Setting a Construction Schedule

May 25, 2009

For this layout I've set a construction schedule for completing the layout as well as intermediate milestones to reach that end.  A fair question to ask would by why bother with a schedule since this is just a hobby?   Everybody's personality and motivation is different.  The answer in my case is that without such a schedule I'd never get anything done!   My rough plan is to have the layout at least largely complete by the time my son is finished with college (maybe....hopefully)  in eight years.  By that time I may have had my fill of home and lawn maintenance and be ready for serious home downsizing.  I divided the layout into eight sections with the general idea of completing one section a year for eight years.  If I fall behind or don't reach that goal it's no big deal but at least it keeps me moving.  Each one year construction milestone is rather un-ambitious and easily attainable.  I should be able to work at a leisurely pace and have some months here and there where nothing gets done and still be on track.

The Case For Modeling the Modern Era

May 18, 2009

Many of the aspects of 1950's railroading which we find so appealing still exist today.  In this 2007 photo, a reefer is spotted at a frozen food industry just slightly longer than the car itself.

The term ignorance carries a lot of negative connotations.   If you look at the definition though, ignorance is just a lack of information.  Sometimes it has ugly consequences, more often it’s more benign.  In most cases, not having information simply results in our lives being slightly more difficult in un-important areas.   Being ignorant of how to work your television remote is inconvenient.  Ignorance can also be benign in the sense that it just means we miss out on something or avoid a potentially enjoyable activity because we are ignorant of the benefits, ignorant of what it offers.   For many years I was ignorant of what modern era railroading was all about. 

Completely overlooking the benefits of modeling the modern era is an example of ignorance as it applies to model railroading.   Having a full understanding of modern railroading and then making a conscious decision that it’s not for you is not ignorance.  It’s an informed decision based on personal preference.  Totally discounting the modern era without knowing anything about it is ignorance.  As a hobby, we have a white-knuckle death grip on modeling the steam to diesel transition era.   My guess is that eras before 1940 or after 1960 account for less than a third of the themes being modeled. 

Until about five years ago, I was certainly in this mainstream group.   I was completely immersed in modeling the Monon Railroad during, you guessed it, 1955.  If a modeling subject came up dated after 1960 my mind shut like a bear trap.  What could be more boring?   I live near our Nation’s Capital.  Railroading here consists of one double track main running through our county of almost a million people.  There are no industries, no yards, no locals….nothing.   If Washington, D.C. were a representative sample of modern railroading one could be forgiven, even congratulated, for not modeling such mind numbing boredom.   The problem is, Washington, D.C., is NOT representative of all of modern railroading. 

There are numerous cities in the US where the 1950’s style of railroading not only exists just as it did 60 years ago but is thriving.  Not just short lines but the big carriers as well,   Take two cities on opposite ends of the country for example, Miami and Seattle.  Both are comprised of dense spider webs of track serving diverse industries.  There are small industries that take single boxcars, there are industries on the water served by both barge and rail, there are industries taking every type of car imaginable.  Trains are short, often less than ten cars.  Passenger trains still exist that stop every several miles, they’re called commuters.  Switch lists are still used albeit in electronic form. 

In many locations modern railroading is not just similar to modeling the 1950’s, it’s measurably better.  Why?   You can see it.  You can experience it now.  The availability of research material is unlimited and it’s instantaneous.   In many cities you can park in a public lot, open a cold soda, turn on the radio and watch the local work right in front of you.   Am I saying everybody should model the modern era?  Not at all.  However, if you feel your view of the hobby is slipping from being a passion to merely a passing interest the modern era is worth a look.  There’s nothing like being trackside while a machine the size your house, powered by cylinders the diameter of trash cans shoves a boxcar down an alley. 

I’ll be fifty years old next year so I’m no spring chicken.  After discovering the modern era, I feel like a kid in a candy store and my interest in the hobby has been given a jump start.   Here’s the biggest laugh of all.  Who lifted my veil of ignorance?  Was it a group of enthusiastic twenty-somethings typically associated with the modern era?  No, it was a small cluster of ‘over 60 guys’  that sat me down and explained to me what the modern era is all about.   There’s another lesson….listen to those age 60 plus guys, they truly are wiser.

Money

May 3, 2009

Here we see our typical flat broke teenager doing what he should be at that age - learning to glue two pieces of plastic together.  

