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 Posted - July 08 2014 : 4:26:28 PM
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I'm probably wrong but let me explain it too you first. I was at my local Fred Meyer looking for diecast cars (I'm a diecast car collector, ie Matchbox Hot Wheels, etc.) and I saw these things.
They seem to be about H0 scale in size and appear to be targeted towards little kids. But that's not the important part. This label you're about to see in the next picture on the boxes for these things is the part that struck me.
"Collect, Connect, Expand". That right there made me think "This is model railroading for youngsters". What I'm thinking here is that a let's say 5 year old buys one of these things (They come in train sets too), collects these things, etc. Then, after a decade or less, the kid or his/her parents discover model railroading and think of it as a perfect fit for him/her to do, buys him/her a model train set, he/she likes it and *boom*, you get another person into model railroading. You see what I'm saying? This is why I think stuff like this will help save model railroading as we know it.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on July 08 2014 4:27:39 PM
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 4:38:01 PM
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I don't think this will save anything. We had a better chance when Thomas was at the height of popularity and EVERY kid had those wooden trains. But even that didn't transfer over to traditional model railroading for most kids. Hate to say it, but I see it as a dying hobby.
Actually, toys in general are a dying hobby. It's all about the smart phone and video games for pretty much every kid I know. We constantly struggle with this with my own kids.
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 5:13:57 PM
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Walt is right! I have or had a XBOX 360. Got slot cars for a driving game and trains to keep me busy. I like my mechanical like hobbies anyways! Physical stuff is better, not cell phones, Facebook and so on. I remember malls and kids with bikes and fishing was FaceBook back in the day! Good ol' days. The only thing to save our hobby is make stuff a little less high priced! Besides, the local hobby shop is great if your into RC's and that probably won't go no where. Growing up, this stuff like today didn't exist. Sad huh? I ever have a kid (no plans to ever wanting to have one), they ain't gonna get a cell phone until high school! No computer or anything else. Better like toys! I remember playing with lego's, trains and hot wheels and the bike was my favorite thing as a kid! hell, I hardly see kids ride a bike anymore!
" Heck with counting 'em rivets, TRAINS ARE FOR FUN! Not called the Mad Scientist for nothing either!"
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 5:16:05 PM
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quote:I don't think this will save anything. We had a better chance when Thomas was at the height of popularity and EVERY kid had those wooden trains. But even that didn't transfer over to traditional model railroading for most kids. Hate to say it, but I see it as a dying hobby.
Actually, toys in general are a dying hobby. It's all about the smart phone and video games for pretty much every kid I know. We constantly struggle with this with my own kids.
Originally posted by burlington77Â -Â July 08 2014Â :Â 4:38:01 PM
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I agree with you 100% about kids being too distracted to play with trains. Kids these days are too wrapped up in smart phones and video games to be able to play with model trains period. Yes, I have a little bit of this but I still give myself enough time to run and collect model trains regularly. And another thing, I got into model trains all because of Thomas The Tank Engine. The show helped me discover real life trains and therefore helped me discover model trains in general. But that was in the early 2000's. We didn't have very good smart phones back then. There were little to nothing you could do with them except call and text and texting wasn't a huge thing then. I don't even think video games were as big of a hit then either. Over the last ten years or so I've been in this hobby, I've watched hobby shops turn from being about model trains to being about R/C cars and I've watched once great hobby shops dwindle down into nothingness. Heck, even the great train shows are dying. I've seen a couple of train shows turn from train related to being more and more about toys and R/C stuff. The only train show that still seems perfectly intact in my state is the one in my hometown and even that show is dwindling a bit. But still, these things might(?) save model railroading but I'm not 100% sure. That's specifically why I put "These things might save model railroading" as the title of this thread.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 5:54:16 PM
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Stephen - funny that you posted this, because a month or so I saw these things at Target and initially had the same thought. Well, at least it's train related.
But on further thought, I don't know. And it's the same thing with most Hot Wheels type cars, the things are styled and painted so unrealistically I don't see the attraction. When I was a kid I loved Matchbox cars and trains because they at least made an attempt to look like the real things! And the closer anything was to something I saw in real life, the more fun it was to play with. That was what made the first Hot Wheels so attractive, here was American muscle cars I saw out on the street and drooled over, imagining "some day". Matchbox was still making mostly British make models.
I admit I share the outlook of those thinking it's all going to electronics and "devices" and toys of all types will be tossed away - but still I think that maybe there is still hope. People have been predicting the demise of model railroading for a long time and yet it is still here - although certainly changing as we have all lamented with the high prices and this and that. I think probably it will be a tie-in with electronics (that we see today with DCC and beyond) that will "save" model railroading.
