Two thoughts here: First, there is nothing like a deadline to get you motivated to work on the layout. Case in point: Any day now I will be receiving a BLI AC6000 from my dealer. This has motivated me to get my layout working good, electriclly speaking. Then I had to get my DCC system hooked up to the layout. Now, after having to deal with several frustrating problems, all is finished. Second thought: there is nothing like a sound equipped engine running on a good working layout. Just hearing my f-7s go around the layout makes me smile. Knowing that all the frustrations I have had in building the layout has been worth it.
Layout building deadlines? I have built some layouts. But I don't think I have ever built a deadline.
Failing to meet a deadline starts about five seconds after I've decided upon it. I gave up on the concept, long ago.
Except at work, deadlines are like horizons...they never seem to get any closer, no matter how far I go.
I only use open house deadlines as a point where I actually have to have the layout cleaned off of supply's and tools by that day.
Well, I have an impending deadline by which I'm trying to have my track feeders installed and track down and secure so I can take my "in progress" layout to our historical society convention. So I'm finding it quite motivating! Not sure I'm gonna have everything that I would like to have had done, but definitely will have a ton more done than I would have otherwise.
I don't believe in deadlines myself, but it is nice once in a while to have an upcoming event to get busy with projects.
I have always felt that "deadlines" were invented to make all us creative procrastinators feel bad about our life style. I must say that they have been ineffective so far, speaking for myself. "It'll get it done when I get it done"
I've built two modules on time by setting myself a deadline. One was to be ready for a articulate show. The other was an artificial deadline. It works for me. The other thing that works is to do at least one thing toward.completing the layout every day. This has really helped propel me. Today it was a little wiring; yesterday it was mounting night time lighting over a portion of the layout. My other strategy for progress is to limit projects. If I get to far ahead of myself, I'll end up getting nothing done and having clutter everywhere. So I stick to one, maybe two things at a time. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?5uugfv Greg Amer The Industrial Lead gregamer.com
Goals and deadlines are good. When I started my outdoor layout I had a goal that was pretty simple; get the layout running. I worked my ass off to get to the point where I could kick back and watch trains. There's so much to go into a layout that sometimes we get sidetracked. I also think posting pictures for people to see my progress was helpful. Once I had announced I was working on it, I felt like I couldn't whimp out and not post more progress shots. So yeah, deadlines and goals work for me too.
I can relate to this. Starting last summer, I was working my caboose off to finish the office / train room, get benwork up, track, feeders installed, etc etc. Now that trains are operational I really have accomplished anything on the layout for about two to three months now, though I operating trains several times a week. I am still purchasing items for the layout and increasing my rolling stock roster. So, I am still active in the hobby on a daily basis but as far as progess on the layout, not so much. I am not sure a deadline will work for me though as family and work come first.
Deadlines are very much a double-edged sword. In one view they tend to make you spend more time than you otherwise might have to complete a necessary aspect of the layout. In the opposing sense, when time is limited or the project actually too involved to be completed properly in the time allotted, deadlines can lead to highly inferior, rushed worked, that will never be satisfying to the builder, or the viewer. I've seen too many examples of new layout modules that were hurriedly "finished" for an upcoming show that looked both second rate and operationally even worse! So, if the project is limited in scope, setting deadlines can often be a successful approach. However, if the project is sizeable, or includes much in the way of truly quality effort be expended, better to do it slowly and correctly than to rush it only to later have to tear it out and start over. NYW&B
I have to admit that now that I have "completed" stage one of the layout, i have't done much on it since. I really need a good day off to fiddle with things and get laying the second mainline. It's not like I don't have enough trains to run as is.
