I had a odd and mildly surprising conversation yesterday evening.
My wife was having a look at my layout while I was out of the room.
On returning to the room and without prompting made a few excellent suggestion that would enhance the level of detail.
I was surprised primarily because I would not expect this level of interest from her usually in connection with my hobbies never mind sanctioning further spending as was done just a few weeks ago!
I was wondering if other modellers experience this level of interest from their partners?
:beers:
Absolutely. I think because they don't have the "railway baggage" we do so its like casting a fresh eye over it. I quite often show the "Other arf" various photos of model railways and ask her opinion. The answer is often "Its not dirty enough and looks like a model".
Even the great "Coppenhagen Fields" has recieved this comment (think the washed out colours contibuted to this) but on these hallowed pages Stoney Lane Depot and Frankland, amongst others have recieved very favourable feedback.
So when I get to the scenic bit on Northfleet - I will be inviting feedback - not just from Railway enthusiasts but not railway people too...
I used to get the odd comment of help when I was in the flat, but now the layout is in the loft of this house I barely see it and the only comments I get are when parcels arrive in the post. :worried: Those words aren't for this forum! :-X :D
Mrs TC can't wait until we get into 'scenics, painting and cats'
I believe she has a few 'ideas' :hmmm:
Liz keeps asking me when we are going to do the ballasting together.
SWMBO will always offer constructive comments especially regarding hiding joins of buildings and what to put along the edge of the board to break the join where the backscene meets it. :-*
Mrs Skyline is very tolerant of the hobby, even when the "mancave" overflows from under the stairs.
Lots of useful advice and constructive help (my only three trees were painted by her fair hands) too.
But the best thing so far is the attitude to further purchases....Last time we went to Lincoln I came back with a rake of JJA's because "if there a good price you will regret it if you don't".... :bounce:
Skyline2uk
Being of the American persuasion Mrs Chetcombe is somewhat bemused by my little corner of England in the garage... She does have a good eye for scenic tips and was instrumental in a farm (plus animals) making it's way onto a corner of the layout. She was a little disappointed by the traditional English farmhouse, thinking that something along the lines of Downton Abbey would be more appropriate :hmmm: Thankfully there is no N gauge kit for that :)
Mrs mereman almost forced me into N Gauge. I keep telling her it will be very expensive and all she says is "Go ahead we can only spend it once, let's enjoy it while we still can". She's one in a million, and no she's not looking over my shoulder :D
Mrs weave is great. Very understanding and supportive.
Only problem is she knows nothing about trains and when she did come with me to a model shop once she wanted me to buy a 'Flying Scotsman' loco or something similar. Know Rule 1 applies but a lot of money for a french/spanish border layout set in the 80's / 90's!
Animals seem to be a good excuse for buying more stuff. She wants me to get horses, sheep and border collies (we have 2 real ones). I say I'll get them as soon as I've got more track and tunnel mouths and mod roc to make the hill. Oh, and I need scatter and fencing :D
Mrs. C (who actually is Chinese) has never seen anything like it and is very keen to help out with the landscaping side of things once we get to that. She can also solder better than I can which is a bit if a b****r. :-[
Quote from: Chinahand on July 17, 2013, 10:27:38 AM
Mrs. C (who actually is Chinese) has never seen anything like it and is very keen to help out with the landscaping side of things once we get to that. She can also solder better than I can which is a bit if a b****r. :-[
Very industrious people, the Chinese :D
Being SWMBOless myself, I'm enjoying all these tales of 'better halves'. Please keep them coming. We probably need a new smiley to use here: 'SWMBO knows best' or something similar...
Della has, in the past, got involved in scrunching up plaster soaked paper towels for building landscapes and has been known to pass the occasional insightful comment which is usually met with the usual Harumph! then acted on once she has scarpered ;D
A right bunch of grovelers, just jealous :laugh3:.Cheers john.
Mr Silly Moo has a garage full of tools and is very good at soldering, he knows a lot about electronics and would be a great help with DCC if only he was interested in railways. He helps with carpentry, wiring and baseboard building.
He puts up with a strange railway obsessed wife and house with model railway bits spread around it. He doesn't offer advice about scenery and once told me that the n gauge sheep on my layout looked like maggots!
His interest is cars so when fellow members of the model railway club come round they all invariably end up in the garage talking about cars.
He never asks me how much I spend on models and I never ask him how much he spends on his cars :D
This is a very fun little thread!
Mrs. Oreamnos has shown a keen interest and has supplied feedback at times about what I'm doing or in what I'm planning but she has not expressed any interest in actually participating.
