Dear Joe,

I agree that there's nothing inherrently wrong with "buying into the hobby",
and indeed getting something "down and running" quickly has got to be a good thing.

However, the moment I hear a modeller complaining
(usually at a train show, loudly)

"...all these new models available, but no-one offers the (Insert hyper specific loco/car/structure/etc model)
I really want, so I just won't bother..."
(or worse...)

then I can't help but think "...Well, if you _Really_ want it that badly,
and no-one offers _exactly_ what you want, then your options are
- build it yourself,
- kitbash from whatever _is_ available,
- or go without..."

(Sidenote, when making "exactly what you want" is as simple as renumbering a given RTR offering,
the "effort" required to span the gap between "available" and "perfect" isn't all that much, truly).

To recap
- nothing wrong with "Buying in" (particularly if you have the spare cash around)
- but when the ability to "Buy in" almost anything turns to 
"If they don't offer exactly what I want RTR, then I can't/won't lift a X-acto knife to help myself,
and thus I won't play",

then I can't help but feel that the promise of "RTR everything" may be a factor in the percieved drop in "scratchbuild" and/or "craftman" approaches to the hobby.

Just my $0.05c

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS ask any "Problem solving engineers", and you'll quickly be told that to solve any issue, you can spend
- Time
- Effort
- or $$$

When RTR (IE "spending $$$") can't solve your specific model RR problem,
don't discount either of the other 2 options/approaches...
(and it's the ignoring of the other 2 options outright from the outset as "valid" that I find objectionable...)

I think the issue is, for HO Scale modelers, not about buying in or not, but rather, with true "ready to run" (or nowadays it's called Ready To Roll) products are replacing the more traditional "ready to run" kits.  For instance Athearn Blue Box kits are gone.  And with Atlas acquiring Branchline, I have concerns that another less expensive option to acquire freight cars is gone.  I hope Stewart and Accurail stay in business because thought it might be nice to buy a very well detailed with individual grab irons HO Scale, 40' PS-1 Box Car with all correct numbering and lettering that is fully assembled and ready to go, I don't like having to spend $25-30 a piece for them!!! I much Rather spend $10-$15 for an accurail or intermountain kit and assemble it myself. 

The bigger concern is with structures.  If manufacturers start to preassemble their structures for sale, and not offer them as ktis, kit-bashing will be all but gone which means either accept the manufacturers job, or go to totally scratchbuilding. 

But if someone wants to spend money to buy everything pre built they are just as much a model railroader as someone who builds most things from "scratch"

Ken L.

Prof - there are many custom modelers who will make that generic off-the-shelf model into the specific road name desired, for a fee of course.  And the custom layout business is doing better than I ever imagined it would, even in this economy.  Folks with enough money to purchase a layout may not be as affected as some with lesser means.

Ken - As long as there are swap meets and ebay, there will ALWAYS be kitbashers.  You can (GASP) even kitbash craftsman kits, and there are laser kit manufacturers who will do custom work as well.

In these cases it seems to be about building a relationship between modeler/purchaser and custom builder/manufacturer.

Then again I'm one of those scratchbuilders/kitbashers/detailers and I don't even model a specific prototype!

Thanks for another thought provoking article, Joe (and another great issue of MRH)!

Galen

Ken:

If all the less expensive options disappear ... then I guess those bemoaning the loss of craftsmanship in the hobby will get their wish - people will start building their own freight cars again in order to save money.

Or - new firms will rise up who think they can do it cheaper. It it really is possible to run a viable business with less expensive kit options, then someone will do it. If there's money to be made offering modelers more affordable models, then it will happen.

Very good article. When you witness some of the bickering that's been going on over this lately, especially on the Yahoo groups and some of the forums, you wonder what ever happened to the old slogan, "Model Railroading Is Fun." One man's meat is another man's poison, I always say. There's room in this great hobby for the RTR guys, the scratchbulders, and everybody else in between. That's one of the things that makes this hobby great. Personally, if I see something like the Tangent PRR G31B I jump on it; it gives me more time to do other things that don't come built the way I want them. So what? What I resent a little, and what I sometimes see out there, is being called out as "not being a modeler" by some of the hardcore scratchbuilders or kitbashers. Again, there's room for all of us here.

