Model rails are attracted to the hobby for quite different purposes. Some, whose jobs are over-exacting, may find modeling a way to wind down. Others may find their life work under-utilizing their capabilities or even boring and use the hobby to stimulate their abilities and push interest. Quite naturally these two diverging reasons will produce different effort on the part of the modeler.

A model rail surgeon friend once told me that the hobby had much need to him, beyond the pleasure and satisfaction of building a good model. Often, when a difficult operation was to be performed the next day, or complications of a patient caused him great anxiety, he couldn't get the good night's rest necessary for the next day's efforts. He found that working on his model railroad or on a model took his mind off these anxieties and he could unwind and get a good night's sleep. Though this doctor builds fairly exacting models, this was of secondary importance.

The superb trolley and interurban modeler, Bill Hoffmann, once told me that when he was a young man he was making a periodic visit to a dentist. In the course of conversation they both found out that the other was a model builder and, during the visit, the dentist showed Bill a few of his models. Bill was shocked by the lack of craftsmanship and never went back. He reasoned that anyone who took so little care wouldn't be a good man to work on his teeth.

Maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. Perhaps the dentist was a good craftsman in his profession and used modeling crudely as a means of relief. However, if one is in a profession that requires care and exactness, and enjoys fun modeling or painting with a broom with what appears to be tar, one shouldn't let his customers see the results. I know I would be reluctant to have any work requiring skill and precision done by one who models clumsily or without care. I don't mean he would have to be concerned as much as if he were building competition models, the time and effort may not be worth his while, but that work which he does should be done with care and good craftsmanship. This seems to be the general rule: The careful craftsman in his business, also is careful in his modeling efforts.

Fine models, layouts and train operation require dedication and effort. The trite cliché, "It doesn't matter what you do in model railroading as long as you are having fun," has little meaning to the modeler who cares. He finds little pleasure in doing poor craftsmanship and using little thought. He strives to push himself a little beyond his normal ability.

This doesn't mean the cliché quoted above isn't valid. Of course you should pursue a hobby as you see fit and no one has a right to degrade your results, unless you are working on a common enterprise with others. A hobby is for the satisfaction and enjoyment one receives, and if you get your kicks out of crude or silly modeling, it only concerns yourself. No one has a valid argument on how you choose to use your spare time provided you don't harm or damage the efforts of someone else. Our models and layouts are not in competition and should take the form that interests us alone.

The fact that I may half hide a full sized replica of a snake in my scenery, or a much oversized miniature alligator pursuing an unconcerned fisherman in a boat, is there because it amuses me, not that I don't know better. I may not take some aspects of the hobby too seriously, while overly concerned with others. I assume and recognize that others have the same rights.

Fine model building, layout construction and good train operation don't come easy, and when you see it, it's the result of considerable time, thought and effort.

In this day of lackadaisical attitude in so many construction and maintenance trades, we often have to turn to hobbies to see the desire for excellence take form. I read somewhere a report that model railroaders were almost non-existent as criminals. Perhaps someday we might also be recognized as among the more careful craftsmen.