main frustration

[Anonymous]

Here's another frustration both 4664challenger and I can attest to:
LITTLE BROTHERS SMASHING YOUR TRAINS! OHH THE PAIN!

[Anonymous]

very frsutrating i bet lol

[canazar]

Here is great strory of a "main cause of frustraion"

When the guy at the Hobby shop tells me my engine should work with my DCC. I go home very happy ready to play! then get home and it doesnt work.
Then I go back....

Me- Hi again, it doesnt work..
Him Evil One---Oh it should, try this...
Me-Ok..(go home again) Still doesnt. I go back again.
-----Its not working.. its doing this and that.
Evil One--Oh it cant do that.
Me --It is.
Evil One--Are you sure?
Me--Very sure. [#dots] I am very sure.... I didnt do the drive back here because I like you
Evil One--Are you sure?
Me--What the F[censored]! I just tell. I am POSTIVE.
Evil One--Huh.. dont know
Me--You dont say..
Evil One--Cant help you.. I dont know. But let us we reinstall it for you and recharge you....
Me--Thanks but no thanks and pound sand...

I end up fixing it my self and wasted a full day [banghead]


John K

[Anonymous]

That I had to add too, (forgot about it while worrying about my move)
POWER SHORTS SUCK. I run a simple loop just to complete the 1st section of my layout (the only one thats finished), just to see my trains run. I'm using EZ track for that and I have some frequent shorts. I fall on my knees every time I have to push a loco over a bad section.

[Anonymous]

My main frustration is lack of funds and time (i'm 13 and still in school[;)]) but also power shorts as i haven't soldered my rail joiners yet, i am still in planning stages and set up trackplans on the floor frequently.

[Anonymous]

Time and $$$
And me being such a procrastinator doesn't really help.
Its bad enough that I'm caught up in college entrance exams and all that, so my layout is going SSSLLLOOOWWWLLYYY.
I'm also rather worried about moving the thing, that keeps me from sleep every night.
The layout will be rather large (for me anyways), a 6'x20' dogbone. Its going to be in 4' or so sections.
I am just worried because I'll be off to college next summer, then I'll have my own house; but I want my layout with me, though I'll have a hard enough time getting it up the basement stairs in sections....if it will be possible, let alone transporting it

[Anonymous]

i hate having to totally move the furniture around just so u can build a 4x8 layout

[Blind Bruce]

Hey Turk, You could try a layout on the roof of that RV!!!
Bruce in the Peg

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrevorG

$$$ ...but isn't that everyone's main problem?

From a purely modelling viewpoint my biggest frustration is when I'm driving track nails (either for roadbed or track) and there's a particularly hard section of wood directly below which causes the wee little track nail to bend and buckle. DOH!

When I build my extension...I will definitely be using a higher grade of plywood.

Trevor

Trevor
Check out how to lay track with latex adheisive caulk. http://www.trains.com/content/dynamic/articles/000/000/004/379dcjrm.asp

[Anonymous]

[2c]
Don't get so frustrated that you give up the hobby. If something you're working on isn't working out, leave it alone and do something else. Go back to it later when you have the mind set to tackle the problem and things usually turn out well.
We have the same general problems as the prototype railroads. If derailments are a common problem, then go over ALL your track for gage, especially turnouts,and fix any kinks, gaps, misalignments or bumps. Check the vertical alignment too, especially at the bottom and top, if there are grades.
Don't try to run equipment on trackage not suitable for that type of equipment (eg: a 6 axle loco or long steamer through a #4 crossover) or equipment not compatible with other equipment ( eg: 86' car coupled to a 34' car going around a 18" radius curve in HO scale is an exercise in frustration)
Also, as a part of a normal maintenance routine, check the wheels for gage and rolling ability, the trucks for the correct tightness and free movement and the couplers / trip pins for correct hight and operation.

What frustrates me? After doing lots of research for a project, like finding prototype photos, then finding more or better photos after the project is finished and discovering I didn't get something right.

[Anonymous]

Ditto on the space thingy! Not alot of room for a layout in a 31' RV. Wish I could knock out the windshield and build about a 15' extension on the front of the RV! lol Might get a little interesting going down the road!

[Bikerdad]

Space, or more accurately, the lack thereof.

[Anonymous]

alot of times I hate it when my cat climes on my layout

[PistolPete]

Time is my biggest frustration. Here it is, the 4th day of vacation week counting the weekend and I have only been able to get a few hours on the layout. Every day has been spent working on the house, patching sheetrock, priming and painting. May be I'll get most of the day on thursday. Life goes on.

