Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Is it just me?

2080 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Is it just me?
Posted by RR_Mel on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 12:43 PM

I was just wondering if I’m the only dingy model railroader out there.  I have to get in to the right mode to work on several things for my HO layout.  I really don’t like to paint with my airbrush, don’t know why.  But once I get going I really get after it and keep it up for days at a time. 

It’s the same way with painting figures and installing lighting in my vehicles.  To me it’s very tedious but when I get going I find it hard to stop.

I recently got into installing LED lighting in my vehicles.  It started with an old army truck that one of my great grand daughters found in the street and ask me if she could put it on my train layout.  It was 1:87 scale and because I said “yes” she wanted to do it to it, I told her it needed to be painted first and she said “so paint it so I can put it with the trains”.

 



Two months and 13 vehicles later I’m still stuck working on vehicles.



I have arthritis flare ups that ding my ankles that prevents me from working on my layout, when that happens it’s work bench time.  That’s when I get hooked on tedious stuff that normally I really don’t want to do.

Is it just me or are there others out there like me.  Maybe it's just old age.


Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 12:56 PM

I have always been a binge-builder.

I go through phases of resin kits, locomotive conversions, decals like crazy, then painting in huge batches for weeks.

Once I built TOFC flat car conversions for about four months straight.

I never know what the next all-in activity for my hobby will be.

For me, this is normal.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 1:48 PM

I'm somewhat like that.  I will find one thing that needs doing, and then do everything related to it.

My problem is the stretch of leaving things undone.  Right now, the layout has not had anything done to it for two months.  On the other hand, the house, the garage, and the yard are getting full attention.

What I wish I would do is to do some yard work, some garage work, and some layout work.  However, it doesn't seem to work that way.  It's all or nothing on a single project.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 2:21 PM

I tend to do one thing at a time, build a structure or do some electrical work or pick an area to landscape. My Arthritis was/is so bad I was the show and tell exhibit at a Rheumatology conference in Vancouver. I have that under control now but some days I just sit and watch my trains do laps. I am very good at multitasking but tend not to do it in the train room.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 3:17 PM

Maybe it’s not old age, thinking back I’ve always been somewhat of a binge builder too.  But it does seem worse now.


Mel


 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 3:48 PM

I multi-task, because I get to those "let it dry" periods when I can't proceed for a while.  I'm also a guy who takes a month to build a four-walls-and-a-roof plastic structure, because I like to paint all the exterior details, mortar all the brickwork, light the interior, create interior floors and walls, and make every building a unique model.

I'm retired.  Time is no object.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 4:01 PM

I suspect I am the odd man out because I work on one project at a time until it finished then move on to the next. 

I tried working on several different projects but,couldn't get anything done. 

However.

When I was building several BB kits then I would paint all the frames,trucks wheel face and weights as one project.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 46 posts
Posted by chenxue on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 7:11 PM

Definitely in spurts! Haha, and sometime the real world gets in the way,,,

Cid    (Memphis, Tennessee)

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Chicago, IL
  • 306 posts
Posted by Eilif on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 8:55 PM

I binge as well.  

Build a kit, suddenly I've built 10

Instead of weathering 1, I weather 8 cars

Started chopping roof walks off to "modernize" and 15 cars later...

 

I had roughly the same pattern when I painted wargaming figures.  Big projects when the mood hits, then on to something else. 

Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading. 

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 917 posts
Posted by Southgate on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 2:42 AM

I guess I binge too. I'm pretty much like Mel describes himself, except I'm not retired, don't have arthritis (yet), or put lights in cars. Smile But I do things in waves like that.

And usually in the spring, as outdoors projects can be tackled, I lose interest in working in the layout room. Dan

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 3:35 AM

RR_Mel
I was just wondering if I’m the only dingy model railroader out there.

Geez Mel! I must be in pretty good company! I model exactly the same way! I procrastinate for months and then suddenly I'm doing all sorts of things. I hesitate to get my airbrush going, but when I do I love the results. I held off making signals for my new layout for weeks, and then in two nights I had them mostly assembled.

I refuse to offer explanations for my malaise. That would be too revealing!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 8:57 AM

I see I’m in pretty good company guys.  Thanks for your input.  My case of binge work seems to be getting worse but maybe not.

I really hate the idea of working on my HO figures because of the brain strain but once I get started I don’t stop until I have a large group of them sticking in a eraser.



You guys have made my day, thanks a bunch.



Mel



 
My Model Railroad  
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 11:01 AM

Given that I work full-time, I have to concentrate time.  What I find is getting going is often challenging, but once I start, I can go for awhile.  It makes sense to economize certain activities (e.g., painting, weathering, etc.).  I don't see the value of doing a large chunk of scenery since I don't want the paint to dry before adding the ground foam.

Glad I'm no the only one who takes breaks from trains.  Mine are the weekend b/c get the kids to bed later.  Not going to work on them after 11pm!

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 10:55 PM

Yea, ... I get "in the mood" and start decaling everything I can get my hand's on !

It usually end's with 8 or 10 car's completed ..... or the decals run out ....

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, June 18, 2020 8:01 AM

Little Timmy
Yea, ... I get "in the mood" and start decaling everything I can get my hand's on !

I have spent many full days just applying decals.

It is a great way to spend a day off. You need to take breaks so you can respond to forum posts as the setting agent dries.

You can put a favorite movie(s) in the DVD player and let it run.

On decal days I have watched the entire Godfather Saga, All 7 (or 8) Harry Potter films, or Star Wars episodes 1 through 6.

Decals are wonderful.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!