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Initial work quality

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StirlingSingle22/10/2010 17:41:52
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40 forum posts
Hello,
 
Is it fair to say that most novices first loco is of questionable quality, mine is only based on a loosly pubished design!. What I have done does work, however it is nothing compared to the fantastic work published in model engineer!
 
My comment really is that to get better you have to have a go, and although my currant work is almost reasonable a few years ago it was dire! 
 
I am getting better, learning more and enjoying a most challenging hobby.
 
If you are a beginer thinking of making a model, have a go, there are many people in the local clubs willing to give good advice. Be careful and listen to the ones that actually make things rather than just talk about it!!
 
Good luck and have a go.
 
Regards
 
 
Steve Purves24/10/2010 16:59:10
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28 forum posts
14 photos
Hear Hear,
Well done for speaking up! A lot of people don't realise that we all started somewhere! I find the learning curve fascinating. I would love to see more articles from novices, as it will encourage more to have a go. The knock on of this is that you would then have even more content in the magazine! Its daunting to some 'first timers' who pick up the magazine and see the standard of work as being unachievable, it could even put them off the hobby!
Cheers all
Steve 
Wolfie24/10/2010 22:30:01
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502 forum posts
Interesting.
 
Although I am a newcomer to model engineering, I have been a plastic modeller for many many years. I  write for one or two modelling mags and in fact do it semi professionally.
 
(www.nrmodeltruck.co.uk for anyone that wants to have a look)
 
So in one discipline I am one of the leaders of the pack so to speak, my articles are published and I dispense much modelling wisdom on the relevant forums.
 
Here however I'm the novice and I have about a million questions. However I remember being at this stage in plastic modelling when I suddenly discovered clubs and shows and the fact that there were loads of folk willing to pass on their knowhow. My skills improved in leaps and bounds on that time.
 
I'm not afraid to ask the questions mind. Thats some peoples problems. I know that there are some truck modellers who consider my work along with some others to be the top of the tree and despair of ever getting there. However I wasn't born able to build models to a high standard. So I tell those people not to be afraid to ask, and I'll be the same here!
Dave Jones 125/10/2010 11:34:01
85 forum posts
5 photos
I spent my first year or so turning nice 12" lengths of stock into smaller lengths and sizes suitable for the scrap bin, on the positive side I managed to teach myself how to use a lathe and establish a nice collection of off cuts for future use!
 
 
Peter G. Shaw25/10/2010 13:27:45
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1531 forum posts
44 photos
As a non-mechanical engineer (if you see what I mean), I'm in this hobby to learn how to use the tools, and along the way increase my tooling by where ever possible making small tools and adaptors.
 
So, what have I learned? Well, possibly it could be summed up by the fact that I am currently, temperature permitting, overhauling my lathe, something I wouldn't have dared to do even a few years ago. In this I have been helped by reading about what other people have done - Dave Fenner changing bearings, David White and all his X1 etc improvements. Etc, etc. I'm also hoping to improve my MiniMill along White's ideas.
 
I've also learned what does work, and possibly more importantly, what doesn't work, eg carbide tipped tools, milling in the lathe holding a cutter in the chuck (seems much better using direct collets in the headstock), and so on.
 
I'm also learning about my own abilities, about how to achieve precision, not that I've yet dared to do anything requiring precision, but that will come.
 
In short, I'm learning, and if along the way I mangle something, break something, the end result isn't right, or it is right but not pretty, so what, I'm still learning. And experimenting.
 
And that's what it's all about. Afterall, it's no error that the senior body's title is "Society of Model and Experimental Engineers".
 
Oh, and by the way, yes, there are a lot of expert people frequenting this board. My thanks to those who have in one way or another given assistance, assurance or simply ideas, something I try to reciprocate within the limits of my own experience.

Regards,
 
Peter G. Shaw
Stub Mandrel25/10/2010 19:05:00
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4318 forum posts
291 photos
1 articles
> What I have done does work,

Surely that's what REALLY matters, eh?
 
Power to the elbows of the perfectionists, but I'm in this for the fun of it and the satisfaction of making thinks work!
 
Neil

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