Money is an interesting subject.  It’s interesting from the standpoint of how the amount we possess at different points in our life shapes our behavior and development.    Too much of it at a young age, in my view, eliminates the striving and struggle that is a necessary element of artistic and personal development.  Too little of it later in life inserts the struggles at an age where it really shouldn’t be.   

It is fascinating isn’t it, the link between lack of financial resources and artistic development?  It never really occurred to me until recently but it’s amazing how many writers, musicians, painters, and movie makers come from such average financial means.   Equally fascinating is the fact that when their talents eventually lead to financial stability, their creative production doesn’t tail off. 

Model building is no different.  Starting your modeling activities at a point in time when financial resources are meager is an enormous advantage.  Whether you are a teenager, college student, US military, or young person early in your career, having limited funds will ultimately be a huge blessing.   With very little capacity to purchase finished models or expensive kits, you have no choice but to build most things from scratch, weather you own rolling stock, and perhaps build your own track.    As you watch those who are more financially secure walk out of the hobby store with bags of gleaming merchandise you will likely be leaving with a few X-acto blades, a bottle of paint, and some glue.   When your models break, you will not have the money to replace them and will, therefore be forced to learn how to repair them.  

Although it doesn’t feel like it at the time, such circumstances are a gift.   Initially, years will pass where your homegrown efforts look far short of what you see in the magazines.  The walls of your structures won’t be square, the windows will be crooked, and the globs of glue unsightly.   Time marches on though.   At some point that fifteen or twenty year old modeler producing models that look like soap carvings, morphs into the master modeler.   Having never had the luxury of buying a built up kit the youngster, now an adult, is capable of scratch building any structure he needs.   His choices are not limited to what is available from the commercial manufacturers.   Projects go together quickly and smoothly with seamless joints,  perfect corners, and subtle and masterful weathering, He is no longer stopped in his tracks when something breaks.  The repair skills learned out of necessity a decade before, can be brought to bare. 

Regardless of your age, if you find yourself in the hobby with limited funds, enjoy the ride.  Savor each project for what it is, a step in the never ending learning process.  Regardless of the final appearance of a finished model, appreciate and accept it for what it was – your best effort given your skill set at the time it was built. 

Shown above are some of the modeling efforts from my teenage years.

A different set of challenges face the large number of modelers that enter the hobby at a point in life where they are more financially secure.   Such individuals have the advantage of paying to have others do the aspects of the hobby they don’t enjoy.  If this is your situation you have to be vigilant and be aware of how often the credit card is being popped out.   Are you purchasing a backlog of kits and cars grossly in excess of the amount of time it will take to build them?  If so, set a personal rule that you won’t buy another kit until your backlog of un-built ones are assembled, given away, or thrown away.   Don’t cheat yourself out of enjoyable activities and try to avoid knee jerk spending impulses if, upon further thought, you would gain satisfaction out of building it yourself.  If you would not get satisfaction out of building it then there should be no guilt in purchasing the finished product.   

There is a one thing the financially secure hobbyist can purchase that, if handled properly, will assist in increasing their skills.   They can purchase time.   By paying somebody else to clean your house, cut your grass, and repair your car you can free up time better spent on modeling.   You can also speed up your learning curve by investing in attendance at modeling conferences, books, and ‘how to’ DVD’s.  Of course, purchasing the books and going to the conferences is not particularly productive if you don’t do so with the mindset of applying what you’ve just learned. 

For the fifty or sixty year old, financially secure, modeler the hobby does offer the chance to move back to the simpler times of your youth.  Allow yourself to take on building that kit without concern for whether it looks like something built by a teenager.  It probably will.  Enjoy being that teenager again.

Authenticity

April 9, 2009

Walking through  Allapattah's produce district is like  slipping on a pair of worn in blue jeans - comfortable, relaxing, and familiar.   It is an authentic place.  By that I mean, what you see is what you get.  It doesn't try to be something that it is not.  It is quietly self assured, comfortable with and accepting of its imperfections.  Allapattah is the real deal.  Its probably what the inside of our homes look like when we know company is not coming, clean but not necessarily tidy. You could walk the sidewalks all day without  fear of being hassled.  By the same token, if you stopped somebody on the sidewalk they'd gladly engage you in a ten minute friendly conversation without giving you the feeling you were holding them up.   The photo above is a good representation of the neighborhood as a whole.  As hot as it is, there is always a fifty year old oak tree nearby to provide shade, a bench to sit on, a produce stand where you can  get a glass of ice cold freshly squeeze orange juice.   Philly, Chicago, Newark, Milwaukee, you pick the city, they all have their own versions of this gem.   They are national treasures hidden in plain sight.  Visit them.  Photograph them.  Experience and savor them.

