Turntable Progress

I've begun installing the turntable, which consists of essentially putting it back together after months in storage. The pit rail is in and I'm doing a little refurbishing on the bridge, including new decking and some paint touchup. I'll have step-by-step progress photos in my next post.

I just returned from a visit to the local hobby shop. I'm laying in some supplies for projects that will be coming up soon, such as plastic brick sheeting, which will be used for my new depot and for a partial rebuilding of my roundhouse. I was satisfied with the roundhouse when I built it, but I think it can be improved.

I'm also stocking up on paint. In recent years I've switched entirely from oil-based to water-based "railroad" paints. I like the lack of odor and easy cleanup with water-based paint and the ability to mix the railroad paints with other acrylics. My local hobby shop has only some oil-based paint on hand, but was happy to order the water-based I want.

I had an interesting conversation with the hobby shop man, who said he seldom gets a request for paint or other scratchbuilding supplies these days. He thinks the craft of building models from kits is disappearing, along with scratchbuilding. He said many younger hobbyists seem baffled at the very idea. My son-in-law Craig, who is in his 30s and who does scratch and kit building of aircraft and ships, has noticed the same trend in that type of modeling.

It's a hobby, so to each his own, but I get a lot of enjoyment out of building. I find it relaxing. I get completely absorbed, and I don't care how long it takes. I've had projects take days, weeks...a wooden passenger coach actually took years! I kept it in a shoebox and worked on it when I felt like it, and had a great time in the process.