[Anonymous]

For me it time i have a ayout thats 12'x46' dog bone and this is #2layout.
a lot of time would b nice,

[Anonymous]

Lack of availability of products. My local hobby shop stocks almost nothing. Once something cool is announced, it's sold out. I've never seen any hobby that has such manipulation of supply and demand. Really frustrating. I have to think it's deliberate, too. Other hobbies don't suffer from this nonsense.

Oh yeah, big hands and weak eyes too!!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar
...Out of production items being sold on ebay for 4 times retail. Manufactorers should take note of the demand level...

They DO...to their advantage, not the modeler's!

[willy6]

Being fickle, when I started building my layout a few years ago, i commited myself to my original plans. Then I joined this forum and saw some great ideas and started doing minor changes which of course meant ripping stuff out and redoing things which in turn extended my completion date (like a government contract). And a recent topic on this forum about wiring got me thinking, and now i'm in the process of redoing my control panel. And of course that dreaded "honey-do list" just kills the time. I don't know which will come first, my completed layout or a Walmart on Mars?

[howmus]

Definately time! My life is running on a "Fast Clock" I think. I also have those hundred or so kits that aren't built, detailing and wheathering of buildings, rolling stock and locos. Every project leads to 5 new ones that have to be done before I can complete the one I am on....... That's also what makes it a great hobby. [;)]

[SpaceMouse]

So far the biggest frustration is that I've been working on a 4.5 x 8 layout for 6 weeks and i still don't have it functional. All that's left is pulling two Bachman EZ turnouts and fixing them (at $17.50 ea they should work right?) Then I have to install the bridges (which requires some minor kit bashing). This weekend I hope I can have some running time.

Then to structures and scenery.

[Anonymous]

Biggie, The time spent on your house will pay off when you have a better place to work on the layout. Dont begrudge the house work. I think it helps provide a better evironment for the trains.

[Anonymous]

My main problem now Is I am enjoying myself ripping walls down and putting up new drywal that it is taking time away from my layout. I want to do my layout so bad but I love fixing my little flaws up in my house. I get to spend maaybe 30 minutes down in the basement and I want more time!!.

[IRONROOSTER]

For me it's time. While I would like to have more money for the hobby and more products, I have still accumulated enough stuff to last me several years at the rate I'm going.
Enjoy
Paul

[ksax73]

The frustration is definately worth it. What's funny and I'm sure some can relate, is that when nothing goes wrong with your train (no derailments, pickup issues, uncoupling) operations tend to get a little less exciting (not all the time, but sometimes).

As many have read throughout my posts here, my layout is contained in a very small space, on the floor and because space is limited and I run passenger trains on a maximum of just under 22" radius, that's asking for trouble.

Part of the fun has come with working out these issue to reduce all of these occurances and for the most part they have worked.

Asside from that, my frustration doesn't have much to do with modeling directly, but the fact that I don't have a permanent layout where I can just come home from school and run trains or work on it. I constantly have to put my trains away and dis-assemble my track network.

Last fall I attempted to combat this by putting my tracks on a thin foam board to reduce set-up and break down times so that I can operate my trains when I'm home on break. We'll see just how successfull and practical this will be when I come home for a week in the Summer.

[Blind Bruce]

My wifes non support and lack of time.
Blind Bruce in the Peg

[Anonymous]

big hands little pieces , is my problem

[BRAKIE]

My main frustration is when I do things rashly without thinking things through.
Like my new yard area.I place a crossover just above the switch to the yard.ladder so I spiked the crossover in place then realized I had to move my yard latter back 12"..[8][B)] All I had to do was look at the end of the board and see I was wasting space and that by moving the ladder back that 12" I gain more yard space.[:D] So I had to redo the track and crossover that I already spiked in place.Frankly I HATE doing the work TWICE!!! [:(!]

[Anonymous]

Product announcements, order deadlines that fills entire production run one year before product release. When released, sold out for 6 months.

Product released postponed due to various issues that could cause me to find a similar product that is "ready to go" thus cancelling my order.

Out of production items being sold on ebay for 4 times retail. Manufactorers should take note of the demand level.

Ebay items being offered for what obviously is MSRP. This is a AUCTION remember? I aint paying shipping if my LHS can get it at cost and discount it too.

Enough with the challengers already!! We would like other engines please.

etc etc etc

[Anonymous]

Lack of funding, and product availability - I'm fed up with the number of products listed that, should you order them, you may possibly recieve in 6 weeks time or longer. This is especially true of spares for some models. Also being unable to find a particular model except on eBay, and the prices there are getting crazy on auctions (as opposed to "Buy it Now").