Your Downfall

[Fergmiester]

Given the fact that we all for the most part really enjoy this hobby, the question remains: Is there something about the "craft" you don't enjoy doing?

[Anonymous]

the only downfall i have is breaking out my credit card from the "My Wife Prison"

[Eriediamond]

Well Fergie, you just had to do it, didn't you!!! All was well with me, enjoying my hobby and enjoying my time here with everyone on this forum, then you, of all people, had to bring this up and remind me of a box car kit I have that needs building. Not that I don't enjoy building kits, but this one kit has been sitting quietly, tucked away out of view but now has been brought to mind with your "downfall" thingy. [(-D][(-D] A couple years ago I had a few dollars so made a trip to the hobby shop and bought a few freight car kits for my ERIE railroad. All are built but this one. I think they made every individual part of the full size car, only in miniature, as there must be 10,000 parts to mate up to form this box car. On top of all the parts is found the construction manual with undetailed- detailed drawings and instructions with parts that look like nothing in the kit. Only thing missing in the instructions is the "have fun" note at the end. Also missing in the "tools required" section was the type of microscoped needed to see some of the parts. I am seriously thinking of letting Bubba (>^..^<) have a go at it. Oh yeah, have fun [(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

Within months I'll be starting to ballast my layout. That is something I really hate to do. Therefore I always try to do it in the summermonths so when I get to frustrated I can run outside and grab a beer in the hope that when I return a couple of gnomes have done my entire layout. In fact that is always my second downfall [:D]

[Anonymous]

Wiring is my downfall. I can wire a house but when it comes to this I am dumb as a rock. I would rather take a beating than wire but no one else is going to do it either. I had hoped the cat would the other day when snooping around the wires but NOOOOO. Other than wiring I enjoy every part of model railroading.

[Anonymous]

My downfall is scenery in general. I've looked at thousands of pic of layouts and have not quite figured out how to make all of those bags of colored mystery material look like the outdoors. Right now my layout looks like a brand new golf course. My other downfall is freight cars. I have some P2K cars and all of those little pieces are just down right frustrating[banghead] but I need them for the layout.

Jeremy

[Anonymous]

I've sit here now for nearly 15 minutes thinking of all the different skills it takes to build a model railroad. In the realm of modeling, the craft itself, I couldn't think of anything I don't enjoy doing. I really enjoy the challenges brought on with each project. I guess that's why I enjoy scratch building.

I did realize that there are a few things that I dislike about myself. First and foremost - Procrastination! I buy all the necessary supplies to start a project (wiring is the big one right now) then find myself tinkering with other things for several days or weeks rather than diving in and starting the new project. I decided to go DCC and I bought all the wire, connectors, staples, etc. nearly a month ago to add the main (12ga) and secondary (16ga) backbone wiring. The supplies are still in the bags laying on the floor at the end of the layout. I also have a pack of cork roadbed and 2 bundles of flex track to install that I've put off. It's not that I dislike doing either project it's the procrastination thing.

On the obverse of this coin, I hate to stop working. Once I pu***hrough the procrastination threshold and get started working on a project, I like working on it until it is complete. I've skipped meals a few times to push on to complete a project. I've seen afternoon hours turn to evening hours, then the evening hours turn to morning hours and the next thing I know the sun is rising. I thank God the sub-roadbed is complete!! More than once I saw the sun rise while cutting and fitting the sub-roadbed.

Thanks for posting this Fergie, I think you just pushed me throught the procrastination threshold. I think I'll go do the wiring project.

[tomwatkins]

The only part I really dislike is messing with twin pole switch machines. The wiring isn't too bad, but it's my least favorite kind of wiring. I've found them difficult to keep in adjustment so they throw properly and consistently, so I wound up spending way too much time tinkering with them instead of doing other things. My solution was to replace all of them with manual controls if the turnout was easily reached or with Tortoise machines for those that weren't an easy reach. Problem Solved and I'm now having a lot more fun.
Tom Watkins

[METRO]

My downfall used to be the block wiring, for some reason they would just quit working every now and again (probably because I used cut-rate wires the first time through,) which ment a trip under the benchwork to find the offending splice. However, I took no small amount of great joy last summer in ripping out all of it, and replacing it with DCC. Now my least favorite part would probably be how derailments always seem to happen in tunnels.