Parcels that arrive at the door usually prompt a snarkey comment which admittedly is sometimes deserved especially when yes I actually do "have one of those already," and she doesn't see a newly released livery on a model of a prototype I already own as warranting a purchase. Fair enough. But she doesn't stop me and as voiced by others, when there is a bargain to be had she will sometimes encourage me to take advantage of it.
She once expressed gratitude for my hobby, saying, "At least it keeps you home and I know where you are."
Matt
Lynn has always taken a keen interest and makes some very good suggestions to improve both the layout and its website. All the card kits have been put together by her as she makes greeting cards and is my expert on all things card or glue related.
Silly Moo, bubble burst :(. Cheers john.
My other half has a input into my models and layout. I've caught her a few time taking a peak at the Model Rail magazines. She loves the end result of ballasting and will watch me weather my wagons. She has offered to build me a tram stop which I'll be pleased to see.
She's also my emergency signaller when my crossover points fail! (Note to self. Get that CDU)
This IS an interesting thread. Thanks for kicking it off, lionwing! :thumbsup:
Back in the early 1990s I was a member of a local N gauge model railway club, and started up a monthly newsletter. I couldn't think of a name for it, but Mrs Bealman came up with 'N-Gauging Times'
which I thought was pretty good.
Other people did too, apparently - at the time we used to send it off from here in Oz to the Manchester mob (MMRS?) and they, in return, would send theirs. We got a mention in one of their issues in which they referred to "the charmingly named N-Gauging Times", so she was quite chuffed.
I am delighted - and relieved - to say that Kathy is also supportive of my modelling. Even to the point of when we were house hunting 2 years ago, she insisted that we both had to have room for our hobbies. Mine have somewhat overflowed since then but she still makes no complaint and helps with suggestions.
:thumbsup:
30 years ago, Kathy and her mother nearly came to blows over who would build the model of Baden Baden station I had bought, I never got a look in. She did a far better job than I could have. When I have a problem, I still bounce ideas off her and she often has a solution.
:angel: :thumbsup: :D
John
Mrs Flounder has been very accommodating about my hobby. As has been mentioned, she knows where I am!
We have moved every 4 or so years so the railway has only ever got to track and electrics stage, never scenary. However, I have always been given generous room for it. The railway room was number 3 on our wish list for our current house and we found one with a converted garage. Mrs Flounder is worried about my stock suffering with temperature change and so has agreed to a fair amount of building work including extra insulation, a window, and a commercial air conditioning unit to keep the room at a constant temperature. :D
The one worrying thing about her contribution is a lock on the door, operated from the outside..... :worried: :help:
Quote from: Flounder on July 18, 2013, 08:55:46 AM
The one worrying thing about her contribution is a lock on the door, operated from the outside..... :worried: :help:
So long as you the internet so you can feed your forum adiction and a slot for the pizza and latest Railway Modeller or "N"spirations to drop through, you'll be fine. ;D ;D
Being single at the moment all the decisions are mine... :claphappy: for better or for worse !!!
Quote from: Trev on July 18, 2013, 02:55:13 PM
Quote from: Flounder on July 18, 2013, 08:55:46 AM
The one worrying thing about her contribution is a lock on the door, operated from the outside..... :worried: :help:
So long as you the internet so you can feed your forum adiction and a slot for the pizza and latest Railway Modeller or "N"spirations to drop through, you'll be fine. ;D ;D
Don't forget the beer fridge! :beers:
Rather jealous of some of these comments.
Mrs Dreyfus is not the slightest bit interested in railways, or modelling. One or two things do grab the interest...500 series bullets for example.
Quote from: Belated on July 18, 2013, 08:49:51 AM
I am delighted - and relieved - to say that Kathy is also supportive of my modelling. Even to the point of when we were house hunting 2 years ago, she insisted that we both had to have room for our hobbies.
Funny you mention that, Every house we looked at mine would point out "oh that would be good for a train room"
Keeping this one! :bounce:
Quote from: Claude Dreyfus on July 18, 2013, 11:05:44 PM
Rather jealous of some of these comments.
Mrs Dreyfus is not the slightest bit interested in railways, or modelling. One or two things do grab the interest...500 series bullets for example.
. . . 500 series bullets are rather gorgeous :heart2:
After collecting N Gauge stuff for the past three or four months and spending quite a bit too. Mrs Dodger hasn't batted an eyelid and was quite impressed with my dioramas, she said they look as if they are real. Praise indeed!