      In my opinion, buying RTR is collecting not modeling. More than anything else, I feel that about the time Horizon "bought" into the hobby, our choice to build or buy RTR was taken away from us. RTR is about higher profits. I have no problem purchasing some of the RTR products even at the higher prices but, I miss not having a choice as to how I buy, RTR or in Kit form.  When I no longer build, detail, and paint, I'm done. It's what I enjoy. I hope Branchline kits stay available like the Intermountain kits have. I am personally happy Atlas purchased the Branchline product line and not Walthers or Horizon. I hope they keep the name and product line choices. RTR has it's place, though it is not a substitute!  Then we have the pre-order deal, or, the were not in the warehouse business so take it or leave it business model.  I pre-order Pizza. Not much else.  Your 6-12 month pre-order turns into a 2 year+ endurance contest and the store is no longer in business. How well did that work out?      

My comment is loosely related to the buy or build subject of the article which I must say I agree with totally. Until each of us mine our own ore or extrude our own plastic or roll press our own brass the argument of buy or build is moot.

Having not been in the hobby a long time my experience may be statistically invalid however it is what I have experienced thus far. On three different occasions I pre-ordered new R-T-R releases simply because they were available in my road AC&Y. This road doesn't pop up much so I thought I should strike while the iron is hot. Building my own from the many kits I have accumulated is my customary approach not because I derive great pleasure from building but rather due to limited availability of AC&Y.

In every instance the exact same items I pre-ordered appeared on eBay before I received my orders. Adding salt to the wound each item was for sale on eBay "But it Now" for less money than I spent on the pre-orders. I harbor no ill feelings toward the hobby shops that processed my orders. But I have forever placed my last pre-order.

While I can sympathize with your frustration of seeing the product on ebay before you get yours and for cheaper, I think its more that you haven't found the right place to place your pre-order.  Two such places I pre-order from are MRH sponsors - Dallas Model Works and CMT.  Both have given me discounts on pre-orders and I don't think I would find a better price, even on ebay.  And be sure that the "cheaper" price on ebay includes shipping as many sellers on ebay offer the item cheap and jack up the shipping and handling to make their profit. 

I guess it depends on the product you pre-order, but I would rather make sure I get what I want rather than wait and hope it is still available.

I don't like having to spend $25-30 a piece for them!!! I much Rather spend $10-$15 for an accurail or intermountain kit and assemble it myself.

I find one thing interesting about complaints on cost of models.  Most guys who complain often quote the MSRP on products they see which tells me one of two things:  they aren't actually in the market for these things but only see the product announcements with that price listed or they shop at a hobby shop that charges retail.

I say this because I purchased 15 or so pieces of rolling stock at Amhesrt this year (all of it ready to roll) and never paid more than $15 for any of it.  The best example would be this car which MRH sponsor CMT had for sale for $9.99.  While it was one of the best deals at the show it's only one example of what can be found at any train show if you do a little digging.

I also find a lot of guys around here are still shopping through local hobby shops that only have a percentage of their store dealing in model railroading and as such "retail is retail".  I realized quickly that I could save considerable money by going online (I shopped with Dallas Model Works before MRH was even around!) and didn't have to leave the comfort of my own house.

I am shocked when I see guys like Bernie Kempinski who model pre-1900 stuff when I see the prices of the equipment they need but soon realized I'm sure they are in the same situation that I am; they find reliable suppliers who can give them a good break on retail and can find great values.

I'm on here WAY too much today but wanted to share thoughts!

I know that not many folk have a 28x30 foot layout and I know the market is lean more to RTR rolling stock.  I have 150 cars in my inventory and a plan to add 350 more. At a kit price of $13.00 the price tag is $4550.  Wow that is a lot of cash, now at RTR average price of over $35. That price just went to $12,250.00 now I am being price out of the hobby. Or better put, out of my size of layout. Not to mention that if you do any custom paint they don't make RTR undecerated. What will happen is yet to be seen but I hope someone new will pick up the slack. I am not against RTR I have some just I don’t need every car to be RTR and not at that price. With Building now ready to add makes kit baching and all even harder.

Mike D., I don't mean to pick on you, but I want to ensure that we're comparing apples and apples here.  While you most certainly CAN buy RTR's for $35+, there are also hundreds that cost less than $20, and some as low as your $13 you quote for your kits.  I just did a couple quick searches of Athearn RTR and LOTS are in the $18-20 range with a few down to the $13-14 range.  Its unfair to suggest that ALL RTR cost $35+ and also not mention the additional costs of upgrades to your kits, like kadee couplers or wheelsets or trucks or whatever details you add.  I think when you really compare apples to apples, it isn't nearly as bad as your numbers suggest.

