Howdy Pard's,
This is my first post. I've been lurking and reading for awhile. I thought it was time to jump in. I'm in the middle of my first layout; it's HO, 4'10" x 9'. I'm loosely modeling Deadwood SD in 1880 or so. I'm not a real stickler for historic accuracy....when I started out I had it in my mind I would be, but as I started researching and planning I found how much work that was so I did what any good cowboy does...." I LET 'ER BUCK!" and started building. My original idea was just structures in a western town layout.... Honestly at first I didn't even think of model railroading. I just did a web search for scratch building items and of course what I found was railroading. Then I thought, OK I can add a simple railroad. The more I got into it and especially after reading and fully comprehending how important the RR was in the settling of the west I found myself getting more and more into the RR part of it. I still am mostly interested in structures and scenery....although I can see I've got a lot to learn and practice. As I read this forum I am in awe of some of the members scratch building skills...I feel like "I'm unworthy" but I'd like to learn and practice more.
My current challenge is with self discipline. I read the posts and often people will comment on how this hobby teaches skills like carpentry, wiring, etc. That's all well and good, I appreciate sharpening my skills in these areas but what I really need to learn is more self discipline.... to slow down and do stuff right. I tend to "LET 'ER BUCK" too frequently, go off half cocked, and hurry through projects. Like cleaning and putting stuff away when I'm done using it. I am a very messy worker and can't get into keeping my area clean. I live in an apartment and rent a double garage...in there I have; a modestly equipped shop, a canoe on a trailer with the layout (sans legs) on top of the canoe, a small boat, more duck and goose decoys than I'll admit to, 8 bicycles (I collect 'em...why? because their there!) and a kazillion scavenged and scrounged items both large and small. I was so bad I couldn't walk through the garage without moving things as I went. Well today I spent 6 hours and made a little dent. Now I can walk through part of it and I've got a plan to put the legs back on the layout so I can start working.
That's it for today, thanks for welcoming me and I'd appreciate hearing from other cowboys out there!
Here's (of it works) are a couple of "before" pictures of the work area.
This is my first post. I've been lurking and reading for awhile. I thought it was time to jump in. I'm in the middle of my first layout; it's HO, 4'10" x 9'. I'm loosely modeling Deadwood SD in 1880 or so. I'm not a real stickler for historic accuracy....when I started out I had it in my mind I would be, but as I started researching and planning I found how much work that was so I did what any good cowboy does...." I LET 'ER BUCK!" and started building. My original idea was just structures in a western town layout.... Honestly at first I didn't even think of model railroading. I just did a web search for scratch building items and of course what I found was railroading. Then I thought, OK I can add a simple railroad. The more I got into it and especially after reading and fully comprehending how important the RR was in the settling of the west I found myself getting more and more into the RR part of it. I still am mostly interested in structures and scenery....although I can see I've got a lot to learn and practice. As I read this forum I am in awe of some of the members scratch building skills...I feel like "I'm unworthy" but I'd like to learn and practice more.
My current challenge is with self discipline. I read the posts and often people will comment on how this hobby teaches skills like carpentry, wiring, etc. That's all well and good, I appreciate sharpening my skills in these areas but what I really need to learn is more self discipline.... to slow down and do stuff right. I tend to "LET 'ER BUCK" too frequently, go off half cocked, and hurry through projects. Like cleaning and putting stuff away when I'm done using it. I am a very messy worker and can't get into keeping my area clean. I live in an apartment and rent a double garage...in there I have; a modestly equipped shop, a canoe on a trailer with the layout (sans legs) on top of the canoe, a small boat, more duck and goose decoys than I'll admit to, 8 bicycles (I collect 'em...why? because their there!) and a kazillion scavenged and scrounged items both large and small. I was so bad I couldn't walk through the garage without moving things as I went. Well today I spent 6 hours and made a little dent. Now I can walk through part of it and I've got a plan to put the legs back on the layout so I can start working.
That's it for today, thanks for welcoming me and I'd appreciate hearing from other cowboys out there!
Here's (of it works) are a couple of "before" pictures of the work area.
welcome to the gauge:wave how did you get pics of my shop sign1
:thumb: