Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
My question is twofold, am I the only one to suffer from this malady, and if not, what’s your remedy to get back into a more productive mode?
Been there, done that - quite a number of times! I think that each and every one of us suffers from a period of "abstinentia model railroadiensis" and we all have most likely different remedies for it. I found the attitude of just sitting back, relax and wait till it´s over the best method of curing it. I also found that setting up a temporary layout with my old Marklin trains helps much better than starting another project, which is bound to fail.
Nice topic, btw - I am eager to see how others overcome the malady!
I believe a lot of people over think these kind of things........It's a Hobby.....You do what You want, when You want, (just like retirement...for Me anyway) no one is keeping score. If You never did anything on the layout again...life goes on....don't dwell on it...Your just wasting energy, thinking about it, never solves any problem.....Make someone else feel better, in turn You will feel better.....then with a smile on Your face......You can look up at the sky and then say...well what am I going to mess up today and have Your self a great laugh and take one day at a time and try to keep that smile on Yourself to share with others, because life is too short to spend on worrying about it. We are all in control of our destiny from within, contrary to what we may be told or believe. We are all still learning how.
Take Care!
Frank
Back in the late 1990's I was very active in the local model railroad club in Southwest Florida. I was actually a founding member of the club from 1982.
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I ran the annual Fort Myers train show in November a couple of times, it all went well. The club voted to add a mid-year train show in Naples, and I was "selected" to run this one too. I don't want to get into ugly details, but this was a disaster.
So... the doldrums really set in for my model railroading. This actually lasted about ten years in various severity. The worst part was I had just built a custom house with a massive "inverse basement" upstairs train room. There were other problems at the time also.
I became more active in other hobbies, especially wargaming. During this time I developed a few new modelling skills that have actually helped my railroading.
I am just now getting fully out of these doldrums. I guess they lasted through two layouts and almost 20 years. I am now very excited about model railroading again.
Believe it or not, just playing with trains has helped more than anything. After I took down the last layout I bought about $400.00 worth of Kato HO Unitrack and set up a huge loop of track running on the floor through the living room and dining room. Just getting out trains and running them around on the floor was a great experience and got me back in a big building mood. A couple people on this forum have jabbed at me for "playing with trains" again when I mention it, but hey, it is going to be a couple of years before my layout room is ready, and I am having fun. This also motivates me to paint new rolling stock which is my main modeling project while the house is being remodelled.
Another big thing that helped was throwing away all my unfinished projects. I posted a topic about this "purge", but it went off track. Anyway, that turned out to be a big positive, and improved motivation for a lot of other things.
Whatever it takes... get through your doldrums!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Haven't done a thing sence mid Feb. Like Bear, I go down there,look around,walk away. Went to a small local show last weekend,looking for a kick start. Walked thru the building,came home feeling ''same old stuff''.
As of late even the forums are starting to annoy me.
Looking for a cure
Variety is the spice of life. When I get burned out on playing guitar I work on my model railroad or slot cars or real cars. Keep it fun. Don't turn it into work. Go hiking or skiing or something completely different. When you start missing it you will go back to it.
I have stalled for 15 months. I got to the track laying phase of my new build and ground to a halt. I painted the backdrop just before Christmas, making sure not to waste a teensy spurt of motivation that I found at the breakfast table one morning. That lasted two weeks.
Then came all the spring garden work. And stand-up paddle boarding. And my aged father needed me to accompany him on travel for two important surgeries, one of which was to save his life. I have been wrung dry.
It's coming back, though. Last week I laid some roadbed for a parking siding at the main line end of a switchback leading to two industries. I'm beginning to think about the project more and more with each passing day.
I want to run trains.
Sounds like you're burned out.
When I get burned out, I do something else for a while. Maybe get involved with a woodworking project or a long CPRG or just read a few good books.
OTOH sometimes I feel like I'm just not getting anywhere with the hobby. In that case I build a couple of easy kits - like Athearn BB, MDC Old timer, Accurail, Atlas building - upgrading the trucks and couplers or painting cast on detail parts. Something I can complete quickly, preferably in one (or two) sessions at the workbench.
Paul
Yes, we all go through it. I'm going through it right now. It seems finally, after having moved last fall I have my layout all reassembled, re-tracked and re-wired. Now, to get my workbench from the garage into my train room. Not so simple; you see, I've been using my workbench as a "saw horse" for making cuts on lumber outside, as I didn't have room for my work bench in my apartment where I used to live. So, if I move the work bench inside, what do I make lumber cuts on outside? Saw horses, of course! So, another project: building saw horses. Just finished that project yesterday, but now, before moving the work bench inside, I need to clean it up and repaint it - - another non-trains project, just so I can do model railroading! After that, it's moving all my "train stuff" and organizing it. so I don't have all the clutter.
