Once again I find myself wanting to restructure my HO layout, practically redoing the entire pike. This makes the third attempt in about five years and many more since I replaced my Lionel for HO – many decades past. The era my MRR represents the late 1930s into the 1940s.
I don’t mean just restructuring portions of a layout: adding, subtracting terrain, or changing an era to be reflected by the layout. I mean starting from scratch.
I began with a layout that was “U” shaped in my rec room. I added a level, but together the layout became overwhelming; it was too much for me. I tore it down and built an oval shaped layout, then a "T, then an “I” and now I’m beginning an “L”-shaped layout
At 75 years old, I suspect this will have to be my last. The old bones in my body need Ben Gay rubbed on them daily and an nap at least twice daily. I’m compelled to be satisfied by the 15’ x 12’ “L.”
I’ve wondered if there are others like me who seem to have or had a short “enjoyment span” regarding layouts? I realize we all want to enhance our visual presentations and invite challenges, but as often as I have?
Funny you should ask. I am right in the middle of a tear out. I am changing from a basic double loop roundy round with spurs and a duck under, to a very nice switchback that will be a walk in. I think the more someone learns as they go along, definately affects their finished product. I’ll probably get the saw out tomorrow.
I’ve moved 4 times, starting over each time. Of the non-move reconstructions, the first one or two, were because of my improving modeling skills. And the rest, due to my modeling interests changing.
Caellis, unfortunately I asked the wrong question when I asked about costs and modeling. I trust you read most of the responses and noted that the topic took off in a different direction. I should have deleted the message after the first dozen or so responses.
I did not assert that I exchanged rolling stock or locomotives in the message you referenced. In fact, through the many changes, only the lumber was replaced. And that didn’t cost an arm and a leg.
After having spoken to a number of modelers, I learned that they keep the same layout for years, making occasional adjustments and enhancements. My changes were structural — size became a dominant focus to my family who began taking interest in my rec room and its surroundings. And as I noted above, costs were minimal.
All of my restarts (usually from scratch, in terms of benchwork and items attached thereto) have been a result of moves (frequently a result of PCS orders up until 1982) with the exception of the most recent.
When my wife and I moved into our present home, we both said, “Never again!” Our next permanent relocation will be to a National Cemetary.
At that time (3 years ago) I was given title to 1/2 of our 2-car garage, and designed my layout accordingly. It required a lot of compromises to try to cram a ton of interests into a twenty kilogram bag. Construction was well under way when —
Slightly over two months ago, my wife informed me that she was willing to leave her car out in the sun, so I could have the entire garage for a layout. Since I now have a fifty kilogram bag, I can ease some compromises and add two things I wanted but didn’t have room for. Redesign is just about done, and rebuilding is just beginning.
My intention for this to be my last layout does not preclude adding, changing, deleting or modifying part or all of it in the future. It will be finished when my executor reads my will.
LOL Ha Ha Ha, Is this a trick question? Oh, you mean other than the “official” three or four? I am getting there myself, 69 in Nov. I analyzed the situation, gathered my “givens and druthers” and decided to go Free-mo modules! Now I can concentrate on one module at a time, doesn’t take a lot of space, and can go to local friends and/or clubs whenever I need an “operations” fix, which is pretty often. On the other hand, since converting to DCC/sound, I have “donated” a lot of equipment and ideas to some very interested kids, who are the future of model railroading, eh? jc5729
o yes i just recently had to rework mine because my 4 yr. old granddaughter climbed on top of my town area and wreaked havoc. had been thinking about reworking anyway she just made my mind up for me. lol dave
I stopped this contiually changing the layout by finally building a prototypical layout based on an actual area. The layout design uses actual Conrail maps to layout the trackwork just as it was in 1984. So I don’t have to keep making changes and looking for the perfect design as the railroad kind of knows what works and what does not. So why try and second guess the real thing!
This is where a lot of problems come in trying to second guess how the real railroad would do it. If you just model the actual way the trackwork is laid out and talk with the real people that ran the line then it is a no brainer.
Most modelers (and I include myself in this) end up most of their lives wasting a lot of modeling only to find out late in their lives that the perfect layout was there all the time only they could not recognize it because of not following a prototype.
We had this problem when the club I am in began their first layouts. Each week I would come in and some member had found another turnout in a box of junk and decided that we needed another turnout cut into the layout. There was no rhyme or reason for it. Did the siding ever get used, NOPE! so why put it in the layout in the first place. Once the club begain building prototype layouts this problem of just slapping in turnouts where ever there was room stopped. IF the prototype did not have it then the mode form did not have it.
It was unbelivable how much money was saved over the years once the layout was nearly finshed as there was no need to make changes to it any more!
I’ve only been into this hobby a year but I have redone my layout 3 times but all for good reasons, this was suposed to be my son’s train so we started him with a 4x4 set up, no landscaping or buildings just track. he started to loose interest so I moved the track downstairs to the dining roon built a 4x8 table and whent to town on it adding some buildings and landscaping. I wasn’t finished but I was moving right along(by this time my sons only interest in the train was once in a while he would want to drive the train), then my husband decieded the train layout took up to much room so I had to move to the shed and since I had to move I reworked the entire layout this time with plans to addon not redo, I only see my self redoing for one reason and that would be if I ever move.
First layout as a so-called adult, 1973. Next one 1975. Next one 1978…1984…1987…2003. Each was better than the last. Each was built on what I’d learned so far, and as I went on I realized that wasn’t much! My present layout might last another couple of years, then I’ll start another, and this time…
I haven’t gotten to the point where I can say “There- that’s it”! (and I never will).
I will have to agree with CMR (Bob) on this, pick a prototype area and the game plan is pretty much set, otherwise there will always be something new and exciting you see in the real world or on someone elses layout that you ‘must’ add to yours, the prototype doesnt change too often… however I will say that I will always freelance and replan and rebuild many times to come… i like to think of it as scale evolution… it happens 87 times faster(for me in HO) than the real world.
So you model scale to prototype? 1 mile = about 60 feet HO… that’s a mighty big layout?! Or a mighty small bit of prototype?! I don’t want to get flamed over this but I don’t see how you can " pick a prototype area and the game plan is pretty much set " without some selective compression, unless you have a huge layout. Please enlighten.