Player or Fan?

April 2, 2009

Watching a ballgame is entertaining.  However, merely watching will never provide the deep level of satisfaction that comes from being a player.   Obtaining that degree of satisfaction is only possible through participation.

Are you a participant in the hobby of model railroading or an observer?  In other words, are you a player or a fan?  The answer to the question really doesn’t matter.  What does matter though is that you be able to answer the question to yourself honestly and free of rationalizations.

I love watching basketball.  Youth league, high school, college, or pro it doesn’t matter.  I can think of no more enjoyable way to spend a weeknight than watching a couple of high school basketball teams going at it in a ratty gym somewhere.   I’m clear about one thing though.  I’m a fan, NOT a player.  I’m an observer, not a participant.  I watch the ‘geezer leagues’ (geezer being anybody my age) play at the rec. center and pause to admire the passion these guys still apply to the game.  The thought of me joining such a team, however, has a half-life of about a milli-second.     I understand and accept the fact that the players on the court get deep satisfaction from playing while I am merely being entertained. 

When we look at  how we spend our leisure time it’s important that we understand the distinction between activities that are purely entertaining and those that are satisfying.  Watching a good movie on television is entertaining. Making a good movie is satisfying.  In order for an activity to be satisfying there must be some degree of engagement.  Being engaged means that we affect the result in some way, even if only to a small degree. 

No matter how much we love watching that ball game  on TV, no matter how loud we yell at the screen, we have zero impact on the outcome.  When you paint a picture, play an instrument, volunteer, or build a boxcar kit you are directly affecting the result.  The degree of engagement directly correlates to the amount of satisfaction we can expect. 

Why does all of this matter?  As a practical matter, much of our leisure time is going to be spent on entertaining activities– going to a movie, reading a book, going out to eat, watching television etc.  It’s the reward for the ‘less than entertaining’ things we need to address during the rest of the week.  There is a danger though in not being aware of the distinction between entertaining activities and satisfying ones.  If our leisure time inventory is stocked only with entertainment and the satisfying column is totally bare, we miss out.  A sense of emptiness or ‘missing something’ creeps in that we may not be fully aware of.  

 It is important that people have at least one leisure activity that extends beyond idle entertainment and is also satisfying.  Careers and family are deeply meaningful.  However, kids grow up and have lives of their own.  Careers eventually end in retirement.  We all need at least one selfish, ‘just for me’, activity that is satisfying. 

I am not suggesting that this satisfying activity be model railroading.  It could be anything.  There should be no guilt if all a person wants from the hobby is entertainment.  I am entertained by reading a surfing magazine even though I have no desire to be a surfer.  That’s no different than a surfer reading a model railroading magazine solely to be entertained. 

It is important though that you be straight with yourself about the level of engagement you have with the hobby.  To not do so puts one on a slippery slope of rationalization and denial.    If your level of participation in model railroading is superficial at best, do you have another leisure pursuit that fills the bill?  If not, you owe it to yourself to find something that is satisfying, something that you will engage. 

Fortunately, the ‘participation’ umbrella is a large one when it comes to model railroading.  Building something, anything is the most obvious.  However, there are many other ways to be involved in the hobby in a deeply satisfying manner without ever gluing two sticks together.   Operating a layout, writing an article, photography and volunteering are other examples. 

As broad as the participation umbrella is however, many who think of themselves as being engaged in model railroading manage to stay out in the rain so to speak.   They fritter away hours, years, even decades on activities that disguise themselves as being part of the hobby when in fact they are not.   

What are those non-productive activities we so often delude ourselves into thinking qualify as model railroading? Chat forums and impulsive purchasing certainly have to be at the top of the list.    Spending an evening on an online forum writing missives to some guy named ChooChoo666 is not productive, and is not model railroading.  Not only are many chat forums not productive, some are pretty toxic.  Getting in an online debate over the latest hobby conspiracy theory with somebody that won’t even sign their true names to the post will produce absolutely nothing of lasting value to you or anybody else. 