I bought some weathering powders today and she asked what they were for. I said I am going to weather the locos and rolling stock. After explaining what weathering actually meant, she said 'Don't you dare make all those pretty engines look filthy and disgusting, why do you men always have to make everything filthy and dirty.' I assumed she was talking about the locos!
I tried to explain that the period I am modelling was at the end of steam and they really did look like that.
'Don't you dare,' was the reply. ??? ???
I want her to be on my side and take and active interest so maybe the weathering powders will have to put away for a while.
You may have to model preservation era steam or pre-grouping then :beers:
I've decided not to weather my locos, in my world the engines were well looked after and clean, I just can't bring myself to dirty them. The track will be but not the beautiful engines.
So i guess I'm with Mrs Dodger... sorry ;)
Oh dear!
My wife actually said today about a couple new wagons I'd bought "that they needed to be weathered". I think it helped that I got a few pieces done professionally, mostly locos, so she saw they weren't so much messed up as personalised! She has also taken to using my airbrush for her own projects, so now we share airbrush time on sunny days and she's pretty happy when I'm spraying something because she gets airbrush time knowing she can let me clean up the airbrush afterwards!
Cheers, NeMo
Quote from: dodger112958 on July 20, 2013, 10:18:58 PM
After explaining what weathering actually meant, she said 'Don't you dare make all those pretty engines look filthy and disgusting, why do you men always have to make everything filthy and dirty.' I assumed she was talking about the locos!
I tried to explain that the period I am modelling was at the end of steam and they really did look like that.
'Don't you dare,' was the reply. ??? ???
I want her to be on my side and take and active interest so maybe the weathering powders will have to put away for a while.
Quote from: mereman on July 20, 2013, 10:24:40 PM
I've decided not to weather my locos, in my world the engines were well looked after and clean, I just can't bring myself to dirty them. The track will be but not the beautiful engines.
So i guess I'm with Mrs Dodger... sorry ;)
I must admit she has taken an interest in the railway, she studied each of the locos I have, and said that they are lovely, can't believe something so small can be so detailed and actually have an motor in it. When I put a few carriages behind the Britannia, she was most impressed, she especially loves the locos with names.
I think I will give weathering a miss for now, as I really want her to be interested in the hobby and keep her on my side, a small price to pay.
Quote from: dodger112958 on July 20, 2013, 10:46:13 PM
Quote from: mereman on July 20, 2013, 10:24:40 PM
I've decided not to weather my locos, in my world the engines were well looked after and clean, I just can't bring myself to dirty them. The track will be but not the beautiful engines.
So i guess I'm with Mrs Dodger... sorry ;)
I must admit she has taken an interest in the railway, she studied each of the locos I have, and said that they are lovely, can't believe something so small can be so detailed and actually have an motor in it. When I put a few carriages behind the Britannia, she was most impressed, she especially loves the locos with names.
I think I will give weathering a miss for now, as I really want her to be interested in the hobby and keep her on my side, a small price to pay.
Agreed.
Mrs mereman is being very supportive as the bank balance drops :D
Totally in agreement, gents. I too model the 50s and 60s and am very aware of the state of locomotives at that time, and I know that weathering makes things more realistic, but I honestly can't bring myself to doing it either - especially the new ones that I have paid so much for at hobby shops here in Oz.
And if it keeps TOH happy then so be it - 'nuff said! ;D
My wife Nicole came up with a great name for work layout that we hope we can exhibit. As we are doing a br layout but not location exact so we can run a couple of different liveries/areas she suggested Whereverton or as it will be a junction station maybe Whereverton Junction.
So that way if we get ambushed by a rivot counter we can just say the location is where ever
Bart
Most of my locos are pristine but a few are factory weathered so not brilliant done, but OK.
I'm not going to attempt to do my own weathering other than a rake or two of wagons. I'll use water based paint so if I really mess up making them messy, it'll wash off.
Nice when the other half takes an interest. I'm promised a railway room or a big workshop when we move.
Dave G
Hey then, Dave - better be a gooood boy! ;D
Bart: Great idea from Nicole! Reminds me of a layout which featured as Railway of the Month in an old issue of Railway Modeller (around about Nov 1975, if I recall). It was a 009 rabbit warren layout in a very small space, which got got me re-started in the hobby after the usual years off drinking, playing footy, drinking, chasing women and drinking.....
It was called 'ABERBINERE BAYFORE' which got it's name from the little 00 scale plastic guy glued in the second coach who, after going through the same station for the umpteen time, yelled out: "HAV AH BEEN HERE BEFORE?"
A cracker!
