While wandering through the gargantuan web site that is FastTracks, I found that the chief purveyor, Tim Warris, has his own blog where he details what he is up to while modeling his CNJ Bronx Terminal layout. I have yet to delve too deeply into his blog, but the first up post was a bit of an eye opener.
He decided it was time to add the first building to his layout and chose the engine shed. Being the owner of a laser cutting business, it made sense to draw it up and cut it...which is what he did:
So alls well that ends well...but the bit that really hit home was his final comments:
"I often hear from modelers how great it must be to have a laser cutter, and well, it is! However, it doesn’t make the process of building models any faster, in fact it is much, much slower. To design a structure, with all the nuances of design, it takes a LOT of time. Far more than most people imagine. The advantage of the laser is that the parts produced, once the design is complete and tested and tested and tested, are very precise and go together easily. The finished models always look pretty good, if the design is done correctly. But it is by no means an easier or quicker way to get a model, just more precise."
And thats exactly what I'm finding, but until Tim articulated it so well I hadnt really thought of it. And thats the honest truth.
3 comments:
I think Tim is both right and wrong.
While CAD does involve potentially a lot of time, you are able to test fit your parts in a virtual 3d environment.
This means that when you finally cut something, there is a lot more chance of everything going together properly first time, well maybe second time...
We noticed that with the one piece type 14 bogie. They look good but will have to do sme slight adjustments to get a perfect specimum
i agree with the comments said, it does take a lot off time to design and develop even with my craft cutter.
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