October 2024: Is it a jinx?

[Paul S.]

Does it seem that some popular model railroads suffer from something of a "Sports Illustrated" jinx*? That is, they gain great popularity, then appear on the cover of one or more of the hobby's magazines, and then the next thing we hear these layouts have been taken down.

The imminent demise of Dean Ferris's superb Oregon Joint Line is just the latest example.

As Ian Fleming put it in Goldfinger, do we chalk this up to happenstance? Or coincidence? Or "enemy action"?

* https://jugssports.com/the-sports-illustrated-jinx/

[Josef2618]

And what about the startling number of MR articles that include a note "and Bob the Builder died three years ago." Talk about curses!

[Paul S.]

And what about the startling number of MR articles that include a note "and Bob the Builder died three years ago." Talk about curses!

I'd overlooked that, and it's certainly the other side of the same coin. Perished before published, to make a play on academia's adage!

It's an "MR thing" seemingly, but I bet RMC et al have had their fair share of posthumous layout features as well.

One thing to note about MR is that it buys (or at least it did buy) the rights to the article from the author well ahead of time, so at least the author got paid. I would assume RMC does this too. MRH is the exception, as some on this forum know all too well. ...

[N Scale Brad]

I believe what often happens is that the featured layouts are something that the builder has been working on for years and they are up in years themselves. I'll give an example that I know of first hand.

I had a friend who started building his layout when he was about 65. I met him a few years later and as he got older he was having a more difficult time keeping the layout maintained. Myself and other friends would help him out and also operated the layout with him on a regular basis. MR photographed the layout two times and on the second time it did get published in the March 2002 issue. By then my friend was over 80 and he and his wife sold their house and moved into a retirement home. So the layout was torn down within a year of publication.

[Jeff B]

I think Dean's layout was featured in RMC, so he is part of that. As a regular operator up there, I don't like the demise. Shouldn't he stay in that big old house in retirement just for the benefit of his fellow modelers?

[Paul S.]

Yes, he should, Jeff. How selfish to put his hobby needs and desires ahead of the rest of us.🤣🤣🤣

I do recall RMC featured the OJL. I must acquire the back issue . . . but alas it's sold out at WRP.

[craigtownsend]

Or is it because the layouts featured in the magazines are lifelong layouts and not layouts that could be built and finished in under 5 years?

[michael13j]

In my readings of said articles, my opinion was formed that the layout owners are far too busy creating the layouts, not documenting them. Toward the end of the "build", then the pictures and articles begin. And begin to be published. After all, aren't we building for ourselves???

My 2nd opinion is on websites (other than here at RMR), the person's beginning publishing their layouts in it's early stages have a higher peercentage of not completing their dream/layouts due to the distraction of documenting.

my .02

[craigtownsend]

I'd like one day to complete my layout! Small steps one at a time.

[JerryZ]

Interesting take Michael. Documenting the build process takes a LOT of time. I'm thankful for the blogs that come out of that, but I find it much more manageable to simply come here, hang out, and write what I did (or did not do) over the course of a week. Helps keep me motivated, and I like the free form flow of information with like minded modelers.

[Allen]

That's right Jerry, it does help me keep motivated in some ways. It gives me tangible evidence that I've accomplished something, regardless of how much.

[craigtownsend]

IE documenting builds.

I tend to grab pictures during the build and then with the next 24-48 hours during downtimes when I can't work on modeling projects, say during lunch at school, waiting for X, etc. That way I feel as if I'm not wasting my "precious" modeling time by spending it on forums, Facebook etc.

[Paul S.]

And what about the startling number of MR articles that include a note "and Bob the Builder died three years ago." Talk about curses!

Now that I think it, I seem to recall a layout featured either in MR or its annual sister Great Model Railroads in which the tagline stated the layout had died about two years prior to publication.

[Paul S.]

While it was part of larger layout (although it would operate well on its own), Tony Koester's Coal Fork Extension of his Allegheny Midland appeared as a feature series on the cover of MR -- and not too much later he dismantled the entire AM.