If the builder of that layout and author of that article is reading this, I apologise for not seeking permission to quote. I have the magazine on the shelf beside me here, but those mags are so jammed together I'd need a forklift to get at it.
Anyway, rest assured, it rekindled my enthusiasm in the hobby.
So thank you, Nicole, better half of Bart, for thinking of that excellent layout name and reminding me of the above memory! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :beers:
We both take an active interest in each others' hobbies, but that's probably helped by the fact our cars are our joint-hobby anyway and how we met :)
Clare has come up with some great ideas for the layout, and in fact without her help in putting down contours and scenery late into the night for a fortnight it would never have made it to the 2009 NGS AGM and the Layout Competition! Last year she went up to Scottieland to visit her parents for a week, so I had one week of layout time taking over the entire lounge during which I got the electrics finished and given a thorough testing. When I phoned her the night before she was due to come home I was told in no uncertain terms that I was NOT to put the layout away as she wanted a play with the trains when she got home! :D
She was also well pleased to receive a Farish "Flying Scotsman" for christmas, which is our one 'steam special' on an otherwise diesel layout ;)
Her other hobby is collecting My Little Pony, as she's had some of them since childhood. This year she joined a forum and found out there is a MLP Convention, but it clashes with TINGS in September :worried: Solution? We've booked a hotel half way between Cardiff (where the convention is) and Leamington (where TINGS is held) and we're having a "hobby weekender" - MLP Convention on saturday and TINGS on sunday - best of both worlds :thumbsup:
Paul
That's awesome that your wife works on your layout (although mine did glue some bricks on a 00 scale building once for the 009 rabbit warren I built back in 1977 - and painted a few figures, if I recall, but that's been it since).
As to a My Little Pony convention - equally awesome! My daughter who is going to the 4th test in Durham with us used to collect them and still has them somewhere... must inform her!
Having been "the other half" and doing all the fiddly bits on to my dad's layout, then my my 2 brother's layouts, 2 husband's layouts and finally my son's I finally plucked up courage just over 3 years ago to have a go at my own although it will eventually go to my grandson so he has a layout he can call his own. I now actually get to drive the trains (well the computer does) which wasn't allowed back then in case I caused a crash. lol Still like doing the fiddly bits as I am blessed with infinite patience.
Link for you George ;) - http://astoundance.com/ponycon/ (http://astoundance.com/ponycon/)
Caz, that's some previous experience! :goggleeyes: Certainly shows in your layout that's for sure.
Why wait so long to build your own layout, if that's not being too nosey? ;)
Paul
Without being nosey, wot he said. 'Cos your layout is a corker, Caz.
Oh, and as an aside..... honestly.....(?!) thanks for the link there, Paul. It has already been forwarded to number one daughter. That's if it can get through all the security to reach her. Still.... My Little Pony will find a way! Very determined critters, if I remember. I know that from the show and the way number 1 daughter would corral them together wagon-train fashion to make sure number 2 daughter couldn't play with 'em! Just as long as she doesn't wave 'em around in Chester-le-Street! Neigh...! Brrrrp!
She's a solicitor for the NSW Ombudsman these days, but there is a MLP on her desk, believe me. :D
Quote from: Sprintex on July 22, 2013, 09:32:35 AM
Caz, that's some previous experience! :goggleeyes: Certainly shows in your layout that's for sure.
Why wait so long to build your own layout, if that's not being too nosey? ;)
Paul
Why wait, mainly force of circumstances, always had a partner to worry about until about 4 years ago so had other priorities but being single again I wanted a new challenge and grandson was bitching about not having much say in his dad's railway so thought "that's a good idea, why not have a go".
Got a friend to make the baseboards, I'm good with electrics but know my limitations and anything remotely mechanical is a big no no. It was really nice to be able to do what I wanted and not what I was told to do (lol) and gave myself a complete free hand although my son advised on the track plan. Don't think I had done so much reading in years, joined every forum I could to pick brains and ideas. DCC really appealed to me as it would be automatic and less chance of me crashing the trains. :dunce:
Ironic thing is No 1 grandson has started to lose interest in railways and has gone mad on Scalelectrix, hopefully he will come back to railways someday, but if not, then my brother's grandson will end up with a nice railway.
Here's wishing you many, many more happy hours, Caz, with your trains and terrific layout before you decide to hand it over.
:beers:
Dave G
Quote from: daveg on July 22, 2013, 02:55:21 PM
Here's wishing you many, many more happy hours, Caz, with your trains and terrific layout before you decide to hand it over.
