Making the initial move - Modelers block

LOL, I know what you mean!  If you goof up with the girl, you might not be able to correct your blunder: however, if you make a mistake with the modeling, you can always un-do it and start again!  Best advice from me is to decide on a rough track-plan, get your benchwork up, and go to it, refining it as you go.  Mistakes are only learning expriences to which somebody attached that bad name... "mistake"! 

I recognise the symptoms well. Some call it procrastination I call it research. Can equal pretty much the same thing. For me it comes down to tapping into what rings my bell the loudest. That's not always the easiest route but if you pick the idea that has the most passion behind it, it's the one most likely to have the momentum to carry you over the challenges.

Of course you have to temper that with a little realism. Angelina Jolie may ring my bell quite loudly, a positive tintinabulation but I'm no Brad Pitt and I live in the wrong hemisphere.

Once you've got hold of the idea that makes your heart pound the most (and won't land you in jail for stalking) then take the first step. Make it an easy one if you like: a building, a bridge, an industry that might start shaping an area.

My Life Coach brother told me the story of boy looking around a cruise ship with his family. He came onto the bridge and the Captain let him hold the wheel. Try as he might he couldn't turn it. The captain said to him, it's much easier when the ship is moving.

It's all about momentum. Well it is for me anyway.

Visualize your favorite railroad scene, for example a steam engine thundering across a intricate high wooden tressle, or a crowded rail yard with busy switchers, and build your entire layout around that one scene you like best. Its kind of like a mental thumbtack that everything hangs off of. The focus.

I agree with mistermahoney- find one or two railroad scenes that inspire you, and build the layout to fit them.

Then get one of the track planning books and a pile of blank paper and start scribbling.

P.S. My best track plans usually come to me during long, boring meetings. Good thing no one else knows what those scribbles really are.

Lots of good advice and encouragement here.  So far I'm taking bits and pieces from you all.  Greentowner, I hear you the loudest as procrastination has always been an acquaintance of mine.

You'll all be proud to know that I took a first decisive step today and purchased a piece of 2'x4' piece of MDF and some extruded foam (more on that mess later).  

I kind of started thinking like Komata was saying, just start with small and easy.  I've got tons of code 55 flex just sitting there doing nothing and I've got locos I can't even run or tinker with because I don't even have a loop to run then on.  I also finally admitted to myself that this first layout is gonna be a bit messy to begin with as I brush up on my soldering, take on an airbrush for the first time, and acquire new skills.  So why not make it nice and easy (and fun).  While I don't envision being enthralled by a basic loop operation, my two little ones will be amazed by daddy's amazing creation (amazingly they can watch things go in circles for a long time without getting bored).

As for elements, eras, and other relevant questions.  I need to get that itch scratched in terms of laying track.  So I'm gonna freelance this one.  I think I'm gonna model my dream ranch in the western Montana mountains, perhaps show a logging operation as well.

However, prototypical layouts are in my future.  Still in "research" phase on that one, though.

 Doug

By the way, it's good to get feedback from a lot of the folks whose posts I've learned a lot from in the past.  I lingered a long while before I finally registered and posted, and even contributed recently, (which, by the way when do I get my contributer label?).  Michael's ongoing project in foam (shall we call it your "blue" period, or were you using pink foam, I forget) has been interesting because I've been planning on going with foam myself. 

 

Doug

Glad to hear you're making progress - and that you will have 'little helpers' to encourage you.

But for your own sanity, please DON"T just make a basic loop with no sidings - you'll go crazy (and it will become incredibly boring after 5 minutes), as the train goes round, and round, and round, and  . . . . . round, and . . . . . . . round, and . . . . .

All of which is why I suggestd the EZ and Quik - at least you can see yourself making progress (and you might even get some 'assistance' along the way - especially with the Plaster of Paris for the hill/tunnel - who needs mud pies anyway?)

Just a thought - before you go 'loopy'

Komata

"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "

Absolutely nothig wrong, except that watchingtrains going round, and round, and round and . . .  without being able to either do a crossing, or some shunting (switching), can become a little bit tedious, tedious, tedious, tedious, tedious, tedious, tediuos, tedious . . . with the result that one could become a little dienchanted with the whole N-scale RR thing - the interest will wain, and its not a good thing when it wains on your twains . . . (and besides, it becomes a little boring)

Komata

"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . .

(Oh, and I forgot to mention, watching a train going round, and round CAN become a little tedious . . . - just thought you might like to know) (te deum, ad nauseum!)

Hello from a fellow procrastating MRR as well  as one who is afraid to put track to layout cause I might dork it up.  My tale of woe is similar to yours.  

I started with a DC 4x7 layout and ran a few locos on it then tore it down. I came into a few bucks and decided to build my big dream layout. First big mistake.

To make a long story longer It took me 6 months to design a layout, build the bench-work.  And then....

Yes.. in 2006 a buying craze hit me. Brought  stuff, stuff, and more stuff till I ran out of the Yankee dollars. 

And here it is 2008 and not one piece of track laid and hemmed/hawed over two new new track plans. Now I had three to choose from. Talk about excuses to do nothing.  

With the encouragement of a friend (here's my point)  in the MRR world to offer encouragement and keep nudging you till you finally get off the pot and do something.

Well the encouragement got me moving, Yesterday, I finally chose a track plan and I started working. 

They'll still be lots of opportunities to fall back. But with the support of friends, forward progress will continue. 

And if you or I do hit (It can happen) a speed bump remember, There is no excuse for laziness, but I'll work on one. 

Oh and all that other (no offence intended) Dr Phil stuff may help you over a speed bump. but you can't beat friends. especially MRR ones.

Oh here's my first new excuse. "I'm not stalling I'm watching the glue dry."  Thought I'd have another one ready. Just got the base coat on and How about, " just watching the paint dry."

See ya

Ron         

The block has been overcome.  I did end up buying the N-Scale primer that Komata suggested, but it hasn't got here yet;  so, I actually ended up choosing a layout that was in a book I already had.

As promised, I posted my first blog today because I've started work. I hope you'll drop in time to time and see where I'm at.  I'm always up for some learning and insight!

Thanks for the nudge! 

 

Irv

I've been trying tyo read your blog but no joy. Is there another way to find it?

Irv