My layout has not moved forward in 3 weeks. I have a craftsman station sitting on my workbench that has about 3 hours left then I need to get on to building the Fast Tracks turnouts for my new layout. I have all the track ready to go. I could have a working layout within a week if I could just get going.
But every weekend has been taken up with other stuff.
And the layout sits.
Chip,As food for thought think of this…During the week instead of watching reruns on the goof tube spend time at the work bench.Worked for me for years.
Or get out and enjoy the great out doors. There is nothing wrong with taking a break when the weather is good and do other things. During fall, winter and spring there will be weather keeping you in doors and that will be good train time. There is a thing in life called “balance” so don’t feel bad about balancing out train time with other good healthy activities.
Chip, there was a while there that I was in that boat. Didn’t seem to get anything done. Now I’m ballasting track. Did I say I hate ballasting track? No? Well, I hate ballasting track.
Jarrell
Larry,
I’m down to 4 shows a week, but I’ve been reading a lot in the early evenings, outside in the shade overlooking my vegetable garden.
But you’re right. I just need some momentum.
My downfall had been the Tour de France, but I stopped watching after it turned into a circus.
I picked up my Walthers water tank kit at my LHS last night. Thursdays, there’s a free series of weathering clinics, and that’s given me a lot of inspiration. I’m still working on the trolley stop and the shopping district of town, but at least I’m making progress. What I haven’t done much of in the past month or so is run any trains. We’re scheduled for some rain this weekend, so I hope to get the Durhams Water Putty road down on Saint Anne Street.
Ballasting. I don’t mind ballasting. I usually put the materials out and just do a small section every time I walk by the layout. Pretty soon it’s done. And it makes things look so much better.
Mr B.
Running is the one thing I have been doing. I have two basement layouts that do ops sessions so I’ve been able to run just about every week. It’s kept me sane since I haven’t been able to run at home for almost a year.
Well, I haven’t run my trains for about a month now. But it is not because I lost interest.
I am expanding my layout by about 50% and am busy building bench work, and laying track.
My main line will be about 75 feet long when completed. I also added another yard and a turntable.
So I am spending a lot of time in the train room. Should have all the track work operational in about two more weeks. I can still operate my trains but am more interested in getting the expansion completed.
Don’t let it bother you. I haven’t touched my layout in 2 months. I just don’t have the get up and go lately. My interest has been going up the last few days , began creating a stucco building for my Southwestern look with casting resin , making my own molds. That kinda got me interested again. Outdoor work of course has slowed me down a little too.
Ahaaaaaa! Another fan of cycling…if not the sleazy part of it. I’m up at 5:30 every morning to catch the Tour live. Whooeee, has this one been a circus. Still, it is a race, and someone will be on the podium in Paris.
Chip, let it go. Why fight this? What’s the point? Speaking of cycling, when was the last time you were on a bike? Is there a local hiking trail that everyone talks about…the one you haven’t been on yet? Today’s the day, or certainly tomorrow.
Gardening is good for longevity, so that is always good. A movie. My wife and I see two, maybe three a year, so they are always a treat. Walk to the corner store, or somewhere within walking distance for one thing…bubble gum. Or a popsicle. [:D] Maybe tackle the peeling paint on that southern exterior door jamb. Have you fertilized the roots of your ornamental shrubs or trees/fruit trees this year?
How’s things at Horseshoe Curve?
FWIW, my goal this summer was to get the Danby Sawmill kit going.
Nope…not so far. (shrug) I have to water the twin rows of raspberry canes today, pick green beans, and I guess mow the lawn. [:)]
It’s all good, Chip. It’s all good.
-Crandell
I recently started assembling a couple of buildings. I decided to take the project out to my three season porch. The main reason was for the lack of a workbench and the fumes from good old testors glue. I found that it was quite relaxing listening to the birds while working. The only problem was moving a good portion of my modeling supplies upstairs. It’s nice to enjoy the outside while not really being outside. Living in Wisconsin, I have to remind myself that it will infact get nasty outside in a few months. Better to get away from the train room that also doubles as a furnace, storage, catbox room while I can.
Chip, I like your idea of having the stuff sitting out and doing a little every time you walk by. I have been crafting the steel staircase down into Yellowstone canyon that way.
