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Jimgress

@jimgress.bsky.social

450 followers 270 following 1.1K posts

I will not shut up about mass transit

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 9d

Have any of the #modeltrains folks made it a goal of theirs to model and paint the 12+ designs of these that are out in the wild? I just need to know who's slutting it up. #trains

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 2d

At the tail-end of the video, briefly.

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 6d

I've always seen that pivot as a survival tactic. Much easier to cater to a small crowd with deep pockets than risk the entire business on the ebb and flow of casual public interests. When an industry survives on a 20+ year old movie to generate yearly sales it kinda shows how fragile the market is.

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 6d

Which is why I tell people to start digitally and make models online first. Heck, I've seen kids use Blender even. Steam sales mean games are easily available and 90% of kids interested in trains already have a computer/console, etc so the upfront cost is already done.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 6d

It's not easy for the over 35 crowd to realize that entry-level #modeltrain sets are just not the best option for most families be it budget or living space, and the best way to get a kid into the hobby is to encourage them to play sims. I really think the "entry level" model train layout is digital

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 6d

I have been vocal that currently the most forward-thinking part of #modeltrain hobby has been the #Thomas builders who have embraced 3D printing, CAD and electronics while upholding the hacker #DIY mentality of sharing 3D models instead of gatekeeping access to builds
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5lB...

How I Built My Gauge 1 Edward | Tutorial

YouTube video by TankEngine JonJon

www.youtube.com

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 6d

This guy hits all the reasons why #trains and #modeltrain hobbies are far less popular for the 18-35 crowd. TL;DW older hobbyists spent 50 years homogenizing the space into nostalgia-obsessed prototypical opps when 3D printing, CAD, and Sims create new ways to enjoy trains youtu.be/yff-G9kmy0g?...

The Real Reason Gen Z Isn’t Into Model Railroading

YouTube video by Gerben Klapwijk

youtu.be

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 8d

I mean I only model pre-1942 and I'm very interested in a long slut train.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 9d

ohh cool! Which one was it?

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 9d

Have any of the #modeltrains folks made it a goal of theirs to model and paint the 12+ designs of these that are out in the wild? I just need to know who's slutting it up. #trains

11 380 1.4K

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 9d

tomfosterweathering.wordpress.com

TOM FOSTER WEATHERING

‘Recreating The Real Thing In Miniature’

tomfosterweathering.wordpress.com

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 10d

I can't hide it any longer. My most controversial #trains hot take is that I think Southern Pacific's P-10 with skyline casings look better than the MT's and even the GS series locomotives. I know some of you won't be able to look me in the eyes any longer, but it is my truth.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 10d

Here's some of the coolest garden scale #modeltrains I've seen online this past week. If you follow a lot of what I post, you'll notice there's a few builders that I just can't get enough of and get excited every time they have updates to show!

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 10d

Not only is Tom Foster amazing at weathering #modeltrains he also makes great use of 3D scanning real people and resin printing them. I really do think that 3D printing people for models in your layout yields the absolute best results. Any other #train folk print or make their own figures?

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12d

That's very generous, though my railroad specifically runs in the early 1940s and I wouldn't want to disassemble a nice clean engine to fit that era. Though I do have a very dear friend who is always looking for more locos to add to her 1990's-era Norcal industry layout! cc @camdax.bsky.social

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12d

Woah that's wild lol. I thought Alco had the market cornered on weird "diesel transition era" stuff

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12d

They haven't. Did the SP have any in the Bay Area around say...Jan 1940 to April of 1942? Cause I'm game if there are.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 12d

I'm blaming you #train #modelrailroading bluesky weirdos for making me slowly grow fond of early-era diesels. I lived happy in my steam/electric fantasy world, and here you are tempting me with these little switcher guys. Look at that little guy. I bet he sounds like a truck when firing up. Sickos.

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13d

Typically unemployment has to skyrocket, inflation has to get hyper and when the government shuts off the internet then it hits the fan. No bread and circus = gets real

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13d

I thought this was just a midwestern meme. Are you saying that outside of that region of the US (and Great Lakes part of Canada) people think a bunch about the Edmund Fitzgerald?

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 13d

Cool, I'll see what I can find that can replicate that! Thanks!

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 14d

I really want to model this consist but maybe some #train folks can help me answer what flat cars these were? I'm guessing it's some WP 36ft something since SN was a subsidiary. (also yeah making an unpowered Birney car just to be shuffled around is funny to me)

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 14d

I could absolutely rock this vibe

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 15d

Nice. Yeah. Great thing about HO is that a lot of brass and newer models have great detail level that when scaled up look really high quality compared to the cheapest G scale models. I'm always trying to strike a balance between prototypical and practicality tho.

Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 15d

Hey #modeltrain nerds: do you ever collect scales that you don't even model or run? I don't have any layouts in O, HO, or On30 but I just happen to land some either for research purposes for larger scale modeling or because I randomly come across deals I can't pass up. What about you?

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Jimgress @jimgress.bsky.social · 16d

Yeah it's hella frustrating because I WANT to like GM. My mom and dad are big Pontiac nerds (dad in 1972 pic below), and I myself want to buy a Buick Tourx wagon as soon as my Corolla hits 200k miles. But yeah you have to be picky about GM products and wait to see which models got shafted in dev.

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