SPLAT! - Why did I SQUASH this N Scale card building?
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- When is enough enough? Once you've made one too many mistakes or compromises on a building and you're no longer enjoying the making experience, don't be afraid to throw it out and start again. That's what I did this week with a card scratch-build that simply wasn't going together properly.
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Hi Michael. You convinced me. I built my first n scale model of an old local signal box. I was not happy with it but thought, so the window was wonky and i put solid windows in, instead of panels, but who’s to know. Well I know and it’s going the same way as yours. I can do better and I will do better. Thanks for making my mind up for me. Ray
Do what feels right. Go for it!
The demonstration of the strength of the structure aside, you were wise to scrap it and start over. Too many times we will settle because we’ve invested resources (time, effort, materials) and we’re taught not to waste any of those. The trick is to recognize the time spent as lessons learned, the effort helps define what you’re willing to “live with”, and it’s a lot easier to set aside a few pieces of card than more expensive materials. Thanks for the video!
Indeed. Very wise words.
Michael. Such wise words. I know just how you felt. Trouble is I feel that way after almost everything I build. Pete.
Hahah oh dear!!
I think it's to show us that Yorkshire men wear shorts in April!
Definitely!
I've filled many a black bin bag with my failed buildings. If I feel like the buildings gone wrong, I put it down and leave it for at least a week before making the choice on bin or repair, and it's usually bin!
Indeed!
i have always thought once the experience had been gained there would never be a need to start over. I learned something today.
I think as experience is gained your standards increase, so there's always a point where you will think "this is not good enough". Never be afraid to accept that you would be happier if you restarted, no matter where that cut-off point is for you personally. Four years ago I would have been incredibly proud of this that I've just thrown out.
You reminded me of a passage in a Fantasy Book I once read that hit home.
Boy: “Why do you put so much effort into decorating that piece of iron hidden under the wagon when nobody will see it?”
Blacksmith: “I will not disgrace my master by producing something I am not proud of. Moreover, I will see that wagon every day as it passes by, it will shame me if I did a poor job.”
Even if it was hidden you will be reminded every time you look at that building. Good decision.
Love that.
Thanks for your honesty… you’re so proficient at this, to see your mistakes encourages me as I try to get better at what I’m making. Appreciated!
Glad it was helpful!
It's amazing how strong those buildings are.
I've put so many poorly built models in the "scratch" box, only to throw them out later when I run out of room.
If you're not happy with it, better to redo it now than try to live with those errors that irk you. Cheers!
Yes indeed.
Just checking the calendar Michael... It's not still April 1st is it...? Only kidding. That's one of the best videos I have ever seen. A lesson we should all value. 👍 Muchos Gracias
Wow, thanks!
Michael, this is a great video on several levels. First and foremost, it's great to demonstrate to less experienced modelers that sometimes, even the experts make mistakes, and that recovering from those mistakes is what allows us to improve. Second, your philosophy of not settling for something which might be good enough when you know you can do better is admirable. I believe the Japanese call this kaizen. Last (and not at all least) I was stunned at your very graphic demonstration of how strong your card structures are. I *guarantee* that none of my styrene or wood structures would stand up (no pun intended!) nearly so well. All the best.
Thank you so much, and you speak wise words. The "bar" is set at a different height for each of us, and it all depends on our own abilities and standards. It's important to be true to your own bar and pay no attention to the bar of others.
One of the most difficult lessons in mastering any creative field is becoming confident enough in your work that you can throw something away and start again.
It's true for every kind of visual artist.
It's true for every kind of writer.
It's true for amateur crafters.
It's true for professional artisans and tradespeople.
It's true for programmers.
It can even be true for engineers.
Ideas are endless and we shouldn't get attached to any single one of them.
Every iteration yields better results or deeper understanding of the problems at hand.
Unless an external deadline or constraint says otherwise, always be fearless about discarding work in progress as just a prototype. It was still worth the time invested.
I love these wise words!
Fabulous lesson in knowing when to quit. Really useful. Thanks for sharing. Roy.
Very welcome
I’ve knocked down garden walls with the mortar still green as when sitting looking at it, that little fudge that I thought wouldn’t really notice or the curve being too tight or wide which would then influence the next bit of the steps or whatever just meant it’s time to bale out now. Not be irked by it for years to come as if it only took a reflective brew to have me seeing a better solution, then I know I can’t live with it. The Mk11 is always an improvement
Mk2 is ALWAYS an improvement.
best way ... we want to be/become happy with building our models ... spending time is our way ... sometimes I did it twice
I've attempted windows twice on a few occasions but so far, not a complete building!