And look at it from this perspective - books, newspapers and magazines should have been dead and buried long ago, yet people still like to hold and leaf through actual, real paper pages. There is something about holding a real model car, train boat or plane that the virtual electronic world cannot match. Something too about building something with your own hands.
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 6:20:41 PM
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quote:Stephen - funny that you posted this, because a month or so I saw these things at Target and initially had the same thought. Well, at least it's train related.
But on further thought, I don't know. And it's the same thing with most Hot Wheels type cars, the things are styled and painted so unrealistically I don't see the attraction. When I was a kid I loved Matchbox cars and trains because they at least made an attempt to look like the real things! And the closer anything was to something I saw in real life, the more fun it was to play with. That was what made the first Hot Wheels so attractive, here was American muscle cars I saw out on the street and drooled over, imagining "some day". Matchbox was still making mostly British make models.
I admit I share the outlook of those thinking it's all going to electronics and "devices" and toys of all types will be tossed away - but still I think that maybe there is still hope. People have been predicting the demise of model railroading for a long time and yet it is still here - although certainly changing as we have all lamented with the high prices and this and that. I think probably it will be a tie-in with electronics (that we see today with DCC and beyond) that will "save" model railroading.
And look at it from this perspective - books, newspapers and magazines should have been dead and buried long ago, yet people still like to hold and leaf through actual, real paper pages. There is something about holding a real model car, train boat or plane that the virtual electronic world cannot match. Something too about building something with your own hands.
Originally posted by JNXT 7707Â -Â July 08 2014Â :Â 5:54:16 PM
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Exactly. That is one of the reasons I collect model trains instead of playing with pretty much the same trains in Trainz Simulator. Playing with a virtual train is not even close to the same thing as running and holding a real model train.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 6:50:41 PM
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I was in a restaurant the other day. This couple came in and ordered a meal. The girl was a knock out good looking young lady. The guy sat and played games on his I-Phone the whole time. With cell phones and the internet I not sure we can reproduce much less enjoy model trains as a hobby.
I fear that we are playing with our magic technology so much, that no one is learning how to keep it working.
Regards, John
The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life. <> Andrew Brown
Edited by - JRG1951 on July 08 2014 6:54:40 PM
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 6:51:49 PM
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these trains aren't HO its more bigger than TT scale
Remember when Maisto had trains one time?
Those were TT scale
But them trains by Jakk's Pacific are neat to collect
I still play video games on my PC or my game consoles
I just got a old PSP for $5 at a garage sale sans cord
Edited by - microbusss on July 08 2014 6:56:19 PM
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 7:17:43 PM
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quote:I was in a restaurant the other day. This couple came in and ordered a meal. The girl was a knock out good looking young lady. The guy sat and played games on his I-Phone the whole time. With cell phones and the internet I not sure we can reproduce much less enjoy model trains as a hobby.
I fear that we are playing with our magic technology so much, that no one is learning how to keep it working.
Regards, John
The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life. <> Andrew Brown
Originally posted by JRG1951Â -Â July 08 2014Â :Â 6:50:41 PM
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That's what I keep thinking from time to time. I fear that if this continues, we won't know how to even keep iphones, computers and whatnot working. Even if we do keep them working, they'll be less reproduction which causes the demise of our species. I pay attention in science class so I know what I'm saying somewhat but that opens up to a whole new topic that to be honest I don't want to get into that much. Especially on a model train forum.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on July 08 2014 7:21:08 PM
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 7:53:44 PM
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I've noticed, especially with interns working at my office - almost every second of their downtime is spent interfaced with their device. And, if they can do it while they work, they will.
Their phones are constantly beeping that they have a message. I am constantly amazed that they have that much to say.
I don't worry so much about the species reproducing as I do what kind of relationships will sustain them through life. It's all virtual 
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - July 08 2014 : 8:24:21 PM
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quote:I've noticed, especially with interns working at my office - almost every second of their downtime is spent interfaced with their device. And, if they can do it while they work, they will.
Their phones are constantly beeping that they have a message. I am constantly amazed that they have that much to say.
