Well it finally happened. One of my ideas for the trains has got the a-okay from the lady. I’ve been tossing around the idea of having a track loop around the living room as a working display loop. Just some track nailed down to shelf made from either pine wood or some plywood. That’s all I wanted. I can get away with more than that now.
I was a little bored yesterday and figured I would nail down some HO track to get track centers right for planning a possible rail car ferry on my test track board (4 foot long 1x6 pine board). After I was done with the HO it was enough fun that I nailed down some N track and viola, I had a nice little section of a two-track HO mainline and a single N line. Put some trains on it, set it up, and all of a sudden I hear “hey that looks pretty neat. so how high up would it be on the walls?” I got up, held my little show board up and said “bout that high”. No sooner than I sat back down trying to figure out where I’m going to up this (no sense in takin all my trains off display) I suddenly hear again “hey what if you only used one of the big tracks, took the furthest one off, then you could have room to put some like trees or little buildings on it too.” I was awestruck!! I still think it hasn’t totally sunk in yet. But oh it gets better.
The next thing I know it’s latter last night and me and the lady are talking about where we could move the furniture around in the living room. And why? once again I hear that little voice “well if we put the couch angled in the corner where the bookshelf is now, put the tv where the couch is now in that little corner, moved both bookshelves (yes I have enough movies/books to completely fill a pair of 1x3x6 foor bookshelves) over there that would make all that less cluttered and you would have more room for the trains”. I can’t flipping believe it!!! I’ve gone from having tons of trouble trying to fit a layout that has all that I want in a smallish 10x6 foot space, to having a doub
Go for it! I was given a large room by the better half, but sort of lost it to stuff, as I didn’t have time to move in right at the moment. Still planning to clean and finish it someday.
If you have room for a loop at each end, you could have continuous running with a double track through most of your scenes. If you want operations, would have to do a little planning.
Sounds like you may have a partner in layout building, see if she is interested in making trees, painting a backdrop or figures, building car or building kits. You may have a new connection with your lady, which will strengthen the overall bond.
Some suggestions to keep the goodness flowing (or avoid recriminations and mind-changing later) when using a living space for a layout:
most important - ALWAYS, ALWAYS, set aside 15 minutes for cleanup at the end of every work session. Put away all tools, vacuum and clean up any dust, mess, etc.
if possible, keep the shelves in manageable sections and do the messy work in the garage, driveway, etc., - anywhere but a living space that might see visitors.
make sure any visible supports and wood are furniture quality, sanded, and are stained/oiled/varnished/painted.
the best idea I have seen is to fit an upper shelf over the layout shelf with a hinged cover. The cover helps keep the layout free of dust, as well as covering a potential “eye-sore” while in the pink foam stage of construction.
Don’t ask me how I learned this. The otherwise non-interested wife really wants 1) a decent looking display to show friends, 2) to put the trains in which you invested all that money to better use than being hidden in boxes, and 3) to demonstrate that she has transformed you into more than a basement dwelling troglydite.
The more you can integrate her desires with your layout dreams, the more successful you will be. Conversely, if she has to look daily at what she considers to an eye-sore with little to no visible progress (in her eyes), you will soon be losing your shelf layout. Which is why the spare room or basement or garage or man cave is often the better layout site if you have trouble meeting her desires in a reasonable timeframe.
Seriously, congratulations on winning her support for your model railroading. Treasure that support, and work to keep it.
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