Rampant, unfocused purchasing of equipment, structures, and rolling stock is not participating in the hobby either.  Needing a coal yard for your layout, buying and building it is one thing.  Having thousands of dollars invested in kits totally unrelated to any theme, that haven’t been built, and will never be built is not healthy.  Its the Imelda Marcos syndrome.  

Finally, building a layout in your mind that you ‘hope’ to have ‘someday’ is not model railroading.  Its fantasizing.  Teaching yourself to solder, glue, cut, paint, and weather while waiting for that ‘someday’ layout is what distinguishes productive activity from idle pipe dreaming.  

The danger we face by spending excessive time in these types of unproductive activities is we are  not aware that they we are in the margins, deluding ourselves into thinking we are participating in the hobby.  We sell ourselves short by thinking we ‘have a hobby’ when in actuality we are merely being entertained much in the same way we would be if we were to watch a TV show or idly read an issue of People magazine.  Even active modelers greatly diminish the satisfaction they could receive by spending disproportionate amounts of time on the computer, binge buying, and fantasizing. 

The next time you sign on to your computer to check your chat room forums, or whip out your credit card, ask yourself, are you a fan  or a player?  An observer or participant?   Within the narrow context of model railroading it doesn’t matter as long as you have the self awareness to be able to answer the question.  Within the context of your leisure time as a whole, the subject does matter.  As humans we have a hard wired need to impact something in a creative, positive manner no matter how small. That’s hard to do if all of our leisure activities fall entirely in the idle entertainment category.

Rough Part of Town,

The Great White Rail Fan

March 2009

One of the nice things about a private website is you can write about subjects that have absolutely zero chance of seeing the light of day in the mainstream hobby press.

Some time in the past year, I can’t remember exactly when, I was giving a presentation at a prototype modeling convention.  Many of the slides I was showing were taken around the produce center of Miami, the Allapattah neighborhood to be specific.    About half way through the presentation one of the attendees made the comment, “Boy that sure looks like a rough part of town”.  There was no malice in the statement, it was just his natural reaction to what he saw.   It caught me off guard for a moment as I surveyed the slide on the screen looking for what could have triggered the comment.  After a few seconds it dawned on me, scrawled across several of the structures was some graffiti.  That was it.  That was the source of the remark.   Throughout the year at other presentations, slides of the Downtown Spur evoked similar reactions along the lines of, ‘that area looks really dangerous’.   The source of  the comment could be graffiti, a homeless person, or a cluster of people of different races.  

The thought progression of many white suburban Americans, or suburban middle income Americans of any race,  is to view a geographic area and think, “graffiti, weather worn structures, people not the same color as me.   Hmmmmm.  If I go there I’ll probably be shot.”  Seriously.   It’s a primal, survival driven reaction.  Its ignorance.   Viewed objectively, ignorance is just a natural reaction to not having a realistic grasp of the facts. 

What do people in ‘the rough part of town’ do all day?  Contrary to what many white suburbanites may think, most of them go to work every day – often to two jobs.  What do they think about?  Probably the same thing as you do, their kids, their family, their financial welfare, their health.  Its highly unlikely that they are thinking “I hope a rail fan rolls down the street today so I can pop him".   

No, these produce workers are NOT flashing gang signs.  A better guess is the guy with the phone owns the business.  Regardless, they were good sports and kind enough to take a break from loading tomatoes and pose for a few shots.

When I visit Allapattah, I park my car and walk.  Not once has the car been on blocks upon my return.   Am I the only white dude on the sidewalk?  No, but I’m certainly in the distinct minority.  Do I stand out?  Probably not.   For one, most people are so busy working, getting to work, or going to the produce stands they don’t even notice me.  Do I have to pass by a homeless soul every block?  Yes.   Is that homeless person lying in wait hoping this is the lucky day that a stray photographer wonders by his box so he can pounce?  Lets be real.   

