The whole OCD thinking yourself into a corner was why I started garden railroading in HO scale. It took me out of the, "I wonder what ---name of famous modeler---- would say about this?" mode and got me just playing and having fun. I still love all my N scale stuff, I kept what I thought was truly special to me for that future layout, but for now I am runner and I do roundy roundy till my eyes fall out. I don't know if it's OCD for me though. I would call it paralysis of analysis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epnb_rrJPOE And my big question for everyone is simple, how long has it been since you ran a train? Those of you who obsess about details but actually get things done, I wish I could do it like you; I envy you.
Now, that's funny! I also suffer from this affliction with the hobby. For example, when I kit-bash something, the usually routine is to love it at first, then I start noticing flaws and then I start to get really annoyed by the flaws. As a result, sometimes I scrap it altogether and start over, or I'll try to repair the flaws. One thing is for sure, once I notice flaws, it's really hard to look past them even if they're barely noticeable.
Thanks to everyone for the responses... Primavw, I completely see eye to eye with you on this subject. I like when my OCD is mild and pushes me to be a better modeler, but your quote from "Unknown" describes my current experiences to the T! Chris
Obsessive... Compulsive... Disorder... I have it... as a hoarder of model railroading stuff. Also... projects I am compelled to begin and lose interest in finishing OCD/ADD.
Problem doesn't exist in my world. N scale is two small to sweat the small stuff when the three foot rule is applied and even at one foot most stuff is not noticeable. I could care less if there was supposed to be 12 rivets and there ends up only 11 instead and most folks won't see it and I don't sweat it. If the overall visual appearance is what I want then I'm happy and my chief judge and my CFO, my wife is just fine with the results. I am much more interested in creating a visual effect than an every nut bolt and washer to be correct in number and scale. So basically I am happy, well adjusted, and very content with what I have done. I am too busy having fun to have time for any psychosis.
Sorry, I can't take it anymore. Why is it necessary to have fun with model railroading in the pattern of a ten year old? I have known many who were dyed in the wool rivet counters who derived great pleasure from their pursuit of prototype accuracy. That sort of modeling combines the joy of hand work and a love of history. Why's that bad? Personally, I think the three foot rule is a haven for poor modelers, but if that's what you want to do, it's not my problem. Bill Pearce
Bill...is being a poor modeler...someone who doesnt posses the skills of a rivet counter...make that person any worse then being a rivet counter ? Everyone enjoys the hobby to the best of their abilty. Whether it be the 3 foot rule or the 3mm rule. Why do people have to be rivet counters to be accepted into the hobby ? ;-) I'm thinking this whole thread was made 'tongue in cheek'. I could be wrong. I dont have OCD or OCPD...LOL
Respectfully, how someone chooses to exercise their hobby is entirely their business. You are free to hobby the way you choose. You are free to not like their work. You should not feel free to impose your arbitrary standards on others. "Why is it necessary to have fun with model railroading in the pattern of a ten year old?" "I think the three foot rule is a haven for poor modelers" Do you feel insults add to the discussion?
There is only one "correct" way to engage in model railroading. That is to have as much fun as you can, however you determine the method of obtaining that goal. I appreciate the fine scale modelers but I really encourage those who just enjoy running whatever they can get moving on whatever track or layout they have. I attempt to be a rivet counter but fall short.
I can remember the day when I put the wrong pintal mounted machine gun on my 1/285 scale tank. Mind you I used 10+ colors on the tank and included the gunner in the turret. Some OCD person mentioned it was the wrong machine gun and the wrong colors. The next week I showed up with about 20 tanks and such painted in bright gold and bright silver. He didn't get it. That's OK I didn't mind. When I started into model trains again I decided that I would not 'model' anything 'real' and came up with, "Mysterium'. I will also have a widget factory along with other non-existent products. My main goal will be to make it credible. All of that said: I fully respect and encourage people to produce the most accurate detailed models they can for I feel the world in general needs a full spectrum of approaches. Me? I'll stick to steam locos and bullet trains.
