What Have YOU Accomplished This Year?

[Big_Boy_4005]

I created this topic partly to give everyone an opportunity for guilt free bragging, go for it!!
It is also a chance to reflect on the past year. Share what you have done and be proud.[:D]

[Anonymous]

mehrlich,

Why apologize? I thought that was the role of grandparents and if you didn't brag you'd get kicked out of the club. (that's what my mom says anyways!).

Congrats on having a great year all around!!

Dave

[Anonymous]

Started on my latest N scale layout on a hollow core door. thanks again to Mike's great track plans! But I'm also planning another one when I fini***his one.
Bought two locos for $10, one of them never used. Thanks Ray!
Replaced rapido couplers (who invented those things, and why do train companies still use them?)
Took a new job at a new school.
Rescued a kitten
Put a chip in my 2003 Mustang midlife crisis car. Now it screams!
Oldest son and his wife gave me my first grandbaby. This is by far the best thing that's happened in a long time! I brag about it every chance I get. Sorry...

m

[cwclark]

I've had a good year...my wife and i bought a new house on two acres which has a workshop...it's not a workshop anymore but a full blown 23'X25' train room...I started it in March..took down a garage door and bricked in the building..then I painted the sky on the walls, got the bench work done, and about 90% of the track work is completed..I have 4 more ft of track to lay and a bridge to put in and a complete loop will be ready for a train to to roll continously, hopefully by Christmas...Chuck

[Anonymous]

Well, one year ago, almost to the day, I began construction of my layout. Now it looks like this: http://community.webshots.com/photo/109373438/227871048lXzZVw That is rather self-explanatory.
Reed

[tstage]

Since the middle of May, I've:

• Built my first 4 x 8' open grid bench using EFI.


• Started and am honing in on a final layout design for the above bench.


• Learned (am learning) how to make trees.


• Put together/painted:
  20+ rolling stock kits
  Two-bay engine house
  Freight house
  Sanding tower & drying house
  Water tower
  Interlocking tower
  "Suncoast" coaling tower - which I'm still in the process of putting together. (Didn't know what I was getting into. [:0])

I've really enjoyed getting into the hobby and am thankful for all of you who have helped me (both directly and indirectly) with your vast wealth of knowledge.

I hoping that in the next year I'll have:

• My layout design finalized - along with my roadbed and track


• A DCC system (and decoders) purchased, hooked up, and running


• Some new Ideas on a 2 x ??? shelf extension to my layout along the wall.list

Tom

[Anonymous]

I have finished more than half of the scenery on my 70 square foot layout, which is a major accomplishment for me, considering I've been working on it for nearly 5 years now[:D].

[rrinker]

Built a few car kits, aquired a few new locos, finally got a DCC system, and, best of all - finally started work on an actual layout to use all this stuff on! I have't had a layout to run my equipment on in over 9 years, all I've been doing is assembling a few kits here and there, reading a lot, and planning. Finally, a reality!

--Randy

[Anonymous]

I consider joining this forum my biggest accomplishment this year. I've learned alot reading the experiences and opinions of others. I hope I've been able to contribute.

Started working on the waterfront portion. Although I didn't' finish, I've made decent progress on two tugboats and a couple of the walther's pier/warehouses (kitbashing into longer structures). Also part way into kitbashing two wathers union stations into a larger structure and two of the bailey bank buildings into something resembling those eastern city post offices. (New Year's resolution - get one project done before starting others lol). I've also done quite a bit of research to assist me in building a couple of subway stations. I would like them to resemble those found in Manhattan. Additional research was done on elevated lines. (The LifeLIke subways are awesome - rekindled my enthusiasm for doing a urban scene!). I've pretty much convinced myself to go the DCC route. Hopefully at this time next year I report that I've done so!

My biggest accomplishment this year was convincing my girlfriend to become a Mrs. and a stepmom. She's been super and at her idea we attended her first model train show in Ft. Worth a couple months back. Looks like I'll have a partner in my modeling pursuits!!!

Here's to hoping everyone had a good year and that next year will be even better!

[Big_Boy_4005]

Well, it looks like we have some busy people out there.

Mondo: You are absolutely correct, it is easy to lose track of our accomplishments if we don't stop to take stock. That's one reason I like to take a lot of photos of the layout, they even have a date stamp to avoid confusion.

Willy6: Thanks. Perhaps the best way to describe my situation is retired at the age of 43. That's where I find all the time for the posting. The layout progress comes in spurts between posts. Hanging out on the forums is, both distracting and motivating.

Rick (rsn48): Sorry about your loss. I went through that 16 years ago, so I know what you are going through. One of the great things about this hobby is, it can help take your mind off your troubles, even if it is only temporarialy.

Please do stop by if you get down this way. I will have the guest book and the work log book made up by the end of this week. I think I may have just found my local round robin work crew. I can imagine the prep time involved to keep all those hands busy. (This invitation is open to all!!!)

