How Good is Good Enough?

A conundrum, an enigma!

• Why do some "Average" students excel and some "Gifted" students fail?

• What drives some to excel in certain areas and care less about others?

• Why don't we always do our best?

• Why do we sometimes let certain things slide?

• How do we determine which is which?

How Good is Good Enough?

This discussion was brought about by posts on a group's site where a skilled modeler posted pictures of his fine model railroad car.  While most members replied in very positive praise, others, who were contest judges, began a civil critique as they would a contest entry.  Some noted minor mark-downs, but the attention quickly centered on the bottom of the car where detail was good, but not impressive.  The builder replied that he intended the model to be a true and accurate representation of the prototype, but not a contest entry.  Additionally, since the model was intended to be in regular service on his model railroad layout he only detailed the bottom to the extent viewers would see from the side while it was setting on the track.


Like many group forums, this thread quickly found a life of it's own, branching like a young tree in Spring.  Issues that I can recall sounded something like this:

• Some sites are just "At A Boy" compliments.
• Why would anyone submit a picture not expecting serious critique?
• Good modeling improves the hobby, poor modeling degrades the hobby.
• Just lurk until you reach the level expected on the site, then post.

 Near the end someone posted an article by the late John Alan, a master of just about all that was model railroading during his time.  In the article John questioned why anyone would bring a model to show the public that did not exhibit their very best efforts?  That got me to thinking as I am one of the dwindling number of people who met John on his home G&D layout.
Like many people of genius, John could be a bit eccentric.  Our Lockheed model railroad club was visiting from  San Jose and John was a polite host, but set out a few simple rules; no-one would touch the train but John, operate in a prototype way, and NO flash photography.  This was in the day of ASA 12 and I had brought my camera and flash, so I have no proof of ever entering the basement.
As our club had several electrical engineers we used a home brew 50 amp power supply that was also a possible welder.  While discussing electronics and transistors John admitted not knowing a lot about transistors and preferred using electro-mechanical means to achieve results.  Some things I recollect from almost 50 years ago are:

• He created momentum by using an electric motor to slowly turn the rheostat up or down.
• He measured water usage of a steam loco by back driving a home electric meter, thus forcing the engineer to use good practice so as not to  run out of water while still on the line.
• He placed a hump in a switch lead requiring a careful hand to just carry the hill with out banging into the cars ahead.
• He used Baker couplers.

About the only thing I ever saw as criticism of John was his propensity to use catchy, non-prototypical names.  John could do it all.  He retired early in life, never married and could spend almost all his efforts on railroading and photography.  Most of us have more distractions in our lives, have less drive, less talent and perhaps, more outside interests and desires.
We are not John Alan!   But, we can learn from him, appreciate his contributions to the hobby and endeavor to contribute to the hobby in our own way.

I, as a person, have delt with the opening questions and only have simple answers for complex questions.

• Bordum.
• Laziness.
• Short attention span.
• Loss of interest.
• A new interest.
• Costs, Time, Space, Other Needs.
• Health.

More and more I see modeling as an art rather than a science.  Why do we read the comics in the paper or watch them on TV?  Perhaps we are really artists who use science (electricity, tools, paint, adhesives) to create our model railroads, doll houses, airplanes, cars, rockets, etc.  As in art, some like modern, others realism, oils or pastels large murals or tiny sketches.  We have all heard the expression, "If we all liked the same things it would be a boring place."

I think this photo shows that I am pretty good at shingles and eight sides roofs.

This photo shows that I may have to work a little harder at my backgrounds.

The fact that there are several greeting card companies working in the States gives Hallmark Cards the reason for their motto, "When you care enough to send the very best!"

Perhaps in our modeling lives there are times for just a little pick-me-up modeling, in contrast to when we wish to do our very best.


Armchair


P.S.   Scroll down to the bottom of the home page and click on the box of paint bottles, "An Oldie But Goody."  That was my first post and was sort of philosophical.


P.S. 2   Do you like the new home page collage?  Hate the site?  5,000 hits but only 13 comments.  What do I need to do to stir up some conflict?  I must do something wrong from time to time.  Let me know.