I think everybody does from time to time. I get more fustrated and have to step back from a project for a few days to regain myself. After “cooling off” for a few days, I can look at the issue from a fresh standpoint and usualy figure out what I need to do. I am at this point with my cheapo PFM Climax engine. Between the brass wheels and the 4 wheel pickup, it runs like crap compared to my tuned and 8 wheel pickup Hillcrest shay. So the wheels go off to be plated and I will engineer the 8 wheel pickups in the down time while waitng on wheels. Some times tuning and getting a brass engine to run right, or a difficult project on the layout can push me to the point of throwing things or giving up. But I step back, take a break for awhile and when I sleep on it and ponder different ways of accomplishing the task, the answer presents itself to me. Have fun with the hobby, life it to serious and stressfull as it is. Mike
What, me get discouraged? Not because other people can make better models, or a prettier layout, or can afford to spend $$$ to buy things I would like to have but can’t afford. I’ve long since passed the stage where I’m envious of other people’s work. I’ve learned to be satisfied with my own, imperfect as it may be.
Actually, there is one thing that has me discouraged right now. When my mind says, “Let’s go out to the layout space and attack (any one of several works in progress) with great gusto,” a little voice from down around my right hip joint asks, “Are you addressing ME?” Thanks to that damaged joint, I can only attack with great gusto for a few minutes at a time, with a couple of hours rest between…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - slowly)
I do not get discouraged. What does discourage me is that I am my own worst critic. I have an image in my mind that is perfect but my modeling is not and my space is not big enough. When I was younger I was able to build craftsmen kits and they were picture perfect. For a number of reasons I cannot do that any more.
The problem is I have the same wants but not the same skills. However this forum has been inspirational. I have been able to ask questions and get answers that help me get closer to what I imagine.
The current layout has progressed a lot further than any of the prior attempts. Of course I did learn from my prior mistakes and made sure I did not repeat them. I also had to come to the realization that I was not going to be able to have a large, or even medium model railroad. So my 10 X 11 spare bedroom is the home of my HO empire.
Discouraged?
Not any more, when I was younger, I tried to just wing it and throw something together with what I had on hand, no proper tools, no skills, no plans, and it looked like cr@p.
Now I realize that talent does account for some of what we see presented in magazines and the fine pics posted, but also that patience and perseverance account for more.
All these great modelers have spent years honing their skills, none of it comes overnight, and while some are naturally gifted, most of us can obtain similar levels of skill by practice, reading, asking questions, and more practice. The right tools for the job also go a long way towards success. And more practice.
Did I mention practice?
I get frustrated and disappointed still, but you just need to take a break if it’s just not working out, and come back to it later.
The most important rule I’ve picked up from life so far: listen to the old guys. They didn’t get to be their age without learning some very useful things, sometimes the hard way. [:)]
My being discouraged so far is more about all the false starts at building a layout…quite a few over the years…and more recently the lack of funds and declining health and physical abilities. I’ve more or less come to terms with the fact that my skills will be far short of the many examples of fantastic work here and in other sources. But I’ll do what I can with what I have, and hope to learn to do better as I go.
Kind of off topic but has anyone else besides me noticed that the words “model railroading” seriously turn off women in their early to mid 20s today? Thats discouraging to me. Funny you brought that up, I am in sales and had a customer today that could not make up her mind. Some how it came up I was a Model Railroader and her and her husband and I where best friends! Her dad is a train nut and had a HO layout and now does Garden Railroading. They bought.
Me drink beer! [:D]
Have I ever really felt discouraged Francisco, heck yes! When I first got started my learning curve was slow, did not understand terms used and why I should do something. I need to under stand why I need to do something not just because I should. At one point I threw a few cars that I could not get right because I did not under stand what the problem was.
Then I went DCC and added a new section to the bench, OMG did I ever have problems! Again, slow learning curve! BBQ a round $200.00 in decoder’s! Luckly Simon 1966 came by and found the problem.
But, I learned from this site, had a few brews, and keept having at it. Step by step, inch by inch my layout gets a little better.
Cuda Ken
Very simple. I look at the superb modeling people post on this and other forums.
I can attest it turns off some women in their 40’s as well. I’m married to one. We actually did talk about Model Railroading on the first date though. And she married me anyway. Go figure.
Regarding women, it’s all in how you frame it. When I introduce the fact that I’m a model railroader, I’ll show them this picture of me (I store it in my cell phone):
It puts a very different look on the hobby as compared to the “grown man playing with toy trains” image; it becomes more respectable and sort of warm, rather than foreign and silly. I also try not to impress upon the woman how important the hobby is to me; after all she’s seeking the #1 spot in my life and she doesn’t want to have to compete with model trains.
Regarding getting discouraged looking at other modelers’ excellent work, it happened to me once: I was 13 and I’d been in the hobby for about a year. My work looked very crude compared to the layouts in Model Railroader magazine (this was long before the Internet). I discussed my frustration with my father and he suggested that I not be discouraged that my work was not up to par, but to look at their work and try to see what was different that made it so good. I started looking at all examples of model railroading that way and I rapidly learned a lot. It’s been 40 years since my dad gave me that advice, but I still follow it - thus, you guys make me a better modeler every time a browse the forums.
Gratefully,
First the same can be applied to women my age group(let’s call it 55-65).
I always figured a women that won’t have me the way I am ain’t worth having in the first place.
My wife and I met when she was 21and saw that I was deep in to my trains and she jumped right in helping on my layout and has always been involved with what ever layout plus collecting cars and locos for the entire 35 years of our marriage.
My X was totally not into MR but my new woman encourages me to do things MR. She is not into it but I think its her way of getting rid of me for a little while and quit bugging her. I keep telling her that MR keeps me out of the Bar room. What really ticks her off is me on the internet looking up things train related.
Anyway why tell some one your into model railroading? Tell them you are a scale transportation engineer with a touch of carpentry and artistic talent.
Pete
My wife has only herself to blame, she bought my first train set. [(-D] When she was pregnant with our first child, she remembered how my dad had bought a train set for my first Christmas, so she bought one for me that Christmas - I found a copy of MR on the newstand the next day and was off. Little did she realize what she had started!!! But she is fine with it, she has her hobbies and I have mine.
Enjoy
Paul
[tup]
Actually, come to think of it, I have always wanted to work for the real railroads, but how would a guy getting a degree in linguistics while working at the insurance business go about this?
One of the reasons I work inside at a desk job and dive into the books at school is because I have Crohn’s disease, which can be quite painful. But my ideal dream would be to get my hands dirty for my living.
I sometimes get discouraged. Not so much by the model work, but by the realization that I don’t have the time and space to accomplish it. I have an LDE for inspiration that no matter how I twist things, I just can’t get in the space I have and still keep the spirit of the LDE intact.