I'm facing an issue I've never had before as a contractor or in my wood shop and it's being willing to pull the trigger and start building. I designed multiple layouts and revised them many times and keep getting feeling that the perfect layout is just around the corner. Anybody else out there with similar problems or advice for conquering the inertia? Lol
FlattenedQuarter Anybody else out there with similar problems or advice for conquering the inertia?
The important thing is to start with something, even if that is comparatively small. There are a couple of approaches. One is to build using systems that facilitate taking up track or shifting its arrangement easily. Another is to build on a 'modular' basis, perhaps to one of the module standards. Or build parts of what may become a 'railroad that grows' (remember the old days in class, taking notes while wondering which way a blackboard drawing would 'grow' -- leave space that way, or the ability to adapt... .
I'm presuming that operating track, not acquiring or building rolling stock or structures or the other aspects of the hobby that can be pursued without a 'layout' or club privileges, is the thing that most appeals to you. If that is so, define a space and put the initial trackwork in it. If you spend time on any scenery, make it 'removable' with minimal damage so it can be moved around, and design it to work in multiple locations or scenarii.
Even little steps can 'count' in getting started ... take Goethe's advice and begin it.
Typically called "analysis paralysis"
Sharing your design with others may hep uncover that missing piece you can't see for yourself. Otherwise, it's a matter of going over the plan, pretend running trains, and seeing if it works how you expect it to. Even walking around in the space, pretending the layout is there can help. Or at least help you visualize what it will be like, and perhaps uncover something not obvious from looking at a drawing.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
FlattenedQuarter Anybody else out there with similar problems or advice for conquering the inertia? Lol
Absolutely.
I hope to start my final lifetime layout in January, 2021.
It is not a matter of analysis paralysis. I am fully planned, purchased, and ready. I actually believe I have 99% of all needed material on hand to build the entire layout.
The benchwork design has been verified and a 1:1 mockup was built. All is good for moving forward.
There is something different about building a layout this time. This will be the sixth STRATTON AND GILLETTE layout, so I "know" that I know what I am doing.
I think that because I know this is the final layout, there is a certain amount of a "no going back now" situation that is causing the apprehension. My last three layouts I knew were temporary and had a finite lifespan. There was always a certaintly that I could always do better next time.
This time is the next time, and the last time.
I have never been so nervous about pulling the trigger.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
FlattenedQuarterthe perfect layout is just around the corner
The perfect layout does not exist.
So, take your best plan and start building. As you go, feel free to make modifications. Except for my first layout (4x8 John Armstrong plan) I always make revisions during construction.
For my current layout, after the benchwork was up, I modified it twice. I'm now into track laying and I have already modfied the first town from my original plan.
Good luck
Paul
I am either immune to this disease, or have yet to lick the surface on which it rests.
It seems the early symptoms of it might be getting bogged down with conceptualization and being blocked of the desire to actually build something so that you can run trains. A precursor might be that you are somewhat risk averse and do not want to have to admit to a false start or an outright failure.
Am I close?
There are many wise souls here. They have been infected as you, and in retrospect have seen that building something 'good enough' is a smart way to get out of the syndrome. If nothing else, the doing will help you to learn what you can't abide (after all), possibly see what's missing in your construction, and you'll learn some skills you may not yet have.
The usual advice is to start playing by laying down track arrangements almost on a whim, powering it temporarily, and then taking it up when you tire of it. The tracks should not be permanently affixed in place, perhaps only held with track nails or small dabs of a semi-hard adhesive like DAP Alex Plus with silicone, which cures rubbery and is easily sliced through with an old bread knife.
No book ever got written simply by running through reams of concepts, constructs, and other machinations. At some point, type must appear on a surface for all to see.
If you want a layout bad enough, you'll build it. If not, you won't.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Kinda like: If the trains run, they will be on time. If they don’t, they won’t. Thanks, I start bench work tomorrow.
Is this your first layout?
Have you discovered what you like and don't like to do?
There are some people here that do everything, electronics, scenery, track laying, weathering, structure building, and extreme detailing of every scene. Others, including myself, do not find all of those aspects enjoyable. Maybe thoughts of one of those aspects are hanging you up.
