Hi John,
A little over a month ago I was feeling the same about my own layout. If I had not joined this forum, followed the links and found Tim's philosophies on railway modelling I would probably still be exactly the same today. It is not only railway modellers, of course, who go through periods of lack of enthusiasm (which usually coincide with dissatisfaction with what one has, or lack of inspiration to find the next step in our journey). I think people involved in all kinds of creative output go through these periods - for example we've all heard of 'writer's block', but it happens to artists and musicians too.
If this helps, after using Tim's thoughts for inspiration, I sat down and honestly asked myself what I was prepared to do to make things better. I am not getting any younger and I have to do all the lifting, bending, hammering and everything else involved with dismantling (destroying?) one layout and replacing it with another. I reasoned that I am not prepared to do that at least until more space becomes available (do youngsters ever leave home these days?).
Having got past the point of total renewal, I started looking at my layout very critically, noting the things I didn't like about it. This was another enlightening experience. I had crowded the layout up with track and scenery with the subconscious idea that the more I packed in - the more realistic it would look. Worst of all, not just my layout - but the railway room itself - suffered from "gridlock" - the tracks and sidings were usually so crammed with stock it was like an inadequate motorway at peak hour - lots of vehicles but very few capable of moving. My stock cabinets, simply through buying too many items of stock over the years, were also bursting at the seams.
The first thing I did after carrying out this critique was to buy more cabinets for holding stock safely and comfortably - as many vertical drawers (to save floor space) as possible. Suddenly there was some greater sense of order in the railway room - though I would still be open to any suggestions as to what others do with the boxes that locomotives come in, seeing that they lose their value if the boxes are discarded. Now that I could work more comfortably it was time to address the layout, and the first stage has been to remove a number of sidings that seem to have had a more "scenic" than operational purpose - as an unintentionally integral part of the gridlock, these sidings seem to have had the same wagons sitting on them for months at a time - which obviously made them superfluous to layout operation.
They are now being replaced with - well.... "atmosphere" - a couple of simply placed trees and some flat field inspired by Tim's work where I can practise modelling simple landscape forms to a standard I previously had never attained to because I had never placed enough value on my modelling. This will lead into some woods as a three dimensional backdrop.
So getting this concept that if I really "had a go at it" I actually might be able to go up a level was the inspiration I needed to become enthusiastic again. Looking critically at my layout and evaluating what parts should stay and what parts should be changed was also an inspirational process - in that having decided certain parts were not doing their job, interest naturally developed into enthusiasm as I examined the options for what I would like in their place. I honestly think there was also some inner aspect involved in that where in the past I had carried a "that will do" approach to my modelling, such has been replaced with "I deserve to have better and the enjoyment will be in trying to achieve that" attitude. In other words, I think there is a direct link between enthusiasm and awareness of the need to reward oneself, which as we all know, can get lost at times in our lives for a multitude of reasons.
Looking at next year, when I plan to retire, I can even see myself having a shot at my first whitemetal loco kit, which is something I never would have considered before. I only point this out because rekindled enthusiasm can take many forms - it does not necessarily have to be a new layout, but rather a case of "what would make me happy?"
I think that we deserve the fruits of our labour in developing the skills we have learned over the years in this hobby and applying them to our benefit. We earned them. Yes - if I could back a fifty to one winner, then that would be another form of satisfaction, but unfortunately I think the horses I backed last week are still running - so I'll stick to improving my railway modelling skills.
Best wishes,
Richard
A size comparison with a HO T5
The amazing thing is that Marklin only made Minex for 3 years (1970-1973) so this stuff is over 30 years old already!
Post Van
I am a fair way through the building process with this. I still have to do the doors, finish the painting and glaze the windows but it is progressing.
rungenwagon
OK so narrow gauge lines did not have any of these, but I like them so have built 3 of them.
Boxcar number
A friend lent me his Minex box car so that I could get some measurements from it.
I only got the camera yesterday so am still working out how to use it. Apologies that the pictures are a bit dark.
John