There is one particular online hobby shop (to remain nameless until Les gets them as a sponsor) that has Atlas Trainman rolling stock for $7.99 - $11.99. It was in their latest email blast. Huge selection to pick from. Granted they aren't Exact Rail detail but still, that is downright reasonable pricing for RTR.

I have only been a subscriber on this site since early fall 2010.  So maybe I have not "earned" a noted interest from the "vets".  I left the hobby 20 years ago, after all, life happens.  My wife and I are now empty nesters with a new house set in Northern Wisconsin...ok, long winters.  After our first winter in the house I realized I had to do something, ergo, I came back "home".  That journey led me here to this site, and immediately I started learning again thanks to you fine folks (vets).  The columnists,  bloggers and forum replys have provided a wealth of info without a dime coming out of my pocket!  Without those folks giving advise to others, I'd still be in the armchair.

For the buying part, like I said I was gone for 20 years, I lost hair/sleep/weight/teeth when I saw the cost of the rolling stock, locos, and the structures.  Really???? Structures that can run with a mortgage payment???  Now, the quality I am sure is first rate, but I think I am going to get out the maginifier, small clamps and micro saws and build my own structures. Or try to anyway.

The advanced modelers here need to understand that there are those of us that choose this hobby for its challenges and multifaceted aspects, not just for operations.  So for me, a car/engine number or stirrup detail for that Road during that period is no big deal ( I can see the railroad ops guys cringing) but the cost is.  It is in that, dare I call it, quest for "real" that we as modelers have driven up the costs.  I mean in the forums I have seen color spectrum wheels and analysis for the color of dirt! Now some guy is out there making a product that can be custom blended to your specific modeling needs (God Bless Him!)! I don't knock those folks for that, I like free markets.  I am just saying that there are those of us who want to stay in the hobby, progress, and build our dream. So, I'd rather see a kit that I can assemble, a decal sheet that I can apply as I see fit.  I have plenty of winter here to apply the prototypical numbering system....nah!

John

Merrill, WI

PS:  I am going to shop for what I need, not just buy, there is a difference.

Thanks for saying what has been in my mind for a while. Just don't expect to get any pats on the back because the nit pickers seem to rule on many fora and not just this one. Sure, it's nice to have the mos accurate and bule proof models but is it really necessary? I don't think so because many of the greats didn't either. Take Allen McClelland for instance whose good enough standards alowed him to create the V & O.

I used to build ships as a hobby. I won't go into how many do it and at most get to finish a dozen in a life time. Those modes don't do anthing and most of them won't even float in your bathtuib or bathroom sink without turning turtle. At least withe trains you get something that moves and can at least fascinate the kids or grandkids for a few minutes and they might learn soemthing else to boot.

I took a 21 year hiatus from the hobby to devote time to chieving a level of success in my chosen profession (accounting). I came back in late 2008 and have been having the tme of my life in N Scale. So are my trains detailed? Nope. I would much rather run them than le them sit in boxes gathering dust while I detail the engineer's shoes and sox. Besides from even one foot away no one would realize that the engineer's cabin is even occupied.

I now want t get into operations because I have had enough of running my stuff in circles. I'd much rather see m trains acting more like the real ones.

Irv

Being from the Dark Ages myself (does anybody remember Jack Work, E. L. Moore, John Allen, Ed Ravenscroft, etc) I, when the time is right again to be back at active MRRing, will most likely scratchbuild as much as possible. Current prices are somewhat out of my range, not to speak about the ego-inflating remark " I MADE IT!". Nothing wrong with buying RTR, just doesn't suit me.

Hi Folks,

It depends on what you want, and where you are in this hobby.

Not everyone has the same skill sets as the next guy, some people do thing this way , some do it that way.

One guy may be just starting out and just having that ready build model, can make them feel like their railroad is starting to feel like a railroad.

Or then again you have the guy that has been in the hobby for many years, that has been there before and everything has to have a purpose and be perfect.

It's your railroad no matter where you are in the hobby, and if buying it instead of building it makes you happy thats your choice.

We all get a sense of satifaction out of our railroads, the trains, the buildings, the scenery, and no matter what it's all about having fun.

It takes time to complete anything, and it takes time to be good at things too.

