4 ms·

Even 40 years ago many opted for N scale because of space constraints. Clubs were almost always HO scale focused, since they had cheap or free accomodation ofte

Even 40 years ago many opted for N scale because of space constraints. Clubs were almost always HO scale focused, since they had cheap or free accomodation often in semi abandoned rail hangars etc. As for age, it is not just the cost, but also the alienation of the young from messy analog physical dexterity, long low stimulus attention and slow progress in favor of high stimulus instant digital gratification.

lainga 3y ago
Great attitude. Hope it keeps your hobby going.
thot_experiment 3y ago
I know a lot of people who are into model building in the younger-millennial older gen-z age range. I am not convinced that this shift is particularly pronounced. I think the real problem is that y'all got houses to put a train set in for like $3.50 and the only people I know with houses are the ones who's parents put the money down and cosigned the loan. The models fit on a shelf in a tiny apartment with a roommate. Maybe vote to approve some apartment blocks and public transit next time around?
wegfawefgawefg 3y ago
I wish I could disagree with you. Since I moved out of my moms place I could not bring my 3d printers, cnc machine or electronics equipment. I simply cant fit it in this tiny apartment with my wife. I have lost these hobbies over the past two years to software entirely. Not necessarily a bad thing. I guess my point is, you can lose your slower hobbies without even realizing, just due to circumstance. It's not necessarily the younger generation's "fault". It is often just the emergent consequence of the situation.
ThrowawayTestr 3y ago
No it's because people don't have the space. Are you familiar at all with miniature painting or Gundam model building?
morelisp 3y ago
> the alienation of the young from messy analog physical dexterity, long low stimulus attention and slow progress I suggest any boomers with this attitude check out what the kids are doing with Gunpla and Warhammer. It's a space issue, not a "stimulus" or "physical dexterity" one.
- lupusreal 3y ago
  At the same time modeling of "real things", except maybe RC airplanes, seems to be in a decline. For instance there don't seem to be many people into building models of ships/etc. The fantasy stuff goes a lot stronger. Kind of makes me wonder if declining social conditions have young people running to escapist fantasy stuff. Or maybe it's because the fantasy stuff is more profitable for corps thanks to trademark/copyright, so consumers follow the advertising?
  - morelisp 3y ago
    I think it's hard to wrap all those hobbies up into one "reason" for the shift. One though is that kids probably see a lot less ships (in real life and film/TV) than they did 20, let alone 50, years ago. Kids will react to what they're told are cool and young adults will continue the hobby they had as kids. That being said, the same place I buy my monster and spaceship painting equipment from seems to still do a decent trade in benders and slips. And size is still an issue, the smallest ship I could build is about the size of the largest "miniature" I have.
    - vwcx 3y ago
      You make good points about the routine shifts in influence and interest over the generations. Running with the "RC airplane" example, it's probably true that the traditional internal combustion hobby isn't picking up tons of new youth. But look at how well drones still sell for Christmas these days.
jjoonathan 3y ago
Housing costs have been growing at 2x wages for 50 years. If space was a constraint then, imagine how it is now. How many times did boomers look at the two buttons before them, "make housing affordable" and "make housing a good investment," and which button did they press every singe time?
- kleiba 3y ago
  The claim in your first sentence seems intuitive. Yet, I have found conflicting data about it in the past. Do you have specific sources you're referring to by chance?
bongodongobob 3y ago
As an outsider, I'm pretty sure almost everyone has always considered model trains boring. That's always been the joke. This isn't anything new. You can't blame social media for this.

lainga 3y ago

Great attitude. Hope it keeps your hobby going.

thot_experiment 3y ago

I know a lot of people who are into model building in the younger-millennial older gen-z age range. I am not convinced that this shift is particularly pronounced. I think the real problem is that y'all got houses to put a train set in for like $3.50 and the only people I know with houses are the ones who's parents put the money down and cosigned the loan. The models fit on a shelf in a tiny apartment with a roommate. Maybe vote to approve some apartment blocks and public transit next time around?

wegfawefgawefg 3y ago

I wish I could disagree with you. Since I moved out of my moms place I could not bring my 3d printers, cnc machine or electronics equipment. I simply cant fit it in this tiny apartment with my wife. I have lost these hobbies over the past two years to software entirely. Not necessarily a bad thing. I guess my point is, you can lose your slower hobbies without even realizing, just due to circumstance. It's not necessarily the younger generation's "fault". It is often just the emergent consequence of the situation.

ThrowawayTestr 3y ago

No it's because people don't have the space. Are you familiar at all with miniature painting or Gundam model building?

morelisp 3y ago

> the alienation of the young from messy analog physical dexterity, long low stimulus attention and slow progress I suggest any boomers with this attitude check out what the kids are doing with Gunpla and Warhammer. It's a space issue, not a "stimulus" or "physical dexterity" one.

lupusreal 3y ago
At the same time modeling of "real things", except maybe RC airplanes, seems to be in a decline. For instance there don't seem to be many people into building models of ships/etc. The fantasy stuff goes a lot stronger. Kind of makes me wonder if declining social conditions have young people running to escapist fantasy stuff. Or maybe it's because the fantasy stuff is more profitable for corps thanks to trademark/copyright, so consumers follow the advertising?
- morelisp 3y ago
  I think it's hard to wrap all those hobbies up into one "reason" for the shift. One though is that kids probably see a lot less ships (in real life and film/TV) than they did 20, let alone 50, years ago. Kids will react to what they're told are cool and young adults will continue the hobby they had as kids. That being said, the same place I buy my monster and spaceship painting equipment from seems to still do a decent trade in benders and slips. And size is still an issue, the smallest ship I could build is about the size of the largest "miniature" I have.
  - vwcx 3y ago
    You make good points about the routine shifts in influence and interest over the generations. Running with the "RC airplane" example, it's probably true that the traditional internal combustion hobby isn't picking up tons of new youth. But look at how well drones still sell for Christmas these days.

jjoonathan 3y ago

Housing costs have been growing at 2x wages for 50 years. If space was a constraint then, imagine how it is now. How many times did boomers look at the two buttons before them, "make housing affordable" and "make housing a good investment," and which button did they press every singe time?

kleiba 3y ago
The claim in your first sentence seems intuitive. Yet, I have found conflicting data about it in the past. Do you have specific sources you're referring to by chance?

bongodongobob 3y ago

As an outsider, I'm pretty sure almost everyone has always considered model trains boring. That's always been the joke. This isn't anything new. You can't blame social media for this.