Jaddie Dear Paul & Friends It was in these forums that I learned the phrase "analysis to paralysis," and I had/have it. I put off building my son's model railroad for at least eighteen months because I couldn't figure out how to get started. All of the essential skills are things I've never done or haven't done in nearly thirty years. Benchwork scares me, so I pussed out and bought a used ping-pong table in July of 2011. I think I laid the first piece of track about three months ago. I have close to 400 files on my computer from RailModeller, a Mac track design application, and ended up going with a simple double oval with the outer oval having an incline. Paul, you got busy right away and are kicking major butt on that learning kit. Way to go! I spent six hours today finessing just the part of my son's layout that will go under his mountain tunnel. So much of that time was in testing--running trains both ways on two loops at three speed settings to iron out derailments. But tomorrow is the day I finally get to tack down the cardboard strips I ordered from Micro-Mark two years ago. Analysis to paralysis. I'm that guy. --Jaddie
Dear Paul & Friends
It was in these forums that I learned the phrase "analysis to paralysis," and I had/have it. I put off building my son's model railroad for at least eighteen months because I couldn't figure out how to get started. All of the essential skills are things I've never done or haven't done in nearly thirty years.
Benchwork scares me, so I pussed out and bought a used ping-pong table in July of 2011. I think I laid the first piece of track about three months ago. I have close to 400 files on my computer from RailModeller, a Mac track design application, and ended up going with a simple double oval with the outer oval having an incline.
Paul, you got busy right away and are kicking major butt on that learning kit. Way to go! I spent six hours today finessing just the part of my son's layout that will go under his mountain tunnel. So much of that time was in testing--running trains both ways on two loops at three speed settings to iron out derailments.
But tomorrow is the day I finally get to tack down the cardboard strips I ordered from Micro-Mark two years ago.
Analysis to paralysis. I'm that guy.
--Jaddie
I'll admit it, I'm a victim too. But I DO get things done. Like just now I finished up using a sharpie to blacken the window rails on the mining company. Today I painted the mining company aluminum. Tomorrow I start to build it. Tonight I also rearranged the track on the 3 way WYE (yeah I know, PECO code 100 to Walthers code 83, yech!) but Ken was right, it does make the geometry a lot easier. So I put in a right hand turnout so I could have a siding next to the coal company. None of that track is laid down permanently yet till I get the mining co. built because I need the exact footprint.
Thanks for the kudos on the learning kit. It was WELL worth the money and it's almost completed. My son (he's 14) and I had a LOT of fun building it together. AND, we learned a LOT! I can now use those skills on the layout (my first.)
Doing scenery with the plaster cloth, newspapers, and scenery material was a lot easier than I had expected. They guys (RICH) here are right, JUST DO IT! Well, I'm doing it and having a lot of fun.
Hope you get your's up and running soon.
Best regards, Paul