So how someone goes about making it happen is their choice.

Less arguing more modeling please lol

Mark

We all get different things out of the hobby.  No way is "wrong" and every way is "right" - for the person doing it.  As was said in an earlier Reverse Running, though, don't be afraid to try something new along the way as well.  If you don't like it, don't do it again, lesson learned.  But this is supposed to be a hobby - have fun with it however you have fun with it.

We certainly do get different things out of the hobby.  That's why my marriage works so well.  I love to build but my husband likes to operate

JaxP

www.railwaytrees.co.uk

The real danger here is not the problem of buying in.

It's what happens when somebody HAS to scratchbash something.

It takes practice to be GOOD.  Otherwise one produces mediocre models.  And I understand every modeler wanting praise for their best effort, but when the best effort shows a level of work comparable to a beginner [ok, so they are a beginner] but they're sitting at the expert/experienced modeler table, well...it leads to a frustrating experience for everybody.

It takes a lot of practice to build good models.

You have to remember that is YOUR LAYOUT, YOUR TIME AND YOUR MONEY. It is supposed to be for your own fun first. Set your own rules and improve with time, but don't push yourself toward goals out of your abilities. Set your own pace, don't let others pressure you. If RTR is what you like, go for it. It will allow getting to operating phase faster. If exact detailng turns you on, but you are not in a hurry, then kitbash or scratch probably will be your friends. If becoming a national icon is your goal, hard work and dedication will be needed in large doses, but then you might ending with just another demanding job.

If trends continue however, the two choices left will be Ready To Roll OR totally scratchbuilding.  The art of kitbashing will be all but gone! 

Ken L.

Dear Ken,

For as long as we can buy razor saws and X-acto knives, there will be someone crazy enough to take them to a brand new fresh-out-of-box "RTR" model, and modify it into the model they _really_wanted_ in the first place...

Sounds like kitbashing to me....

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Dear Benny,

I had a moment a few years ago while I was admiring my latest model, a board-by-board scratchbuilt O scale watertank. I looked up from the bench, and there on the shelf above was my _first_ever_ scratchbuilt structure, a wood NSWGR "coal platform".

Now, I wouldn't dare compare them, and I'd be pretty embarassed to show you the coal platform,
but my parents remember the joy in my eyes when I came rushing in from the garage with it's PVA-glued paddle-pop-stick + matchstick construction. They knew I'd worked hard to build it as well as I could, using a old (swiss army style) pocket knife, and plans from a indigeneous Model Railway magazine.

As I sat the 2 models next to each other, I realised they represented bookends of almost exactly 10 years of modelling,

and a world of friendship with other modellers, learning, building, failures, and spectacular (to me) resulting models.
A quick trip down memory lane yielded a sequence of mental images of the models that followed that coal platform, each one building upon the lessons-learned of the model before, eventually ending with the water-tank in front of me...  

Truth be told, I wouldn't be the modeller I am now had it not been for that lop-sided, coarse, nowhere-near-scale-timber-based coal platform.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

I agree that assembling a kit is a lot of fun, and the results can definitely give a huge encouragement boost,

but fear of failure is a green-light to not-even-starting...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS Maybe the issue is not so much "those first models are likely to be not-up-to (WHOSE?) expectations/quality",
but more that the feedback given by those observing wasn't appropriate/sensitive to the skill level of the modeller in question.

There's no shame in being a begineer, we all were at one stage,
(I know I still am!  )
and if One is willing to listen and learn from those around,
why can't a newcomer "sit at the experienced modeller table"?

But that's jus it - it takes ten years of practice and perseverance to build that perfect model - and if there's something not available, and the current level of 'quality' is RTR, well, a lot of people are going to be very discouraged by the difference between their current skill level and the quality level of RTR.

How do you tell a beginner that the only way he's going to have Box-Xs on his railroad is if he builds it himself? And mind you, because he's new and he reads a lot, he's already shoehorned himself into the mold of modern railroading...so seeing those Box-Xs that don't look as good are going to bother that modeler, and even if the rest of us give him a pat on the back, well, we may each be young at one point, but it's rare where we're not dumb and we know if something isn't sincere or not.

I have a long way to go, myself.  if everythign goes well, though, andi pay of my CCs this year, I'm rewarding myself with a brand new American Beauty Restistance Soldering station...then I'll be one step closer to repairing my brass!!