@@ChandwellI build my complete model railroad layout twice and the last two years and the nex following years there are some parts of the new layout, which were new build or will ... @Chandwell
It's actually getting those tiny things, the ones that others say 'that'll do', that makes things right. Near enough isn't good enough.
Indeed!
Bless you, I've been there, done that💜✌️😊
Your work ie excellent and so is your judgement.
Even after 52 years of model making, it can still happen - I had similar with a heavily kit bashed signalbox in 7mm.
My work was okay, good, almost clever, going well, but there was something off about the plastic substrate (it seemed 'soapier' than a previous SB Id built from the same make of kit - that plastic was much harder though and I should have realised something was adrift then, but ploughed on, staying 'positive') and yet with my trusted, mild, solvent used on it, it warped. I could have rectified it (not a satisfactory methodology), but it would never have been right. So £15 of materials and countless hours were binned. I salvaged the evergreen strip and parts (strangely they almost fell away from the model - and they'd been solvent welded too, thus more weirdness), steps, roof etc for the spare-parts box and I moved on.
Ive another brand of SB to kit bash and I'm a little nervous but I know that there's nowt wrong with the plastic substrate nor the solvent, nor the Plastikard ® additions this time as its been part built for 5 years!😀🤕🙄
It is heartbreaking, it does knock one's confidence, but needs must✌️😊💜👍
Superb tale. Thank you for sharing.
Lessons for life Michael!
Well done
Indeed!
Michael Unusual video, but with your reasoning totally understandable. After all this is your model railway something you see everyday. We the viewer are just observers, we can make suggestions and helpful advice & comments, but it is your ultimately your railway. Pleased you managed to save the Kebab Shop interior.. Wow you have answered the question of how strong your homemade buildings are. What your doing is the opposite to Gentrification, when selecting buildings from what is thought to be the nicer places and making them look old worn out very Chandwell. This also the case in the real places look round the corner or back and you can find them. On a recent visit to Harrogate looking up at grand building saw very Chandwell like broaded up and broken windows.Ian
Always lots of things when you look up!
Well done. I have treated our house like that as we prepared to move. There still seems a lot left but it definitely feels much better after decluttering. Didn’t jump up and down on anything though. Will eventually get back to The Harland Light Railway but it is now packed up. 😊
I think a "Carol Flavin jumping up and down on a building" episode would be most entertaining and completely unexpected. Next 1 April, perhaps?
@@Chandwell 🤣 good idea. I enjoyed the squashing video. Might be a little while until I can do any railway modelling but I have a good sized room to move it in to. So I will get back to it as soon as I can!
love the vid keep up the great work you have inspired me to build my own N scale rail works
Go for it!
I've done this many times, it's now become part of my M.O. Perfection wasn't born yesterday.
Indeed!
All the advice to scrap it and start again was good advice. It's right next to your (recently framed) station and in line of sight from your work bench, so it would have just annoyed you. I spent two years, off and on, on a large building for my OO layout. I saved it for my next layout, it just didn't fit, no matter what I did, so I did the same as you - stomped it to death! Onwards and upwards Michael. Cheers
Onwards!
Although a building might appear perfect to other people, model building is very much about the personal "feeling" / opinion of once own work. Riding a dead horse is not the right thing to go in the case, once is not content with the outcome after all. As sad as it might be: to start again often brings improved results, du to the aquired knowledge.
All in all: Right decision made, Michael!
All the best
Valentin
Very wise words, Valentin!
This video didn't go where I was expecting, I thought it was going to be about an unusual technique to produce a dilapidated building haha, well, I guess technically it is now, just one that features on the layout
That would be an extreme technique!
Dear Michael, I am of the humble opinion that weighing the pros and cons of proceeding with a model or project can indeed be difficult. I do agree with you that sometimes it’s necessary to completely start over. However, when we’re talking art, it is a known fact that persistence can also lead to the very best results. For me, it doesn’t necessarily matter if such persistence includes a full restart, or just a new approach towards the final product or goal. Sometimes it’s indeed about the mistakes and how they’re solved which makes the difference for a project. Yes, I do understand when the added mistakes end up under the weight of the very foot soles, which otherwise would have brought the model to its presentation of modeling excellence. In that sense it truly doesn’t matter where we lay the threshold of good, less good, moderate until absolutely bad. Is it about achieving the straight lines, or is it gonna be about the representation of dilapidation? When modeling decay, the stepped crevices of mortar lines makes walls bulge, bend out or inwards. Of course that’s harder to model, because it doesn’t fit into the right angle jig. Plus, maybe I should add there, that modeling in N scale requires a different approach there than I’m implying with these words. Nevertheless, with such a thought in mind I at least find it useful to consider and reconsider. Hence, I may make a second version, and may keep the first attempt just as a reminder. And of course I’m aware modeling in HO scale is sort of easier in this context and scale. All in all this is just my train of thought on this subject. Love the way you brought it up. Cheerio
Very wise words and observations - you are absolutely correct. This is all about personal standards and about what you ultimately want to achieve. I may have kept the bulge if there was not already lots I'd noticed but ignored. There are many more parts of Chandwell which were the happy results of mistakes. It's a fascinating subject, isn't it!?
