jonnyspeed posted:rdunniii posted:I do not have a layout and I never will. I am only interested in a layout where I can run 100 car plus trains around prototypical radius curves and prototypical grades with prototypically sized terminals which means a minimum of 10K square feet just to start. The artistry of scenery does not interest me so framework alone would be just fine. But I am interested in the the art and craftsmanship resulting in very accurate miniatures of the real thing displayed by many brass models and, of late several plastic models. The reason I offer my services to Scott Mann at no cost it to get the models he produces as close to real as his builder will do without going out of Scott's price comfort zone.
So, having said that, MTH offers no value to me at any price and Lionel is only slightly better. My entire collection of MTH is two ES44s in demo colors and am thinking about the recent Lionel GE demonstrators because that is all that is available (I'm a sucker for demonstrators). Should brass replacements ever become reality for those they will be replaced with the brass regardless.
And it is not just trains for me. I am working on or collecting models of ships and planes and science fiction. A highly believable miniature of a Millennium Falcon is just as interesting to me as a locomotive. If I had the money to get a Fine Art Models CSS Alabama I'd get it too.
What is the value of any painting or a sculpture or other art? There are many people who wouldn't pay $10 for the Mona Lisa just as a painting but the market for art says something very different. The value to me is in the artistry and craftsmanship.
A valuable painting or a Ferrari or brass trains may just be a toys to you, but not to me.
Isn't that what is wonderful about this hobby? You and I couldn't be more opposite on most of the points you made, but here we are enjoying the same hobby
I'm a nut that wants smoke and sound units in my 2 rail steam engines regardless of what materials they are constructed from.
Actually, I've long contended that brass train collecting was really a different hobby from the people who build and operate layouts. Still trains, but very different priorities even if there is some overlap.
You probably know this, but if you like racing automobiles or scale models in general take a look at Exoto models http://www.exoto.com/ they are some of the most intricate and amazing miniatures that I've ever seen.
I've a decent "collection" of brass cars but I'm collecting them only for one reason - when I build my layout I want my cars to be accurate scale models for the era/locale that I am modeling, southwestern Pennsylvania coal and coke country in the early 1940's.
If all plastic cars were as well detailed and as accurate as the Glacier Park Models GS gondola or the San Juan Car Company boxcars (or the Grandt Line UTLX frameless tank car) I wouldn't own any brass.
Unfortunately the only way to get an accurate and diverse freight car fleet is to buy brass or scratchbuild them.