Aggro: Even demolition can be a sign of progress. As much as it hurts, it is the first step in building something bigger and better. Beside, building a layout is half the fun. Take lots of pictures with that camera.

Gordon: Thanks for noticing. You are one of the first people I met here on the forum a year ago.

Noah: I think you are doing great for your age. You and the other young people here, are the future of this hobby.

Krump and Lupo: GET OFF YOUR BUTTS!!! [swg]

[eastcoast]

The E C R became officially operational this past year.
I ripped out a mainline and elevated it to minimize the
grade and radius. Thus the trains are running smoother
on that line. I am now able to do more scenery that will
be permanent now that I know that my trains will operate
as smoothly as they should be. Still have minor kinks to
look at but am VERY pleased with my results so far.
As for this forum, I do not come on all too often any more
as a result of the progress I make when I am not typing on
a keyboard. I will be in touch. As for now.....into the FUTURE !!!

[TrainFreak409]

I have made the desicion to switch from HO to N, and have started collecting N scale products.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[CBQ_Guy]

I've accomplished nowhere near as much as I should have! And I started out 2004 proclaiming it "The year of the layout!" So I am cutting almost ALL of my email lists, newsgroup and Forum participation down to practically ZERO and will be spending that time on the railroad -- mostly by beginning to build hundreds of car kits I have packed in the basement since we moved to this house ALMOST SEVEN YEARS AGO!

[56chevytimes2]

Well I have revived my intrest in the hobby , constructed and layed track for my sons 4x8 layout and a 4x8 for a freinds son and wired both. I have also completed body work and paint on a 56 chevy and am in the process of reassembling it. I have have done a motor /transmission and rear end swap on my other 56 chevy wagon . I have also started designing myself a new layout to replace the one I had to dismantel 2 years ago because of a move.

[Noah Hofrichter]

Well, I had a very productive year really. Not my most productive, but still good. The things I can think of are these:

• I got my transfer caboose completely scratchbuilt
• 
  
• I got my A.R.K. railraod logo created


• I've amassed several more engines(most of which need to be painted), and many more cars,


• I got my track ripped up, relayed to a new design, and have reduced derailments by probably 25%


• I got a structure started from a kit that will become one of my new industries buildings


• I deisgned a display/practice diorama for myself which I hope to start over Chrismas Break


• and many more which I don't remember currently

I've probably got too many things that didn't get done too. I have a list of about 15 paint shop/ back shop(kitbash scratchbuild) projects that need to be done, and that's just engines alone! I've got multiple scenery things I should have done too. But all in all, I did get alot done, alot more than some years.

I hope to increase productivity by 25% next year though, and really cook over my summer vacation, hopefully making it through two scratchbuilding projects, and getting a modual done. I also want to repaint/detail multiple engines as well.

Noah

[Anonymous]

Me to...[#ditto]

Erdle, RDL, or Robert

[CP5415]

What have I accomplished?
I haven't pissed the wife off yet with anything Trains!
I've managed to buy 6 locomotives, 12 passnger cars & only a half dozen freight cars
Most of which the better half doesn't know about [:)]

On the layout, I've re-worked some of the benchwork to accomodate the changes in the trackplan, started working on a branchline, strung the bus wires, built a storage shelf for all the model rr boxes.

Gordon

PS Elliot, Happy Anniversary

[AggroJones]

Well, I've destroyed the layout I've been working on for 4 1/2 years. [sigh]

And in the same room constructed an around the wall with duckunder layout. It meets some of my goals. Longer traveling mainlines. A large brige with track underneath. Curves a little wider than previously. More vertical scenery.

Also this year I've aquired more locomotives than any other year, ever.

And this year, I got acess to a digital cambra to take pictures and show them on the internet.

Oh yeah, and this year we finally got them damn holes in our house's roof fixed. No more rain dripping in my room. [tup]

[Anonymous]

well lets see, i have laid most of the plaster cloth i use for scenery, built about half a dozon buildings, scratchbuilt a couple structures, painted most of them, laid track, superelevated the curves, weathered my rolling stock and locomotives, uh what else, ya i guess thats it.

bnsf6733

[twhite]

I didn't sue anyone, either. But, this being my first year of 'retirement', I was able to get the track operating like it should (mostly, anway) a lot of scenery put in, build a big Microscale Tall Viaduct (still to be installed), acquire some nifty new steamers from BLI and Genesis, and get my signals sort of operating. Incredible how much time 'little' projects take when you start on them--and here's one little hint: If you have large brass articulateds, ALWAYS test them out in your curved tunnels before you permanently install the tunnel portals. ALWAYS! WITHOUT FAIL (he said, grinding his teeth)!
Tom

[Anonymous]

I'll represent those who didn't do anything over the past year. My mother past away this summer and I went over to Vancouver Island to be with her in her final six weeks of life. This event took its toll on my enthusiasm for the hobby and it wasn't until about about 6 weeks ago that I "revived" and re-entered back into the hobby.