Bottom line: these are all what I call necessary distractions from the hobby. Make no mistake about it, I'm chomping at the bit to get started after an 8 month hiatus from it. I've got projects stacked up like crazy, but I just need a place in which I can do them. So I guess for me right now, it's more the frustration of having to do all these things just so that I can do what I love to do - - model railroading.
When I get a case of the hobby doldrums I railfan,visit a club or take in a train show. A afternoon of railroad videos seems to kindle the interest.
IMHO the worst thing you can do about the doldrums is "taking a breather" because it can be hard to rekindle interest after said breather.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
We all need variety in time spent from time to time.
As far as uncompleted projects. If you're like me, you've reached a point where the goal may not be as desireable as you thought, or there may be more effort and skill needed than what you're willing to devote. My guess is the projects might start to feel like a burden rather than enjoyment. The fact that they are not complete and forgotten about suggests you've already moved on from them.
- Douglas
For what its worth, I think we have all had our down time....some more than others. When I was building the current layout, "every minute" of time I could get went into the construction. Once up and running with scenery partially in place, I lost momentum. Since then, I go in spurts, with out any real explanation as to what brings me in or out of the layout process.
Saying that, I'm looking forward to reading more from others on the subject.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
UNCLEBUTCH Haven't done a thing sence mid Feb. Like Bear, I go down there,look around,walk away. Went to a small local show last weekend,looking for a kick start. Walked thru the building,came home feeling ''same old stuff''. As of late even the forums are starting to annoy me. Looking for a cure
If I may and not to sound like a jerk but,I don't know a way to butter it up...
Based on past experience including my own it sounds like you lost interest in the hobby..
My cure is thinking of what I love about the hobby and as you may recall its switching cars and what I hate about the hobby (a lot) and life without model trains and since the idea of video gaming 24/7 x 52 had no appeal I found ways to rekindle my love for the hobby to include planing a new short line or switching road.
Also all work and no play can turn off the hobby interest..Try running trains to include switching cars. You may find the zeal never left..
They say misery loves company so it is comforting to hear that the members I look up to and try to emulate are or had or are having the same experience as I am. The difference is that you are working on difficult projects or kitbashing whereas I'm on my first layout doing some basic stuff.
Last Fall I started a mountain tunnel project and worked almost every day on it until it was finished. Since then things have been at a stand still.
Before I do more scenery I have to paint track and for various reasons I need to do it by hand. Of all things that have to be done painting track is for me the worst part.
I need a kick in the butt to get started.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
Having a heart attack last year, and surviving, put a whole new perspective on the rest of my life (I'll be 63 in August). I wouldn't recommend it though!
Anyway, I have wrapped all of my hobbies (professional musician and new golf interest not included) into my model train interests. They include hiking, rock and mineral collecting, physics, electronic circuit design, geology, stained glass work, literature database creation, arts and crafts, pencil drawings, woodworking, rail fanning, and others. So, when I tire of one, or can't do one for a good reason, I switch to another and it's still trains!
As long as my heart keeps beating, I don't waste a moment and am having the time of my life!
Dennis
Good afternoon all,
I usually post on the CTT side, but this is a good topic for any type of enthusiast. I hurried last year to get tables up in time for Christmas and had track to run trains on, but that is as far as it gets. There are some buildings situated as well to give a hint as to what the completed goal is. Other "stuff" gets priority and while the motivation is there, the fear of ruining "blank canvases" probably causes more pause than anything. I run mostly tinplate so that should not be an issue, but right now everything looks "nice" and scenery is not my strong point. Eventually I will get going, but not for awhile. I look forward to more posts on this topic. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
As you can see, you're not the only one.
I have in my life been involved in,
Hangliding
Scuba diving
Flying. My friends and I would each rent planes and chase each other through the mountains North of Vancouver pretending we were fighter aces.
R/C and line control airplanes
A lot of both road and mountain biking.
Motorcycles and sportscars.
Guitars. I played for three hours in the early morning sun yesterday.
Backcountry backpacking. Even took a two week outward bound survival course.
A lot of golf. Worked at a Golf course for two years in high school.
Use to plummet down Whistler Mountain on skis as fast as I could possibly go.
I have also traveled a whole bunch and have had some real adventures in that department let me tell you.
Over the years I coached kids Softball, Baseball, and Hockey.
