Layout Design SIG

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Layout Design SIG (http://ldsig.org/)

Those of you that have used it how did it help?

What did you get out of it?

Was it worth it? Why?

2

SpaceMouse:

I joined the LD SIG back in 1987 and learned a ton from their publications. I credit the long-lasting success of my HO Siskiyou Line design to all the insight I picked up from the LD SIG.

I’m such a believer in the group’s goals that I served as editor for their publications from 1994 - 1997.

If you’re thinking of going to the group’s yahoo list, and ask them to design you a layout for your space, you can forget it. They are not a free layout design service.

On the other hand, if you are willing to be a good student, take a plan idea you have and ask them to critique it, that usually works pretty well. Make the plan available in electronic form, and upload to the files area, then ask them to critique it for you and you’ll often get lots of great comments.

It helps to define your “givens and druthers” going in. What are your specific requirements you want in a layout – like: HO scale, 1950s era, eastern coal hauler, long mainline run with a helper grade, single deck, room 12’ x 15’. Druthers: 20 car trains if possible, interesting small branch line if possible, some industrial area switching if possible.

The more specific you can make your request, the better traction you can get with your request.

The other option is to join the LD SIG Yahoo list ( http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ldsig/ ) and just lurk for a while. You’ll probably learn a lot just doing that.

3

Not unlike here. [:o)]

4

I’m on the Yahoo group. Gotten a lot of good ideas from various people there. It’s worth it. There’s a bunch of other useful Yahoo groups for model railroading, as well. LayoutConstruction is a good one. DCC4Everyone covers all DCC systems, and the major brands each have their own groups, as well as QSIndustries (QSI) and Soundtraxx. I’m on all of these, as well as the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society group, since they cover the Reading.There are two Reading-specific groups but neither gts much traffic, either no one really does model the Reading except Bill Gruber, myself, and Dave Husman. Or none of the others has any time to post on message boards about it. [:D]

–Randy

5

The LD SIG is not something you use, rather something you participate in and learn from.

Others have mentioned the LD SIG YahooGroups discussion list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ldsig/

That discussion list is just a small part of what the LD SIG offers (but it is free and might give you an idea of what the organization is about). The magazine, published 3-4 times per year, has lots of interesting ideas and layout designs. The LD SIG also puts on regional meetings and sponsors some very interesting activities at the national NMRA conventions. That will also be true this year at Cincinnati.
http://convention.ldsig.org/

(You need to click around on the links at the left of that page to see all the convention activities sponsored by the LD SIG. LD SIG membership is required for these events, however one can sign up at the convention and participate in the events.)

The $15 membership fee gets you 4 issues of the magazine (slightly higher outside of the US) and your membership runs for the length of time for those four magazines to be published … with volunteer authors and editors, that is sometimes longer than one year.

So the LD SIG is best viewed as a resource for learning more about layout design, not a “drive-through” design service. I’ve learned a huge amount from the publications, from the regional meetings and national convention events, and from discussion (online and in-person) with other members. How could you go wrong for 15 bucks?
http://www.ldsig.org/

Regards,

Byron