Let the side down?!? Not having that!

Maybe you just need to go with the flow for a while ... not set yourself any targets other than to enjoy what you're doing and see where that leads. If you put yourself under pressure then you're not going to enjoy it and you're going to be even more critical of yourself.

What you've done with Highclere is inspirational stuff for 2mm scale newbies like me and I'm sure you'll get your get your mojo back soon. In the meantime, wave bye bye to the old year and welcome in the new one like a long lost friend.

David V

Thank you David.

Im glad that some of my work has been inspirational. Over 2012 and previously that has kept me going and producing stuff although it has focused me towards developing new ideas and techniques. I guess I do try to stay of the forefront of modelling and that is not as easy as it seems these days. I guess I need to know where this is all heading really, its not that I am giving up, its quite the opposite, asking here seemed the best way of getting some advice..

I DO want to finish Highclere but its not where my enjoyment is right now, as you say its a hobby after all and I shouldnt get frustrated by it but sadly I do.

Thanks for the reply though David, I wish you a happy 2013 too.

It's funny how it goes sometimes. I've been using modelling to help me recover from an operation I had in September and it's stopped me going any crazier than I already am ... but at the same time it's become something of a chore instead of being fun. However, I'm pretty sure that once I'm back at work it'll become fun again because it'll revert to being a hobby.

As long as the ideas keep coming for you then I'm sure all will be well.

All the best for 2013.

David

In my experience, logic, discipline and common sense aren't all that enjoyable. Go with whatever takes your fancy at the time!

You set the standard so high for yourself that it is not easy to achieve. The challenge is rewarding but the road is a struggle. 

I too make little to no progress on the layout (It's gone backwards and not gone forwards this year where I cut out the switch rails and haven't replaced the TOUs yet) because I get distracted by all the other things I want to do, and those I don't or that postpone modelling (a badly sprained wrist and decorating).

I would echo everything Branwell has said thus far except for not setting targets. I like to try and set myself targets to finish just one or two things. Realising what the realistic timescale is has a learning curve because things always take me much longer than I think they will. Don't set many! As an example last summers target was to paint the items atop the bookshelf that were complete and to complete and paint the items very nearly complete. I didn't manage all of them and the target was adjusted. Some models are still not complete, awaiting couplings, but I made a good amount of progress and removed some of the items from my WIP that have languished for many years. 

I can only agree with everyone else's comments and sentiments.  Seeing what you have achieved with Highclere and the ancillary projects that you have documented are what has helped bring me back to the dark side.

After many years away from the hobby a spell of stress and depression a couple of years ago lead me to discover RMweb and gave me the inspiration to begin again on my P4 layout that had been collecting dust in the attic for some 15 years (I like to think that the modelling was also good therapy to help get me back on the straight and narrow).

Since then I have decided to abandon that project and move back to 2mm Scale modelling - A former love that I could never quite get on with because I had failed in the 1980's to produce a working locomotive (I still haven't got one but the advent of chassis kits hopefully will resolve that :-) ) - your (and various others) blog entries were instrumental in that move back to 2mm.

I wish you well in whatever projects you move onto next, and hopefully Highclere will feature in those sometimes.  I look forward to reading about your next project what ever it may be.  All the best for 2013.

Ian

Hi Julia -

First I endorse every compliment extended to you in the other posts - 'Highclere' has always been an inspiration.  Others have also commented on what I call the 'Black Dog' in modelling - the occasional loss of direction/inspiration and the oft-occurring wish to 'try something new' (in my case I call it 'Butterfly Syndrome'!)

The problem with this is that we end up achieving very little in the long term.  This came home to me about 12 moths ago with the loss of Peter Denny - to whom the term 'butterfly' could never be applied!  He of course(over a period of fifty years) built the 'Buckingham lines', never deviating from his original goal or parameters.  Consequently, whilst both he and I were involved in modelling over a similar period, he had a layout that was a railway system in miniature whilst I had a succession of baseboards in various scale & gauges collecting dust on their unfinished tops!

I'm just hoping that who ever is in charge 'up there' gives me sufficient time to rectify my mistake!

Congratulations on your 2mm SA appointment BTW - I'm sure we will all benefit from it (but don't let your own modelling suffer!)

Regards

Ian

Julia,

As someone who has let the side down big-style (my last blog update was 18 months ago! ) it's a bit cheeky of me to offer suggestions, but I thought I'd put a few thoughts down anyway.

Having failed to convince you yesterday that a model of a North Yorkshire railway is the way to go(!), I'd like to see you do a little NG layout but would be concerned that you'd get the same problem as with Highclere in that you'd lose enthusiasm part-way through. Perhaps you could take a bit of time away from the Highclere layout and work on things like locos and stock for it instead. Then when you've finished those you might get the enthusiasm back to do a bit more on the layout itself. I think doing a few 'run of the mill' projects like wagons, coaches, etc. might help your confidence a bit - as others have said, when you're pushing the boundaries of what's possible as much as you have been doing, it gets a bit much if you have a few things that don't work (or take a lot of effort to get working). Some nice anchor-mount tank wagon kits (etched chassis and 3D printed or resin-cast tanks) would possibly satisfy the experimenting 'itch' too. And then when you do finish the layout, you'll have plenty of things to play trains with!

Anyway, I look forward to seeing more blog updates in 2013 regardless of what you decide to do.. . And maybe I'll restart my blog sometime soon too... .

Andy

Thanks for the replies folks. Its definitely where forums like this have its advantages.

I would firstly like to say that I am not giving up or thinking of giving up modelling. True it can be frustrating at times but I enjoy it too much to give in, that and I have invested too much time and money too! I am full of ideas I would like to try out but just cannot seem to get the time to do any of them!

Its fantastic to know that some of my stuff has been inspirational to others, that to an extent is part of what keeps me going and its good to know that I am paving my own way in the 2mm world.That too has its disadvantages though when others use some of my ideas for their own personal gain without any acknowledgement (but that's another discussion).

There has been some great advice posted above so thanks again. To be honest I still don't know where I am heading but one thing I do know is that I have the support of others, its something that the 2mmSA is not short of. I think this year I am going to just go with the flow and see what happens. I really do apologise to the exhibition managers though who keep on asking me to take Highclere to shows though, I can just ask to be patient.

Missy

PS Does anyone know where I can find some scale drawings of the W&L steam engines?

Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway locos. I think it's The Earl/Countess that Julia is looking for drawings for.

Andy

Sorry yes, Andy was right, the Welshpool and Llanfair railway.

I am tempted by a small NG / SG layout but I really need to be 100% convinced myself that it wont end up like Highclere.

Thank you for the help and advice though...

Keep up the good work- but in your own time. You just do what you want, when you want.

I think your experiments with FUD are interesting, but I'm not sure the technology is yet up to it. That said, without pushing the boundaries, we will never know where the limits are, and I take my hat off to you for your perserverance. 

The enthusiasm will come back, when it's ready.

Thank you Richard.

I think you are right, 3D printing is nearly there but not quite. Give it a year or two and Im sure it will be a very desirable technology for us modellers.

Thanks for the vote of confidence too...