Better work

Being quite new to this model making and having to work on small scale things instead off bigger machines,l am now getting a lot better with my work and indeed the model l have been working on and now at the state where l look to what l have already made and then bin it and re make it,yet a few months ago it would have fine ,so think the my work is far better,are there others that are new to this finding this.

john

As a clock maker I recognise this completely....

Because my first clock was a major undertaking for me, despite having made many things during my life, it required me to make the parts and then store them in plastic bags for several weeks, months and in some cases, a couple of years. When I came to assembly I was fairly horrified when the parts were unpacked....in fact, i could not believe that i had produced such poorly made items! So, my first clock was effectively made about three times as I could not bring myself to fit some of the parts and simply made them again.......FOUR pallet arms!...two spring barrels, numerous extra wheels, three sets of pinions. Then there were the actual failures of skill and knowledge that caused me to keep to this day a small box of the more 'priceless' mess-ups...pieces of brass that were not annealed enough and simply broke,...arbours tempered too hard with broken pivots,.....imprefect small threads and screws,..bent wheels during tooth cutting due to lack of reinforcement....I keep them all and periodically get them out on the bench and peruse my (then) lack of skill.......It helps to track my progress and keeps me humble!

That first clock was a huge struggle and I learned many lessons. Now i always examine all parts thru a strong glass and have my finishing ceremony down to an art, and always make several of most parts so that I get better as time passes and can select the best one...also photograph everything in stages...and keep a notebook...above all, look at the expert work of others and learn great respect.

I noticed the same effect, but the quality of what I do - not model making - has stuck at 'moderately acceptable'. On a positive note I make things faster with fewer serious mistakes. My results are still awful raw in comparison with what others do. No way will I ever win a medal!

One thing I've noticed is tools stay sharp longer. It's probably because I mistreated them badly while developing my self-taught technique. Bit like a Learner Driver burning out clutches!

I've developed a strange mix of expertise and ignorance. Probably due to too much theory and not enough practice. Nice people and good fun though. I think I'll stick with it!

Enjoy,

Dave

I used to run a blacksmith business and I used to have the opposite problem. I would get a commission to make a pair of gates, when I finished them i was never happy with them. My customers were always extremely pleased with my work. When I saw my later on I used to see them I used then appreciate how good they were!

I was told engineers rarely make good clock makers or blacksmiths!

I recognise " silly old duffer " Mine have been "moderately acceptable " But I have met up with another local model maker , he made me a pair beautiful miniature oilers for my ST no 1 , When I came to fit them I was embarrassed to do it , I started to see all the faults on my engine , so I have stripped it down to re work the big end and refit the crosshead pit etc etc ,

regards

How true I am on my fourth set of pinions for the Dark Lady, having done major reworks on my dividing equipment. Maybe one day it will be finished. The only problem then is to find another project

JES

As a life long draughtsman I was very rarely satisfied with the end product. During the design process you go through many iterations of the product before having to get on with producing a final design as time is money. Then as the parts are made and assembled you realise something could have been simpler to machine or assemble or been lighter. But as has been said once complete at the customers in use and it performs better than the specification required you just suck it up and think I will do better next time. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, some people make others just talk about it. Accept what you make if it functions as desired, then when you have assembled a few parts see if your mind still thinks the part is not acceptable. A lot of parts in any design are hidden at final assembly so looks won’t matter.

I've made models nearly all my life, starting with plastic kits at 6. I can remember all through my teenage years and early adulthood looking at models I'd made previously, and having a sort of background thought that I was only an infant when I made that.

But now I've reached the point where I just do what I do and it either works or it doesn't, mechanically, practically or artistically.

Every person who ever created anything has to produce their share of rubbish. Even Shakespeare. Even Michaelangelo. Even Brunel.

Indeed, MickB!, Even me ! I have two standards;

A Items fit to be seen [very few ]

B Items fit for the scrapbox [too numerous to mention ]

Some day, I hope to level the playing field, but in the meantime, do I care ? No way, it,s all part of the fun !

Scrap men depend on people like me, we have a duty to keep them employed [And I sure do ! ]

I find that with a lot of things, there is a much better way to do them if only I had thought of that at the time. I like a challenge, I go for the "if I don't do this, it will never be made", and its a good way to learn.

That certainly rings a bell with me Dave!

IanT