:beers:
Dave G
I'll second that. I caught up with your layout thread for the first time today, having only joined the forum in the spring. The layout looks absolutely fantastic, and will be a great source of encouragement to me when I can begin building my own layout (next year, probably).
:thumbsup:
Wot he said. It's a terrific layout. Isn't yours the one with the smoke units in the tunnels? A fantastic idea!
George
Yes it is the one with smoke generators in the tunnels George, well remembered, see second pic down in this link http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6570.msg74923#msg74923 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=6570.msg74923#msg74923)
I was impressed when I first saw that, and it is awesomely great.
But thank heavens I ain't got Smellyvision... real steam smells? I think not!
But there again, the usual smoke juice stench.....
Any chance of Chanel No 5?
I think I must be very lucky my other half not only has taken on all the scenic work on our layout but positively encourages me to enjoy all my railway based hobbies her favorite occupation is hanging out of a carriage window with a casmcorder in her hand
Quote from: GeeBee on July 23, 2013, 12:19:56 PM
I think I must be very lucky my other half not only has taken on all the scenic work on our layout but positively encourages me to enjoy all my railway based hobbies her favorite occupation is hanging out of a carriage window with a casmcorder in her hand
Grumble.
My least favourite occupation on a heritage railway was yelling at people hanging out of windows with camcorders 8)
I think that Young Ones episode needs to be shown more often ;-)
As she is only 5ft tall hanging out of a window is not feasible in the true sense but you get my meaning
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost: :laughabovepost: C'mon, don't stop now, guys - keep it going! :thumbsup: ;D ;D
Personally I would only have an issue if I was caught on vid hanging out the window meself, cos it would probably mean I was being pushed! Throw DaDa off the train! ;D
Think I mentioned I've been promised proper railway space once we've moved.
'Ideally a shed, away from the house, solar powered, no need for heating but with a walkie-talkie so I can check what's for supper'
No, that's not what I've asked for; that's what I've been threatened told to expect! :worried:
Mind you ........ :hmmm:
And a little LGB garden train to deliver it from house to shed ?
Quote from: EtchedPixels on July 23, 2013, 03:57:04 PM
And a little LGB garden train to deliver it from house to shed ?
:claphappy: :D
Dave G
Quote from: daveg on July 23, 2013, 02:29:42 PM
Think I mentioned I've been promised proper railway space once we've moved.
'Ideally a shed, away from the house, solar powered, no need for heating but with a walkie-talkie so I can check what's for supper'
No, that's not what I've asked for; that's what I've been threatened told to expect! :worried:
Mind you ........ :hmmm:
Camp bed under the layout for those doghouse moments :-X
Quote from: Oldman on July 23, 2013, 05:13:45 PM
Quote from: daveg on July 23, 2013, 02:29:42 PM
Think I mentioned I've been promised proper railway space once we've moved.
'Ideally a shed, away from the house, solar powered, no need for heating but with a walkie-talkie so I can check what's for supper'
No, that's not what I've asked for; that's what I've been threatened told to expect! :worried:
Mind you ........ :hmmm:
Camp bed under the layout for those doghouse moments :-X
Is there anywhere else to sleep?
Why is everyone talking about my bedroom?
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
This morning I received my long awaited coaches from Osborns, 3 x Shirtbutton Collett coaches, a B Set plus a Fruit D. :claphappy:
Quickly set up a test track and had them running around hauled by a couple of Ixion Manors and they looked great (will try and post photos tomorrow).
However when putting the locos away the drive shaft on one fell out. :scowl:
So this evening set about reinstalling the Carden shaft, after over an hour of fruitless fiddling and surprisingly minding my language and feeling very frustrated I was on the verge of giving up. :confused2:
What's the problem? The wife asked.
20 minutes later she had refitted the shaft (yes it works) and then went on to refit two couplings that had come of a Mk 1. Now not only was this done without using the safety net (plastic bag), but she had never, ever picked up a loco or coach before let alone worked on one! :claphappy:
Luckily I had some chocolate to hand to say thank you with as her skills may be needed again and again...
Ray
That's a real joint effort. :thumbsup:
Any chance of having your Mrs name, and address of course, so us ham fisted types can send her ours for a 'refit'? :D
(Love my Ixion Manor!)
Dave G
Yup - I can see a few locos heading their way into Essex along with the requisite bars of chocolate ;)
Quote from: daveg on August 22, 2013, 06:47:32 AM
That's a real joint effort. :thumbsup:
Any chance of having your Mrs name, and address of course, so us ham fisted types can send her ours for a 'refit'? :D
:D I was going to say the same thing. That's a missus worth hanging onto!
Pete33
I know!