What is the payoff for taking this risk?  Well, frankly its not a risk but the payoff is enormous.  It’s the experience of being totally enveloped in a sensory environment I could never witness in my suburban home city populated by Best Buys, Applebees, and Starbucks. In my favorite ‘rough part of town’, Allapattah,  you are face to face with people from all over the world,  pallets of produce stacked ten feet high, original art deco architecture untouched by the condo developers, and great food.   As you walk down the sidewalk, you are treated to veritable concert of music emanating from the adjacent businesses.  From a rail fan experience, it’s a like entering a time capsule and being transported back to the 1950’s. 

When I’m walking around Allapattah occasionally somebody will approach me and ask what I’m doing with the camera.  Does that make me nervous at first?  Yes.  What do I do?  I tell them what I’m up to.  In each and every case the individual stopping me has followed up with something along the lines of “Just curious.  I’ve lived here a long time.  You’re right.  It really is interesting.” 

Am I suggesting that you rail fan wearing a red Hawaiian print shirt, Bermuda shorts, and black knee socks without a thought to your surroundings? Wave a few gang signs to passersby maybe?  Of course not.  Are there areas in the U.S. that truly are tantamount to war zones and are dangerous all of the time.  Absolutely.  But, not as many as most people think. Common sense dictates that you be aware of your surroundings and take prudent precautions.  However, prudent precaution can reach the point of hyper vigilance and cause us to  miss out on some the richest experiences life makes available to us.   Many of the neighborhoods many consider ‘too dangerous’ feature a treasure trove of architectural masterpieces, fantastic food, and the best rail fan locations to be found.  Is it worth missing out on this bounty because of caution that extends beyond all bounds of reason?   Not for me. 

When we erroneously label a neighborhood as ‘the rough part of town’ we run the risk of missing out on some of the most textured, culturally interesting, and fascinating areas of the country.  We miss out on some of the best life has to offer and that truly is a shame.

Old Dogs, New Tricks (February  2009)

Recently I announced to my now teenage son that there would be a new after school routine with respect to getting homework done.   He was less than pleased with the new plan stating, " I liked the old system (i.e. procrastination). You know I don't like change".    In a nutshell, he summed up human nature in general.  By design, we generally don't feel comfortable with change and prefer to stay with the old way of doing things even when simpler and more effective techniques and skills would make our lives easier and measurably better.

The above certainly applies to model building.  Over the past decade there has been an explosion in the number of new techniques, tools, and materials that can make our models look so much better.  In most cases the newer methods are even easier than the old methods we cling to so ferociously.   For  example, for some time my son had been suggesting to me that I make myself familiar with the  YouTube web video site.   Even though it was a ridiculously simple matter of entering a few key strokes, the luddite in me resisted.   In my view YouTube was for hip youngsters and as such would have no appeal to a dinosaur as un-hip as myself.  Eventually he wore me down though and opened up a new world  with infinite applications to model railroading and rail fanning.   Interested in a 'how to' modeling video?  Just enter the topic in YouTube's search window.  Want a video of the Miami River?  A few mouse clicks offers up stunning footage of a pair of tugs hauling a container ship right through the area I'm modeling.   Why did I resist learning something that was so simple and yet ultimately so helpful?  Its in our DNA.

Whether its model building or other aspects of our lives we need to develop a self-awareness of our natural resistance to trying new things.  On the modeling front, I sit down at the beginning of each year and list two or three new modeling skills that I hope to develop over the next twelve months.   On this years list: learning to use the Alclad brand of metallic lacquer paints and  improving my skills in the area of photographic lighting so I don't have to spend so much time color correcting my photos with an editor.   Everybody has their own list of new skills they'd like to acquire.  Listed below are some suggestions.  Why not give yourself a gentle nudge to cross a few off your list each year.

These are just  a few examples off of the top of my head.   Sources of information include the internet, DVD's, seminars, magazines, and input from fellow modelers.   Drop me a line next year and let me know how you did on your list.

A First Step  (4/23/2008)

If you use Atlas, Peco, or Walthers flex track.  Paint it a darker color to downplay the oversize details

My hope for this site is that it be a resource for fellow modelers interested in improving their overall modeling results.   All of this is nothing more than words in the ether of the internet if none of the ideas are ever put into practice.   Today lets focus on one easy to implement technique that will result in a dramatic improvement in the overall appearance of your model railroad.  Specifically, lets address the subject of track and ballast.   Railroads run on track so getting this element looking right will go a long ways towards making your layout look better.   As with most areas of model railroading, good results are more a result of proper material and color selection than any magic skill.

