MR Bashing

Over the last several years it's become chic to pick on Model Railroader Magazine and its editorial content.
     Let's face it, the content of the magazine has changed drastically, but, for that matter, so has the hobby, and although MR no longer appeals to me (I still subscribe), I agree with its policies and its focus.
     Bashers will argue that the magazine has stopped publishing articles catering to craftsmen. There are no longer pages in each issue devoted to scratchbuilders, kitbashers and craftsman structure builders. Articles on airbrushing, modifying locomotives and rolling stock to fit a particular prototype are non-existent.
     Instead, we're inundated with articles about how to build 4'x 8' beginner layouts with sectional track. We're forced to look at cover shots of locomotives and rolling stock that don't have a speck of weathering applied to them. One recent article on a supposed “state-of-the-art” model railroad featured cars with horn-hook couplers, unballasted and unpainted trackwork among many other faux paux.
     So what are they thinking over at Kalmbach? Well, that's simple. What's the biggest fear in our hobby? Our biggest fear is that eventually our hobby will die out as fewer young people become interested. The numbers bear out. Each year, the average age of model railroaders increases, and the total number of model railroaders is decreasing each year. That combination spells doom.
     So Model Railroader's editorial policy is to cater to beginners. It hopes that by enticing new people into the hobby, and providing a publication that answers their questions and concerns, that they will stick with it. It's is aware that if it has done it's job correctly, then one day the reader may outgrow the publication. So be it.
     Those of us who have outgrown MR have plenty of other places to get the kind of information we need as well as places to share more advanced ideas. At the risk of over-publicizing, (I've been accused of this…go figure?) I highly recommend the internet-based Railroad Lines Forum as a source for sharing knowledge. The website is: www.railroad-line.com , and my apologies to Forum owner and moderators alike if they feel like I'm over-promoting the site! If you're not familiar with it already, check it out, sign up and feel good that Model Railroader is doing its part to keep our hobby alive.

Building the Rutland Railroad MARCH 2007

Trees, trees, and more trees. If you model the northeastern United States you need to learn to model trees. I'm finding this out the hard way. I'm also finding out the hard way just how many trees it takes.
     For the past several months I have been showcasing the progress on one portion of my Rutland Railroad, the Proctor, Vermont area. On my layout, this area features a marble finishing plant, an interchange with the Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad, a large pond and a tunnel through the concrete foundation of my basement.
     Dick Elwell broke the bad news to me when he saw the mountain that the tunnel goes through. “You're gonna need about 500 trees for that hill,” he said. I immediately felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. If anyone could accurately judge the amount of foliage needed, it's him. To date, I have about 250 trees made and installed, it's not a fast process.

     I'm using a product called Peppergrass also known as Candytuft which is available through larger florists and florist supply houses. Peppergrass is a flower that has been preserved. It is available in several colors including green and it's natural state, a kind of golden-yellow. It usually comes in bunches, and can be bought by the case which is 30 bunches.
     It has a stalk about 18” long, but the part we're interested in is the top five or six inches. That's where the branch structure is. The small buds at the end of each branch make reasonable looking leaves. Speaking of leaves…each stalk has rather largish leaves that must be removed before proceeding. I just pick them off. There aren't that many.
     If I'm working on a large project like this mountain, I like to paint several bunches at the same time. Because I model autumn, I use four colors of spray paint; yellow, red, orange and green. The spray paint I use is the cheapest stuff I can find at the hardware store. Krylon is fine.
     I paint about twice as many bunches green as the other colors. After I paint, I lay the bunches on a sheet of newspaper to dry. It's easier to paint the Pepergrass before cutting off the tops, as it gives you enough material to hold on to and not paint your hands.
     When the Peppergrass is dry, I take a pair of scissors and cut off the top five inches or so and throw the bottom portion away. The easy part is over. Next I sit down in front of the television and pick off all the oversized leaves as well as any branches that are out of place or just don't look right.
     Then I bunch three or four pieces together and wrap the bottom with floral tape. That's it. When I multiply that exercise times 500 and I'll have a forest. Well, soon I hope!