I was just wondering what most folks think their best modeling attributes are, and what aspect(s) of the hobby need some work.
Since model railroading requires skills in many areas, what’s your best and worst areas?
Some examples would be scenery, electrical, benchwork, operation, layout planning, painting, detailing, decaling, scratchbuilding, kit building, backdrop painting, lighting, prototype research, signaling, etc, etc.
For me, I think my best abilities are painting, decaling, and assembling of structure kits, rolling stock and detailing locomotives, while my ability to create benchwork is non-existent (I always need help). I feel that my electrical and scenic abilities are about average.
A lot of it is what I am focused on at the time. Probably engine wiring is my weakest point (decoders/lighting, etc.)
A lot of it is tied to what you enjoy the most. I am a jack of all trades, master of none kinda guy. I scratch as much as I can, but super detail not as much. I know the difference between things but often make compromises. As long as I know the difference it doesn’t bother me.
Just to let you know, those wiring difficulties are an odd thing with me. I am building a robot for a competition, and that robot is working. I guess that wiring a layout is hard for even the best electrical engineers.
They are to be measured in relative terms, fellas! Strengths and weaknesses implies at least two skills are to be assessed on a comparative basis. So a person can legitimately claim that their best skill is X, even though he/she may lack proficiency in any one of them.
Suffice it to say I have the skills needed for my simple KISS modeling…[tup]
Don’t waste your time asking me how to wire a toggle switch.I never was interested in heavy duty wiring when a simple eazy to wire Atlas selector will do the same thing…Instead ask a operation question,about scenery,track work etc.
I think I’m pretty strong on scenery–which is a favorite pastime of mine on the MR. Also, I was surprised as all get-out to find that after seven years, my benchwork is still pretty prime and sturdy (I did NOT inherit any of my dad’s carpentry skills, LOL!).
My weakest point is and always has been layout wiring. I’m just as likely to get a cold solder joint as a ‘hot’ one, and there are times when I’m spending FAR too much time under the layout instead of standing upright over it.
Weathering is another one. Do NOT under any circumstances let me alone with a freight car–the results tend to look like something that’s been sitting in the Sahara for about 100 years. After trying to emulate some of the stunning weathering jobs I’ve seen on this Forum, I’ve just kind of said, "Oh the Heck with it, let it weather naturally. Still hasn’t happened, LOL!
You cannot compare apples to oranges. Robot building does not require any electrical mechanical connections, but rather everything is soldered and rigid. Model railroading has alot on instances where you have mechanical electrical connections. That is what is giving you difficulties.
Just because I can, I would like to see pictures of your robot.
And, NO, wiring a DCC layout is simplistic, not difficult and I am NOT in any way shape or form an electrical engineer.
Research. Between fifty plus linear feet of reference material and a near-photographic memory, I can get a lot of data about the prototype world and almost any sub-field of modeling in very little time.
Substructure (benchwork, right-of-way and landform support.) I know enough to design benchwork and create a solid base on which to erect a model empire.
Trackwork. Having laid miles (1:1 scale) of 16.5mm (and smaller) gauge track, everything from sectional track on roadbed to hand laid four spikes per tie, I consider myself a master at assembling derailment-proof rail surfaces, even through puzzle palaces of turnouts not available at your LHS.
Electrical. I use a complex analog DC control system because its features suit me. I design circuits, then build them - and they work. I am familiar with all aspects of electrical safety and follow the rules.
Sub-strengths (aka mediocrity):
Painting. I can do it, but not as well as I’d like. I do NOT enjoy it.
Rivet-counter modeling. I prefer all-welded construction, and am a firm believer in the ‘3 foot rule.’
Basic landforms. My terrain isn’t horribly unrealistic, but it isn’t inspired/inspiring either.
Structures. They may be free of glaring engineering/architectural errors, but they are a long way from museum quality.
Weaknesses:
Detailed scenery. Possibly from lack of practice, my work is unconvincing. OTOH, I let imagination fill in a lot of blanks.
When grading myself, I would say overall I’m about a C+ B- kind of person. There are people that would rate me higher obviously, but I think I am in that area. I am always learning something and not completly confident in everything I do. There is a LOT of trial and error on my layout (there’s an idea; the T&E RR) and it doesn’t always end up the way I envisioned it, but occassionally it looks better.
I think I’m pretty good at benchwork and the “rough” building of things- I need work on final touches to complete a scene, etc. I think a lot of it has to do with patience which I lack. Also another strength I believe I possess is research. I am doing a better job at researching and learning about what I want to purchase and model before I make the decision to purchase it (ie I looked at two different companies that manufacture a locomotive I bought and went with the better choice after the comparison- years ago I would have just purchased it without any kind of further consideration. I want to make sure I have the best stuff on my layout).
Having been a “lone wolf” playing with trains & layouts for over 50 years, I find I can “do it all” - for I was the only one building the layouts (2-O, 4-HO, 1-N). Now please don’t think I have a big head over that, for I have had to work pretty hard and be very persistant at many of the areas to get decent results. Ha, if I were being graded on this last 11x15 layout, most of the grades would be C or C+, with Bs for benchwork, tracklaying, wiring, and model building.
The key to it is to set your standards relatively high, and accept nothing less than that. This is a “must” when it comes to benchwork, tracklaying, and wiring. And of course when things didn’t go right - not uncommon I might add - I would walk out of the train room and close the door behind me (and come back in a day or so).
One of the true benefits of model railroading is that you do get exposed to all these different areas and you do have the opportunity to hone your skillsets in so many areas - that will serve you well on other projects in your world.
Now I do recognize that some folks just don’t have some of the abilities to build a railroad by themselves. These same people may have other talents, but dealing with mechanics or woodworking or electrical stuff is just beyond their comprehension.
Anyway, my bugaboo has always been electronics (not electrical as in wiring a house or DC railroad). And, as I am rebuilding the layout after the Holidays, I have decided to jump into the middle of DCC. For many of you DCC is a piece of cake - for me it is the mystery of the ages… But, I will do it.
(I’ve been working on painting and assembly of a few n-scale resin vehicles for a couple weeks now, and I’ve spent the last several months (yes, months) insulating and hanging drywall in my train room above the garage.)
Seriously, though, my weakness would be operations, but when I get the layout back up and running soon (?) I’m really going to make an effort to work on operations.
