Montfort's Bridge

[Montfort]

I dumped all that junk in the trash can. I don't have the skills to build this layout. End of the story. Sorry for this waste of time.

[Walkingthedog]

That’s a shame it is an incredibly simple layout. It would be worth persevering, we all had to start somewhere.

[RogerB]

It looks to me as though you made a good start on the scenery - I'd be happy with it. See if you can resurrect it from the trash can. If not try something else. This hobby has a lot of problem solving associated with it. You'll be fine, keep going. R-

[Montfort]

Thanks gentlemen for your support.

See if you can resurrect it from the trash can.

Too late...

[Walkingthedog]

Oh that really is a shame.

[bulleidboy]

It's never going to be 100% perfect first time out - we've all put stuff down, moved it, changed our mind, gone back to as it was originally. Then just after you've finished and are happy with it - you think of something else you could do. It's what modelling is all about. Have another go! BB

[Mountain Goat]

Also. Don't compare your unique abilities with others. The funnis in trying new things. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Learning is fun.

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

I've been revising and rebuilding and improving my layout for about 4 years. I think that sometimes modelers want to come into the hobby able to produce perfection which they see in other's efforts yet don't realise that the people they are trying to emulate have spent years acquiring their skills.

I've been building models for well over 60 years - I began with the birth of polystyrene kits and just kept on. About 5 years ago I came back to railway modeling as a change from aircraft. I had previous layout construction experience but that was in the late 70s so although I knew the basics the modern advances were a steep learning curve. I didn't expect my first efforts to be the best and I reckon that if I get another 10 years of modeling under the belt they still won't be the best, but I build for my enjoyment not to compete with others.

My suggestion is learn from others and try to emulate the best but don't become competitive. Modeling isn't a race it's just an enjoyable if sometimes frustrating hobby.

[Mountain Goat]

I've been revising and rebuilding and improving my layout for about 4 years. I think that sometimes modelers want to come into the hobby able to produce perfection which they see in other's efforts yet don't realise that the people they are trying to emulate have spent years acquiring their skills.

I can relate to some of what you have said there but in a slightly different way. When my key interest was 00 gauge I could alter or repaint models and my efforts were just about passable. However, while I enjoyed finer and finer models they made my older RTR models stand out, let alone my efforts at making things! Also when I went into DCC and then I tried DCC sound, it was all so good that I sat there and thought that even with the well paid job I was in back then, it not only began to get expensive to equip the other locos with sound, with the various different standards it was difficult to have a consistent approach. I lost heart a bit then when I saw some lovely fine layouts in magazines where they had some 60 or more DCC sound locos (Where just the sound decoder & speaker cost £100 each loco) and everything started to get more and more expensive to keep up with the latest trends etc.
I was becoming a little fed up with things and took a bit of a break. I bought a model yacht with the idea of relaxing on the bank of a pond... Urmm. No chance! I didn't realize the term "Racing Yacht" really meant racing yacht and it would almost put the motored type speed boats to shame!
I then found myself after only a short break, going back to model railways, only this time I'd decided to actually build a little 7mm narrow gauge kit I had purchased and since then I've had a renewed interest in model railways. (Anyone want to buy a yacht? ).
Now one thing I have found. While I am not actually sure if my skills are better then they used to be, but the methods I have learnt have vastly improved. 7mm narrow gauge requires both kit building and scratchbuilding and I have to say that it is more about learning the right methods that work for each individual then it is about having any great skill or talent.
While I have pushed the boundaries into making things that I simply would not have attempted before, I have purposely designed my builds to be achieveable.... Not only for me, but for those who may want to copy what I've made. There are a few exceptions where I must say that I would not advise for a beginner to tackle that I've built. These being to cram in a Lima class 09 chassis onto a Smallbrook Studio Cadera kit, and to make a hybrid Triang\Modern Hornby 0-4-0 chassis as in both cases there was more involved then I had expected.

[Montfort]

Thanks for your support. OK folks, you won ! The Montfort's Bridge shunting/switching layout is back on the workbench for a new try.