't know exactly what "IT" is; but, it's just not the same anymore. My initial enjoyment and enthusiasm seems to be long gone. When I first started, I never dreamed I would have the type of collection that I currently own.

 

When look back, at my time in O, I had some of my best times, in my first few years...

 

Been there done that seems to be part of "IT"; but, there's more to "IT" than that.

 

Some days I feel like unloading all of my gear, and others... I'm still hanging in.

 

 

Rick

 I get like that too. I walk away from trains for a while and the excitement always finds it's way back. Sometimes, it has taken the whole summer to do it.

 I'm in that state right now. I'm sick of arguing with people I don't even know, about things that don't even matter. I'll build my RR outside for my own liking.

 When I go back inside for the winter, I think I'll go private next year. I tried to help, just got off track with comments from people that are set in their ways. I need a new direction,..... yeap, private.

Have you looked into 7.5 inch gauge, 1.5 " or 1.6" scale? 

I guess I misunderstood the 1st post...sorry. I read into it that he wasn't happy with the way his engines looked and was frustrated...and was thinking a more simpler way might be better.

Maybe you need to soul search what really makes you happy. Is it modern engines, steam, older wagontop steamers, tinplate, clockworks, overhead electrics...? Are you a techy and like the DCS, DCC or TMCC controls or old school conventional...or wind-ups? Do you like action cars or just milling around the track. Sound...no sound but the engines motor{think AC}?

I'm finally getting out of G scale because I haven't had a decent backyard this and the last house, so I'm trading G for O scale so my son and I can enjoy them. My wife never wanted to get into the planting so that sealed the Gs fate. Maybe the next house will have a flat, fenced in and higher{drier} back yard...

There's so many aspects of the hobby that it's easy to get sidetracked and "lost" as was said above...find out what it is that you really love about the hobby...what got you started in the 1st place...what brings you back...find your happy spot/train set up...it's there in you, somewhere.

BTW- I get frustrated often too...I don't have the ready money to toss out to get what I really want, but it's not a real problem because my son doesn't care...he just likes playing trains with me...and I'm good with that no matter what we do or don't have.

Gents, this all helps. All are good replys and input. Flanger (Bob), the term flip flop really brought in some light. That is exactly what I have been doing yet getting nothing accomplished! I think it is time to make a list as sugested and draw down to a core theme. And turn off the flip flop switch.

I bet if it were easy, the satisfaction would be much less, aye?

Sincere thanks to all.

Rick

Yep.  The beautiful weather brings out the desire for a motorcycle ride or a top down ride in the convertible.   No desire for tedious inside work detailing and painting and building superdetailed models.

 

Since I don't see any P:48 layout in my near future I'm gonna do some outdoors O scale this summer.

 

It's the best way to enjoy what I like doing best, and that is running trains.

When I get bored working on the layout. I pull a building kit out, sit in the kitchen and work on a nice kit. I keep a bunch of old kits under my work bench. Don

Although I switched to O scale several years ago, my bride seems to keep me quite busy with other stuff. I gain a lot from all the magazines I read. I also volunteer with the www.milwaukeerailroadshops.com here in Sioux City, IA. We inheireted a 80' x 15' HO layout that was built in 1991. We finally got it set up in August of 2010. We spent the first year repairing track so now we can run 6 trains at once on the layout. We also received a 4 x 24' O-27 layout which we are trying figure what to do with. We are also about 3/4 the way through a 4 x 8" N scale layout. 

 

So there are several ways to get your train fix and yet not get fatigued. If I get board I can always go watch a ball game, but not often.

 

Dick

Sometimes you have to dabble in differant scales to find out what you like best. 

Some are tickled pink to play with that Marx wind up, while others need the highly detailed scale environment. Most of us are somewhere in between.

No right or wrong, the hobby includes us all. I do know that we all have to respect others choices.

Hey, thats why they call it the Worlds greatest hobby!

 

Enjoy!

I've done layouts from 2' X 4' N scale to my current 20' X 25' O scale, Still working on a 8' X 8' "L" in N scale and have 800' of G scale for the back yard (sometime in the future). My 3 HO layouts where 4X8, 8x12 and a 2' shelf 54' long. Some where scale to the inch, some where proto down to the last tree. Most where freestyle and figure it out as you go. The point being that you can do your own thing, change your mind and still have something you can call your own while have fun doing it!

Dan

I too have felt the need to step back and refocus on  my direction in model railroading. Did HO for 45 years and then was smitten by some OMI O scale brass a decade ago and took down the layout and started collecting whatever I found and could afford at the time. I wasn't really buying in response to a need but a want not to miss out on something might be produced and  then not. Atlas is a good example of the fear of loss as many models are made and then not repeated. So I  would buy just to have it in case in the future I needed it and then couldn't obtain it anymore. It is so bad that I find boxes that I bought and say, oh yah. With so much  laying  around I now get overwhelmed as much together wouldn't all fit on  the 12 X 36 layout. Overwhelming too is the  visualization of what I am trying to create and make it fit in that 12 X36 as it still comes out an oval and watching  a train go continuously around in circles soon gets boring especially when the train's head chases the tail. Being that way it is easy to lay low for months at a time and think what can one do to improve ones ideas of how his layout should be. So I say yes to being discouraged with the scale. I don't think Iam too different  than a lot of people in trains as I see many just buying to own it all. It was worse in HO the buying.

Rick, I just came across this thread, and it struck a chord. I initially wanted to get into 2 rail, but found getting motive power for my layout to be near impossible (I model the Long Island RR). I spoke to a few folks in the industry, and looked all over the place, but just became frustrated. I remembered that this is a hobby, and should be fun. I looked into three rail, and the offerings were much more plentiful. Not to say that one is better than the other, but it fit my needs then, and still does. Who knows, I may someday make my way into 2 rail. I also settled on an era early on, which definitely helped my focus. I am building my layout now, and will lean more towards scale than not. I realize my abilities will only take me so far, but I will enjoy the journey for it's own rewards. As stated in another post, we should find what aspect we enjoy, then pursue it. Best of luck in your journey.

 

Andy

I'm in the same boat with you. I love the three rail trains, but there is something missing in them. 2-rail is out of the questions for me. I enjoy the reliability of the stuff I have. It is also more affordable being a teenager than 2-rail is. At least I have O scale! 

Dear Rick and to All others, This is a terrific hobby! I have involved myself in several aspects of from initially when I was 10 with American Flyer and my Dad at Christmas, too being much older at 48 and recovering from brain surgery and rediscovering a long dormant O gauge fascination, to rail fanning around the Grand Canyon to joining a local club to modeling in HO, to forming my own club. This hobby provides its own diversity! Do not settle! Therein lies boredom! Try everything that this hobby has to offer! Or simply try a few things! I can almost gaurantee that you'll never get bored. Look at all the fascinating people with like interests you'll meet! Look at all the different aspects in the hobby, you can be super detailed or super general. The world is yours. Or you can give it up for a while and live your life, but it will always draw you back, as it has the greater majority of us. Myself, I'm concentrating on reading allmabout the perils of living the Hobo life.Although, I almost certainly will never try it myself, it is too dangerous! Do what makes you most happy in this hobby, that is what I'm getting at. York is a great place to start! Mike Maurice