The model railroading bug has bitten me again! This time it
is more of a localized rash than a full-blown infection.
Something I do not often share with people is that I used to
be an avid model railroader. Well, more of an armchair model railroader. I did
more reading, planning, and collecting than building. As a result, there are a
lot of unrealized projects. In our basement, we actually have a train table
that my grandfather custom built to go around in a ring, but currently it is
being used for storage. I never placed anything permanently on it.
This is probably somehow connected to my habit of not finishing things.
I made a little bit of progress a couple of years ago, and
intended to document my meager attempts with a blog. I started work on what is
known as a “pizza layout,” a small setup, often around the size of a pizza box.
I think resuming this project is a good way to dip my toe back into the water
before attempting the daunting (but exciting) task of creating a large layout.
As for the large layout, I have been rethinking my plans. A
large part of it was going to be a small town, and I realized I could make it a
miniature version of the town from my “bad” story. But as I was in class, I my
mind began to wander. What about something more fantastical? Steampunk and
dieselpunk seem perfectly suited for model railroading (steam and diesel being
the two types of locomotives). I think this could end up as a pretty cool
layout. I use the term cool
relatively, of course.
All of this does beg the question, should I be devoting time and energy to side projects and hobbies? I not only have classes to keep up
with, but my current story begs for attention. (I have accepted it will not be done
in time for NaNoWriMo, but whatever, I can use that time to write draft two.)
Plus, I should probably clean my room soon.
I do not see a problem with working on the pizza layout. And
I think I can justify this as a creative release, so long as it does not keep
me from doing other things. Writing, school, and work should take priority.