Dear Benny,

I would think that it doesn't matter how "quality" current RTR offerings are,
or whether RTR somehow becomes the "average" benchmark against which _all_ models,

irrespective of budget, time available, skill level, construction material, available toolkit, or experience of the modeller in question,

are judged by,
(shades of
"...judge no-one's rivets but your own, unless directly invited to,
and then with a sense of constructive encouragement...")

If, as you state

...there's something not available...

by which I interpret

"The modeller in question has a burning desire for a model of (insert specific prototype unit here),
(the "something" in your quote)
which is not, and/or is not likely to become available RTR in the forseeable future",

then the state of "quality" of RTR models is irrelevant,
RTR hasn't got one of (Insert specific prototype unit here) to forfil the need,
so if the modeller wants one, then they gotta build it themselves...

To take a common example, the modeller wants a EMD SW7/9/1200?
Then by all means line up the RTR offerings from BLI, Athearn, Proto2K, and who knows who else,
compare the details that matter,
spend the $$$ and make a purchasing decision.

Oh, sorry, the modeller actually wanted a SW1200RS?
(Canadian winterized/customised variant)

Well, unless they can find a rare Juneco upgrade kit for said unit,
(which makes the conversion easier, but are maybe not the crispest whitemetal castings around),

it's either scratchbuild or go without,
(and I believe our canadian friends, for whom the SW1200RS is the preferred variant,
have been doing exactly that for many years now).

A few years ago, I _wanted_, nae _needed_ a model of Britton Bros "Diesel #1" for a On30 logging layout.
Not a hope that any manufacturer will ever build a loco of that unit.

Now, despite the fact that Bachmann is regularly kicking huge goals in terms of quality RTR On30 offerings,
and that anything I scratchbuild will never be mistaken for "RTR quality",
the fact remains that it is not available RTR,

I now have my Britton Bros Diesel #1, because I overcame my own fears and inertia,
built a rendtion of the loco from scratch,
and I've recieved far more "Oh wow, you've got an operating Britton's Diesel!" comments than
"Bachmann could have built it better..."

Along "more modern" lines, I currently have an Athearn SW1500 IHB switcher on its way.
I _want_ to complete a IHB Switcher+slug set, pref along the lines of 1520 + PB1

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36106399@N04/4539516102/

So, I got my SW1500, anyone going to tell me PB1 is coming out RTR?

Better question, assuming PB1 isn't and will not become available RTR anytime soon,
(I'm not a betting man, but I'd be tempted to put some coin on that...),

am I willing to kitbash PB1 out of a suitable mech,
a GE U-boat fueltank, and bits of a SW7 shell from my scrapbox?
(NB that PB1 was built on the platform of defunct IHB SW7 #8856)

More germane-to-the-conversation question, will my scratchbash PB1 be anywhere near "RTR quality"?
(Very much doubt it, although no reaon why I can't "Aim High"? 
Aim I mistaken in thinking this is how One improves their modelling?
Aim to build _this_ model a little better than the _Last_ model?)

Even if my rendition of PB1 is never going to be mistaken for an RTR model,
how many IHB fans do you think would go gaga over the fact that someone _actually_built_ a PB1,
instead of warming the armchair mentally defeating themselves before they even reached for the razor saw?

I do take your point that a younger modeller who "wants it all, wants it now, and is not happy with the models they currently build, because they aren't as good as the ones they can buy" may get disheartened. However, that's where the experienced "modelling mentor" comes in, listening, guiding, and advising.

Or, as linked back to the earlier posting, pushing out the chair at the "Experienced Modeller's table",
and saying "if you're really keen to learn and improve, take a seat and let's see if we can't get you building something you can be proud of..."

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
(...make your next model that little bit better than your last model...) 
Prof Klyzlr

In my opinion people tend to miss the point of the RTR/kit issue. 

When kits go away three things happen, the raw materials disappear to kitbash and redetail things, the suppliers of the details dry up and people fail to learn the skills to do the detailing, etc.