I have done some extreme river rafting in a few countries around the world.
Now do to being a high mileage unit my health is in decline and I have come full circle back to model railroading. MRR was what Dad and I did together and I am glad he introduced me to it. Dad had Muscular Dystrophy so Trains and sitting in a boat fishing is what we did together.
All of the above activities (and more) I did off and on throughout my life with the exception of skiing, biking, and golf which I did on a regular basis. I was never obsessed with any of them but enjoyed them all immensely.
My wife, sister and departed mother are/were involved in the dog show hobby at the highest levels and seem to be on airplanes to dog shows constantly. There are some pathetic sick obsessive individuals in that hobby, let me tell you. My sister and wife are never like that and avoid all those that are.
The one thing about all those things I have mentioned is that in each and every one of them they contain people involved them that are so obsessive about their interest that they wouldn't save their own children from a burning building if it interrupted making it to a dog show or missing a round of Golf.
Being able to take a break from an interest is a healthy thing and I often step away from my interest even if they remain top of mind.
I get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing I have a train room I can walk into and pick up where I left off whenever the spirit moves me. I have seen lives/families ruined through obsessiveness. Taking a break from anything is a healthy thing to do in my book.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Part of my problem with my basement style hobbies like trains & model kits & whatnot is the fact that my son is now 19, has a full time job, has a car, & a girlfriend in a distant town. Hes' busy with his young life now & doesn't have time for me like he did even 2 or 3 years ago. My dad is gone 3 years & the hobbies have fallen from something 3 of us did together to only me now & they just don't have the same 'feel' anymore. All this change in the last couple years really affected me & its' just not that exciting anymore like it used to be. Sometimes, I work on something, being careful to do a good job & make things look very realistic & detailed, & then when I finish it, theres' no one to show it to or enjoy it with & suddenly it all seems completely pointless.
Another setback is my declining patience. Sometimes, for some odd reason, I start a project & then lose focus & rush it thru without taking my time with poor results. I'm not really sure why that is, but it might be either boredom or frustration stemming from the first reason I stated.
One other thing is social media. The internet & Facebook have taken away some of my free time because I'm involved in a few different groups on industry, military, shipping, railroads, & architecture & posting, managing, & editing all my articles is so much easier than building & reparing things & I get a lot more instant feedback on it all.
I'm also running out of room to display model kits too because I have a small home. That makes it hard to get motivated to build something really big & nice if I can't show it off somehow.
Last, but not least, of my 4 friends that are into trains, 2 bought houses on the opposite side of town with a 45 minute drive on a good day, & over an hour in bad weather. 1 got married & had 3 kids right away & hasn't touched his trains in about 5 years- they all sit in boxes, & the last guy wants to buy a bigger house & has held off on modeling until he eventually moves some day. The result is- they're all either too far away, too busy, or just not active in hobbies anymore.
That about just kills it for me.
JaBear:
do you think it could have anything to do with "no end in sight so where do I start (or resume)" fatigue? I've never been there (been back in the hobby for just 4 years). But even at that I've had very short periods looking at the unscenicked thing and thinking"I don't have it in me tonight." And scenery is my favorite bit! My plan, if I ever hit a lengthy wall, is to build a diorama or module. I'd love to have a Lake Superior ore dock but it's highly unlikely I will ever have the room for it on a layout, so would be a cool project with a distinct beginning and end. If that doesn't do it, maybe I'll dust off the drums and form a prog rock cover band. Maybe rrinker would come to a gig, haha.
Hey Bear!
Looks like we need to start a club!
I am in the same boat right now, but I do know why I stopped working on stuff, and I do know what I need to do to get back into it again.
First, I have decided to not feel guilty about taking a pause. I have a number of projects on the go, some of which I have posted about. I don't think that I will cause any crises by not posting on those projects for a while.
I stopped working on my various projects because I messed up the LEDs in one of my critter projects after having put a lot of time and effort into installing them. Basically, I left the wires too short. That ticked me off at myself for not thinking things through better and I haven't touched anything since.
I know exactly what I need to do to get myself back into the project(s). I need to clear off my workbench. I bought a number of car kits and electronic components recently and instead of putting them away I have allowed them to pile up on my workbench to the point where I have no space left to work in. I do lack storage space but that's nothing that a trip to the local Canadian Tire store wouldn't cure (they sell a lot more than tires).
The other thing that I seem to be lacking of course is a good swift kick in the butt!
May this thread be a motivator for us all!!!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Bear, Been awhile, but I've experienced a few unexplained model railroad becalmings.