I don't worry so much about the species reproducing as I do what kind of relationships will sustain them through life. It's all virtual
Originally posted by JNXT 7707Â -Â July 08 2014Â :Â 7:53:44 PM
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I believe this is one of the biggest reasons why model railroading is dying. People spend so much time on their iPhones, Playstations, etc. that they don't have any time whatsoever to do model railroading at all. To give an example, my parents ten years ago (Before the golden age of smart phones) used to hang out with each other more often than they do now. Now they just sit on their iPhones playing games constantly to get a new high score when they could be doing other things like taking a walk, going out with each other and/or even model railroading. Plus, parents seem to over-stuff their kids' schedules to do other things so that they don't have any time to do model railroading. That's one big reason why I think the hobby might be dying. In fact, this goes for hobbies in general. I'm not saying that you should do every hobby ever, heck no. I'm just saying that we need to keep the hobbies that we like alive and well. To make sure that more of the next generation knows about model trains so that it won't die anytime soon. Unfortunately, it may already be too late although I highly doubt it. But it's worth trying to save it anyways I think.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on July 08 2014 8:30:33 PM
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 06:38:05 AM
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Stephen my young friend you are wise beyond your years
And getting back to the original train set that spurred all this discussion, it's interesting that there is one car the resembles a 70s or 80s Tyco/Bachmann auto loader with multi-colored automobiles. The rest of the bunch look pretty bizarre. I wonder how the auto loader made it into the set?
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 09:49:55 AM
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Jerry & Stephen,
I also think that this insight is mature and rare for a young man these days. The cell phone/tablet problem is viewed as a younger generation problem, But in truth it now cuts across all age groups. The on demand gratification and instant brain simulation are addictive. These readily available activities tend to push many other endeavors aside. I will admit I am subject to these technological activities too.
I remember the scene in the movie WALL-E where the guy falls off of his couch, and becomes aware that there is a world outside his touch screen. Stephen is right, this is not the forum for this line of thought.
I think that a low cost line of HO models would go a long way to help keep the hobby viable. We need a line that provides about 8 different freight cars and about 4 types of engines. These would not have to be museum quality, but would need knuckle couplers and metal wheels. Build them in the USA. The cars should cost $8-12 and the engines $45-60.
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong. <> Charles Wadsworth
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 11:30:01 AM
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quote:Jerry & Stephen,
I also think that this insight is mature and rare for a young man these days. The cell phone/tablet problem is viewed as a younger generation problem, But in truth it now cuts across all age groups. The on demand gratification and instant brain simulation are addictive. These readily available activities tend to push many other endeavors aside. I will admit I am subject to these technological activities too.
I remember the scene in the movie WALL-E where the guy falls off of his couch, and becomes aware that there is a world outside his touch screen. Stephen is right, this is not the forum for this line of thought.
I think that a low cost line of HO models would go a long way to help keep the hobby viable. We need a line that provides about 8 different freight cars and about 4 types of engines. These would not have to be museum quality, but would need knuckle couplers and metal wheels. Build them in the USA. The cars should cost $8-12 and the engines $45-60.
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong. <> Charles Wadsworth
Originally posted by JRG1951Â -Â July 09 2014Â :Â 09:49:55 AM
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I believe this could be the start. They should also make sure the track, controllers, etc have the same characteristics as what you described for the locomotives and cars and that they should sell all that stuff not just at hobby shops but at places where kids are more likely to see them like Toys R Us, shopping mall stands, etc. At that point they should make a television ad and/or a newspaper ad or whatever. All there needs to be to keep the hobby alive is getting younger people exposed to it easier and have a decent priced line-up that young people can play with. So essentially, we need another Athearn Blue Box or some equivalence of it that's not beyond the parents cost range, has little to no parts that could be breakable, and be good quality overall. And Jerry, I think you're right about the autoloader. It does look an awful lot like a Tyco or Bachmann autoloader.Let me show you with a Tyco autoloader from another part of the forum.
And then compare it to the car from the top of this thread page.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on July 09 2014 11:37:46 AM
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 1:18:44 PM
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Unless you can somehow get it to incorporate Minecraft! ...and other video games!
Otherwise... once we are done, so is model railroading!
Sean
"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!" - Mario Andretti!
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 2:01:42 PM
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quote:Unless you can somehow get it to incorporate Minecraft! ...and other video games!
Otherwise... once we are done, so is model railroading!
Originally posted by Mustangs_n_Trains - July 09 2014 : 1:18:44 PM
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There are actually train mods for Minecraft so there's that although that doesn't really do anything to get younger people into model railroading because it has nothing to do with the hobby at all.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 3:42:56 PM
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quote:
And then compare it to the car from the top of this thread page.
Originally posted by kovacste000Â -Â July 09 2014Â :Â 11:30:01 AM
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Which one would you rather play with if you were a kid? I'm guessing the Tyco. Granted, a younger kid would probably be better off with the el-bizarro one, but get up to grade school and I think kids want something that looks like something they have seen.
But anyway, the thing about this particular auto loader that struck me is that it's really a replica of auto loaders found back in the 60s. Seems a little strange given the futuristic feel of the rest of the train set.
