How do you cope? (if applicable)

My [2c]:

Something to keep in mind is that you don’t get to see the whole layout either on the forums or in the pages of MR. What you do see are the best views of it. My layout, for example, is only half sceniced and it has a 1:1 furnace right in the middle - I don’t tend to show off the half that is just track on OSB, and I do my best to keep the furnace out of the pictures.

Another thing you don’t see are the results from when the builder was in the middle of the learning curve, or the experements that yeilded less than satisfactory results. My layout has layers of substandard results hidden beneath layers of better results. Allow yourself time to learn and keep in mind that a lot of the learning comes from just trying and trying again. You can get through the learning curve faster by reading and by discussing methods with more experienced modelers (it is rare that you’ll find a model railroader who won’t let you in on his/her secrets).

I urge you to get started. I also suggest shopping where you can get good used stuff as a way of dealing with the cost issue (with one exception - buy your electronics new with a warranty). I shop on eBay and at the swap meets that go with train shows. I figure that I stay in the hobby for less than half the cost of buying everything brand new.

When it comes to time, think about your reasons for being in the hobby. I can only speak for myself, but I’m in it because it gives me a creative outlet in which I can spend the time that isn’t devoted to something else (girlfriend, work, home upkeep, yard, dog, etc.), so I’m glad to spend as long as it takes; if it ever got finished what would I do? I know a guy who is really just interested in operation, so he hired some help and they built a huge layout in a matter of a few months. It’s not superdetailed, but it looks good, and boy does it ope

Hey Chuck,

I understand how you feel. Wasn’t too long ago I was in the same boat. I’m in a cramped apartment with not much in the way of room for a big layout. My interest popped in and out like yours. Finally I decided I was going to do it regardless.

Decided on N scale so I could help with the lack of room. Designed a layout with help from many here that was loosely based on Dave Vollmers Pensy. Layout is about 3.5’x7.5’ not quite the 4x8. I made it in 4 modules that can be taken apart and stored away. This is a pain because the sections that come apart are not on straightaways but on turns. Makes taking it apart and putting it back together quite a pain but I’ve been able to manage.

Since then the benchwork is built. Trackwork is down but not perfect. I’m ok with that being this is my training wheels layout as far as I’m concerned. Wiring has started and all feeders are in place. Bus wired come next for me. Already have the bus wires layed out so they can be separated with the layout. New I wanted DCC so bought the Digitrax Zephyr when it was on sale. Buying most things I need on sale when I see them. Using turnout controls similar in design to what Joe Fugate has done on his layout to save money.

Now by no means am I good at any of this stuff. Especially not yet but I wanted to do it so I had to just start. Already have seen how I would do things differently which is great learning for my next layout.

The longer you wait, the closer you get to too late.

Enjoy

Rob

Chuck, you asked how I (the guy who walks around in my moccasins) cope. It’s simple. As Popeye was heard to observe, “I yam what I yam.” My particular package of skills (or lack thereof) and knowledge are a result of my life experiences. I don’t let the greater skills of others intimidate me, and I don’t obsess over how I can make myself seem better than I am - which, to be brutally honest, is fairly mediocre.

As for limitations…

  • Space. The gentleman who runs FasTracks is modeling the Bronx Terminal of the Central Railroad of New Jersey in HO. When finished, it will be about the size of the much-maligned 4x8 plywood sheet - and will accurately represent ALL the trackage a significant prototype railroad had in the State of New York! In Z scale, it would be about the size of a TV tray. Moral - you don’t really need the wide open spaces unless you absolutely have to have full-length PRB coal units. (Aside - the Powder River Basin has a remarkable resemblance to the Plywood Pacific in 1:1 scale.)

  • Time. Patience, Grasshopper. Building a model railroad, or even a model woodshed to put on a model railroad, isn’t a TV program. You don’t have to solve the problems, do the job and finish up in time for the closing commercial. My own progress can only be described as glacial. I am building the last layout I am ever likely to build. If the track is all down and the scenery looks presentable by my 100th birthday, fine. If not (for whatever reason) neither the full-size world nor my personal world will end - unless the reason is that my personal world HAS ended.

  • Money. “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” A good model railroad doesn’t hinge on buying the latest and greatest. It is much more satisfying to keep the old standbys running

To cope with limited space, I changed scale and gauge slightly, and changed prototype completely. I chose to model a railroad that ran 2 & 3 passenger MU trains and equally short freights. That railroad also had very sharp curves…

Like most blokes here, I don’t have unlimited amounts of money to spend on modelling, so I try to stretch my budget further by scratchbuilding as much as I can, rather than simply buying one of everything at the hobby shop. But having said that, choosing a non-mainstream prototype and scale means that the vast majority of newly released models don’t tempt me at all, and that makes me frugal by default.