Guys, The purpose of this thread wasn't to get on each other's nerves or talk about/insult other peoples work or how they pursue the hobby. The point I was trying to make, and seek others in similar circumstances, is when we judge our OWN work too harshly and how that can led to not enjoying the hobby as it should be enjoyed. Also, the thread was meant to find ways to mitigate this issue for ones self if it does indeed exist. Chris
On the OCD/ADD front, I have several projects that I eagerly ordered supplies and parts for...sometimes enough to do a small fleet (the OCD part)...only to have completely lost interest by the time everything arrived (the ADD part).hboy:
I agree Chris... However...being told in not so many words that if we aint rivet counters we are 10 year olds...kinda hit a raw nerve. Back on topic...my son is OCD...has been from an early age. I have seen first hand the frustration OCD can wreak on someone. We have helped him all his life. He truly understands that we understand and care. There are many times that he just has to deal with it on his own...and we are there as a safety net for him OCPD on the other hand is another story. To quote an online source (wikipedia) "...people with OCD are often aware that their behavior is not rational, are unhappy about their obsessions but nevertheless feel compelled by them, and may be riddled with anxiety. By contrast people with OCPD are not aware of anything abnormal; they will readily explain why their actions are rational, it is usually impossible to convince them otherwise, and they tend to derive pleasure from their obsessions or compulsions." I have read a lot of posts on various forums from people who can very well be said to be OCPD. As an outsider (one who has neither disorder) I would rather read posts from a person who is possibly OCD...looking for help with a problem...then a person with OCPD who is positive they know everything and are never wrong. BTW...I'm not indicating I think YOU are OCPD....or even OCD. I think we ALL have a 'desire' to have things perfect. We all strive for that. I also honestly believe we all have our own 'level' where we call it 'done' and are personally happy with the results we achieved. JMO...YMMV...thnxs. :frustrated:
I agree with most of this statement and remind folks of that old yet true saying, Nothing in Nature is Perfect. No rock, tree, or any other plant, or anything else is perfect and in that there exists perfection because of the differences. The same goes for the 1 to 1 locomotives we model and cars. Look closely and one sees a weld that is not as smooth as the other one or a rivet that is just a tad smaller than the other, and over time the dings dents and scraps on pilots and other body parts. After a year on the road nothing looks like that loco or car when it first came out of the shop and posed for builders photos. My thoughts on super detailing locos and cars is as follows and I have done my share of them in the past. The addition of all those fine parts can be a huge problem if the loco or car is regularly run on a layout and frequently taken off and put on. It ends up having to be handled like a bomb tech dismantling a device, lest parts get bent or dislodged, and because of that almost becomes a shelf queen to just sit on display. Over time I have decided not to go that route with my stuff other than maybe changing out an airhorn or adding windshield wipers. Just not been worth the trouble to be replacing parts or straightening some when I forget to handle it just right. And in my opinion watching a set of Fs running around the track with one I know has all the bells and whistles, while the others may have had just a klunky airhorn replaced with a finer Kato one there is really no noticeable appearance differences from a few feet away as they run. And I am not going over and laying my head on the layout and squint at the locos running at me or by me. Besides I may get a small tree or shrub stuck in my ear when I do. Watching a set of Kato Fs running through some fine scenery on some nicely ballasted track give me just as much pleasure, and the visual impression of the locos and consists looks good enough to capture the flavor of the real 1 to 1 versions for me standing or sitting in the room from a few feet away. And the person who runs out of the box is just as much of a modeler as the one who super details a loco. They just decided to put their effort into track and scenery and other visual effects. Watching my share of nice sets of locos running on a lot of Ntrak set ups over the years it has not been the trains that have caught my eye but rather some of the nicely done scenes that they are running through. Each person has their level of comfort with their modeling and no one is any less in my eye for whatever level of modeling they feel is right for them. What is important is that they enjoy the hobby at whatever level they find comfort and satisfaction with. And for any super detailer that wants to say what they have is so much superior to the other guys work I'll gladly point out to them that they missed the dings and scratches on the pilots, and the ripples and dents on the steam boiler jackets, along with bent stirrup steps and ladders, and boxcar doors scraped and dented where someone tried to close them with a forklift. Now that is super detailing. Problem is that most of that super detailing in our scale goes unnoticed at most shows unless specifically pointed out by someone. It is the scene that captures the eye that it runs through. So it boils down to a personal preference of the modeler in what gives them satisfaction. But it doesn't make one person any better than the next. Some are great at detailing a loco, others trackwork, while others excel in structures or scenery.
. Why do people have to be rivet counters to be accepted into the hobby ? ;-) One does not need to be a rivet counter to be a modeler, although that pursuit does tend to improve one's skill as a modeler. What I object to is the idea pften presented by many that rivet counting saps the fun from the hobby and that to be fun, construction needs to be done at a lower level.
The only ones creating the belief that everything must or should be done at a "low" level would be some of those whom are counting rivets, nobody has said that it has to be done at a low level. Most of these guys want to have fun and are getting away from the stresses of real life, how they model is dependent upon the kind of guy/girl they are and just how much time and skill they want to devote to the hobby. Like I said, I know whats wrong with my models do I really care enough to change it right now? no, there are more important things than model trains.
