Monday, March 23, 2020

There is a Time for Everything...

It was a matter of only two weeks and life completely changed in Canada. With the largest provinces in lockdown as of today for several weeks, is it now quite evident this won't be just a bump on the road.

Many readers know I'm suffering from poor health due to Chron disease and the treatment that makes my immune system rather shaky. In normal time, this isn't that much of an issue. But since Christmas, I've been down for a while with no signs of recovery. For this reason, my doctor put me in self isolation two weeks ago which I obliged since I'm in the "at risk population"... Yes, you know when you hear people saying it only kills old or sick people? Well, there is a face on that "useless bunch" and I'm part of the picture.

Some colleagues joked about that, took vacation and put others at risk, oblivious that apparent health could mask contamination. I'd like to say these irresponsible behaviors are the result of ignorance, but unfortunately, they are coming from well-educated, environment-friendly and well-meaning types. Do I hold a grudge? No... But it makes me realize that most of us, whatever our choices in life, may sometime be tone-deaf to our surroundings. I hope some of them will learn a lesson from what is happening... and I think some are slowly finding out things are not the Carebear's dream they thought it was even if the finger pointing has started... Maybe they should meditate the meaning of Danse Macabre.

Modelling in Uncertain Times


With that out the way, I realize we, modellers, have a great blessing: our hobby. When confined and out of job, we have the possibility to do something with our hands, create meaningful thing instead of binge-watching crap on TV. We can find a sense and immerse ourselves in something positive that create a state of peace of mind. Saint Benedict used to repeat "Ora et Labora" (Prayer and Work), stressing that a meaningful occupation was also a part of a healthy mind. His model certainly endured and gave rise to a magnificent legacy that what thrown out of the windows a few decades ago because it was "outdated". As I often say, I've always been wary of people thinking they can engineer the human nature or can put peoples in bold categories such as "good" and "bad". Not only it is useless, but it is deceptive.

My grandfather used to talk about the Great Depression. How he was lucky to be in a poor family in the countryside, because they had already nothing to lose, only what they could do by themselves. It kind of prepared me for things to come. With a failing health, a hobby budget that will soon evaporate and much time on my hands, I started modelling again. A small layout, a whimsical endeavour born from enlightening discussions with Chris Mear. I've not planned to take pictures at this point or document it. It is a very personnal project, a canvas... Until it reach a level I'm satisfied with, it will remain almost confidential.

While building my models, I've ran into several issues. I'm confined, most stores are now closed, postal service is slower everyday and I must save my pennies. What can I do? Well, I running out of large sheet of 1.5 styrene, so I'm salvaging and scavenging from other projects. Bits of wood are used instead. Want to model a peculiar locomotive with special parts? Why not model #72XX instead of model #70XX and save myself tracking down hard to get and pricey special part? Why purchase parts I can make myself with styrene, brass and wood if the result will be as good or even better by myself?

You see, in all that time of despair I can see in people around me, I understand this is only a cycle... It will last for a while and better days will come. But right now, confined in my home, I can still do nice things and feel my existence can create works of art. There is a time for everything...

I hope the best for you! Treasure your wonderful craft, because I personally know people that made their life a continuous succession of dinners, restaurants and other social extravaganza going completely nuts and giving up instead of making the better out of it.

13 comments:

  1. Amen! Well said, and my prayers for you and yours,

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    1. Thanks Geof! My best wishes to you and your family too.

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  2. Hi Matthieu - I heard about you & this blog from Jim Dufour. Having Crohn's as well, I know a little of what you're going through now. The main thing is to stay in and stay safe. In the meantime, you're doing your hobby and that has a lot of value, especially given this "gift" of time to do it. If you're anything like me, you have at least a small backlog of kits and such & I'm doing my best to "knit from stash" which is how the knitters describe it. Taking advantage of this time to get to the parts of the hobby I never seem to have enough time to get to. It certainly makes the staying home a bit less difficult and stressful. Here's hoping it does for you too - and here's praying for improved health and continued safety. Best, Chris Adams (aka "The Valley Local"")

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    1. Thanks Chris! It came as a surprise to discover Jim was a follower. I'm humbled by this, his work as been a source of inspiration for years. Indeed, I've hoarded kits and projects for years. I recently when though the collection when I installed the cabinets in the new hobby room last week. I found a lifetime of projects I completely forgot about.

