I'd read it.

I am rather intimidated by prototypical layouts. Part of my job is reading and research. When I am hobbying (not a word) I like to free myself from that. I guess I am a good enough modeler. Seeing artistic creations that may not have ever existed is part of the fun in the hobby. My 40' boxcar has that kind of brake wheel because that's what they had on hand in the shop. My railroad, my rules. I don't mean that to sound dictatorial, just that no one can dispute what and how I model unless they dispute the fact that it is completely fantastical and has to bearing on reality. I like that freelance type of modeling.

I always enjoyed looking at the work done by Olson and Furlow, very artistic modelers and would enjoy seeing that sort of thing in MRH.

Definition of Terms

Can you clearly define freelancing please?

I'd really like to see that

I enjoy the creative part of the hobby much more than the operations/prototype aspect. It is a pretty blurry line to define but it could be fun to give it a try.

Hmmm, could get interesting!

This topic could get interesting, but as Alan says, what is freelancing?

Different people have different interpretations, but aren't a lot of the layouts we see just that....

Probably best to let Joe define how he see's it, and therefore the rest of us will know what to expect / supply!

Brian

"Rob, Verne, and Ray."    

Clark, Niner,and  Dunakin.    These guys work is  years ahead of Furlow and Olsen( as would be expected in the progression of model railroading) and are right here on the MRH corner of the world wide web doing their thing as we speak.  I guess a dedicated column could make their work more obvious to the slow to find folks but most of us have already been enjoying the ride :> ) .....DaveB

Freewheeling

Freelance(ing) already has a connotation that ties it to other discussions.

I'd love it.....

I could probably even be talked into contributing....LOL.... But I'm not exactly Mr. Popular around here so you might not  want to wreck your magazine....

Michael

Sounds like fun.

Sounds like fun.

Freelancing definition

sooooo.....

Big Ole 4

3 actual prototype locations merged together into 1 contiguous railroad even though the 3 prototype locations had nothing to do with each other and were separated by hundreds of miles in real life.

If I understand the definitions correctly that makes my railroad a big ole 4. I guess that means I have to vote Yes for the new column.

How about Artistic Instead?

Rather than freelance, how about "The Art of Model Railroading". This could cover scenery, creating scenes, dioramas and freelancing.

Being an artist as well, I would be willing to contribute.

I'd be #5 but I agree about the art element...

I think my modeling would fall in category #5 but I have to agree about the art  element.  A lot of this hobby for me is about the creative aspect of it. I'm not only modeling trains but I'm also trying to create what I consider art and trying to create a certain atmosphere.  One thing  that layouts lke the G&D had and the F&SM has is a very definite sense of atmosphere. I think that's something the strict proto and proto freelance layouts  are usually sorely lacking. Granted, that's probably not the goal of the builders of such layouts  so I hope that's not seen as criticism.

Michael

Looks like my G&AM would be

Looks like my G&AM would be in the #5 category. Yes, I would definitely like such a column in the magazine!

Don't forget Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa

Joe

I would like reading about a layout that is on the #6 side of the hobby. Dave Meek's Thunder Mesa is one of those I enjoy following. 

My 2 cents

http://thundermesaminingco.blogspot.com/ 

I'm a somewhat loose

I'm a somewhat loose proto-freelancer myself (Let's call it a 5.5 on the scale...). I use "real" locomotives, and rolling stock from other "real" railroads, but my own is freelanced, with a back-history that dates back nearly to the beginnings of the B&O, and includes things like our hostile takeover of the UP making us a true transcontinental railroad. There are other deviations from real world history (f'rex, the Interstate highway system was built smaller and later, so we still have a thriving passenger rail system, including US versions of the Shikansen trains...) that makes my world a real alternate-history universe.

The potential problem, though, that I see with a column is that freelancers do their own thing. While we have an interest in railroads in general, it's going to drive the rivet counters crazy (which isn't necessarily a bad thing... ) because when it comes to counting rivets... for the most part we just don't care. Our models match the prototype exactly, because they ARE the prototype. This also means that while a freelancer can write an article on any aspect of their layout, rolling stock/motive power, or scenery/buildings, it's going to be largely ignored by the prototype modelers, and even the freelancers may not be interested if it doesn't fit their concept. 

Malcom Furlow was mentioned before as an example... but do you remember the disparaging comments about his "unrealistic" layout and scenes that appeared after every article? I loved his work... but there were a WHOLE lot of people that didn't.

 Even so, I say go for it. Model railroading needs the FUN stuffed back into it from time to time, and that's something I keep trying to do with my railroad... for example, the flatcar loads from Industrial Light and Magic.

Freelance Column

I think it is a great idea. Go for it !!

Go for it, I'll read it!

Go for it, I'll read it! Sounds like a great idea. I like all sorts of model railroads, not just the historically accurate versions.

John

Yes

I strongly suspect that it will be the first thing I read in each issue.

Jack

Great idea

I think Dave B is right about the forum having several individuals that model in this realm.  A column would provide  some insite into how they get from here to there, and a whole lot more.

Great idea

My Splitrock Mining Company railroad would be in category three to four-ish. 

I like it

My future layout that is swimming around in my head would likely fall in #5 or #6.  I think it would be an interesting contrast with the strict prototype stuff that I also find interesting.

I like it as well. My

I like it as well. My freelance creation involves railroads with one exception that all eventually did merge into the same system just not the way I have it planned. I would be interested in the new section of the magazine as well. Many railroads are free lanced to some degree and I would suspect more of them than we realize are.

I do not think it would take anything away from the prototype modelers as the info and skills they use are still important to the free lancers as a lot of them want the railroad to seem like a real railroad to some extent.

Go for it

My stuff would be a 3 or 5 depending on a few definitions that will be defined in the future.  

Go for it and see what happens.  Looks like fun.

Mike Lee