I must stop being so hard on myself about procrastinating.
Some of it is down to my neuro-diversity, but often, there are actually good underlying reasons for it.
I've not got much real modelling done since I came to a full stop on Flemish Quay nearly three years ago, for the reasons I mentioned at the time.
It is a shame because I liked its composition and simplicity.
In the last month I've realised my modelling has been suffering from Technical Debt. In the IT world, we talk a lot about Technical Debt. It is one of those catch-all buzzwords that essentially means all the current costs incurred because of past investments, decisions, and work that might have been right at the time.
Flemish Quay is an example. I should have scrapped the warehouse and started again once I realised I'd miscalulated the clearances for the door. In fact, had I got a supply of Busch track, I would start from scratch, with the same plan but with refinements here and there to take into account the things that didn't quite work or were always experiments. But I did love the basic idea and composition.
As it is, it is sitting forlornly on the very highest display unit in my office, gathering dust.
.
Not only that, but the remaining construction items, including the parts needed to build a new warehouse, the missing lifting bridge, and all the stock, are filling up quite a remarkable number of storage boxes for such a small project. And so are all my other small projects. Even the Cadeby-based micro, which I'll come back to later.
It is only a year after moving and three years after we started packing, ready to move, that I've had a chance to sort through my modelling boxes. It isn't easy because a lot are in the loft space, which is absolutely full of a mixture of model supplies, photographic gear, my business book library, and Issy's seasonal decorations. And hidden at the back, everything I need to build TAoC once I can free up the space to get to it.
With my mother away for a few weeks, I've taken the chance to reorganise my office/studio to make modelling easier. Just a bit of 3D Tetris has created the ideal space for my Hobby Zone units. That has made a huge difference. Having most of my tools back in easy reach in one place makes it so much easier to just get on and do things. Especially those tiny little jobs that tend to build up in a backlog. I've got lots of little soldering jobs to do, none of which would justify getting an iron out by themself.
Then there is all the 7/8ths and 16mm stock, including a LOT of unbuilt kits. In my defence, you never know how long 7/8ths of products will be available, so it makes sense to have stockpiled them. I do at least have all the 7/8ths stock I need, but both built and unbuilt models take up an awful lot of space by the nature of the scale. Having lived with the garden for a year, and worked out where the dogs do most damage to it, I'm now clearer on my idea for the eventual garden railways. I plan to have a stock-building campaign in early spring and then prioritise building the 16mm line for the grandchildren to play with.
That gives me a couple of months to focus on indoor projects. As well as Gerralt Rd, I'm going to think about restoring/rebuilding Flemish Quay and the Cadeby pastiche. Whilst I've got the scenic stuff, like tree armatures and static grass, on the worktop, I might as well start on a Mosslanda photo plank, and I seem to have accidentally acquired everything I need for a Titchfield diorama.
As for Gerralt Rd, I'm still not 100% sold on the final composition, but I'm currently working on the Penybontfawr station building, having revised my approach to it. I suspect I will still need a couple of attempts before I'm happy.
This brings me to the buffer stops. Subconsciously, the question of buffer stops has been one reason for my lack of progress. It makes sense when I think about it. I learned on Apa that it is hard to retrofit detail once the track is painted, ballasted and landscaped. The bufferstops need to be seamlessly integrated with the scene, and there are three of them in a key visual position. The problem is, all the commercial N gauge products are unbelievably crude in comparison to the Finetrax track.
Of course, as a member, I know about the 2mm society GWR bufferstop kit, but, stupidly, I didn't look at them because I presumed they would be specific to 9,42mm gauge. Of course, they aren't...
That gives me a couple of months to focus on indoor projects. As well as Gerralt Rd, I'm going to think about restoring/rebuilding Flemish Quay and the Cadeby pastiche. Whilst I've got the scenic stuff, like tree armatures and static grass, on the worktop, I might as well start on a Mosslanda photo plank, and I seem to have accidentally acquired everything I need for a Titchfield diorama.
As for Gerralt Rd, I'm still not 100% sold on the final composition, but I'm currently working on the Penybontfawr station building, having revised my approach to it. I suspect I will still need a couple of attempts before I'm happy.
This brings me to the buffer stops. Subconsciously, the question of buffer stops has been one reason for my lack of progress. It makes sense when I think about it. I learned on Apa that it is hard to retrofit detail once the track is painted, ballasted and landscaped. The bufferstops need to be seamlessly integrated with the scene, and there are three of them in a key visual position. The problem is, all the commercial N gauge products are unbelievably crude in comparison to the Finetrax track.
Of course, as a member, I know about the 2mm society GWR bufferstop kit, but, stupidly, I didn't look at them because I presumed they would be specific to 9,42mm gauge. Of course, they aren't...
