Every business has it’s practical principles, accepted practices, and working theories that will lead to likely success.
As I was taught, After WWII, When Japan lost the war, they decided to do something different {for them}. They took a look at what those who won the war did that made them a success at winning the war and “did them one better” at all things in life. Then they decide to follow that example in order to achieve some successes of their own.
The space race was an unknown quantity until it was entered and achieved success. Others who follow the USA and USSR’s efforts have the “easier” road to follow on the basic principles and theories that both countries built upon that led to success. {I have still questioned HOW they knew space was a vaccuum without having ever been there before but I am glad they did so they didn’t suffocate astronauts. It was an accepted working theory}. But it was a working theory that was successful. Lets face it, no one wanted failures of the space program. Same with flight. Notice Wilbur and Orville checked their contraptions first themselves.
What Selector has said is Balance. Well, that can be part too. He took an accepted method of water production for a layout and wanted it to look different. SO he tried something and it succeeded. Now he can share his success with other who want to achieve the same desired look to their water who NEVER in their own mind may ever think of adding plaster of paris to the deal. I see nothing wrong with that, and do not see it as a balance per se, but that is his opinion.
I think everyone, newbie and old hats alike, will want to succeed and most likely will try something on their own and if it fails, go looking for successfull methods. We also suggest to newbies quite often to READ about MRRing and its basic aspects, accepted priciples and practices so when they DO try something {like wiring} they succeed. there is nothing wrong with that.
The method in which we accomplish things - either thru original ideas, the ideas of others, or a “kitbash” of original thinking and the ideas of others - is simply not “one way” for everything.
On one extreme, we would be creating everything on our own, in essence remaking the wheel. On the other hand, we would buy a “build this layout” book and proceed to build it exactly as shown.
My thought is that we would better succeed by using a combination of original thought and the accomplishments/ideas/experience of others.
At the very least, we should be open to listening to the ideas and thoughts of others, and value that as deemed appropriate - massage it in our grey matter, and then go on and do whatever we come up with.
In my original post I stated: “Certainly, if there is potentially substantial monetary loss, then ask”, meaning if a mistake will be very costly, then seek an answer, if you desire. That statement invalidated many peoples responses to my original post!
Being a person who’s real enjoyment in this hobby is derived from building, experimentation is part and parcel to that process. Those of you who buy most everything ready built have much less to fail at.
Failure is an important part of life as it teaches how to be successful. Accepting that we will fail is seeing reality as it really is!
My purpose in posting my opinion, was to hopefully generate a thread that has some depth to it. If you find the topic offensive I suggest that you ignore it!
You are correct when you suggest that I should have ignored the post, and I apologise for the somewhat strong wording in my response.
I just didn’t like the implication that if I am not striking out on my own without doing research then somehow I am not thinking.
I have forged ahead on my own on several occasions. The most notable is the critter in my avatar. I built it from scratch using an N scale 0-4-0 Bachmann drive and brass sheet, and I did this very early on in my model railroading career. The design came straight out of my head with only a minimal reference to a prototype engine. I had minimal knowledge of soldering, just enough to know how to use wet paper towels to dissipate heat where it wasn’t wanted.
The result is that it works and I like it!
However, had I taken a bit more time before diving in I would have done it much better. For example, I thought it would be neat to have the headlight on top of the cab. I have learned from my mistake. The headlight beam is obstructed by the exhaust stack, and I haven’t seen very many models or prototypes with the same mistake, if any. Also, if you look at the position of the motor over the drive wheels you would suspect that it would fall on its nose at the first opportunity. The motor is way too far forward for proper balance.
I have a bunch of other examples, mostly scratch built structures, where I charged in without sufficient knowledge. You are right - I have learned from my mistakes, but it could have been done much better from the beginning and I am more than a little annoyed that I have to do several structures over again to get them right.
None the less, I rained on your parade and I apologise.
Gidday, I may be dabbling in semantics but if in your statement above, if your reference to “life” means as in “real life”, not as in “hobby life” , then I’m afraid that I must strongly disagree!!
In my “real” world failure is not an option, the end result of failure can be fatal !! This hobby is my escape from that world.
To make my position perfectly clear, I do believe that the only people that have never made a mistake are those who have done nothing, and had you said that learning from mistakes is an important of life…, well I wouldn’t have disagreed.
However as a very amateur student of history I would suggest that a major Failure of the Human Condition is that we seem to be doomed to perpetuate the inability of actually learning from others past mistakes.
I believe most new modellers ask for advice because some projects for a newbee can be overwhelming at first and they don’t want to end up with a messed up project that doesn’t work or look the way they envision it. I asked tons of questions when I first joined this forum. The older and more experienced I become the less advice I need on how to accomplish projects. Now I very rarely post a how do you do this type of question.
Give it a whirl, don’t worry about what others think, ask questions, but give it a whirl. Its the only way to learn. When I started I never thought I could build something as insane as this:
NP 2626, I see you have 186 posts, so still kind of new to the forum and willing to shake it up–kind of fun. Almost all responses have been that asking questions first is appropriate. Not surprising from the participants in a forum designed to do so. NP 2626, most people who are primarily desirous of going at it on their own and experimenting are probably not frequent forum OPs. But might want to exhibit their successes–LOL.
I come from a mfg background and having started several businesses. For me personally at our companies we utilize concepts such as “best practices”. But I am obviously willing “to put it out there” with my money, etc. I agree some with the earlier poster that balance is important and for each of us the balance point will be different based upon our personal evaluation of risk/reward, knowledge, individual risk aversion, etc.
I also think some of us ask questions to just be a participant and/or possibly see what others would have done.
