Well we've gone thru the AGES and STAGES of model railroaders. This time we will examine the individual types that make up the overall group of modelers. Research for this unfinished thesis is based on information gleaned from internet talk-lists and the posters thereon.E-MAIL MODELER-Subscribes to more and more talk lists. E-mail is choked with hundreds of postings which they attempt to read. Finally gets too much at home in the evening hours. Starts reading the posts at work. Often changes subscriptions to the "Digest" mode. After a while feels confident enough to offer some comments. They make the subject "digest 234" and quote the entire digest, with the message "yes". Their postings become more and more numerous to the point they cannot keep up with their real life modeling. What to do? If they quit posting they may become forgotten. Being an E-mail guru is very addictive....
STEAM MODELER-Brass is boss!, Brass is beautiful! Looks down on plastic Diesel modelers. Generally they have many unpainted shiny brass models. These usually don't run well but they tell everyone, I didn't buy them to run. Don't they look good on the display shelf? Postings usually end with "It takes a man to run Steam, anybody can drive a diesel" License plates say something like " I play with choo-choos". Operating sessions consist of seeing how many coal cars the model can pull. Usually no problem getting running time on the club layout, as most models are on the workbench being worked on. Everyone knows steam requires a good deal of maintenance just like the real ones....
DIESEL MODELER-Loves plastic, although is never satisfied with the detail as offered by the manufacturer. Often buys, at a cost of twice the initial purchase price, detail parts to bring the model up to their standards. Has enough of these diesels and parts in storage to last the rest of their life. Own several brass diesels but have removed the original drive and replaced with a drive from a plastic model. Any new model announcement causes a 500% increase in postings outlining the shortcomings. Many posts later some of these models are sold on E-Bay as being unacceptable. A couple years later when no new model is forthcoming, offers to buy any road name in order to build their favorite model.
PHASE MODELER-Develops and posts rosters of "phases" for the various diesels, although there seems to be no standard for this effort. Each posting of a phase list will cause an increase of research and subsequent postings of a newer and expanded phase list. Constantly on the lookout for more pictures showing an obscure detail which can be detailed as a new phase. This has developed to point where paint schemes are being considered for new phases.
PASSENGER CAR MODELER-Speaks in a strange tongue, 12-2, Harrimans, Pullmans etc. Buys brass and plastic, complains most are not accurate for the road they are modeling. Constantly seeking car assignments for the route from somewhere to somewhere else. Some in this group narrow their focus to particular types of cars such as round end observations or 1920's parlor types. Obsessed with the under car details but never a question about type of lighting inside?....
GENERIC MODELER-Builds right out of the box, paints and decals to match box cover. Just likes to build models, never concerned with accuracy, details etc. Runs trains consisting of what they have built. Subscribes to several talk-lists, tends to lurk as they are very happy with their own approach to the hobby....
FREIGHT CAR MODELER-Similar to the passenger car modeler but uses a different language altogether, 5-4 dreadnaught ends, miner handbrakes, camel doors and scullin trucks. Like the diesel modeler is not satisfied with the offerings by model manufacturers, buys loads of detail parts to add-on. Will often build a layout high enough so the underbody details can be seen. Steam era and diesel era modelers seem to get along well, the focus is on the freight cars. There are some specialists that do only tank cars, depressed center well cars etc.....
SINGLE RAILROAD MODELER-These usually have their own talk-list and seek every last bit of information available on a particular road. The language here is restricted to the road being modeled, so the average modeler will have to develop their own vocabulary to make comprehensible the postings. Usually have a license plate declaring the road modeled. Some even have their car painted to match the roads colors. Always wear jackets/caps to shows/meets with their road displayed, may even have sleepware to match!....
SCENERY MODELER-Was a generic modeler till they built the layout. Now scenery is the focus. Beautiful ballasted track, great trees, water that looks real, walls and ceiling painted to fool the eye. Still runs the generic models, somehow they look much better when operated in a well designed setting....
TRACK MODELER-Constructs 6 way slip switches, #20 turnouts from scale size track which they have made themselves. Constantly seeking wheels which will operate on the superdetailed track they will use on the future layout. Have more compromise bars per foot than most clubs on the entire layout. Drills switches for nut and bolts they have turned on their Swiss lathes. Usually have a machinists or watchmaker background. Speak in thousandth's or microns....
CONTEST MODELER-Builds one or at most two models per year. These are usually built to tolerances greater than the prototype. No compromises here save one, these will probably never be used on an operating layout. Those who build a steam engine usually spend many years on one model. Diesels can and are usually built in less time, but still take a year or more. Each piece of rolling stock can take a year or more, a superdetailed caboose complete with interior a couple years. This may be one reason the contest models are not used as operating units. By the time a complete train is built, not enough years left to build a layout. Most belong to a club anyway and take their generics to run there....
SHOTGUN MODELER-This is an advanced generic modeler. Has honed their skills, but still builds anything that grabs their attention. Has a favorite road(s), which will vary with the latest offering from a manufacturer. These can cause a change from diesels to steam or railroad to railroad. Even magazine articles can swing their interests over as wide spectrum. Their postings increase due to changes in interest, questions and items for sale to finance the latest interest....
STRUCTURE/DIORAMA MODELER-Somewhat similar to the Contest modeler but only builds Structure/Dioramas whose only connection to model railroading is a set of tracks, sometimes with a freight car, near a building. Does museum quality work, often uses real materials in the construction....
CLOSET MODELER-The ultimate lurker! Attends most shows that are near to them, spend several hours looking at all the offerings. Almost never buy anything, after all that would require coming out! Is content to read the postings at the office rather than at home. Has a hot key for bringing up a fake work screen in case the boss or a co-worker wanders too closely....
POLITICAL MODELER-Classic type "A" behavior. Joins local club, promptly begins a campaign to become club president. Advances up the political ladder in the club with favors, blackmail, bribes and gossip. Sole ambition is to be in charge. Develops a group of cronies who will support any outrageous rule change that benefits them. Many members drop out of active participation, especially voting, so the PM and his cronies get new rules passed. Promotes rule changes which would limit the number and type persons who can belong to the club. Thinks teenagers should be banned, females and anyone not to his liking.
SUPERMAN MODELER-Stronger on locomotives than other things, Builds models faster than a speeding bullet, Changes eras/railroads in a single bound, creates talk lists at the speed of light, Anonimity, like Krypton is fatal.
All these modelers have one thing in common. When looking at all those unbuilt models stored away, they automatically become members of the MRPP list
DISCLAIMER-I hope you have enjoyed this humor, above only illustrates the extremes, most are normal well adjusted very nice people with a very nice hobby....