That leaves modelling skills. If all you ever do is read and dream about modelling, or you only buy RTR models, you’ll never develop your modelling skills. So build some kits, kitbash something, scratchbuild something. Even an average model you scratchbuilt will give you far more satisfaction than the latest RTR model with all the bells and whistles. Like any creative pursuit, the way to develop your skills is to practice, practice, practice.

Cheers,

Mark.

  • Divide and Conquer Tackle a small project a focus your efforts there.

  • Don’t Worry About Failure If you “mess a scene up,” it is easy to fix or start over.

  • Just Do It With al apologies to Nike, I have found that is very easy to over-analyize and over-worry about things (see my backdrop color thread for a good example [:)]).

  • Start RIGHT NOW Even if you just do a hollow door layout or a small 2x4’ N-scale layout. A module. A diorama. Whatever you do, you will learn things that you can use forever. And you can have BIG FUN on a small scale layout.

From my personal standpoint, I find the last point to be most important. I waited almost 15 years to start a layout because I thought it was going to be a major involvement. Then I finally started one about 4 months ago and I can not believe what I have accomplished on such little time. I often wonder what I would have if I started 15 years ago. Jamie

A lot of the posts have advised you to get started (I’m in that group). Assuming that you do “Just Do It” I’d like to add one other suggestion:

Make every effort to do exceptionally good trackwork (no kinks, no gaps/minimal gaps, smooth curves, straight straights, no vertical undulations, etc.). The reason is that this hobby loses a lot of its appeal when the trains derail, stall, or uncouple (when you don’t want them to). Track issues can be difficult to fix once it’s glued and/or nailed in place. If there is a part of this hobby where being obsessive/compulsive pays off, it’s laying track. Expect your trackwork to take quite a bit of time (I estimate that I spend 10-15 minutes per foot of flextrack and each turnout is about 30 minutes to an hour). Still, it’s not a race and time spent on your track pays off every minute that you run trains.

By the way, the smaller the scale the pickier the trains become. For example, a 1/16 gap is undesirable in HO scale, but most train traffic will tolerate it; in N scale it will probably cause some trouble; in Z scale…

…it won’t be pretty.

To lay reliable track there are a couple of tools that I feel are absolute requirements: Rail cutters and an NMRA gauge for your scale/gauge

Hi!

You have gotten some pretty good advice so far, and take it from one who has been in the hobby since the mid '50s, they know what they are talking about. Let me add a few more cents worth…

Model railroading can be a life long hobby, and I doubt there is a better one (I’ve looked!). However, you cannot expect to start out with an expert level large layout with all the bells and whistles (pun intended) if you are a newbie. While there may be a few exceptions, it took those of us in the hobby a long time many years to develop the skills, and acquire the stuff (sourced from $$$) to get to what we have today.

Like a lot of MRs, I started with Lionel in the early '50s, and got into HO in the early '60s. My start with HO was a couple of Athearn locos, and a bunch of Athearn kits. The track and turnouts were Atlas sectional, and the scenery was handbuilt with plaster and colored sawdust and lichen. At its peak, there was no more than $100 in it. That was a lot in the early '60s, but was bought over a period of time.

Regarding skills, you will develop them with time and patience and doing a lot of reading and practice. MR is especially wonderful in that you can learn about design, electricity, model building, carpentry, painting, etc., etc. But to get “there” is a never ending process.

Regarding space, many of us started out with no or little space too. Some got very creative (layout under the bed, in a closet, around the bedroom, etc.), but most had to either join a club or wait for the situation to change. Ha, when the last of my 4 children went out on their own, the biggest bedroom was then deemed, “the train room”. I was 44 when that happened.

Regarding money, I sure can relate to that. As a teen I shoveled snow (Chicago) and mowed yards and painted until I got a "real par

Absolutely! My “Just do it” comment was more of a state of mind and not a waiver to disregard quality. However, I would add that even if trackwork is not perfect the first time it can be repaired or redone, as I have had to doo on way too many occasions!

As a newcomer to this side (2 rail scale) of the hobby (my kids and I have a Lionel 3 rail layout), I see that a lot of people on this forum have the same thoughts about their layouts that I’m currently having. What do I want to include on and leave off the layout? How much space do I have? Which scale is right for my available space? What era? What roadname? DC or DCC? Etc…This has been an interesting and informative thread for me. [tup]

Jim

Coping? Not me!

To me, the term coping implies some form of behavior modification due to dissatisfaction with a situation.

I went from a 25 x 45 foot double deck layout to an 11 1/2 x 12 foot triple deck layout, but I am not “coping”. I am model railroading and having a blast!

This hobby is all how you percieve it and your particular situation. While that big ol’ monster layout was fun, the smaller one will keep me busy for years on end. The things that need doing are the same; the planning is the same, the building is the same and the fun is the same.

No coping here; sorry.

Modeling and learning what I can now- making the best of what I can with what I have. I’m going to move out some day and I know that I’ll have a new place with (hopefully) more room to expand and have a longer run, hence why I’m waiting to go DCC till then.