I'm in my early fifties. I built my first ho layout with real scenery when I was eleven. My dad used to bring home model railroad magazines when he went of business trips , which he did often. I was studying those before I could read.
I won't claim a single original idea, although I may have used DPDT switches as ground throws before I saw anyone else's use of them documented (I was struggling through ways to make my stub switches more reliable). I have simply been paying attention to model trains for so long, I have seen a lot of stuff,
Sometimes I'm combining bits and pieces of stuff I have learned to do things differently, most of the time this is just stuff I have seen someone somehere do, and I keep hacking at it untill I can make it work.
Bill Nelson
Well put Bill. If I might add a few things along the line that you mentioned since Steamhead made a similar comment on my Thread. Like you said Bill most of the stuff we all do is because we've seen someone else do it. I am 54 & started modeling with a Lionel when I was 9. I stopped when I started driving & admiring the girls. After having only 2 daughters for a very long time my little miracle boy came along now 15. We bought him his first train when he was 8. We have been modeling ever since. I have always raised my kids encouraging their self motivation. I believe with prayer & motivation the sky can be your limit. I have always felt If someone else can do it why can't I. Yes there have been things I couldn't do & some I wished I had never tryed but at least I know I gave it my best & don't have the regret of not trying.Don't ever think that because you know something regardless of what it is that everybody else knows as well. That is why it is important to post those things you know & have done to encourage others.My Mill project was gathering dust until I got on this Forum & was impressed at the work both Bill & Tom as well as others are doing.Now they got me wanting to get my Coal Mine out & start working on it again.I'll let their new Thread dust settle a little before I do that:mrgreen:So jump in with both feet & do something even if it's messed up then you can learn how to fix it.Hope this encourages someone.Thanks again Bill.