Mindful ballasting for a peaceful mind
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- Mindfulness is perhaps not something often considered within the model railway hobby space. In this video come and join me as I both gently demonstrate and discuss my experiences, thoughts and reflections on the benefits of a mindful approach - both for your mind and enjoyment.
Definitely agree
I do think that model railways are are perfect antidote to modern life and certainly help with mental health as it’s very mindful
Thanks Steve - I'm glad you find the same.
I got into model railroading as a way to find a mindful object of focus to calm my mind that also involves a variety of activities. I completely relate to the “zen-like” peace you find in it.
Thanks, I’m glad you can connect with the sentiment. Thanks for watching!
Zen garden indeed:)! Mindfulness is good twice. Once for the artist (instant karma:), and then for the client who commissioned. A museum piece is a WORK of art:). Good show!
thank you
Lovely video. My father died two years ago, we shared the hobby. I know exactly how you feel. Cheers, Joachim
Joachim, I’m glad talking about it helped us feel connected. I used to feel alone, but I’ve some wonderful friends I’ve met through the hobby who share my deeply personal artistic connection to trains and railways big and small.
Very therapeutic- even just watching and listening to. Thank you for sharing.
Yes. Very ASMR!
Thanks Alex
To me most model building is an exercise in mindfulness. And when you're in, you get more daring and you use the mistakes. It is very pleasurable, enjoyable. And calm-ing. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Rafael - I wholeheartedly agree!
This is a really good video James - for more than one reason. Even though you are presenting the fairly simple act of ballasting, your manner and demeanor is very encouraging - slowing down the pace in order to make it neat and tidy. Your skill in presenting and talking is really effective.
Thanks very much
Phil
Thanks Phil, I’m glad you enjoyed it and more, appreciated what I was trying to do with it too! Best wishes!
Great video! I've heard 'this sort of thing' referred to as 'flow state' - where all your attention goes into the task, relieving you of any other whirling thoughts. Anything you can do and just be absorbed by and lose track of time. The hobby definitely give lots of opportunity for that to me. How I imagine meditation to be, just with the bonus of creating something while you do it.
That’s a great term, I can identify with that for sure.
Thank you.
You're welcome!
I got back into the hobby after my partner suffered a miscarriage. To begin building something after loss helped.
I think it certainly can help us calm a busy mind. In my own experience it wasn’t enough on its own, I needed to work through the grief with a counsellor, but outside of that, and since it has always been, on the whole, a deeply enjoyable, emotional and positive balm. I don’t think we talk about this enough. Thanks for commenting Nick.
@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways Thanks for the reply. Please do keep making these videos when your schedule allows - your perspective on the zen contained within the hobby is an aspect that doesn't seem to be talked about enough.
Not sure if you've ever seen a channel called Boomer Diorama River Railroad, but I get the impression you'd like it.
He talks even more than I do, but yes, it’s one of my subscriptions!
@@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways 😂
Zen and the art of railway ballasting, very enjoyable !
Thanks Scott!
Thank you for this.
Thank you, I will keep trying to be the change I would like to see in the hobby. Talking like this feels like a good place to start.
Very interesting video. I have enjoyed your videos esp the mindful one and this one. I have 2 inglenook layouts in their infancy which both depict German and US railways in two different scales. I used to race around and play the inglenook game until now where I slow things down whilst still being focused on the tasks at hand. Sometimes simplicity is the best.
Thank you Steve, I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the videos, and it’s helped you get more out of your own projects.
You’ve changed my perspective on ballesting completely! Nice work 😊
Hi Robert, I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for watching!
Heartfelt and heartwarming, really lovely video, James. I often find myself in a similar mental state when cooking.
Thanks James, very kind of you. Cooking! Yes sometimes, if I’m doing it for myself, sometimes it can feel like a chore though!
Embrace the process. Great to see this, thanks!
Thanks! Go with it, and also, recognise and acknowledge those feelings we find as we do…
I'm loving this thank you james This is a great tutorial
Thank you Bernice, that is very kind!
Absolutly did love this vid 😊👍👍👍
Wonderful, glad you enjoyed it.
Hi James. In the past, I must admit to being a little impatient when ballasting. However, you are quite right to point out that it can be a very relaxing, mindful process. I think the hobby is very good therapy anyway. Nice video, I'm feeling quite relaxed having watched it. Now, which brand of adhesive will you use next? What are your hints & tips for the next stage? Cheers good sir :)
Thanks Marc - you're right, it's therapy - but we don't talk about it enough and I think acknowledging it helps us realise when it's worth taking, making time for it. Methods and technique, as such, don't have a place here - but Woodland Scenics 'scenic cement' applied along the edges and drawn in by capillary action works for me.
Hi James, I see your point re discussing too much detail regarding Methods, techniques and materials / brands - but of course, people are interested... as they would be in why you use "Woodland scenics" ballast. It's always good to know, especially when people see the high level you have achieved. Nice to hear that you have that modelling connection to your Dad too BTW
Will you be doing a part 2 on glueing the ballast? Especially how to do points with out glueing them stuck?
Perhaps - I think the message was more about enjoying the process then the technique per se - but a few are asking, and it's easier to demonstrate on video than in written form.
What kind of ground cover are you going to use between the tracks? Or do leave it gray/painted?
If you take a look at layout builds over on my website you'll begin to see what I will add to tell the story of, in this case, urban track work.
I am sure that in one of your videos you showed various Humbrol Paints were visible could you please list their numbers as having seen your latest video it never occurred to me to paint the Peco sleepers but thinking about it the ones nearer the buffer s in a secluded area could have tree pollen (green) lying upon them .
It’s in one of my shorts, take a look.
Thanks James , found it and duly noted @@JamesHiltonCustomModelRailways