1. Newbie-can be recognized by their e-mails which say" Am thinking about getting my youngster interested in model railroading".2. Newbie Phase 1 can be recognized by e-mails which say "Can anyone help with an obscure 0-5-0 diesel that doesn't run, which they bought from a neighbor.
3. Newbie Phase 2 can be recognized by e-mails which say "What is the best way of getting cat hair and rug fuzz out of the engines mechanism's".
4. Newbie Phase 3 e-mail now reads "What type equipment should I buy?
5. Neophyte Phase 1 e-mail says "Haven't decided on a scale, what is recommended?".
6. Neophyte Phase 2 e-mail says "Would like to model the entire Southern Railroad, can this be done in a 4x8 space?".
7. Neophyte Phase 3 Sulks for a year or so while the stings from the e-mail answers heals.
8. Beginner Phase 1 goes to his local hobby shop, asks some intellegent questions, owner cheerfully answers, beginner says he will return.
9. Beginner Phase 2 back to the talk lists, e-mail "Where can I buy stuff cheaper than my local hobby dealer?".
10. Beginner Phase 3 finds a local club and attends a few sessions, can't believe these fellows spend all that money on their hobbies. But is now firmly hooked on the hobby.
11. Club member Phase 1 buys a few kits and puts them together, subscribes to all the model railroading magazines. Builds a few kits, takes them to the club, experts there show him how to improve the models. After reading all the mags he had to rush the completion of the models for the monthly meet.
12. Wavering club member Phase 1 After several attempts at upgrading his models decides he just doesn't have the proper tools.
13. Modeler Phase 1 back to the talk lists, e-mail "What type tools are recommended to do advance modeling?".
14. Modeler Phase 2 Buys the complete complement of modeling tools, sets out to do some serious modeling. Builds a few kits, still not up to the contest quality his club members tell him he is capable of.
15. Modeler Phase 3 Still having problems with producing models which he feels are within his capabilities, if only he had some better tools.
16. Advance modeler Phase 1 Finally has a model which wins a prize at the local club.
17. Advance Modeler Phase 2 Wins a prize at the regional meet.
18. Advance Modeler Phase 3 Inserts ads in regional publication and on Deja News wanting to buy a Precision Milling Machine, Lathe and house with a large basement.
19. Grandpa Phase 1 Kids say "Can we run the trains?". Horrified he heads to Toys-R-Us and buys some over the rug equipment.
20. Grandpa Phase 2 His widow has a hell of an estate sale saying to herself "I didn't know he had all of this stuff" With the proceeds she buys herself a piece of jewelery she saw on "Home Shopping".
This story is of course much longer than what I have committed to type. I have left out the brass stage, changing scales, job transfers etc.....
There are some who don't follow this course of events and simply have fun with their model railroading.......