I hang with a group of model railroaders who were and continue to be supportive during my time with my mother and after wards, all of them have lost one or more parent. Sometimes the hobby is supportive of people in ways that aren't advertised in the press; the fellowship you receive in the "round robins", the clubs, the home layout "club" and the what have you's can be invaluable.

I guess as I write this, I didn't accomplish much in the layout building end of the hobby, but I did develop a new appreciation for my friends in the model railroading community. Maybe in the end, that was more important this year in my life.

I purchased a newer 2002 BMW and I want to take it on a road trip some time with my son (1st year university at Simon Fraser University) and show him Chicago (we live in Vancouver BC) and Madison, Wis - both places I used to live many moons ago. Maybe we'll stop in at St. Paul's Big Boy and offer two days of free labour on your layout to help you get up and running. I've found that often in round robin building, I do more work in preparation for the guys to come over to help work, than I do when I'm alone.

I knew I would hit a procrastinating impasse when I hit the electrical portion of my layout, which is exactly what happened and tie that in with the passing of my mother and you can imagine the "wall" I hit in the hobby.

One of my friends has offered to help me struggle with the DCC wiring, adding PM42's, etc so I can actually have some trains running on the track that has been laid for over a year now.

Merry Christmas one and all,

[bsteel4065]

I didn't sue anybody. Which is more than can be said for too many in this hobby this year.

[jdolan]

Since I started reading this forum, I finally have gotten back into gear at finishing my layout which had set idle for 2 years. Have started the scenery and checked out the track work and decided it can work the way I hoped just with minor redoing. Of couse I had to buy some new locos and cars too. Will post pictures later on.

[willy6]

Some structures built, most of the wiring is complete and some scenery.But my hats off to BigBoy4005, anyone who can work on their layout and amass nearly 4000 posts on this forum has got my backing!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL AND YOUR FAMILIES.
Now I got to go and put the train up around the Christmas tree before my wife kicks my butt.

[Anonymous]

I got didn't get my layout set up this year, but I aquirred lots of Locos, track, and rolling stock.

[Anonymous]

Krump & Lupo....I am glad to see you guys got so much done. When I was reading and saw your empty remarks meaning zip I busted out laughing. That was funny. I managed to at least get my switches all working, and a few odds and ends.


HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!

[JPowell]

Benchwork is 90% complete
Bought a new Bachmann GP38-2 and 3 pieces of rolling stock from a LHS
Bought 2 structures off EBay
Bought 4 more structures from an even better LHS
1/2 Sorted and filed my research material into categories each in it's own labeled 3-ring binder for easier referencing
Most of my backdrop is panted and hung
and the list goes on.....
JP

[mondotrains]

Hi Guys,
I'm glad the question was asked because sometimes we don't feel like we're making progress until we reflect back over the past 12 months. First and foremost, I finally invested in an airbrush, compressor and spray booth. I have found that airbrushing is great fun, especially when I see how great my rolling stock and engines look after some light weathering. I practiced for several hours on some stuff I was going to get rid of and they came out so neat that I decided to keep them.

My second noteable accomplishment this year was kitbashing two industrial buildings. I had always followed the instructions on the box and finally decided to try to make something different. It was amazing how easy it was to create a large, L-shaped building from the Heljan Brewery by simply using the back walls, which weren't going to be visible anyway, and restructure the kit. I guess it was simply a matter of finally realizing that by taping the walls in different configurations and using a little imagination, something wonderful can be created.

All in all, I think it was a great year from a model railroading perspective.

Happy Holidays!
Mondo

[stokesda]

This year I got started seriously in the hobby. I picked out a track plan from an Atlas book, and now have about 2/3 of the hardware I need to put it together.

I bought a bunch of rolling stock from eBay and my LHS. Bought two locos from eBay - one steam and one modern diesel.

I decided that my future layout needed a decent bridge, so I (mostly) scratchbuilt a double-track Warren truss bridge by starting with 4 Atlas pier girder bridges. I'm about 80% complete and plan on finishing up in the next couple of months in my spare time. I took pictures of the process so I can post them to the web when I'm finished.

I also decided that the drive mechanism in my old Bachmann 4-8-4 sucks, so I wanted to improve it. By pure dumb luck, I stumbled across an old magazine article detailing how to repower these models with NWSL and Grandt Line parts. Just yesterday, I picked up the parts I needed from my LHS and began the process. I'll take some pictures of that process, too, and put them on the web when I'm done.

We're moving in a couple of weeks, and just bought a house with plenty of extra room for my first layout. I can't wait to get started!

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

Bought a few things on Ebay, sold a few things on Ebay. Built buildings, rolling stock, converted most of the remainder of the motive power to DCC, added fascia, continued with scenery. Mostly I just kept on keepin' on! I'm not in this to get things done, I'm in it to enjoy my free time! However, having track down and the ability to operate does relieve the stress of having to get things done.