For beginners or those with limited time I suggest the Atlas code 83 product.  Its readily available, economical, and has at least passable appearance.  For those looking for the highest level of flex track detail you'll have to move up to the Micro Engineering product line.   To keep things simple lets start with the Atlas brand.   From a distance the track looks acceptable but the spikes are fairly oversize.  The number one rule of color is to use darks to downplay imperfections and use lighter color to highlight details.  Since the Atlas track is 'imperfect' its important to paint it a dark color.  Do not paint the rail tan or rust or you will highlight the out of scale and oversize imperfections in this product.   We will use two colors, both in aerosol spray cans.  You will need Floquil Grimy black and Floquil Roof brown.  Again, both in spray cans (available from Walthers).   The order of application is important.   Until you get the hang of it just do short sections of rail at a time.   First, spray the rail with Roof Brown.  The order is important so do the brown first.  Do a series of light dusting puffs until the rail and ties are covered.   After that is done, switch cans and give some subtle light puffs from above and the sides with Floquil Grimy Black.   Before the paint dries, wipe the rail heads clean.  The easiest way to do this is to take a block of 1"x2" pine, wet it in mineral spirits paint thinner and simply swipe it across the rail head.  You're all done.  Not too hard was it? 

If you use finely detailed, Micro Engineering,  track then paint it a lighter color to highlight the details

Now for the ballast.  This is where material selection is crucial.  You have two choices, you can do it the hard way and get poor results or you can do it the easy way and get good results.   Lets go for the easy way.   The key is to use ballast products made from actual stone.  Woodlands Scenics has many excellent products but their ballast is not one of them!  Its tempting to go with this brand since it is so readily available but it is made from crushed walnut shells, has a texture that is too uniform and a color that is too uniform.  When you apply your glue mix to this product it will float everywhere and ultimately stick to the sides of the rail.

Here's a better way.  I prefer a supplier called Arizona Rock and Mineral Company. www.rrscenery.com  The owner, Phil Anderson, will require a minimum order of six bags.  For HO modelers I suggest you order the following: Part No 138-2 CSX blend HO scale (4bags), 138-1 CSX blend N scale (1 bag),  and part no. 1221 N scale yard mix.  The CSX blend is just a generic salt and pepper mix.  The N scale version can be mixed in with the HO scale for variety and is also handy for general soil use.  The N scale yard mix is light cinder color.

When your ballast order comes in, gently apply the ballast with a soft brush putting less down than you need and gradually fill it in with subsequent layers. Take your time, be patient and make sure no ballast particles are sticking to the rail sides or ties.  Once the loose ballast is in place, take a fine mister bottle of water and add a splash of rubbing alcohol.  Starting from several feet up lightly moisten the ballast with the mister bottle and then gradually move the mister closer to the rail.  You want the ballast to be wet through but not puddling with water.   Finally, add your fixative.  I prefer a mix of 1 part matte medium, 3 parts water, and a splash of alcohol.  Apply the fixative mix with an eye dropper or old Elmers glue bottle.  Let it dry and you're done!

What if your layout is already complete with 'orange rail' and walnut shell ballast?  Well you are kind of stuck in that you can't repaint rail once has been ballasted and removing the offending subject would be a monumental task.  My suggestion is to accept your past results and apply the newer technique to any rail that has not been laid yet.

Becoming A Better Modeler  (4/14/2008)

I've always been intrigued by the process a person goes through to develop their skills in any particular endeavor.   The actual activity is irrelevant.  It could be athletics, music, art, writing, or in our case, model building.  There will always be those who are born with great talent.   In most cases though it really comes down to desire and practice.   To say that a superior result was obtained simply because a person was born with a skill diminishes the effort it took for the person to get to that point.

Building quality models, in my view,  breaks down to 45%  proper technique and material  selection, 45% practice, and at most 10% natural talent.  Before we even get that far though there has to be a desire to be a better modeler.