[Anonymous]

So far the only thing that i don't enjoy is watching the sun rise & realizing that I've been painting/building/weathering all night & I have to be at work in 2 hours.

[Fergmiester]

I goota say I'm enjoying this. Erie D Sorry old man if I upset you but they tell me I'm good at it.

Snake, what can I say I spent the whole winter procastinating and now that I'm back to work I'm wondering where the time went? (Too much time spent on forum comiserating).

CoertSmit: Ballasting is my bain, I hate it and after doing about 30' of ballasting this winter and then having someone say I was being too exacting then looking at protoypical rails and saying "he's right"! My heart goes out to you.

As far as wiring goes, well I've done my basement without any problem but look under the layout you're looking at a "dog's Breakfast".

I'm actually feeling good right now!

THANKS

Fergie

[AggroJones]

My work is very, very pleasing from the visual aspect, cause I possess natural artistic inclination. [bow] Reproducing weathering and scenery come easy to me.

The thing that causes my "downfall" (aside from gathering money) is assembling complicated stuctures. Like anything from Walthers Conerstone, or whatever. I just can seem to build them neatly and completely. They're a real pain. [:(!]

[Anonymous]

Running to the store for more Parts ect. when I'm half way through a project that I am working on. Basically from not purchasing enough the first time around.

[BNSFNUT]

I hate doing ballast. I am like to have a friend that likes it and is very good at doing it.

[Anonymous]

I hate wiring - it just seems I just don't have the genes necessary to understand electricity LOL!

I'm sorry some of you don't enjoy ballasting - I actually find it quite relaxing, 'cuz I don't have to think about it, and can just kind of "zone-out" for a while

[MAbruce]

Honestly? [:0]

Well, here it goes.... [sigh]

Spending too much time on MRR forums.

I say this because I see myself staring to turn into an “arm-chair modeler”. These forums can be very habit forming - like watching too much TV and becoming a couch potato.

Sure, there are great things to learn and share. But there also comes a point when it gets in the way of the hobby and turns into a hobby in itself.

I’ve already recently dumped a couple of forums, and have started trimming back on my time on the couple that are left. So if I need to figure out how to do something, chances are it has already been posted. So I just need to use the “search” functions more.

Overall, I need to remember that MRR'ing is just a hobby. It's something one does in their SPARE time.

Rant over... [soapbox][2c]

[jfugate]

I can do wiring ... I just don't like it much. And you can work for a solid week on it and when the guys come over nothing looks any different! It's my least favorite part of the hobby. Thank God for DCC, or I'd really go nuts.

On the other hand, my favorite part of the hobby is running trains like the prototype! What a blast!

My favorite part of the construction process is the scenery. It transforms a blah section of the layout into something I can watch trains run through over and over and not get bored. And when the guys come over, they notice the result right away!

[vsmith]

I HATE SCENERY!!!!!! HATE HATE HATE!!!!!!

I HATE HYDROCAL, ITS A F#$%ING MESS!

I HATE BLUE,GREEN, PINK, YELLOW AND PURPLE FOAM MOUNTAINS, ITS A BIGGER F*&^ING MESS THAN HYDROCAL!

I HATE ROCK-MOLDS THAT DONT LOOK LIKE ROCKS AND DONT MOLD !

I HATE THOSE F*^&ING WASHES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE PLASTER LOOK LIKE STONE BUT END UP LOOKIN LIKE MELTED CRAYONS!

I HATE THAT STUPID FOAM THAT LOOK LIKE A TORN UP KITCHEN SPONGE AND IS A PAIN TO GET TO STICK WITHOUT A HUGE CLUMP OF GLUE!

I HATE THOSE TREES THAT NEVER LOOK LIKE A PINE TREE BUT LOOK MORE LIKE TOILET BOWL CLEANERS!

RANT! FOAM! BLATHER! SCREAM! I HATE SCENERY!




Wheeew! rant over, feel better now, back to mixing more hydrocal....

[brothaslide]

My down fall is lack of patience. I've read articles about modelers taking months to detail and paint a loco, build bench work, detail rolling stock, etc. I just don't have the patience to do the really "high-end" meticulous detail work.