I model the 1900-1905 era.  There is only one company producing plastic models for that era, Roundhouse.  There hasn't been a new car design produced in plastic in over 30 (almost 40 years).  Although Roundhose has made many improvements to its 36 ft "old time" cars and the new paint schemes are head and shoulders above what was offered a decade ago, they have been producing the essentially the same 36 ft boxcar and reefer for over 40 years.  I use old MDC/Roundhouse kits to kitbash 34 ft boxcars (MUCH more common than 36 ft cars), different height cars, left opening door cars (about 25% of boxcars) and other stuff.  Guess what, MDC no longer produces kits, so I have no more kitbash fodder.  As a result of not producing any new cars and only producing RTR cars, I only buy about 3 or 4 Roundhouse cars a year.  The rest of my rolling stock purchases are 20 year old kits or a few resin kits (old MDC car = $5 plus decals, resin kit = $30 plus trucks plus decals) or I have to scratchbuild stuff.

As fewer people build kits, the kit manufacturers, the decal makers, the detail part makers go out of business. So there is less material to detail models even if you wanted to.

As with learning any skill, there is a progression of difficulty of tasks to learn.  You start learning the piano with Chopsticks, not Chopin.  You learn to ride a bike with training wheels, not by entering the Tour de France.  With the decline of kits, the entry level practice of modeling skills is disappearing.  There is no starter level.  With RTR you start right a craftsman kits or scratchbuilding.  There is no place for beginners to practice handling tools or techniques.

Dave H.

When I was in Jr high (Middle School now) and in High School in the USA they had shop classes. Shop Classes like Wood Shop, Metal Shop, Electric Shop, Auto Shop (how to repair Cars) And general Crafts and plastics Shop. Most boys attended at least one shop class each semester and some had 2 or 3 shop classes each semester,

In these classes we learned how to build things using hand and power tools. We learned basic electronics and how to apply mechanical with electrical properties to work together. In turn we learned how to craft anything and produce useable products from sheet metal and raw lumber and plastics.

Todays Boys have almost no chance in school to learn how to use tools in fact if you laid out 25 tools on a table in front of them 80% of most high school boys could only name the hammer and screw driver and pliers then most won't know the name of claw hammer, Tack hammer,  and ball peen hammer.

If todays Model railroader had more knowledge of using tools maybe they could build their way into modelroading instead of buying their way in.

Kits:

With little or no knowledge of how to follow mechanical instructions or how to read a blue print or electrial schamatic and mostly how to use tools other than for pounding nails the era of Craftsman Kits and standard Kit models died off. I think mostly because building them takes a skill not yet learned amd because to them it was just easier to buy pre assembled models or snap together Kits. Basically the world of building a kit , Kit bashing and scratch building was all but lost.

Before 1980 I believe 75% of all Model Railroad equipment was built by the modeler. At that time and before there were thousands of models of cars and tons of Kit bashing parts to be had as most car kits came with extra parts so you could build a number of different versions of the same model. At the same time the adverage RTR car had TYCO molded on the bottom of the car and came in cheap sets of cars that most model railroaders considered Kids toys at the time and kids considered them as Model railroad cars.

After 1980 Kids started to loose intrest in Model RR's and the era of the Radio controled Cars and aeroplains took the leed. Trains were just not high tech enough at that time and DCC was still a thing of the future.

Now in 2011 the modelers of the 1950-1980 have met up with the Computer age of 2000-2011 and a new rebirth of Model railroading has arrived and the new generation is learning how to model and the younger generation is teaching us the new High tech computer world and how to bring them together.

I think it's time to bring back MDC and Blue Box as well as the new lazer cut kits and the blue print models.

Most of all we should put shop Class back in school to give the younger generation a chance to learn about tools and crafting using all materals.

Dan

Dan, your statements apply just as well to our society in general as they do to model railroading.

Working with your hands, building things, shop class are dying arts. Not becuase we can't but rather as a society we chose not to. American's quality of life has risen to a point where being a tradesman is no longer an attractive career option for most young people. The skilled trades are less and less a viable component of our world every day unfortunately. Manufacturing in the US has long been in decline. Only the occasional currency swings keep it at all alive. Technology on the other hand is where most new jobs are being created (excluding medical) so it is no wonder why the younger generation moves in this direction. America's new manufactured product is innovative technology. We invent, sell the idea, production occurs offshore.

Personally, I don't think hard core modeling is going extinct. Those that have a passion for some particular facet of the hobby will always find what they need, somewhere, somehow.

...most of the skills are simply not taught the way they used to be, as described by Dan.

Instead, a lot of those skills are being taught on-line and on TV channels such as D-I-Y and HGTV.

I was going to mention community college courses as a way of picking up the basic skills... but I just checked out our local community college and as far as I can tell... they don't teach that anymore.