Who would help?

I have in the past in a geographical area where O-Gauge hobbyists where closer together. Unfortunately, not many O-Gauge guys where we currently reside, or I would help in a heartbeat if asked.

Hi Bob,

Same goes for me, I would help in a heartbeat!!!!

Thanks,

Alex

I am and have and would do again.

We have a local group like that here.  Three of us are in 3-rail, two are in 2-rail O-scale and two are in HO.  We've installed wall studs, hung drywall, painted, built benchwork, laid cork and track, pulled wire, etc. on 6 layouts under construction.  Like a dope, I built mine before this group got together. 

The running joke among the group is that when you complete a task on a layout that is not in your scale, you comment that it is "Good enough for HO" or "Good enough for 3-rail" or "Good enough for 2-rail."

I like to say I have been working on deferent layouts throughout the years.

 With not asking for anything in return.

I have received a lot of deferent trains from them for my collection As a thank you.

  I have one that I have been helping with right now.

we are adding a second level to his layout. there were pieces he had from another layout he had.right now it's a work in progress.

Any time, any where, just ask, this is the greatest hobby on earth!

I would when time allows. Not much model railroading going on around here but our neighborhood is filled with a bunch of Good Neighbor Sams. Just last week we got all barnacle bitten pulling a boat lift for one of the older guys.

if you are a member of a train club you do this all the time at the club layout, members lend their expertise in different areas to make a great layout. I have and would in a heartbeatlend my skills to help someone build  a layout. more of what I love to do

Distance not a problem? Then why not?

I understand if somebody has to work long hours, etc. but to me, working on stuff like that is fun. I wish I could do Habitat. The local chapter seems to want only large groups already organized (churches, scout troops...) rather than singles or couples, and there's a lot of stuff I can't do (physically can't, not haven't learned how.)  

--Becky

I love being able to help a fellow modeler in any way that I can.  Lately we have been more in the giving advice mode but that too is very helpful and appreciated.

Art

I'm always ready to help a fellow railroader.  My neighbor recenltly got into HO and the and I have gone over many times recently to help build the table and help wire.

Absolutely. Frequently I don't wait to ask and just volunteer. I have built enough modules for friends to complete my home layout 3 times over. I have two other layouts in the works yet to complete for two friends. And yet, my home layout still isn't running. Sharing with my friends is one of the most important elements of this hobby. 

Gilly

I am always willing to lend  hand to anyone that needs help, if it is within my capability to do so.  This applies not only to the train hobby, but to all & any situation that I encounter where I can be of service. 

Dave

Wow Dave!  I got real excited when I saw you were from Pittsburg.  OOPS, not Pittsburgh at all.  

Good evening everyone, I would help in an instant also.

About three christmas's ago I went to visit an individual that always ask my wife and I to come and see he and his grandsons layout.

We were at my mom and dads house this christmas day and after lunch I gave this individual a call to see if my wife and I could stop by for a few minutes to see the layout.

When my wife and I arrived the layout was down due to a newly installed MTH Commander system that was not working properly.

We spent about 2 hours reading the instructions for the MTH Commander System that afternoon fixing some wiring and getting engines and other items reset and running properly.

When we returned to my mom and dads house later that afternoon my mom was furious because my wife and I was gone so long.

Even with my mom's disapproval, It still felt good that I had a part in getting this individuals trains up and running.

Besides it's Christmas, you got to have trains !!!!!

Mark Strittmatter

TCA # 14-69917

Indiana PA.

My son is rebuilding an O gauge layout for his Eagle Scout project.  We had two OGR members drive 70 miles from different directions to help!

Amazing and priceless!!

https://ogrforum.com/t...project-help-please?

Bob, they say they changed the spelling, dropped the 'h' at the start of the civil War, so they wouldn't be confused with the Pennsylvania city...

Ben, you're on. What kind of beer do you want?

A new layout might not be so hard after all. I see other volunteers up above.

Gerry

Time is my biggest limitation.

I hate to say it but my layout building skills are almost non-existent.  I think volunteering to help someone else with theirs would give me a chance to learn how to do the stuff I don't know how to do and improve my skills with the stuff I already know.  The biggest bonus though would be the friendship.  This can become a very lonely hobby if you let it.

Frankly, the sharing of expertise is a good idea that I view as unrealistic.  Call me a cynic, but its based on experience.  I still do it on rare occasions, but when I was into cars and hot rodding I had too many situations where the "reciprocity" seemed to work much more one way and I ended up doing a lot and getting no fair trade of time and skill back.  

I cases where someone comes to me and asks for my expertise - if they think I have any - and help, I try to help them learn how to do it themselves: you know, teach a man to fish and all that . . . 

