Ready, Set, New Mistakes

I've finally started my 1950's waterfront themed layout; albeit a small one at 2'x 10'. It's sitting on some lightweight benchwork (as seen in our new video download). The benchwork is as minimal as can be - just PVC pipe and a hollow core door. It's not the kind you can stand on, but sturdy enough to hold some foam, scenery and some structures - trains too.

So now I'll have something to work on when I get stuck in the mud on my modern day layout. I think this can work out; keeping my interests in both eras alive.

I 'm ready to make some new mistakes; I love making mistakes, screwing up my layout and tearing sections out and starting over. This might not work for some people, maybe not for most. It works for me. By default anything I work on is always a blank piece of paper for which I can exercise my right to crumple it up and toss it in the trash. It comes from drawing, sketching. Working on a model railroad is replete with moments of precision, but I tend to let large brush strokes make decisions for me sometimes; as opposed to a measured, calculated one. When you work like that; sometimes the brush gets away from you - you can over reach.

So what? So you start over. I'm almost always having fun while doing it so it doesn't bother me to start a anew. I'm enjoying just seeing my marker lines on the pink foam, anticipating what's to come.

Since I've made so many mistakes and learned from many of them, I won't be trying to over crowd my waterfront. It's what tripped me up in the past. I've been drawing the same track plan for the last ten years with a list of must haves; car float, pier on pilings, pier with stone walls, low tidal flats, tug boats, etc...if I get one of those elements in successfully I'll be content. I'm going to try harder less. Do less. We'll see how that goes.