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Filosophy Phriday- Just how Anal Are You, Or Do You Prefer The Word Meticulous?

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  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, February 16, 2019 9:43 PM

Dave.

Thanks for your honest "coming-out"! Your workbench looks like mine after I've cleaned it Whistling

Well, it HAS been cleaned off every now-and-then:

 IMG_7297_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

Most of the time it is more like "controled chaos" but I'm used to that and it works for me.

 IMG_0359_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

I generally have more than a dozen projects, and maybe another two-dozen mini projects going on at any given time. Generally, it works out well for me. Sometimes I'll have an epiphany regarding a project that has stalled or sometimes a new product, method or idea will come along and a stalled project will take off in a new direction.

Generally, though, my clutter is kept at a reasonable level and I'll make an occasional purge, but as most of us will admit, we model railroaders do have a pack-rat tendency.

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,878 posts
Posted by maxman on Sunday, February 17, 2019 12:52 PM

Was just reading a post in an on-line magazine where I saw that there is a program that will generate ACI lables where the label lines actually translate to the road numbers on the model rolling stock.  These labels are then printed to size and applied to the model.

So, is this being meticulous or anal?

Inquirying minds want to know.

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: 53° 33′ N, 10° 0′ E
  • 2,508 posts
Posted by Tinplate Toddler on Sunday, February 17, 2019 2:27 PM

My layout room doubles as office, guest room, laundry room and even as living room. My work bench is my desk. My wife´s desk is right next to mine.

How much of a chance  do you think I have to clutter it up or make a mess? Modeling under such hardship requires careful planning and always having a broom or a small vac handy!

Happy times!

Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)

"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, February 18, 2019 12:57 AM

gmpullman
Your workbench looks like mine after I've cleaned it 

Ed!

Stop trying to justify my procrastination!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Monday, February 18, 2019 11:26 AM

maxman

Was just reading a post in an on-line magazine where I saw that there is a program that will generate ACI lables where the label lines actually translate to the road numbers on the model rolling stock.  These labels are then printed to size and applied to the model.

So, is this being meticulous or anal?

Inquirying minds want to know. 

Wow.  Somewhere at MIT or CalTech is a young modeler working on a tiny scale sized ACI label reader hooked up to JMRI ....

I noticed that the Microscale decal ACI labels come in matched pairs, and when I botch one I leave its mate on the sheet and go on to the next matched pair.  But eventually I'll use the leftovers.  This is less because of my own anality (to coin a phrase) but because I have certain visitors and friends who would be just the sort of jerks to point things like that out to me -- or to other visitors.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Monday, February 18, 2019 11:33 AM

Any body that visits my layout wouldn't have a clue.  I could have just plain cars, no lettering.  They would probably ask "Wow, where's the graffiti?"

That shows how few visitors I have, and their knowledge of railroads.

I truly am in my own world. The definition of a lone wolf.

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,878 posts
Posted by maxman on Monday, February 18, 2019 12:27 PM

dknelson
I noticed that the Microscale decal ACI labels come in matched pairs, and when I botch one I leave its mate on the sheet and go on to the next matched pair. But eventually I'll use the leftovers. This is less because of my own anality (to coin a phrase) but because I have certain visitors and friends who would be just the sort of jerks to point things like that out to me -- or to other visitors.

Don't let them look at both sides of the car.  Another reason not to have return loops.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 9:57 AM

Clutter is something I swore to address but guilty for having a lot.  Thanks everyone for encouraging me to clean the layout.  The amount of trash I created after adding more feeders needs to get removed. 

Clutter is also on the work bench.  I have a set of drawers for different things (wires, scenery, etc.).  The tools go away once I no longer need them.  I won't put stuff away of I need to use them the next evening.

I am anal for marking on the layout where I last worked.  It helps knowing to avoid wasting time looking around. 

I think doing major cleaning after moving from different phase (e.g., building the benchwork, wiring, scenery, etc.) is helpful. 

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