I have been at it about 4 weeks and have never really gone down to work on it. At this rate I will need the paint in about a week. Then it will take a week to get my camera fixed and I will try a picture. I am learning again how bad I am with the soldering iron and little brass pieces.
Besides, it cool in the train room.
Yep, I have the same problem. One thing I am pushing with my wife is: Only 1 shopping trip per weekend - amazing how much time I have if I limit those trips.
Enjoy
Paul
Nothing wrong with reading a book in the shade while enjoying a ice tea or cold lemonade unless of course its being track side reading the latest MR,Trains,Classic Trains,Railfan or RMC between trains while sitting under a shade tree and slurping down a Icee…
I am with Art…I try to have two or three projects going all the time and with my layout and work area in the living room I can work a little bit just about anytime…but its the naps that get me…Cox 47
Put me in the two months away from the train room category. On the other hand, I’ve played a lot of golf, ride my bike 12 miles a day, moved my in-laws from Omaha to Chicago, went to UP sposered Railroad Days in Omaha, sitting on the front porch reading, painting the foundation of the house, painting the wrought iron rails on the fron steps, etc. In other words, it’s summer time. Time to be outdoors.
Like Secondhandmodeler, I know that time for the trains will reappear in a month or two. Trains keep me busy in the winter. When the weather is nice, I would much rather be outside.
Tom
Chip,
You will get back. When the weather is nice we all have other things on our plate. We have an operating session every weekend even is we do not work on construction. We also have the dusting thing.[(-D]
Have you been doing any cowboy action shooting?
Sue
Chip,
It’s for these reasons you bring up that I don’t quite understand how all the “mega” layouts shown in MR are built. It seems as if you’d have to majorly sacrifice some other area of life in order to build them.
Then again, maybe you just have to be retired (about 35 years away for me…)
Life is just sooooo busy - I know you mentioned you own your own business, have Kid(s) - me too - after you’ve done your duty as being a good father and running your business (both extremely enjoyable and rewarding), you’ve already had to give up that thing that everyone refers to as sleep! Where does MRR’ing fit?
I believe it will fit if the layout is kept under control (this is just a theory, as I haven’t built one yet, and have been planning on it for, what, 3 years now?)
I’m 1/2 tempted to “get outside” with MRR’ing. When it’s a beautiful weekend, and I’m spending time outside with my son, it’s very difficult to imagine going into the garage to work on a layout.
Maybe a garden layout would be a good compromise between enjoying this hobby as I’d always intended (HO) and enjoying the great outdoors with the family.
My personal struggle is that I’m a mechanical engineer, and LOVE my work, but it involves sitting a computer / pencil & paper, indoors, etc. all the time. I love it, but it makes it hard to want to come home and hunch over a kit or something in the garage - but I want the layout!
I am beginning to understand those in MR who have others build their layouts - I used to think they were nuts. I’m quite sure I would never do that, but I do now understand the concept.
I think its normal, especially in the summer. Our Free-Mo group meets every week, sometimes twice and we work on our existing modules or help each other with our new ones. Problem is, we just don’t get to run trains. I’ve got several kits ready to build (two on the workbench now) and I have no motivation because I know it will be a few more months before we run. We recently refurbed our loop and are ready to rewire it, maybe I’ll get motivated since we WILL have to do some ops checks!
Hang in there and enjoy all your hobbies,
Rick
Maybe what you need is a break from the models. I know that that has happened to me several times over the years. I’ve even left off the trains (model) for more than a year at a time. It may gain a bit of dust but (so long as mice can’t eat it) it’s still there when I come back to it. Sometimes the return happens slowly and other times I have dived straight back in.
One thing I have learnt from other peoples’ experience is not to sell it all. The interest and activity come back and it costs a heck of a lot to completley start over. If nothing else the old stuff can be sold to help pay for the re-start.
(Not suggesting that you are thinking of stopping - just adding an observation).
Enjoy your books - and garden - refresh yourself… the models will be that much more fun when you get back to them.
(…and making yourself get on and do the things is both a recipe for disaster and a way out of the hobby).
Have a nice summer. (We’re awash).
[8D]