Recent op session.

 I enjoy this hobby, for the most part.

I’ve had, what I consider, a difficult time adapting to this “new” environment. I say new, it’s been eleven (11) years since we moved to Virginia. I’ve struggled to make new friends. To be honest it’s mostly been my fault. I’m an acquired taste, and like me everyone else is set in their ways. I mean I’m nearly always the youngest guy at any session, and I’m 65. THAT says a lot about this hobby.

I think keeping my head down and just build this thing is my best option.

It’s the keeping my head down that’s the toughest part. I’m too extroverted. THAT says a lot.

As I’m building I’m sharing progress pictures. As I share, I’m getting a lot of comments. For the most part they are fairly much of a muchness, “Looking Good”. I think that is one of the canned responses provided by one’s telephone in response to incoming text photos, and no one wants to take the time to THINK and reply.

The reply’s that are not canned vary, but generally are not all that encouraging. Ouch.

My choice of building materials is eliciting a lot of comments. For the flat benchwork I’m using OSB. I know, Old Shitty Board. It’ll be fine, unless it isn’t. There is a tread in the hobby to use drywall, or foam. I cannot bring myself to use either.

I’m not intending to stand on this benchwork, but I lean on it pretty hard. Breaking drywall with my hand, arm, or elbow is not all that uncommon for me. Foam would probably be about the same or worse. Building land forms would be better with foam. Attaching caboose ground throws, not so much with foam. I’ve been to several layouts where loose ground throws are a nuisance.

I’m guessing super glue would fix that.

But I learned early that “There is no substitute to a strong mechanical connection”, and in the past I screwed my ground throws down to plywood benchwork with small wood screws. They never moved.

I’m plagued with nightmares of not being able to replicate “fills”, when the right of way is built up on an embankment that is well above grade. Because of my building style, I do not make allowance for the track level to rise above the grid benchwork. I build the grid, cover it with plywood, and have a flat surface. My land forms can only go up, not down. This is a problem.

Some re-thinking of the basic construction design will have to appear to rectify this.

Sub road bed: I’m going to use cork, but very little of the traditional commercial cork roadbed is available now. I have options. Cork underlayment from Home Depot is available. It is nearly the same thickness, and I own a table saw. I don’t relish the time on the saw and wear and tear on my wit’s ripping 2” strips. I don’t have as many fingers to sacrifice these days*.

I’m not inclined to take much help. On AIR1 the help I got was not good. There, I said it. Early advice, and help yielded disastrous results, and long term problems both mechanical and in personnel management. There has been some discussion amongst layout builders, nationally, about “helpers” leveraging advantage when operations begin, to the chagrin of the layout owners, so I’m not alone there*.

What does this have to do with a recent op sessions? All of this, and more was weighing on my mind during the recent op session. Model railroading is fun.




*I still have all ten, but two recent accidents were traumatic, not to fingers but psychologically. I know, I know, get a push stick. Shut up!

*Seriously? I mean, it’s a damned model railroad, how did it get so screwed up?


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