Ah well what do I know anyway?
http://tycodepot.com/
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 5:04:08 PM
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It does look quite bizarre compared to the other freight cars in that particular set.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 5:13:49 PM
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| Honestly, the hobby is doomed. Kids are too dang stupid to play with anything physical. You want to save model railroading, get kids active. Be responsible parents, keep those electronics away from kids. Get your kids involved with what you love, the earlier the better. Have them pass on what you taught them to their kids.
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 6:52:42 PM
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quote:Honestly, the hobby is doomed. Kids are too dang stupid to play with anything physical. You want to save model railroading, get kids active. Be responsible parents, keep those electronics away from kids. Get your kids involved with what you love, the earlier the better. Have them pass on what you taught them to their kids.
Originally posted by LGLrr845Â -Â July 09 2014Â :Â 5:13:49 PM
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That is very good advice but here's the kicker. Eventually, whether it's at their school or wherever, they're gonna hear about and use electronics of all different kinds and then they're gonna want that stuff and possibly throw a fit about it with the parents. Of course, they have the power to say no so there's that. Also, if you get kids into model railroading when they're lets say 5 years old, they're probably not gonna care about the electronics as much as they do with model trains anyway.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 9:58:22 PM
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| I would like that auto carrier set
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Posted - July 09 2014 : 10:02:00 PM
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quote:I would like that auto carrier set
Originally posted by microbusss - July 09 2014 : 9:58:22 PM
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You can actually find them quite easily as long as you have a Fred Meyer, Kmart, Target, etc. store near you. At least I think so.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on July 09 2014 10:05:13 PM
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Posted - July 10 2014 : 10:41:42 PM
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One reason I didn't "buy" into this Power Train stuff, is that it is just a tad bit on the toyish side. Uses fake trucks with single-axle wheels, and while I LOVE the fact that it's close to TT, the (un)realism just kills it for me. I am interested in that auto carrier, though, I may have to buy one of them just because. :)
Many of the kids who come to our Open House shows are former ( or still current ) Thomas fans. We have several Thomas engines we can run as well on the layout. It's usually quite popular. :) So not all kids are hopeless vid-addicts, some parents do regulate what the child's activities are like, and can keep them from becoming hopeless viddicts. All is not lost yet.
Matchbox diecast is slowing coming (back) around to realism, many diecast collectors have been bashing them for YEARs about the unrealistic vehicles and gaudy graphics that just keep coming out. The kids don't care for them ( not enough realism, believe it or not ), and with diehard diecast fans staying away, the Powers That Be have decided to get back to their diecast roots, and SUPPOSEDLY this year, 2014, or early next year, we should start seeing more tamed-down diecast of real vehicles. I know licensing is expensive, maybe that's why they got away from it, but the only vehicles I buy from Matchbox are the most realistic and stock ones, most of the others I just avoid, as do many other collectors. I think we'll see a turn-around in diecast-land, and see more mundane daily vehicles come back into the line-up, maybe stuff we can ( and want ) to use on our HO layouts. The Power Trains are bit to gaudy for me, although I do like the Dragon passenger train. :) Haven't bought it yet, though. maybe if they were more like the Maisto On Track trains, more realistic, I'd be inclined to buy them more.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - July 11 2014 : 12:23:32 AM
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As I see it, things has greatly changed since most of us were kids, and it will continue to change more & more rather quickly as you may have noticed... But to call a kid, "stupid" because he/she has no interest in something is not a great idea... Just because I love something doesn't make me beLIEve my kids will want anything to do with it! I will have my layout to show people & kids, BUT, IM not going to try to make them like it.. That's their decision... Kids may not prosper on what I or a parent love....
I tell teens to find something THEY really like, and get involved in it. The best job in the world is doing something you're good at and love... (For those of you who has had a job that you hate)
I believe limiting electronics from kids is a great idea. a brilliant Ohio Psychologist claims 1-2 hours a day is enough for kids today on computer use... Taking electronics away from kids is taking todays world from them! Weather we like it or not, the world today revolves around electronics, computers, etc.... and for those who cant except that, its sad...
Parents need to teach their kids from a very early age. But to tell them what they can like is a little too much. I absolutely love body & painting and restoring cars and building customs.... I can push this onto kids and tell them how much that "I love it"... to get them interested in it. BUT then a few years later the kid finds out he hates it... It's gonna suck really badly as now he has to find a new line of work after killing his time for years...
As for the model trains and slot cars... I feel the same way.. They'll either like it or they won't and I'm gonna leave the decision up to them...
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