Lee,
Good stuff! You learned by 'doing'. As you said, mistakes will be made; but as long as you learn from the experience....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Folks
Thanks for everyone for their help on my 1st benchwork. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.; I put my power drill w/ battery and a box on the sides of each table and they didn't crack!; The next step is bolting the benchwork tables together before putting up the backdrop.; I will put 1x2 strips across the table to support the foam sub-roadbed.; Is that enough support?
For other newbies, here is what I learned about tackling something difficult for someone that is spatially-challenged:
1. Measure twice cut once!; Measure w/ an accurate tape measurer.; I can't tell you how measuring multiple times will reduce unecessary cutting and trips to the hardware store for more material.; I was often too impatient to do that or assumed I knew the dimensions.; That was an invitation to disaster
2. Seek professional help!; No, not the type Spitzer got (LOL!), but a mentor!; Contact your hobby shop for advice or NMRA-sponsored club.; I did and lucked out by getting help from a HS shop teacher. Stay in touch w/ them often and approach them w/ specific questions.; It shows genuine interest and a willingness to learn.; Besides, who doesn't want to feel wanted and help the hobby grow?
3. Accept that you will make mistakes.; Once I stopped worrying about minimizing risk, I felt more capable of doing new things.; Most of us have never built benchwork, so understand that errors will happen.
4. Repeat after me: Read and refer, read and refer! Get yourself the Kalmbach book on benchwork and read it religiously!; Afterwards, measure your layout room carefully and make numerous diagrams.; Also read this and the Atlas forum for advice.; Contact some of the experienced repliers offline (see #2).
Not an expert after one construction effort, nor will ever, claim to be one.; I will always rely on others for their support. Such assistance is invaluable, but I learned that the following African proverb is key to appreciating and enjoying this hobby: know why you have two ears and one mouth? Because you should spend twice the amount of time listening than talking.; This works for me.
TIA!
Lee