In model railroading, a rivet counter is someone who pays extremely close attention to small details in model trains and points out any deficiencies, often in an annoying manner. It is generally considered a pejorative. In this blog post, I’ll explain the practice of rivet counting and explore where to draw the line between fine scale modeling and rivet counting.
Origins of the term rivet counter in model railroading
The origins of the rivet counter term date to the 1930s. In 1937, Lionel spent $65,000 (over $1.3 million in 2023 dollars) to produce its first accurate, scale model train, a 1:48 scale NYC Hudson with tender. Lionel boasted it was an exact replica. According to legend, someone noticed the tender wasn’t quite exact. The number of rivets on the model tender was off by perhaps as few as one single rivet.
That gave rise to the phrase rivet counter.
The term has come to apply to anyone who makes a big deal about any small detail whose omission you won’t notice once you put the model on your layout and it is more than an arm’s length away from you.
Some hobbyists defend the practice, saying they count rivets on a model and on a photograph so they know they are positioning decals correctly.
That defense shows there is a fine line between rivet counting and fine scale modeling. When someone takes an off-the-shelf model and improves it and shows other people how they did it, I’d put that in the category of fine scale modeling. When someone just talks about what’s wrong with the model but shows no inclination to act on that knowledge other than to complain, I’d place that in the category of rivet counting.
So if you’re counting rivets to figure out how to position decals after painting a model, I wouldn’t call that rivet counting.
Can you be a rivet counter in HO or N scale?
A hobbyist can obsess over details in any scale, including HO scale or N scale. The rivets are smaller and less noticeable as scale sizes decrease. But someone who wants to find something to complain about can find something to complain about in any scale. It doesn’t have to be rivets specifically.
Any mass produced item is going to be built to meet a price point. That means certain compromises will happen in the process. And sometimes human beings make mistakes.
Don’t forget to have fun
Personally, I don’t begrudge anyone who finds enjoyment in fine scale modeling. Attention to detail is admirable. Where it crosses the line, I think, is when a hobbyist starts telling other hobbyists they are doing it wrong if their standard of detail is different from theirs. We all have different abilities. And frankly, once we reach a certain age, our ability to perceive some of those fine details starts to diminish.
It’s supposed to be fun. So don’t forget to have fun, and don’t get in the way of others if they enjoy the hobby a different way than you do.
David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.