      I hope the best for you too! Happy modelling! ;-)

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  3. I'm speechless. This post is something beautiful that rewards on reading. It's only as I read your work that I'm reminded of just how rare commentary like this is a part of our media. We need to change that. It's so refreshing to read the hobby described in more human-centric terms and how you relate to, or connect with, your work.

    I find it particularly inspiring your ongoing approach to re-imagine models and re-purpose them. Our hobby treats most of the models like a race to acquire too much but then treats it all as disposable when it's time for the next exciting thing or "something better". That wasteful approach just isn't sustainable. I'm reminded, so often when I read your posts, of what it was like when I was starting out in the hobby and how we "made do" with the models we had. Recycling old models for new purpose was a requirement because I just couldn't afford to replace things - the money just wasn't there. Further, working in N scale, what I wanted just didn't exist anyway. The idea that we can assign a magical formula to model railroading and the result is happiness will never work.

    I'm intrigued to see updates on this new project but only when you're ready to share them.

    Re-reading my comment I should have stuck with my opening line. I'm proud of this blog post and your approach to this hobby. It was with that same pride I've been sharing this with my friends both within the hobby and external to it. It's exciting to have something written in the hobby, about the hobby, that represents its potential in such a mature and creative voice.

    Thank you


    Chris
    princestreetrailway.ca

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    1. Thanks Chris! Great to read you on such a subject. The new project, as you know, is a direct complement of Hedley Junction thus it will be shared here as being part of the whole project of modelling Murray Bay subdivision. As I said, this project is a canvas. Each day I look at the layout, I'm starting to see things I didn't the day before. Sometimes scrapping what I did the day before because is doesn't look right. This is not a typical basement empire and thus I have the freedom of "wasting" time on it. I also thought about putting the layout on the cabinets and now, it feels this should be against the stone wall as an art piece should. ;-)

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  4. Much encouragement to you Matt.

    Mke.

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    1. Thank you Mike! The new project proves to be as complex as your hopper project. Doing and redoing things once, twice or even thrice, learning in the process, but never taking shortcuts!

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  5. This is indeed a beautiful sentiment, and ties in very strongly with many of your posts about simplicity in modelling.

    As a species we have acquired the means to feed the starving, slake the thirsty, improve health and control birth rates, yet have squandered this chance and people still starve and endure hardship. A pandemic was inevitable at some stage. Nature’s revenge can be terrible and indiscriminate, as those who are pointing fingers will find out.

    Stay safe and look after yourself!

    Bon chance, mon ami!

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  6. Thanks very much for sharing this, Matthieu. And I have shared some of your thoughts for awhile - way too much acquisition, consumption, competition in this hobby that should be more like music - collaboratorive.

    I've been doing lots of repurposing - mainly styrene as you mentioned. You can't kill this stuff! So I add skins to buildings, and disassemble old ones into new - because there is a time to break down and a time to build up.

    Since I retired a year ago today, I've had these thoughts for awhile and it's all about finding a balance, feeling purposeful yet grateful, as you are.

    All the best!
    Eric

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    1. Thanks Eric! Indeed, we underestimate how these materials can be recycled again and again. When we take our noses out of catalogs and online stores, things around us gain new qualities we didn't see before. Your recent efforts have been quite an interesting exercise in recycling a layout, structures and rolling stock. Each time we revisit a model we did in the past, we improve on it. This is a great occasion!

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  7. Don't overlook cardstock when you are thinking of alternate materials. Well said, and stay safe.

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    1. Take care to Stephen! Yes, cardboard and paper are the most overlooked materials out there. Cheap, versatile, easy to paint, etc. I use them prominently. It's only a matter of learning how to work with it so it doesn't warp in the long term.

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