Cold

I probably have added "time" as a limiting factor as well as distance.  A lot of us do not have time to spare.  Some of us have a lot on our plates already, with little time to spare.  As far as reciprocity, I never expect it when I volunteer to help.

I am blessed with having an OGR Forum Member who lives right around the corner from me, and has had 2 layouts featured in magazines.

Unfortunately, I have never had him come over and look at my layout, because I am embarrassed...not because I dont think my layout is good, but because I know my construction methods go against the grain of the standard.

Also, my 2 Siberian Huskys go nuts over anyone entering the house and cause a dog riot...people have been injured by jumping pouncing kissing licking Huskys!

I do visit his layout quite often, as he is one of the most nicest, coolest, and knowledgeable persons I have ever known.

Yo, Chip!....

You are not alone!  Our two Goldens, Millie and Daisy, go absolutely bonkers when someone new shows up at the door!  Daisy calms down in about 60 seconds (stifles her whining by chewing on her fluffy squeaky toy...tail wagging all the while!)  Millie, on the other hand, seemingly has no time limit to her boisterous affection.  For those who love dogs, it's a hoot.  For the other folks, however, it's a  problem we have to consider when extending an invitation.  And, no, we don't lace their drinking bowl with Red Bull!!

But we love 'em to eternity!

My (our) biggest problem in having visitors to our layout currently, however, is the junk that has crowded in around the layout....obstacles, if you will.  I've mentioned it before, but when Millie and Daisy were pups...about 3+ years ago...they didn't control themselves well in the basement....in more ways than one!   Ergo, I worked on some bench projects for the layout (buildings, car kits, accessory repairs, etc.) in the workshop upstairs, avoiding basement work to not frustrate their attention.  Well, here we are those 3+ years later, and I've been having so much fun at that workbench, I've let things pile up on and around the layout!  My bad.

And the Huskies names would be......??? 

KD

Yes, that's what the hobby and forum is all about, helping other's.  I've gone so far as to stay the weekend in a motel to help a fellow O gauger on their layout.  Why wouldn't a member help out another living within a reasonable distance unless there is a disability to consider.

Steve, Lady and Tex

Count me in! I even offer free train repairs for the Detroit 3 Railers. Just need to provide the parts.

Hmmm maybe we could have a OGR help hotline?... 1-800-fix-train...

I certainly would help.  In fact there was an individual here that had been posting about the layout that they just started to build and it turns out that he wasn't too far from me so I reached out to him and offered to help but was turned down.  Not sure if it was because he didn't know me or that he had all the help he needed already.  I was a little disappointed because I thought it would have been fun and because I always like to meet other OGR members when possible, in fact, I learned about SGMA through OGR and have since become a member.  At any rate, like previously mentioned this stuff is fun so why wouldn't you want to help some one out.  I'd also like to add that the other reason is because I think of this place like an extended family (albeit a bit dysfunctional) so of course I'd help out a "family" member.

John.

I hopefully will be finalizing the initial layout and then would love to get at least all of the benchwork done in a marathon weekend. I have access to two rooms in the 2nd floor of a cape.

For right now, will be starting on just the one room and then opening 4 tunnel/passages from the one room into the additional room at a later time.

So, will be looking for volunteers to travel to the Central Jersey (Middlesex County) area for deployment.

Ben, yes the BEER Will be Cold and even Frosted Mugs if desired!

I will be there Dennis

I have learned not to expect it.  The original post mentioned a bunch of friends who will help each other out.  As I've said, I learned years ago that more often and not it means you help them . . . a maybe they will help you - someday.   for example, in the 1970s  I could rebuild pretty much any engine and repaint cars pretty good, but I didn't have a welder or much experience, particularly on thin metal.  So I painted a guy's car in return for his help welding a custom exhaust together for me.  When it came time to weld the exhaust together he never seemed to have time. I ended up buying a welder and learning to do thing metal and ended up doing it myself.   

Wow Lee. I guess welders aren't as nice as Model Railroaders.

I've belonged to a Round Robin club for 15 years.  There are four of us. Each month we spend every Friday (Personal life accepted here) at one members house doing what they need to get done. We may not be experts, but with time we know each others strengths and weaknesses.  I find that the three guys coming to my house makes me:

Plan project in ADVANCE and we get things done.

Have more brains to pick with any given project or problem.

Get motivated to go and work on the railroad after a long day at work.

Plus we have a friendship that goes  beyond Fridays to trains shows and other RR events. Time lost helping others. Definitely not.

I would help as long as I get fed (and I'm not talking McDonalds!).