I find that fascinating, Tainluver. I will not continue to press you for details. It is just that I felt driven, almost compulsive about getting mine done, and there were times when I was getting irritable, feeling overhwelmed, and generally numb about the magnitude of what I had undertaken. I was most definitely stressed. Luckily, I persevered, had the time, and the $ (sort of) to see it through. I can now breath.
Thanks for replying. And (never) is unutterable…I agree. [^]
I have built 4 layouts, 1 N scale and the others HO. The N scale was a 4x8, but quite detailed, It fell over however and was damaged beyond repair. Next, I built a HO layout I did not like the first two designs so I tore it down and started over again twive. I think the biggest things I’ve learned is that you must have a lot of patience, oh and all the needed funds!
Matt
I’m on my first layout, nothing big, just a 4x8 with a T at one end for east/west staging. I’m working very slowly to avoid mistakes and the things that I found intimidating arn’t so tough after all. I just carefully plan my next steps, and not rush into anything. What I learnt? It’s not so difficult, just give it a try and learn from your mistakes.
I’ve built 3, well 3 1/2 if you count the current project- What did I learn?
Layout #1, HO, 4 by 8 mid 1970’s- no more brass track, and no more AHM engines!
Layout #2, HO, 4 by 8, early 1980’s- You might think there are more important things than trains, but they really aren’t!
Layout #3, HO, 12 by three with an island, mid 80’s- Dummy! You shouldn’t have destroyed all that hard work from layout #2!
Layout #3 1/2, TT scale, 8 by 12 “L” shape, still under construction- I’ve learned several things-
OK, some things ARE more important than trains ( wife, kids).
But don’t buy a house that might be big enough, it won’t be!
Once a damp basement, always a damp basement.
What is considered a kit in one scale ain’t even close in another.
Don’t leave your precious model RR tools out for the wife to access, or she’ll be cutting the dog’s toenails with your Xuron nippers.
Kadee coupler springs can fly quite a ways!
Sometimes you are your worst critic, and most importantly
Quit being so danged serious, this is supposed to be fun!
No selector. You’re not pressing. I don’t mind telling you the whole story. Pull up a chair…
The fact is, I have both allergies and asthma real bad, and any time I had to do any sanding or painting, I had to either hold my breath or put on a clumsy resperator that fed me fresh air.
The work schedule I was on at the time only allowed me a couple of hours of work time a day, and I was jus too busy on weekends to fool with it at all.
I’m one of those people that doesn’t like anything like that hanging over my head, and want to get in there and get my projects done as fast as I can-but do a good job too…
I’ve always been like that-even as a kid.
trainluver1
FOUR, & the importance of GOOD TRACKWORK.
four, and in a month I’ll be moving into a bigger place so im gonna add on to the pike I have now
Selector, I have been kind of following your progress as you seem to be on the same sort of schedule as me, get it started, work as much as you can and get it finished. Alot of what you said ealier also relates to me and the way I have been working. Most of the areas involved are new to me also.
Ummmm how do I do a quote box, I cant find it in the help section…
Selector Quote… ““I have learned that I need to take more time to do things. My layout turned out very well, but it could have been better. Also, I learned to trust myself when i conclude that I should go on with a plan. I knew that a 4X8 layout would not satisfy me for long, either in the building or in the running. I needed ‘mass’ and variation in order not to get bored.””
Anyway, the reason for the post is that I havent seen any pics of yur progress to date. Do you have any? Are they online? Can you post some?
Many thanks,
Karl.
Karl
For the quote box, start with **
[quote]
** and end with [\quote] However with a forward slash instead of a backward slash like I’ve shown.
There is more information about fromating text under FAQ (near the search box above).
I’m on my 6th layout since 1961. Each layout gets bigger than the previous one. This one is 18 by 36 feet. I’ve learned like many others that a layout is never, ever finished.
I’ve also learned that you can learn something new every time you start another one.
Always try something new, always accept help from your friends, always try to work on the layout when the mood is right. Don’t push it, take your time.
I love to do scenery & doesn’t always turn out right the 1st. time. Don’t be afraid to take something apart & redo it. I use to always use plaster for mountains & hills. Then I went to foam & now I use ceiling tiles. I had to tare out a major chunk of the scenery
to change most over to the tiles, but what a difference. Everyone of my visitors think the ceiling tiles are real rock & strata. It’s not the only material I use. I still use some foam & some patching plaster. I’ve still got more space to add on & will do just that some day.
I hate wiring & had a good friend to do that in one season, including all the track soldering. I also had a few loco’s that weren’t running & had a friend repair all of them.
I also took a year of weekends to build a custom layout for someone else. That layout was 8 by 21 ft. You have to love the model railroading hobby to stay in it as long as I have. I hope I never lose the inspiriation to always work as many days & long hours to accomplish a completed train layout.[soapbox]
Larry (G-A-P Gulf-Atlantic-Pacific Railroad)
I’ve built two and I have learned I can spend a lot of money on a layout and still never quite happy with it
Trainluver, thanks for taking the time to answer me. If you haven’t already completed your last layout, I sincerely hope you can get it done with a minimum of anxiety and discomfort. Sounds to me like you will persevere, even though it was rough.
UKguy (Karl), I have been looking over your shoulders, too, and if your layout is anything at all like the pic that is below your signature, I haven’t much to show ya, Bud. [^]
Seriously, I have wanted to see what you folks would say about my product, but I don’t have a digital camera (price = one LL 0-6-0 plus one BLI 4-6-4 over here in maple leaf country). Maybe I’ll get my neighbour over to snap a few shots.
