I was sent the following message from Jerry and have his permission to share it here....
I'll answer here since this thread is about my models (and hence me)...
Looking at your missing models makes me wonder how you are able to keep track of them with with photos and documentation.
How in the world are you able to write so much valuable information about the articles you have given us.
I know this is a daunting task.
I tried to write a how to do thing on installing a DCC sound decoder into a brass steam locomotive.
I gave up! I would be working along and then realize I did not photograph a step or two.
I soon gave up- not my thing I guess.
I can do the install but keeping up with the photos and documentation is beyond me.
Thanks for all that you do for the N scale world.
Actually, it is daunting at times.
And as you can see, I have several models in this thread that I do NOT have photos for. Most of those are from the time period when I was about 28-31 years old. After that, I took more photos.
There are several things that work in my favor.
1. Digital photography/computers. When I first became active in writing articles in the late 80s and 90s, there was a time when my old style photography bill was $700/year (I remember from doing my taxes!). It's really hard to do film photography while you're doing a project because you don't know how well a shot turned out.
But Digital is GREAT. So when I model, and think I want to document something, I have my camera right there. And I can see right then if the shot is OK.
On the EP-2 thread that Pete referenced, I posted something like 1,000 photographs in that build- and that's only the ones I posted. I could not have done that with film.
2. I'm a public speaker by trade and my PhD is in communication. So you might say that God wired me for stuff like this. When I was 24 and worked at Sears, I wrote a short operations manual for our department because we didn't have one and I got tired of always asking questions.
So my brain is wired for logical steps, planning in communicating- even story telling.
3. I love what I do with modeling. And I keep a folder on my computer of article ideas. So in reality, many articles are taking shape before I even start a project. Only rarely do I complete a project and say-- that would make a good article.
I just checked my ideas folder. There are 25
active folders that already have something for an article. Prototype research. A plan. Something. A few are almost finished. All could be finished if I put my mind and time to them. I have them ranked as to how close I am to finishing. Most will never be submitted, but the ideas are there. And if they sit long enough- they become unusable- so I actually have a folder called "Procrastination Death"
Then I have 91 more folders that are just ideas (I just counted them). Most will never even be modeled. But I see something and make a folder. On a few, I actually started writing.
Like this folder- BSA GEVO. I'm an Eagle Scout and so I was intrigued when Union Pacific painted a GEVO in boy scout rank badges.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/knelson27/4966283721I doubt I would ever make that locomotive- but who knows, I might.
Here's another I will probably never do: Folder is called GM&N Rebel 1934 Trainset. Inside are 12 photos off the web as preliminary research and a document with one paragraph of notes. Here is a very rare color photo:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7072853649_63a6350ae2.jpgAaron- Chessie System Fan will tell you that what often happens is that some inspiration will come over me and I'll just do something.
(that hasn't happened very much in a while because life challenges and the major EP-2 project have slowed me down- the WM Shay thread was a recent example).
But even still, new articles come along. I wrote one last week when the editor of The N Scale Enthusiast asked me to write something on my WM Shay project. The article is now written. But now I need to paint one for the article! So modeling and photography await- the writing is finished.
Aaron and I already have a complete layout planned in a different scale (T gage). We have photographs, satellite screen grabs, track plans etc (sorry I can't tell you about it because I don't want someone to steal the idea!
). Maybe we will build it one day! If I don't build it, he could. DKS and Mark inspired me... but then T sort of died. But if it ever moves forward (and I have time), I already have an idea!
4. Since I probably already KNOW I'm going to be writing and article on a xxx subject, then I have kept a notebook on my modeling desk and keep notes as I work. It makes the writing go a lot better since I might forget a step otherwise. Now I do it with a computer. What I do to the EP-2 is so complex (over 100 individual steps) that there is no way I could do it without computer notes.
Long answer.
Hope it helps with your question.
