Do you model less in the summer?

How Active Are You With MRR During the Summer?

  • I practically abandon my layout until the cold weather returns

    Votes: 3 5.3%
  • I still tinker with it, although much less than the winter months

    Votes: 17 29.8%
  • About the same as in the winter

    Votes: 24 42.1%
  • I'm actually more active with my model RR hobby in the summer

    Votes: 13 22.8%

  • Total voters
    57

RobertInOntario

Active Member
As the warmer weather very slowly arrives (at least in Ontario!) and the day's get longer, I was wondering how many folks are less active in their model railroad hobby this time of year. I suspect that quite a few of us do far less with our layouts from April to September, while we're quite busy with them during the winter.

So I thought I'd toss this question out here with a poll as well. Sometimes people expect that I'm not into model railroading as much during the summer, yet I still try to keep the momentum going, especially when it's "500 degrees" outside and too hot & humid to venture out!

There are so many aspects to railroading that it certainly can be a year-round hobby. For example, while I actually do have less time for my model RR hobby in the summer, I'm often out visiting real-life heritage trains as well as rail-fanning and taking train photos.

Some people will have less time for their hobby during the summer while others may actually have MORE time, because summer can also be a quieter, slower time.

So, how do the warmer, summer months affect your model railroading?
Thanks -- I'm just curious about these things!
Rob

Here are my poll questions:
I practically abandon my layout until the cold weather returns
I still tinker with it, although much less than the winter months
I'm involved with model RR about the same as in the winter
I'm actually more active with my model RR hobby in the summer
 

tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
I voted and then actually thought about this one. I voted practically abandon and then realized over the scant two years I've been at this, last winter, I didn't have a layout to speak of. Just some models and locos.

This year, I actually have something to show for it. So perhaps...I'll still tinker during the warmer weather. On days when the weather is a complete write off, I can still see me spending some considerable time getting little things here and there tidied up.
 

Kanawha

Member
Living in the Phoenix area in the 120 degree summertimes, there is little to do in my free time but go for a swim or work on the layout. :)
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Thanks, interesting feedback!

I voted "about the same as in the winter" but I'm actually between the 2nd and 3rd options. (I could have added an extra category but I wanted to keep the poll simple!) It's often down to just "tinkering" but other times I'm just as busy as I am in the winter -- it depends "when" it is during the warmer months.

Obviously, holiday and family plans predominate during the summer. I also like hiking, especially in the fall. So late-August through October are slower layout times for me and the summer's are a mixture of being busy and not-so-busy.

Rob
 

Go Big1

Member
My interest and time spent on model railroading definately wanes in the summer. A lot of that has to do with my kids more than me though (baseball, going to park, bike riding, etc).
 

DeckRoid

Member
I model pretty much the same year round. I will have to put a hold on working on my layout while other things are happening, but then there are times like this past weekend where I do a thousand and one things to my layout.
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
I went with the fourth option. Our club layout is unheated and its too cold until about April here in MT to do any work. Also the museum where we are located is open during during the summer so there is layout maintenance to be done.
I am working on my On30 module at home during the winter.
 

Sarge_7

Member
I guess I'm going to find out this summer. I'm betting that during the spring it will be slow, but from late June to early September when the heat gets up, I can see doing more modeling. For the last week and a half this is the only project I have been doing.:mrgreen: (I was able to steal enough extra wood from this for my future project:twisted:)

100_0825.jpg

100_1355.jpg

All new carpet and deck extension, just in time for the spring spawn:mrgreen:
 

cntown

New Member
I am still in the layout design stage for the train room so my son's 4x8 is what i play on with him.Working 6 day's a week leaves little time for enjoying MRR but i do try to stop in at an LHS at least once a week (George's) to look at whats new and for idea's
 

FiatFan

Member
I pretty much work on it year 'round. The biggest slack time for me is Oct.-Dec. I live in a neighborhood with lots of big trees. By the time the leaves are done its holiday time and I spend a lot of time on the road visiting family. By the time January rolls around, I'm definitely ready to head for the basement again.

Tom
 

TrainNut

Ditat Deus
Living in the Phoenix area in the 120 degree summertimes, there is little to do in my free time but go for a swim or work on the layout. :)
Ditto that - 'cept I don't even have the pool. When the heat of summer really kicks in down here, there is little else you can do except retreat indoors and play with the trains.
 

NIevo

New Member
I actually model more in the summer. Layout and train stuff is in the garage so it gets alittle cold here in the winter.
 

b28_82

Member
My modeling wanes a little in the summer due to outdoor projects that need to get done in the house. Except for those rainy days and hotter days when you just want to be inside.
 

myltlpny

Member
My railroad is in my bonus room, so it's air conditioned and heated which means I can model year round. I tinker with it occasionally during the summer when it's too hot or raining, but for the most part I'm too busy with outside chores and activities. I typically will go up to the layout for a few minutes every day, even if it's just to run a train around the track a few times.
 

Relic

Member
I'm in the same boat as NIevo,my layout is yp stairs in the garage.I started it when I was working and had big plans but disability has thrown a wrench into that plan.{boo hoo poor me} So build stuff in the winter and put it on in the summer{if we get one this year brrr}
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
Put me in with the others in the Phoenix area. 115 degrees outside and no pool. An air conditioned train room inside, what choice would you make? Let's talk about the winter, a few days in the 60's, most in the 70's and now we're in the 80's, so that's when we spend our time outdoors. I have barely touched my layout all winter, now you know why.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Put me in with the others in the Phoenix area. 115 degrees outside and no pool. An air conditioned train room inside, what choice would you make? Let's talk about the winter, a few days in the 60's, most in the 70's and now we're in the 80's, so that's when we spend our time outdoors. I have barely touched my layout all winter, now you know why.

Good points! My question was obviously a little "North-centric"!
Maybe I should have phrased my question differently.

Here in Ontario (and much of Canada), our climate is one of extremes. Winters can be very cold and snowy while our summers can be extremely hot and humid!

Rob
 
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