I want every project to take a super short period of time.

Sean

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

I HATE SCENERY!!!!!! HATE HATE HATE!!!!!!

I HATE HYDROCAL, ITS A F#$%ING MESS!

I HATE BLUE,GREEN, PINK, YELLOW AND PURPLE FOAM MOUNTAINS, ITS A BIGGER F*&^ING MESS THAN HYDROCAL!

I HATE ROCK-MOLDS THAT DONT LOOK LIKE ROCKS AND DONT MOLD !

I HATE THOSE F*^&ING WASHES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE PLASTER LOOK LIKE STONE BUT END UP LOOKIN LIKE MELTED CRAYONS!

I HATE THAT STUPID FOAM THAT LOOK LIKE A TORN UP KITCHEN SPONGE AND IS A PAIN TO GET TO STICK WITHOUT A HUGE CLUMP OF GLUE!

I HATE THOSE TREES THAT NEVER LOOK LIKE A PINE TREE BUT LOOK MORE LIKE TOILET BOWL CLEANERS!

RANT! FOAM! BLATHER! SCREAM! I HATE SCENERY!




Wheeew! rant over, feel better now, back to mixing more hydrocal....

I look forward to seeing your Dave Barrow inspired minimalist G scale domino Barracho Railroad in a future MR. [:)]

[vsmith]

Give me a break, I'm hell bent for leather to out do Malcomn Furlows last layout!

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Give me a break, I'm hell bent for leather to out do Malcomn Furlows last layout!

HOLY BOY!!! .......<in my best Pakistani accent>

[Anonymous]

My biggest downfall is lack of funds and working with cars that weren't taken care of before being handed down to me. I can't complain because most of the problems were made by me when I ran the trains when I was young (or an over zealous cat) or when I was learning how things actually work. It's a double edge sword because if my father wouldn't have let me run the trains I wouldn't have gotten my love for trains so I thank him for that now I just now must fix my mistakes.
Andy

[Anonymous]

Didn't have a board when I 1st got it so that's my downfall

DOGGY

[sparkingbolt]

3 times in my life I Have agreed to build a model for someone else. Usually for hire. As on all models I build, including my own, I underestimate the time and difficulty required. Only now, since it's someone elses who rightly want's to see it done, I have it hanging over my head. It is probably 80 % done, but is still looming.....

I am in fact goint to make myself go work on it now, only because of this thread. (I always seem to enjoy it once I get my head back into it though) Thanks for reminding me, (a.k.a pushing nose in) Fergie!

[Anonymous]

My LHS puts price stickers on EVERYTHING!! .......I hate trying to remember to peel off the price tags , so I don't have to tell my Wife how much I REALLY SPENT!!!![:D].......No.. Really, in all honesty I'd have to say that every aspect of this hobby is (or should be) a labor of love. The things you "love" the least should be spread out in small doses over a long period of time , like the SD-45 I lettered "Gecko Valley Division" for the freelance part of my layout, which I lettered 1 letter per day, because I lack GREATLY in the Patience Department. By the time I got "GECKO VALLEY" on one side, I decided to shorten "Division" to "Div.", before I felt the need to throw it out the window[:0]

[Anonymous]

high prices of models!

[Anonymous]

Hello!

My downfall is I have to much stuff. I mean, it all can be run on my layout being the era I model, but every catalog I receive and every train show I go to I come out with stuff. My wife says if you buy one more piece of train equipment I am going to leave you... boy am I going to miss her...LOL j/k. It seems I have to keep building more shelves, racks, yards to house it all...LOL...anyways soon I'll be opening up an online paypal shop where you all can have a crack at purchasing my overflow of equipment. The website is in my signature enjoy browsing!!

[Anonymous]

vsmith-

I HATE hydrocal too, which is why I've developed scenery techniques which avoid it entirely. I love scenery! I hate messes! I had to have a solution, and by golly I've got it.

Now, my ingenuity however does not extend to laying track and wiring, unfortunately. I also dislike benchwork, but only because I am ill equipped to produce good craftsmanship. Structurally, my layout looks like "compromise", and I hate living with that. I wish I had a real workshop.