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I belong to several RR signal forums.  There were several threads running where one was on a mission to find red yellow and green LEDs that came closest to the ARR wavelength specifications for those colors (red/yellowish, yellow/reddish, green/bluish).  Another was wanting information on how many insulators were used on the cross arms, insulator colors and how the wires were arranged, even down to wanting to show wire transpositions for the telephone circuits for a particular, now defunct RR.  Still another was deeply concerned to get the right number of clap siding board on a watchmans shanty (surprised he didn't want a shingle count).

 

Granted its your layout and you can be as minute detailed as you care, but how many of us really go to that extreme.  Bet most visitors to a layout would not notice or care about signal colors or that 5, 6 or 8 wires were on crossarms.

 

But thats just me......

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Your visitors will probably be more impressed by your signals' operation rather than perfect color. Even the pseudo three-aspect signals (the five-second yellow) are impressive. Our visitors are impressed watching signals change from green to red as trains enters the blocks, and more impressed when the AGHR Kids properly stop their trains to wait for the signals to clear (the AGHR Adults are the screw-ups who don't pay attention and run signals).

Originally Posted by rrman:

I belong to several RR signal forums.  There were several threads running where one was on a mission to find red yellow and green LEDs that came closest to the ARR wavelength specifications for those colors (red/yellowish, yellow/reddish, green/bluish).  Another was wanting information on how many insulators were used on the cross arms, insulator colors and how the wires were arranged, even down to wanting to show wire transpositions for the telephone circuits for a particular, now defunct RR.  Still another was deeply concerned to get the right number of clap siding board on a watchmans shanty (surprised he didn't want a shingle count).

 

Granted its your layout and you can be as minute detailed as you care, but how many of us really go to that extreme.  Bet most visitors to a layout would not notice or care about signal colors or that 5, 6 or 8 wires were on crossarms.

 

But thats just me......

rrman....they are called two railers!

TJ

I've built each of my family members' houses - 6 in all.  I go as far as I possibly can to make everything match up.  All of my buildings have styrene outsides.

 

I'll cite a few examples:

1. I will not use plastic sheets for brick or block that are out of scale for 1:48.

2. When I built my house, which has aluminum siding on the peaks, I shopped and shopped until I found sheets that had the correct width for the siding.

3. I hand fashioned every window and door in all 6 structures to get them to perfectly match to the real ones.

4. I even landscape each  building to match the real landscaping.

 

I don't think when it comes to model construction that it's abnormal to do these types of things.  Therefore, if someone's passion is their railroad, why not have those same desires?

 

- walt

Originally Posted by Martin H:

It's called a passion.

 

You might want to find one for yourself someday.  But don't belittle others for having one.

People have all sorts of "passion."  The fact that it may not be one you share makes it no less so.  I didn't notice any one belittling any one above.

Originally Posted by TonkaNut:
Originally Posted by rrman:

I belong to several RR signal forums.  There were several threads running where one was on a mission to find red yellow and green LEDs that came closest to the ARR wavelength specifications for those colors (red/yellowish, yellow/reddish, green/bluish).  Another was wanting information on how many insulators were used on the cross arms, insulator colors and how the wires were arranged, even down to wanting to show wire transpositions for the telephone circuits for a particular, now defunct RR.  Still another was deeply concerned to get the right number of clap siding board on a watchmans shanty (surprised he didn't want a shingle count).

 

Granted its your layout and you can be as minute detailed as you care, but how many of us really go to that extreme.  Bet most visitors to a layout would not notice or care about signal colors or that 5, 6 or 8 wires were on crossarms.

 

But thats just me......

rrman....they are called two railers!

TJ

I haven't had anybody complain about the detail-level I have, as too much or far too short, but I did have a non-hobby visitor ask, after about a minute, upon entering the train-room and beholding the whole layout, say, "What day of the week is this (on the layout)? Is it Wednesday?

 

My wife and I have given up trying to figure that one out.

FrankM.

Originally Posted by walt rapp:

I've built each of my family members' houses - 6 in all.  I go as far as I possibly can to make everything match up.  All of my buildings have styrene outsides.