@@Chandwell yep
Good for you!
Thanks!
The CZcams world is sometimes too "clean" in not showing the dark side of the process. I applaud you for not only making the decision to start this one over, but to share everything with your viewers. I'm sorry that you had to start over, but I bet by sharing this you will convince at least a couple people to not give up. Modeling can be a challenge, N-Scale makes it that much more so. Mistakes WILL be made, but look at what you learned. Keep up the great work and thank you for helping me get started in papercraft modeling for my own layout!
Chandwell is anything but clean! And yes you speak wise words indeed.
I know where you are coming from Michael, I have had to `bite the bullet` and start again but like you said you feel a lot better second time round when the object is how it should be (in your eyes) many thanks for sharing a topic that may be more popular than we think, regards Barry. 🍻
Well said!
Well done Michael, it really was the only way to go.
Yeah I agree.
You’re a perfectionist!! With models of older buildings, you can’t expect perfection!! I know!! I used to be a perfectionist when I built Lego properties as a boy!!
I think if I’d been aiming for a bowed front, it would have been ok if there wasn’t obvious creases in the paper. You get bowed buildings in real life, but none with creased bricks or big white slashes showing on them! But yes, I aim for a finish that I’m happy with. None of Chandwell is perfect, but I like to keep each building of a similar standard. It’s what makes it so fun I think, which is probably what you found too..?
Some thin card & paper and kid's glue, huh? Think you might just have infused strength into it as it withstood your weight. Very thuohtful vid mate. Looking forward to next releas. Arthur
Thanks Arthur!
Yep, been there, done that. Kudos to you for knowing when to quit and start again.
Thanks!
At some point we have to cut our losses. The upside is the second time around we do so much better and those lessons stay with us as we continue to improve our model building skills.
Well said!
Amazing video again. You r an artist. Regards Bernie NZ
Thank you!
Wise advice... Congratulations again for your work!💪🤩
Thank you so much 😀
informative video Michael
Thanks!
Yorkshire wasn't built in a day. If something goes seriously wrong there is nothing else to do. 👍🦶
Indeed!
Brutal, but necessary.
Definitely
Hi Michael - working on a Scalescenes kit myself and can certainly vouch for how strong 1mm card, paper and glue end up once amalgamated into a kit. Cheers Euan
It’s really surprising isn’t it?
Hi Michael, I must admit at the beginning I flinched and went “ouch” but I can see why you started again. It’s a great lesson for those starting out too knowing to be so careful at every stage so mistakes don’t snowball. The bit I couldn’t get over was the building taking a 72kg person…..it probably couldn’t take my weight though 😳😬😝
Glad you enjoyed it! Snowball is the right word. I just kept making it worse on this occasion.
Card is indeed strong. Frankly we should build our layouts from it.
Hah yeah.
I knew you were going to do that!!!!
Hahah
Well done lad!
Right call.
Sometimes You have to do that with Your favorite car :(
Yes!
Hi Michael I've just started buildings some buildings for an n gauge layout, following the principles in your videos, which I found to be most helpful. Please may I ask how did you treat the window reveals? I cut the brick paper from behind the window into 4no triangles, scored the edges against the thickness of the card, then tried glueing the cut card to the edge of the reveal - but it ended up in a mess. How do you do yours please, thanks.
I do mine much simpler than that. Cut one slit down the centre of the window aperture and then cut along the top and bottom to make two flaps. I don't score, I then just add a bit of PVA and TIGHTLY fold the flaps around. I use a 0.5mm crochet hook for this, gently pressing from the front, and then rubbing it up and down and finally use it to tightly press it into the card at the back.
Could it be payback for the dye drying works?🤔
Oh that really did make me chuckle when I saw that one come in last week. 😂😂😂
Was this all just a ruse to show off your new trainers? 😁
I’d love to say yes but then you’ll tell me of for them
Not being clean! 😂