I tend to modify railroad equipment to appeal to the younger generation.
It probably destroys its value, but definitely gets more smiles.
Any thoughts?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Nothing is off limits in my mind when it comes to model railways. If you like doing scenes for a laugh or smile, like many of us, it's great.
The photo made me chuckle - and a little whimsy is a healthy thing. Too
much, and it's childish. What you have done is something that I would have done - had I thought of it. The secret is that the "truck" is not center stage - so one can kind of take it
or leave it, as the mood strikes one.
Rich, I personally love it. 
Your smiling, kids are smiling, who cares what others think
No worse than the whole PRR+UP thing I have going on. Also, every layout should have at least on scene like that to remind us not to take the hobby too seriously.
It's your railroad there is no wrong or right.😀
Very good, I love it.
We have Mater behind a bill board at our club layout. It is part of the Can You Find This list that kids use to search various items.
On a model railroad, anything goes if it makes you happy, makes guests happy, or takes a really nice jab.
I think it's its a great idea. I have thought of adding a Doc Hudson dicast car to my layout. I have always liked Doc and my great grandfather worked on Hudson's for many years. Nothing wrong with adding some fun on a layout in away it adds to the fun. 
Mater sits near the trailer park on our layout. It is a well done weathered vehicle.
Originally Posted by RichO:
I tend to modify railroad equipment to appeal to the younger generation.
It probably destroys its value, but definitely gets more smiles.
The "value" in model railroad items like this IS the smiles!
I have never understood the "value" philosophy as it relates to accessories like this. The vast majority of model train items are not good investments any more. The era of high-value collectibles and constantly increasing value is over.
The value in these accessories is the enjoyment you get out of them!
Originally Posted by RichO:
I tend to modify railroad equipment to appeal to the younger generation.
It probably destroys its value, but definitely gets more smiles.
Any thoughts?
Yep, where did the monster Saturn 5 gas pump come from?
(All real gas stations have quality tow trucks!)
I love it!
I love it too. It made me smile and that's a good thing.
Art
One of the best attributes of model railroading, and you are on board!
From the most serious modelers on down, just about all the greats have something whimsical on their layouts.
your trains, your $$, do it to make you happy. If you makes the kids smile, then they'll be interested, and hopefully join in on the fun and the hobby.
As long as you aren't painting an original 700E hot pink and converting it to DCS, I don't think people care.
Honestly, I think stuff like this is great! Makes layouts more fun, and that's the point of this hobby.
quote:As long as you aren't painting an original 700E hot pink and converting it to DCS, I don't think people care.
So long as it was his property, I wouldn't be concerned over his painting his original 700E hot pint and converting it to DCS.
Not something I would do with one I owned
I think it's neat! There is an HO model RR club just north of us that has a list of several different things for the kids to find throughout the layout. It's quite large, taking up the entire second floor of a double block building. I try to get there each Christmas season for one of the open house dates.
Don
Originally Posted by C W Burfle:
quote:As long as you aren't painting an original 700E hot pink and converting it to DCS, I don't think people care.
So long as it was his property, I wouldn't be concerned over his painting his original 700E hot pint and converting it to DCS.
Not something I would do with one I owned
Once WBB released the hallowed GG1 in pink (
), there was no point in further discussing the question of sacrilege in this hobby!
It was settled!!!
Of course, that was just MHO!
Hey!...After seeing the pastel train trailing the pink 400E at MTH's booth at the April York meet this year, the wife HAD to have one!!! I talked her into the smaller O gauge version, though. It now sits proudly on top of a cherry server in the living room for ALL to see!!...patiently waiting for next Spring's (Easter's) call to duty!
Here's the fact, Jack....Without celebrating the whimsy in this hobby, I/We wouldn't be in it.....period. There's enough regulation, political correctness, protocol, seriousness, and stuffiness in this world everywhere else...check the nightly gnus.
This O3R hobby?.....our refuge from it all!
Again.....just OHO.
BTW...You GO!, RichO!
Originally Posted by OGR Webmaster:
Originally Posted by RichO:
I tend to modify railroad equipment to appeal to the younger generation.
It probably destroys its value, but definitely gets more smiles.
The "value" in model railroad items like this IS the smiles!
I have never understood the "value" philosophy as it relates to accessories like this. The vast majority of model train items are not good investments any more. The era of high-value collectibles and constantly increasing value is over.
The value in these accessories is the enjoyment you get out of them!
I agree, in twenty years no one will want any of our trains, we are the last of the line.
Fred
Whimsy is the reason i have Toy Trains!
I might find it Sacrilegious if some one took a Live Steam Accucraft Dreyfuss Hudson
and painted it green & purple & added Sesame Street figures as the cab crew.
Then again I might ask if they'd share what they been smokin', so as to appreciate their creation from their point of view....
Happy Rails!
Dave
It is perfect.
Originally Posted by CarGuyZM10:
As long as you aren't painting an original 700E hot pink and converting it to DCS, I don't think people care.
That would be WRONG............... Now Teal on the other hand
Rich, I have see a few real pick ups made up to look like Mater so you still have a scale gas station!
Everything is prototype:
Jon 
Here's one of the other characters on one of my modules. Someone else added the dinosaurs and the alien while I wasn't there though.
J White
I call it fun.
that's great. It just might bridge the gap to a youngster and get him 9or her)_ interested in the hobby
I think that is just plain old fun. It brought a smile to my face and who couldn't use a smile these days
The only thing wrong with it is that I didn't think of it first!
5 * for imagination.
Ed
I agree with everyone who likes your display. As said before, if it makes you happy, that's what counts. And, if it makes others happy too, even the better.
I find A LOT of O guys that take this stuff way too seriously. Our entire seasonal layout is stuff like this. I have a velociraptor pulling a kid on a runner sled. What could possibly go wrong??
I love it! There is no wrong way to enjoy your trains. it is your layout, make it a personal expression of yourself and your interests.
Al K.
If we can't enjoy a little Whimsy in our life we might just as well be horizontal. I love that little truck.
Not something that I would do on my layout.....but to each his own!!! Mater looks pretty good in the MTH station!!
Since it is only automotive related models, it is not a problem.
There are very few true 1:48th scale automobiles produced, so anything can be done with automobiles.
Andrew
Originally Posted by Khayden93:
I think it's its a great idea. I have thought of adding a Doc Hudson dicast car to my layout. I have always liked Doc and my great grandfather worked on Hudson's for many years. Nothing wrong with adding some fun on a layout in away it adds to the fun.
I`m doing it all the time Doc & fat controller.
