Do you finish every project before moving on …

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

…. to another one?

Or put another way. Do you have several (many) build projects running concurrently?

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

[Old SchoolParticipant @oldschool]

Always have three or four projects on the go, variety is the spice of life.

[Anonymous]

Yes, multiple projects and tasks, not only in parallel but also in different dimensions.

Andrew

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

No fun in finishing things – Its the challenge of making them that keeps me going. Once finished, you have to use them – what is the fun in that ???
BobH

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

The advantage of having more than one project on the go is that when you return to one you have to spend time looking for the left handed floggle toggle you so carefully made last year and put away "somewhere safe" . While searching you find bits from other projects that you didn't know were missing and the stash of loot moved by the workshop mice .

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

If you come to an enforced stop because you need some more metal, fixings or tool, you still have something to do whilst the said awaited items arrive. Only logical to run more than 1 job at a time.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Just finished a 0-4-0 Gemma, got 2x Sweet peas as air chassis, a Rob Roy rolling chassis and 3/4 done Don Young Marie E, plus a couple of stationary engines and Jan Ridders petrol engines, so yes I suppose I have a few bits on the go at once. Great thing is that while say 4 jaw chuck is on the lathe bits for all projects requiring that chuck are done at once, saving set up time, also while making boiler fittings I can make them all in one go. Thats my logic anyhow.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Yes every time.

Job finished, tools all put away, machines cleaned and oiled, floor swept.

Wings folded up on the pigs and away in a cupboard………………………….

[Anonymous]

Posted by KWIL on 08/01/2016 16:51:58:

If you come to an enforced stop because you need some more metal, fixings or tool, you still have something to do whilst the said awaited items arrive.

That's all very well for the experts, but for me it's far more likely that I've produced a load of scrap, got into a sulk and feel the need to change projects.

Andrew

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

I only ever do one at once as I find one challenging enough!

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

If you are in the middle of a project an find you need to make a tool or jig for that project does that count as two projects or just one?

Martin

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I read an article in Motorcycle magazine many years ago about why so many bike projects never get finished, it seems there is a fear of finishing, if you never declare a project finished it leaves a defence against the rivet counters and other armchair critics, if they criticise you just say you know and it's not finished yet.

mike

[NJHParticipant @njh]

I guess it just depends on what gives you the greatest satisfaction,,, Is it the journey or the result?

Having spent a (working) lifetime doing "stuff" that other folk wanted now, as a retired old git, I please myself. I have a lot of projects and I progress each as I feel inclined – they are all my choice and the only one concerned about completion dates is me… ( and I'm not very concerned!) It's a hobby that takes up as much or as little time as I want. ( I do get the occasional "rush job" though – usually of a "domestic" nature – and these are, naturally, given top priority as any other course could adversely affect my Health, Safety …and Comfort position!)

Norman

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

Currently I have Rob Roy build,a home made shaper,new graduated dials for horizontal mill, and just finished four 2 way toolposts for my lathe plus other assorted small jobs, an old instructor said never attempt anything unless in the mood for it so by having jobs various there is always one of them thats suits,and it always seems that doing one job its inevitable that something else has to be made to advance that job, deep joy

Mick

[Michael ToppingParticipant @michaeltopping17870]

Having had a break of 25 years or so from model engineering I have a host of projects I started then. I finished a 5" gauge Jinty last summer and am working on a pair of 5" Enterprise Locos. The Tich I started even longer ago is sitting half finished on a shelf. I have a boiler for a 5" M7 tank sitting looking at me and a set of frames for a Bullied merchant navy are hanging on the wall. My plan is to work through them without getting diverted. Don't think that will happen.

Michael

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Hmm, I usually have about 20 or so on the go if you include electronics boats and aircraft models as well.

I usually finish about one or two a year.

Neil

[Ian WelfordParticipant @ianwelford58739]

Always got a few in reserve. Wood turning and metal modification depending upon mood.

Been making signs for a friend recently (dug out the router templates and , after 3 false starts ) made them. Mind you there then ended up doing more but helping friends is no bother. Asked "superintendent of works" before finishing em as I do get tetchy when she changes his mind for him without me being informed!

[steamdaveParticipant @steamdave]

I seem to have a short attention span and coupled with my barely mediocre ability I frequently come to a halt on the current project, so it is a good opportunity to start something new until the enthusiasm/attention span/problem solving ability returns for an earlier project. By then, I've forgotten what I was going to do to that one, so better start something new in the meantime…

And so the cycle repeats itself ad infinitum.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

Fizzy is correct re miniature locos.

i have one loco nearing completion at the moment (rather special 5"g LBSCR terrier copy of Stepney as preserved). my 3.5"g GWR KIng has been waiting for an overhaul for 8 years but is far too much to think about with another project on the go at the same time. Don Ashton has very kindly re-designed the Jackson valve gear for me for the GWR King, and Jos Koopmans has re-designed for me the draughting, so as soon as the current build is completed i will re-start on the GWR King.

in due course i will insist on Neil driving both with decent welsh steam coal, if he doesnt have a drive of my other locos beforehand!

cheers,

julian

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

Having more than one project on the go is a good excuse to buy another lathe…

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I'v just been modifying a few of my hot air engines, they are never finished, they are an on going experiment, but that got stopped the other day, A mate wanted a part made for his (full size) tractor, about a 2 day job, but who knows what next, it's at least 10 years since I made any bits for this guy, made a lot of stuff for his Lanze Bulldog Tractor.

Ian S C

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Roundtoits are scarce as unobtanium.

[Dennis RaynerParticipant @dennisrayner52782]

Having taken 17 years to build my first loco and then 19 years to build the second, I was always worried that if I had more than one on the go at any one time I wouldn't finish any of them! Last year I built a Southworth steam pump but now, at the age of 74, I'm wondering what to do next? Perhaps I should have had more than one on the go at a time. From the time it has taken me to build each one you can see that I'm no Eric Walker!

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Dennis Rayner on 11/01/2016 13:58:11:

Having taken 17 years to build my first loco and then 19 years to build the second, I was always worried that if I had more than one on the go at any one time I wouldn't finish any of them! Last year I built a Southworth steam pump but now, at the age of 74, I'm wondering what to do next? Perhaps I should have had more than one on the go at a time. From the time it has taken me to build each one you can see that I'm no Eric Walker!

Why not a smaller or electric loco build – something that you will be able to enjoy if ages starts to make taking a big loco down the track too much of a mission?

My dad is in his 80s and builds ship models to 1:48 scale on similar timescales. He's finally acknowledged that rebuilding his more manageable Matabele (tribal class destroyer, just short of 8 feet) might make for more trips to the lake than another battleship. Fortunately he prefers British warships, or I'm sure he would have started on Yamato by now.

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