 

I'll cite a few examples:

1. I will not use plastic sheets for brick or block that are out of scale for 1:48.

2. When I built my house, which has aluminum siding on the peaks, I shopped and shopped until I found sheets that had the correct width for the siding.

3. I hand fashioned every window and door in all 6 structures to get them to perfectly match to the real ones.

4. I even landscape each  building to match the real landscaping...

- walt

Oh Walt, I sure wish you would add the photos you took of those homesteads to your reply. You know how I love seeing those masterpieces and never tire of seeing them.

Last edited by Moonson

To me, it's the big picture that counts: an operating layout that runs a variety of trains reliably. (actually I have multiple layouts for diversity).

 

Details are nice but not essential. I might get around to them eventually but my current priorities are to repair more of the old miscellaneous items I've acquired and get them into operation.

Originally Posted by Pingman:
Originally Posted by Martin H:

It's called a passion.

 

You might want to find one for yourself someday.  But don't belittle others for having one.

People have all sorts of "passion."  The fact that it may not be one you share makes it no less so.  I didn't notice any one belittling any one above.

Thank you Carl. Perfect!

Detailing is a weird thing. Willfully wrong detailing by someone who claims to be a modeler is not admirable. But the acceptance of variances when necessary (that is, doing it "right" is beyond you at this time - by skill, by resources, by financial resources, or by simple common sense) is part and parcel of modeling - they are not actually the real thing, after all.

 

When you can include deep detail in a practical way - by all parameters - why on earth would you not?

 

Me, I'm a table-grade modeler; the house wine; the W***-Mart modeler. Looks good coming around the corner (I like to think). Without the "shingle-counters" to inspire and sometimes amuse us, most of our work would suffer, even though we may not aspire to the sublime ourselves.

 

Bless their hearts; I'm not one of them, but I sure appreciate being able to steal and simplify their ideas.

 

 

Originally Posted by AGHRMatt:

Your visitors will probably be more impressed by your signals' operation rather than perfect color. Even the pseudo three-aspect signals (the five-second yellow) are impressive. Our visitors are impressed watching signals change from green to red as trains enters the blocks, and more impressed when the AGHR Kids properly stop their trains to wait for the signals to clear (the AGHR Adults are the screw-ups who don't pay attention and run signals).

 "the AGHR Adults are the screw-ups who don't pay attention and run signals" HA!

 

 

Nice picture too Matt

This sort of 'passion' I find all too humorous. 

 

But, I most certainly applaud the pursuit.  I encourage anyone associated with the hobby to 'find their niche', and enjoy it to the max!!

 

This reminds me of an article in Model Railroader magazine back in the 80's.  There was "A humorous look at some friends in the hobby"...a collection of poetry and art by Walt Bartlett.  Among seven profiles of model railroading hobbyist was "The Nit Picker"...

 

"The Picker of Nits

can give a rail fits.

"You've built it all wrong," he'll sigh.

"Why, the valve on the side

is three microns too wide,

and the dome is four-hundredths too high!"

 

He'll then beg your pardon,

if he came down too hard on

the features of models he's rated;

but his judgements are fair,

exact, plumb, and square,

since he's had his eyeballs calibrated.

 

 

We (LHS) have at least one of this breed among our most treasured customers.  It wouldn't be the same without his perspective!...........as frustrated as he is!

 

Last edited by dkdkrd

I have really enjoyed the comments here.

 

Only reason I chose signals, was it was the last threads I had visited, but could have been scenery, models, RR cars threads.  So the person in pursuit of the signal colors made me start this thread as a curiosity of how far do we modelers care our passions, but I could have just as well chosen another fine detail thread.

 

BTW, like another poster stated I am of the five/ten foot rule.  So I really don't fit this thread.

 

So keep commenting away!

Originally Posted by Moonson:

I haven't had anybody complain about the detail-level I have, as too much or far too short, but I did have a non-hobby visitor ask, after about a minute, upon entering the train-room and beholding the whole layout, say, "What day of the week is this (on the layout)? Is it Wednesday?

 

My wife and I have given up trying to figure that one out.

FrankM.

Maybe he expected a crowd for happy hour on hump day? 

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