I need to be clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being happy with your current state of modeling capabilities and maintaining the status quo.   If you're having a good time and enjoying what you are doing then that is what the hobby is all about.  There can not, and should not, be any apologies for your current level of modeling ability.  Here's an example.  I really enjoy fishing.  I'm a terrible fisherman.  I never catch anything.  Most of the time I don't want to catch anything.  I rarely read fishing magazines.  However, put me on a pier on quiet Sunday morning and I'm quite content.    Viewed that way its quite easy for me to understand how somebody could take a casual, superficial approach to model railroading and have a great time doing so.

For me, model railroading is different.  This is my primary hobby and the one I strive to become better at with each passing month.   If a person were to ask me for suggestions on improving their modeling skills I'd offer up the list below as a starting point.

-As stated above you need to have the DESIRE to become better.

-Learn from past mistakes.   Maybe mistake isn't the right word.   Learn to look  back on previous efforts and identify the areas that need the most improvement.

-Ask for advice

-As important, implement the advice you were given

-Develop an eye for what looks good and what does not.

-Stay abreast of the more modern techniques and materials (Static grass, etc.).  Many people cling to old materials and techniques long after more effective methods or better looking materials become available.

-Master the basics of creating clean joints and seams on your models.  Make sure things that should be straight are straight, corners are at 90 degree angles and that there are no unsightly gaps at your joints.  This is easier said than done and comes with time and practice.

-Study the work of those you strive to emulate and evaluate what is different about what they've done.

-No matter who you are, you will always be improving.  Your past efforts won't be as good as what you can do now.  Accept this and enjoy where you are on the modeling skill spectrum.    Look back on previous efforts without regret and acknowledge they were your best effort at that point in time.

-Practice.   When trying a new technique practice on a sample, off the layout, until you can produce acceptable results.

-Study high quality 'how to' DVD's

-Practice basic neatness at all levels

-Pay particular attention to color and flat sheen

-Avoid the temptation to add too many elements to your model railroad scenes.  Scene composition is very important.

-Learn how to use india ink/alcohol weathering washes.

-Learn how to use black and brown weathering chalks.

-Learn to scratch build structures.  Scratch building a structure is often easier than wrestling with a poorly manufactured kit.

-Build models on a consistent basis.  Don't go for extended periods of time without doing anything.

-Attend prototype modeling seminars

-Carefully study prototype photos and copy what you see in miniature

You can do it.... if you want to.

Tools  (4/7/2008)

I recently attended seminars put on by master modelers Mont Switzer and Bill Darnaby on the subject of model railroading tools.   As I sat down for the seminars, I prepared to be wowed by an extensive list of  expensive, ultra-sophisticated tools that would literally make my models fall together perfectly.   At the end of the seminars I was quite under whelmed.   My bubble had been burst.  There were no 'super tools'.   They don't really exist.  I laugh when I look back on it and they laugh when I recount to them how they let the air out of my balloon.   The truth is, when it comes to model railroading tools you really do not need much.   From a cost standpoint this is good news in that it means exceptional results are available to all regardless of financial resources.   Here are some basics.

-Number 11 blades.  Sharp ones and lots of them.  Change your blades often.   Single edge razor blades work equally well

-A few small screw drivers

-Hand held pin vise (aka twist drill) and small drill bits

-Tweezers

-Sandpaper in a variety of grits from 100 to 600.  Sanding sticks are handy but not necessary.

-Three or four files of varying shapes

-Pins (Straight, T, or Push) to apply glue

-Super glue (regular and gel)

-Testors liquid plastic cement

-A steel straight edge. Better yet, a steel scale rule will kill two birds with one stone.

-Optivisor magnifying glasses 

-Bragdon Weathering Chalks http://www.bragdonent.com/about.htm (Black and Chocolate Brown only) Part numbers FF-64 Soot Black, FF-69 Brown

-India Ink/Alcohol weathering wash.  Make two strengths (1 tsp Higgins ink per pint of 91% alcohol and a stronger batch made with 2 tsp per pint)

-Aerosol spray paint: Ultra Flat Black, Charcoal Primer, Light Gray Primer, Grimy Black, Roof Brown,  Rustoleum Textured Paint (sandstone color)

-TRASH CAN.  Get in the habit of discarding sub-par efforts quickly.  If a project doesn't turn out, pitch it and start anew.

Optional (Handy but not essential)

-An airbrush and compressor are nice but you can live a long time without one.

-Steel angles

-Northwest Shortline Chopper

-Dremel tool