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5 Stages of Modeling

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5 Stages of Modeling
Posted by FJ and G on Monday, April 5, 2004 1:46 PM
What stage are you in and are you happy in your stage? The stages:

1. armchair modeler: read the magazines and forums and dreaming of a layout but don't quite know where/how to start.

2. Planning: lots of sketching, measuring and purchasing stuff for that future layout

3. Building: Actually creating a pike

4. Completion: now running trains and tweaking things; perhaps adding or swapping out a tree, rock, structure, or enhancing electronics

5. Ad Nauseum: this stage is when you are becoming sick of the duckunder, sharp radius curves, and scenery and are ready to tear it down and start again at stage 2.

dav
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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Monday, April 5, 2004 2:20 PM
I'm at stage 3 right now, and for what ever reason, can never get to stage 4. Actually, more time spent on stage 2, may prevent you from ever reaching stage 5. That should be everyone's goal, and I feel very confident that stage 5 will never happen to me!!![swg]

By the way, stage 1 is an ongoing process which never ends, even after stage 4. Maybe the dreaming, and not knowing where to start, should be stage 0.[;)]
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 5, 2004 6:08 PM
I seem to be stuck in an endless loop:
stage 1
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3
stage 2
stage 3 ......
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Posted by Dr. John on Monday, April 5, 2004 6:21 PM
Just started stage three yesterday - got the benchwork built for a 5x9 layout. Next comes track laying, wiring, ballast, scenery . . .
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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Monday, April 5, 2004 6:25 PM
Because of my background, I approached the construction of my layout using Phases.

Phase 1 = Stage 4

Phase 2 & 3 = Stage 2

The all time biggest layout ever = Stage 1

If your track plan allows you to build in Phases, I would recommend it. Phase 2 is scheduled to Stage 3 in August of this year and will be running trains by Christmas or I will be charged liquidated damages by Mrs. Buckey Riveter.[:(][:(]

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

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Posted by nitroboy on Monday, April 5, 2004 6:32 PM
I am at stage three. Completely skipped stage two.

Dave
Dave Check out my web page www.dmmrailroad.com TCA # 03-55763 & OTTS Member Donate to the Mid-Ohio Marine Foundation at www.momf.org Factory Trained Lionel Service Technician
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, April 5, 2004 6:35 PM
I was always taught it went:

The 6 Phases of a Project (in railroad speak)

1. Enthusiasm-

(planning to build a layout, looking at the shiny trains at the LHS)

2. Disillusionment-

(nothing fits where its supposed to go! Whaddamean the price changed?)

3. Panic-

(I've spent how much and I still isnt finished the benchwork?wheres that water coming from?)

4. Search for the Guilty-

(the D*^m guy at the train shop said this d*&m thing was easy to install!!!!)

5. Punishment of the innocent-

( where's my fri**ing order! you sent it out 8 months ago! did you idiots send it by wagontrain????)

6. Praise and Honors for the non-participents-

(your layout gets published, they misspell your name, and lavish attention on guy who weathered a few locos for you....)

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by superwarp1 on Monday, April 5, 2004 6:46 PM
I wasn't planning on doing any detailing of the layout until the track is all down in about five to ten years.

Gary
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Posted by cnw1995 on Monday, April 5, 2004 8:58 PM
Stage 3, version 2.5 - used most of the avail. track, got trains running and a few buildings. No scenery, still troubleshooting the wiring.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

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Posted by ChiefEagles on Monday, April 5, 2004 10:15 PM
Hey Dave, what stage do you install the beagle? [private joke] [:D]

 God bless TCA 05-58541   Benefactor Member of the NRA,  Member of the American Legion,   Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville Laugh,   KC&D QualifiedCowboy       

              

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Posted by wallyworld on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 7:41 AM
I am in stage 2.5 in that having assembled and disassembled several pikes in several gauges has taught me an invaluable intermediate stage-the rug railroad. It let's me operate the thing before I start setting the track "in stone." I've gone through two major modifications and three tweakings in the track configuration - and now I'm ready for Stage 3.

Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 2:30 PM
Stage 5 and getting bored. Only so much room for exspansion. A storage room opened up in my house and so I'm ucrrently in stage 2 for the layout that is going in there.
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 6:35 PM
Stage 3 and moving slowly. Hope to get to 4 in the next year.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:24 PM
I have a temporary layout consisting of a double oval with crossovers., minimal accessories & no scenery, so I've been through to stage 4. I'm anxiously awaiting the day when I can start on the permanent layout.

That'll be some time next year, God willing.

Tony
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Posted by waltrapp on Thursday, April 8, 2004 12:31 PM
I'm at the 'DONE' stage on the model of my brother's house that I made in 1/4" scale last year. See link below:

http://pgh_train_man.tripod.com/pghtrainman/id4.html
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 10, 2004 4:51 PM
I'm at stage 2, but Buckeye's comment about building in phases caught my eye. The layout I'm planning would be a huge leap from my previous efforts and I admit that it intimidates me quite a bit. I also have to go through a stage where the train room gets upgraded from the "raw" basement to something more user friendly.
Bob
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 10, 2004 5:33 PM
I think If you add up stage 2 and four and call it stage 6 thats were Iwill be

(stage 6 = Life)
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 12, 2004 5:58 AM
I'm still at stage 1. We just moved into our new house with a full basement, I just have to sheetrock the walls first :(
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Posted by fjerome on Monday, April 12, 2004 7:06 AM
stage 4. i hope i never get to stage 5.

see it here http://homepage.mac.com/fjerome/BAMenu.html
Fabulous Forrest at the Brewer Avenue & Pacific

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