Perfect or "the best" rarely exists in life, it that is your hang up. If we were looking for the perfect partner, the human race would have been extinct 10's of thousands of years ago.
The NY Post has a lurid interview of Sharon Osbourne about her relationship with Ozzie. More than you want to know, but currently she describes it as comfortable.
In relationships or model railroads, comfortable is plenty good enough.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I think most people regret the things they didn't do more than the things they did. Good luck.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
ROBERT PETRICK I think most people regret the things they didn't do more than the things they did. Good luck. Robert
riogrande5761 If you want a layout bad enough, you'll build it. If not, you won't.
If you know the location and size of the space you intend to use for the layout, and you know the shape of the framework for your layout, then build the framework and start laying track. Almost everyone makes changes to the trackwork on the fly.
If you still don't know the location and size of the space you intend to use for the layout, and/or you don't know the shape of the framework for your layout, you are in big trouble.
Rich
Alton Junction
doctorwayneNot too many of us can do perfect on our first attempt.
If you compare the specifications of my first "real" layout, and my planned next layout, there are no similarities at all.
I guess I score a 0% on that one. Or, more likely, my desires and ambitions changed as I got older.
I'm currently building my third layout. This one actually uses pieces from my former layout and what was planned to be an expansion of the second. That plan was cancelled when my late father got sick and was moved to the hospital and then a facility in town. After that I figured that going to the ranch where I grew up was no longer going to happen with any frequency. With some help from friends, I ended up moving pieces into town to the apartment I was living at the time. Some of those pieces actually were built in that apartment. When I later bought a house shortly after Dad died, I then moved that layout to the garage. I also moved one more piece of the old layout (with help from a cousin) to fit the garage and make yet another (and hopefully final) expansion to the new layout. It allowed me to start over but keep some pieces that I didn't want to toss.
Moral of the story: Sometimes what you find no longer works in one form can be reused in a another.
Expanding on comments made, I very much dislike the planning stage of layout building. That said, I drew up a layout that I thought looked pretty good. Then built it. As the trackwork was completed, operated well, and I was developing the surrounding real estate, I realized it was deeply lacking in potential. Track hogged up prime real estate, sizable industries didn't fit in around it. Just dinky spurs.
I sat there one night, thinking, I don't like it. But, I had so much work into it, It would be a shame to tear it up, make big changes. Can't do it. But ...I DON'T LIKE IT...
Out came the crowbars and chisels, and in a few minutes I'd torn up about a hard earned fourth of the layout. Took months to redo that area. Then, the next area over got the big overhaul, and so on. 2 years, (winters) of redoing, I think there is still about 5 percent of the original track in place. Funny thing is I enjoyed making the improvements, it was gratifying, not dissapointing.
Now the track plan really lends to the intended purpose of trains serving industries and moving comodities, instead of track taking up space and not serving a purpose.
OK. NOT a good way to build a layout. But I'm glad that i did at least PULL THE TRIGGER and get the process going. Eventually the revising was done. I now look forward to when the weather forces me indoors, to continue to build the intended industries and scenery.
Either you are or you aren't going to pull the trigger. If you are, well, why wait for that "perfect" moment, at which no mistakes will be made? It'll never come. Theres no time like the present. Dan
I had analysis paralysis when I started. The secret for me was going to Home Depot and getting the lumber. With that pile of wood in my garage, there was no turning back, and I couldn't get my car back in the garage until the benchwork was together and upstairs in the train room.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Southgate 2I sat there one night, thinking, I don't like it. But, I had so much work into it, It would be a shame to tear it up, make big changes. Can't do it. But ...I DON'T LIKE IT... Out came the crowbars and chisels, and in a few minutes I'd torn up about a hard earned fourth of the layout. Took months to redo that area.
I have said this before.
NEVER be afraid to take something you are not happy with an throw it into the landfill.
I have done this with layout sections (twice on the "spare bedroom" layout), projects under construction, and even things not started.
Nothing causes paralysis for me more than an unhappy outcome. I just cannot move forward until the offending problem is gone.