chris a posted:Dave, thanks for the kind words. Still recovering from major shoulder surgery, (week 14), so I need to keep busy, and keep moving. I won't be able to go back to restoring old windows till early 19, so I have a window of opportunity here to try and get this to the point where trains can run all the way around the main line. I don't know about achieving excellence, but I am trying to continuously improve, and always striving for excellence. The results are pleasing and I can see definite improvements since I started this a couple of years ago.
When I can finally run a train on the entire 220 foot mainline that's when the "enjoyment" and sense of achievement will really hit me.
Definitely learning new things everyday. Most of the techniques I am employing now, I have read about over the years, but never put into practice - like use the widest radius curves space will allow, don't lay too many tracks, roads or scenery in straight parallel lines, even small elevation changes and grades, and wide sweeping curves, add to the realism. Of course all these things make the build process longer, but in my case, this whole layout is designed and built in modules that can be taken down, moved and set up again.
So, I keep telling myself, the extra time spent now building in modules, won't be wasted as it won't have to be demolished to be moved, inherited, or sold off.
I had bought a bunch of wide radius ross curved track, 096 up to 0128, but now I am realizing I really get better smoother turns with transition "easements", by bending gargraves flex track. I might end up with quite a bit of Ross leftover,as I am starting to enjoy, and getting more proficient, bending the gargraves.
I will concur with the idea of learning a lot of techniques but not using them. I have, in the last 2 years or so, become "brave" enough to take chances. For the most part I have been relatively successful and pleased with results. Even with those things that I wasn't so successful with I don't believe I was too far off the mark. I am learning that sometimes "mistakes" actually yield good results and this has motivated me to keep moving, trying, and experimenting.
When it is all said and done, I don't have unlimited funds to hire someone to do things for me and when I have, I have insisted on working along side them to learn. Most importantly doing things on your own is one of the best parts of this hobby (IMHO). This is not to say having a couple of buddies over to do some landscaping, etc. doesn't have its place but, for me, should be done for comradery not necessarily out of need.
Seeing guys on the forum, like yourself, accomplish such great results is great. Especially when you give details on your work.
Dave