Setting modest goals for projects both hobby and otherwise helps keep me motivated and strengthens my perseverance. When falling short of a goal there is solace in having made headway.
Reading and viewing MRR & MRH each month also keeps my fire stoked, so too this forum with the great exchange of ideas, methods, photos, movies and web links. But from day one it seems that viewing public layouts, plain old rail fanning and model railroad day dreaming has provided much in the way of traction towards sustaining my modeling drive.
BTW, sure hoping to one day see your splendid carfloat ferry in the drink.
Regards, Peter
A while back I reluctantly took over as the co-ordinator/ organiser of the Clubs annual train show, I was busy enough with w**k and was also annoyed the time lost from my own modelling projects. After the show, I couldn’t get motivated to start back on my projects but figured that I was “trained out”, and just needed a breather. However, two months later I still find myself “stalled”. I go to the work bench pick up my current project, look at it, then put it back down. I then look at something else, then perhaps look through my future projects file, or look in a drawer and find a half done project I’d almost forgotten about. In essence, I’m spending a whole lot of time doing nothing! As you can see I’ve got more than enough to get on with but don’t seem to be able to escape from the Model Railroad Doldrums. My question is twofold, am I the only one to suffer from this malady, and if not, what’s your remedy to get back into a more productive mode? Cheers, the Bear.
No, you are not alone. I have had ADHD all my life, maybe even before they had a name for it. Staying focused on one task is problematic. My mind is always changing channels. It is the reason that the layout I figured would take me five years tops to complete has taken me over 16 years and there is still a substantial section to build.
The other thing I've learned is that model railroading can be mentally fatiguing. So many decisions to make and often that creates a mental block where I just don't feel like dealing with an issue which also halts progress on the layout.
I'm working through these issues, but it takes time. I'm hoping eventually I will get to where I am going.
A year and a half ago, my LHS closed. It was a victim of significantly higher rents, but the owner wanted to retire anyway. (The store is still vacant, by the way, so the strip-mall owner got nothing for his greed.)
Every month, I would check out the Walthers flyer and order stuff through the shop. I can do that direct, of course, but the old way saved the shipping charges, and a stop at the train shop always kept me in the mood.
Once the shop closed, I found myself doing less and less modeling, and almost no running at all, and that's the way it's been.
Now, I'm going through a divorce, I have to sell the house and the layout must come down and be packed away. For now, it will go into storage, and who knows if it will ever get re-built?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have had the same thing happen to me. Dont do anything drastic.,just walk away. One time I got into flying radio control airplanes,after crashing a few of those $300.00 airplanes in a few months, I got to thinking about the train engines I had at home for 10 years & I never crashed one. Another time I decided to sell most of my trains,boy what a mistake. After a few months I wanted them back. What Im saying is just walk away for a while til the bug bites again then you will be good to go for a while.
Like many modelers I got completely out of the hobby when I was a teenager. Didn't get back in until I retired the first time. Started researching and buying things. I was well into prepartion to start construction of my railroad when I let the sheriff talk me into coming back to work. 4 more years went by with me just spending the extra money on trains. Then I retired for the last time (I think). I now had time for the hobby. But I found that if I worked on it full time it was like a job.
Right now I'm coming back from about a month off. During that time I had a couple of my grandchildren staying here with me and we did a lot of sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Now I'm getting interested in working on the railroad again. But there are other things in life so when I take another break, I don't worry about it. None of my projects has a dreaded suspense date....
Take a break, do other things, the bug will bite you again...it's fun....that's the purpose of the hobby and if it's not fun, do something that is fun for awhile.
Jeff White
Alma, IL
NYBW-John, tell me to mind my business, while it frustrates you from time to time, does the hobby also have the capability to help?? BTW, Your Mill Gorge in WPF looks great.
Thank you for the compliment. I spent the better part of two months on that scene, often reworking it to get the look right. I think I achieved what I was trying to.
As to your question, I'm not sure what you mean when you asked if it helped. Does the hobby help my ADHD? Not at all. In fact it seems to accentuate it. I can be so scatter brained at times. I am a master at hiding things from myself, whether it be tools or components. It is just one more thing that slows my progress. I think I spend more time looking for my tools than actually using them and I am not exaggerating.
Despite all the bumps in the road, I usually ended up getting what I set out to do. Sometimes the finished product is even better than what I originally envisioned as I get better ideas and make adjustments as a scene is being created. I am more artist than engineer. A plan is nothing more than a starting point to me.
Despite the fact it takes me three times as long to complete a project than I think it should, the end product usually makes all that extra effort worthwhile and it keeps me going to take on the next project.