Arnold D. Cribari posted:Also. those that know me well, know why I have a particular interest, which I will share later, why I wish the answer was Yes.
Please share your thoughts, if you have them, about the above question, or this article and topic.
And do you think you might qualify for such designation if you put your mind to it?
Well, you asked for opinions and I presented mine. I have no idea what your motivations are in asking the questions.
It would have been better to ask for opinions from "those who like to model trains with realism and/or those who would like to aspire to be a mmr ". Because there are several difference interests represented on this forum and your thread audience was very non-specific.
On the forum you will find Toys vs Scale, Non-electronic vs electronic, time frame or road name being modeled, carpet layout vs permanent, tubular track vs Fasttrack, and so forth.
Generally the OGR forum members just like to have fun with trains regardless of the niche they have chosen.
But I have overheard people at my sales tables many times over the years making comments about how unrealistic the Lionelish train world is and how none of it could ever stand up to nmra standards. Their comments never concerned me since my stuff was purely toy trains, which now even includes Brio and Thomas items. They were speaking from another aspect of the hobby.
Personally, I've never had the desire to "model" trains, bldgs, people, bridges, etc. I'm very impressed with what I have seen others do on their layouts but I just don't have the time or desire. I just like running them around and listening to the clickety clack on the track. I don't count rivets and more than one car with the same number are welcome on our train consists. We change engines and cars by lifting them off the track using our hands.
I now have a 6 yr old to raise, so items end up riding our trains that could never stand the scrutiny of nmra, such as stacked up matchbox cars, brio cars, pencils, colorful bouncy balls, metal screws, small stuffed animals, etc riding as loads.
I respect each niche of the hobby and as long as youre having fun it should all be good.
