And So it Begins Anew...

Just concentrate on enjoying yourself! I'm sure your friend would want you to have a blast.

JohnJr

Good for you! I'm sure your friend would want you to keep enjoying the hobby. You could even honor him on the layout somehow if you wish. 

Thanks, guys. I have been having a ball since the holidays working on things that needed maintenance. Its really surprising how things deteriorate when you don't operate them. The main part of the layout is healthy (now) and operating up to expectations. Ironville, on the other hand needs roads, hills, trees, and  permanence. Don't expect craftsmanship to Norm Charbonneau's level, but that said, I'm not afraid to weather the crap out of a Lionelville buiding. Stay tuned!

I know personally how hard it is to get back to an activity once its associated with the tragic loss of a good friend. Eventually I learned to turn the thought process around and appreciate the time as an opportunity to interact with the friend. Its not always easy but as time goes on more good times emerge than reminiscences of the a single bad one.

Nobody knows better than you. I believe it will get better.

Hey Jim:

Your post brought me right back to the Viking Club watching Stirling hold court at the AOL Banquets...he is still remembered, and missed. Gosh those were fun times.

But you know as well as I that he is smiling from above as you get some trains running and share them with friends and their kids.

All the best to you Jim!

Paul

Welcome back. Juts like learning to ride a bike, you never forget. Hope to see your new progress soon.

Good for you, getting back up on the horse.   Keep at it.

Glad to see you are back at it.

Remember the goods times that were and look forward for those yet to come.

As we age, and progressively begin to lose the people who gave our life meaning when we were younger, it is a challenge to find both peace and purpose.  It sounds like you're well on your way to both.  May the path be easier than before.

Jim, I understand that tough things happen in life. In the last few years I have lost mom, dad, aunts uncles and good friends but we all need to realize that grief passes, life goes on and we can work in the memory of those departed. You've got a nice foundation of a layout there, so finish it, enjoy it and understand that in Christ there is great hope that we will all be reunited one day.

Bringing this back for updates. Got the hatch cut out and installed MDF on it for streets. The streets are now somewhat weathered (just need a wash or two). I like this idea of working on this section on sawhorses rather than laying on the deck.
 The separation between the two levels is shaping up nicely. Just need to plop some sculptamold around behind the Back shop too make it 'pretty' until I can get to removing the bridge temporarily so I can install a scrapping track behind the B/S. All this in addition to making one big mess....Having a ball again!
Enjoy the pics!

Making good progress Jim. That's the way to get this done.

Coming along nicely.

Where we are as of 4/4/15. Took this shot and kept rolling. Its already out dated. A couple more details wiring wise with the buildings and the hatch gets dropped in place for the last time for now.

It is looking good.  The crane looks great!

Just about done with the basics. Time to start detailing. Dropped the hatch in for the last time and tossed some old parts around the scrapping yard off the end of the Backshop. Time to clean up and run some trains!

Looking good Jim!, I wish mine was as nice as that. See ya at York.

Looking great Jim !!!!!!

Thanks,

alex

David, (MiKatt_) when are you coming into town? Are you hitting the bandits?

No Jim I'll be there Thursday and Friday (and maybe Saturday).

Jim, I think about Sterling many times. It was extremely kind of him to have my daughter and I stay at his house my last trip to York in '04. The demo group were close knit, I was the only Westie.

The layout looks awesome. I hope to make it back fairly soon and visit and give a big toast to Sterling!!!

Thanks Guys and Gals for all the kind words, both here and in private. Its been a heck of a lot of work in a very short time. Lots of fun and now the task of coming up with detailing ideas is at hand. There are lots of areas around the layout that need 'humanizing' and weathered. The towns buildings are just too clean for me. Time to mix india ink wash.  
Ro, when you come east we'll party.  

Looking fantastic, keep up the great work.

Speeding up work ourselves, got a sign we've been going too slow. At the bank we go to the manager has a daughter who just turned two. Planned to have him, his wife, and their daughter come over very soon to visit. Pretty sure the young lady has never seen a toy train layout. Sadly his wife died of a brain aneurysm last week, only 28 years old.

Glad your back man.Dennis you took the words right out of my mouth.Having lost my both grand parents uncles aunts and friends.It takes time to get over,well you never really get over it but you get on with living.And like you said christ is there.And my grand parents and the rest are with jesus.We will all be together some day.