Powered Stewart Models 25 ton rail crane

[mmagliaro]

I just took a quick scan back at the beginnings of this thread, and then looked at how far you came all the way to getting sound added to it.  All the work, creativity, engineering, and surmounting of obstacles - really beautiful work here, man.  I love projects like this.

[Jim Starbuck]

I just took a quick scan back at the beginnings of this thread, and then looked at how far you came all the way to getting sound added to it.  All the work, creativity, engineering, and surmounting of obstacles - really beautiful work here, man.  I love projects like this.

Thank you Max! High praise indeed coming from such an accomplished modeler as you.
This has been an extremely satisfying project as I thoroughly enjoy building these little machines.
I’m fortunate to rub shoulders with excellent modelers both in person as well as here on the forum. I appreciate the inspiration, encouragement and positive input as well as constructive criticism which nudges each of us to further our personal modeling skills.
I was admiring a good friend’s layout once and commented on the highly detailed meticulous work when he humbly stated that he hadn’t started at that level…his first layout sucked!
It’s great to be somewhere (anywhere) along the road of this great hobby.

Jim

[peteski]

. . .
I was admiring a good friend’s layout once and commented on the highly detailed meticulous work when he humbly stated that he hadn’t started at that level…his first layout sucked!
It’s great to be somewhere (anywhere) along the road of this great hobby.

Jim

I'm enjoying following this thread. Lots of excellent modeling Jim!

As far as the other comment goes, *NOBODY* starts out as an expert modeler.  It takes years of practice.  What makes a difference is the personal traits.  As I see it, some people are fastidious by nature, and those are the ones who can become masters of their hobby, Others who are sloppy in their everyday life will likely never get to the level of master modelers.  Just  "good enough" will always be good for them.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

As far as the other comment goes, *NOBODY* starts out as an expert modeler. 

I don't know. I think @Chris333 descended from the mothership and was building sick stuff immediately. But otherwise, you're right.

[Chris333]

lol nope most of my failures were before I had a camera or the internet. Then once I got the internet and a camera I just didn't take photos of my bad stuff.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

lol nope most of my failures were before I had a camera or the internet. Then once I got the internet and a camera I just didn't take photos of my bad stuff.

I don't believe it without photographic evidence.

[mmagliaro]

Nobody starts as an expert or "pro" at this.  The mantra has to always be, "Do better than the last time".
Jim, you are doing terrific modeling.  Rest assured.

This was my first fledgling attempt at an N Scale layout, circa 1987:


An interesting thing about this layout, crude as it is, is that the wooden water tower, little wooden station (center-left, in front of the water tower) and the unfinished blue house on the hill (a "Sears Home" built from plans in RMC), which were all crude attempts in this photo,
followed me from layout to layout, got steadily reworked, and eventually became 3 of the structures I used to earn my NMRA "Structures" certificate. "Do better than the last time" !   Now they are on my current layout as a record of my life in model railroading.

That Concor Hudson was the first decent engine I bought, and I still have it.   

[Jim Starbuck]

That’s wonderful Max!
Even projects that were our best at a particular time in our modeling journey can come along with us as we progress.
What a great approach.