Is this hobby more of a collection for you or an art form... Let me define the two... Collector: One who prefers quantity, the more trains and track the better... Artist/realist: One who prefers scenery, realism and realistic operations and track ect... So which would you define yourself as?
Ummm.... none of the above? I'm not a collector, because only GPs and smaller SDs can realistically run on my layout, and I'm realist enough to know I can't be a realist. I'm not artistic enough to build anything resembling the real thing. I like the building process more than running trains, if the truth be told.
I'd have to be classed as a 'realist' I guess.... Like notenuftoys, I really enjoy the building process, but I would have to qualify the 'realist' moniker. I like making things look real, but I rarely model a real place, if that makes sense. The country scene doesn't mimic any real place, but it all looks 'real'; the city looks like a city you've seen somewhere in your past, but isn't any specific urban area (does that make me a 'fantasy realist'?)
I'm a realist but still love steam loco's, reefers and billboard boxcars. I limit the JJJ&E to the steam-transition period. I have two SD-60 M diesels and one 60' boxcar, but those were purchased before I decided to model the steam-transition era. All the modern stuff looks nice but I have no interest in buying any of it. Stay cool and run steam....
My priorities are Artistic esthetics – An attractive scene for running trains through at the expense of realty Operational Realist – I need the operational aspects or I know I’ll get board just watching trains run. Casual Realist - I don't care about detail or realism of a model
I'd say I have to agree with Steve, although I'd say they were more preferences than priorities as far as I'm concerned.
I'm an Operator. As long as the train goes around the layout and I can drop-off and pick-up cars at industrial sidings and have fun watching everything happen, realistic operation & scenery are secondary. As far as collecting, you could say that might be applicable to anyone with more trains than their layout will accomodate.
I know I have more trains than my layout can handle. I like operation, and watching trains run through realistic scenery. I don't care if a model is spot on acurate. I guess I'm a little of both.
I'm a morphing hybrid! I really like operations but have found that I like well detailed scenery as well! What was that commercial on TV; question - "Blondes or Brunettes? " Answer - "Yes"! That sums it up for me!
I guess I would fall into the "Artist/realist" category. I like to model a prototype scene but not to perfection. I have a sliding scale where I try to come as close as I can to the real thing with the least amount of work. Sometimes it is easy enough to get close and others come out as an approximation. Whatever, it is fun when someone recognizes what it is supposed to be anyway.