Glad to hear that you are experiencing the same thing…from a misery loves company point of view. It was a great big bear on my back, and I’m glad I can finally run trains. Unfortunately, (and don’t laugh!), I am now learning the value of flex-track and real turnouts. My EZ-track ones are proving to be iffy, and my trains derail inconsitantly. i finally put a spot of solder on the heel of one particularly troublesome point and it seems to have helped. it now wobbles less and the gob of solder forces the flanges away from the but end of the adjoining track.
This is getting long. I’ll work on the pictures.
4 layouts, downward from 4x8 to hollow core door. none very successful but all great fun. 11 Ntrack modules. They were all fun. now out of biggish house w/basement to little apartment so it will be another ntrack or ONETRACK module depending on the mood of the Ophir and Tintic board.
Doug, in Utah
Selector, I need to put a new pic on my signature after ‘Hurricane Kim’ (my wife in a state of extreme PMS) blew through the train room and leveled the hundred or so trees that were planted, so the pic is just a memory of what was. Luckily there was minimal ‘real estate’ damage, rolling stock and buildings were away in a safe place due to a pre-empting ‘Hurricane Warning’ earlier that day.
Anyways, its all repaired (two weeks of work that could have been spent elsewhere) and the 150 new trees are made and ready to go in.
Looking forward to seeing the pics when they come in.
Oh and this is my first layout since I was a kid and just played with basically an oval with a few sidings. I’ve learned wayyyyyy too much to list here, and I’m still learning!!
Thanks for the help on quoting Gary, I guess I couldnt see the wood for the trees in the FAQ.
Have fun & be safe.
Karl.
Guys,
This was my response in the original post. Thought I’d repost it here.
Funny you should ask. I have built two layouts and am in the beginning stages of a third. Here is an article I wrote about the last one but never did anything with. The layout discussed here was a Marklin layout. Sorry that it is so long.
Ten things I did wrong and would fix on the next layout
Not making a clean electrical connection to every track piece. This error caused me more grief than any other mistake (except spraying the power studs). When the track is new and laying on the cork, it usually functions perfectly. However, after painting, ballasting and gluing of the ballast the track often loses electrical contact Glue seeps in between the press on track connectors and interrupts the electrical flow between pieces. My advice: solder leads to every piece of track. This will take longer in the beginning but not half as long as I have spent trying to make up for not doing it.
Spraying the studs. Nothing I did was as bad as this mistake. It dogged the railroad the entire time and was a huge error. When applying glue to the ballast , I soaked the heck out of everything. I sprayed and sprayed matt medium to make sure that things stayed put. The layout looked great but nothing would run at all. For two rail track all one has to do is brite boy the rails and your off and running. Marklin track has studs. Lots of them . They must be individually scraped. There are still dead spots that I have never been able to fix from that fatal spraying. Advice: spray the track sparingly, wipe with a wet cloth to remove the glue. Use a dropper when possible, between the rails (this strategy worked fine on other sections of track)
steep grades. Ok, everyone does this at least once and I am sure that those of you bent on doing the steep grade thing are not going to be swayed by seeing the warning in print again. The reasons for having 5 or 6 percent grades are that one
Since the 1970’s, I have had numerous false starts, a couple of successes, and of course, my current layout is somewhat successful, what you see pictured here is what I refer to as the “Final Extension”, final you say? Yes, for the house I’m living in now, which is a rental, we are looking for our own house, and this layout is designed to be taken completely apart, thats why this final extension is just that, final for the moment…[8D][8D][8D][8]
I’ve just started my third, but it’s my first as an adult. The trains lived in attics for 30 years, but now they’re out.
I’ve learned that you CAN teach an old dog (me) new tricks. I’ve built benchwork I’m proud of, and now I’m having fun with foamboard. So, I’m much less apprehensive about learning new techniques for scenery, and painting and weather buildings.
Unfortunately, I’ve also learned that I may have been carting junk from attic to attic for the last 30 years. That old brass track - dumpster bound. But I’d really like to keep my old engines, even if it means spending more to upgrade them than they’re worth. Like old friends, y’know?
And, I’ve learned that the Internet, and particularly this forum, is a vibrant, living community which is doing a lot for this hobby. Thanks to all who participate.
At age 74,I’ve built a few layouts and I gotta add to what the older guys have said:
!) The ole eyes just ain’t the same, and the larger scales are much easier to work with.
2) With stiffening back, etc. every duck-under becomes an increasing challange.
3) Same with reach. The deeper the scenery, the more difficult.
If becoming a Senior Citizen ain’t within your sights, ignore this. IF it is, you might give these suggestions some thought.
I’m going to build my first around the room multi layer layout soon. Heck this will be my first layout period. As I only have room for one layout, I have to get this one right.
Am I worried? Darn right I am! I have tight tolerences and I’m worried the wall won’t be straight, or something else will disasterously will go wrong. Or maybe I’ll cut a plywood sheet crooked with my circular saw. Or that I may even figure the height needed for my hidden track wrong! I’m also worried about the tortoise installs.
I almost want to hire someone to do the benchwork for me! Even with all the books, I can still think of a million things going wrong.
~Don
Mr.B, don’t scrap that brass! Use it to model abandoned tracks or paint it a rust color and make a scrap pile on the layout somewhere near the railroad shops.