This is my best time of year to get alot of model railroading done. No grass to cut, garden done, done fishing and quiet. I’m good to go till March.
OK ! good for you!. And your in South Carolina! I’m in south east Wisconsin, and things usually don’t move inside, and model building, until late November, like deer hunting, Trainfest, and Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving here in WI., the weather can change quick!
Mike.
I’m with you Willy6! Here in Bakersfield the best I can do in the garage during the summer is the upper 80°s (on cool days), too warm to stay very long. It has finally cooled off here, with out the air-conditioning the garage has been in the low 70° for the last several days.
Old age has grabbed me and it’s no longer easy to work on my layout even when it’s cooler. I have to make hay while it’s cool. I work in our hobby room at my workbench under an air-conditioning vent during the triple digits and move everything to the garage in the fall for the next 5 months.
I have 7 months of stored up projects to complete on my layout.
Mel
Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951
My Model Railroad&nbs
No snow yet here in Minnesota, but was about 40 degrees this a.m. I’m trying to finish up train stuff that needs to get done with ventilation, like painting, gluing, etc. before winter hits. I try to get all the stuff done I want to get done on the layout like scenery work and such by the end of the year; January - April is kinda my busy time at work so I like to just be able to relax and run trains until spring comes, then I start building again in the warmer weather.
Yes, the season makes a difference indeed. Even in Texas, winter in particular (the autumn days are some of the best for golf) makes MRing a great alternative, and lots more interesting than working up the income tax return.
But seasons are just one component, it strikes me. We are indeed busy here in summer, with grandkids visits, etc., so the start of school does make more opportunity for railroading. But also, there are the unique (non-annual) things that arise. In my case, the summer was impacted by some medical downtime for a few weeks. That got followed by major free time dedicated to getting my old Pontiac ready for sale (special price for MR forum members), a hobby car that ceased to be a hobby of interest, except for this final surge. That’s gone right up to this week. So for me, this autumn will let me get back to MRing after about a 3 month total break. There is an IHC 4-6-2 on the workplace that awaits some details upgrade and conversion to DCC. It’s been sitting there for months.
I do believe there’s something good about the conflicts and interruptions that arise. Sometimes one needs a break. Maybe not total, but at least partial. The variabliity helps me enjoy the hobby more as I see how much satisfaction is involved in it. My biggest problem in fall / winter is a tendency to get lazy about physical activity. I’ve got plenty of time (being retired) to get to the gym for some real exercise 3 times a week and do plently of MRing as well, but I sometimes suffer from “the devil made me do it” gym avoidance.
Of course, during one’s working life it’s a different situation than retirement, given much less discretionary time. I did that with MR in the 80’s (my 2nd time, after H.S.) but it did not last as there was too much competition for my time, at least for me. Others manage to stay involved over the long haul, which sure has it’s advangages
I am only a few weeks from being able to use the airbrush again.
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The humidity will clear up soon… I cannot wait!
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-Kevin
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I’m not retired yet, so other “seasons” have more effect on me, like hockey season with the boys and high season at work, that is just starting…
Simon
I call it the “happy times” because t’is the season for train shows. Even when I worked I found time to relax with the hobby year around even if it was in the early dawn hours when the family snoozed in Saturday and Sunday mornings.