12-22-2011, 05:46 PM
Hi Justin,
Many modelers enjoy the creative process of developing a theme and track plan. You seem to have struck that chord for a lot of members. The length and longevity of your thread bears that out. If your favorite part of the hobby is to design plans, that's cool. You say however, that you want to build a layout, so I offer this advice:
Dare to fail. There is no perfect track plan. Your design might have some flaws but you can improve them later. After running trains I've changed some of the sidings and spurs on my layout more than once, and I dare say most of us have done that over time.
Reconcile the idea that making a decision will mean compromising or sacrificing some elements of railroading you enjoy. We can't have everything. Choose the most interesting and pleasing elements and let the others go.
Use self-discipline in decision making. Select your five favorite themes (no more than five). Write them on a list. After two days cross off two of them. Set yourself a deadline of one week to choose one of the three. Stay with that choice and build!
I'm not a motivational speaker...and I don't live in a van down by the river (old SNL reference) but I'd like to encourage you to make a choice and start working on that layout!
Ralph
Many modelers enjoy the creative process of developing a theme and track plan. You seem to have struck that chord for a lot of members. The length and longevity of your thread bears that out. If your favorite part of the hobby is to design plans, that's cool. You say however, that you want to build a layout, so I offer this advice:
Dare to fail. There is no perfect track plan. Your design might have some flaws but you can improve them later. After running trains I've changed some of the sidings and spurs on my layout more than once, and I dare say most of us have done that over time.
Reconcile the idea that making a decision will mean compromising or sacrificing some elements of railroading you enjoy. We can't have everything. Choose the most interesting and pleasing elements and let the others go.
Use self-discipline in decision making. Select your five favorite themes (no more than five). Write them on a list. After two days cross off two of them. Set yourself a deadline of one week to choose one of the three. Stay with that choice and build!
I'm not a motivational speaker...and I don't live in a van down by the river (old SNL reference) but I'd like to encourage you to make a choice and start working on that layout!
Ralph