Does anyone have a completed HO layout for sale? I have size limits of no more than 9’ wide and no longer than 15’. I live near Peoria, IL but I would be willing to travel a reasonable distance to come and get it.
Complete layouts occasionally show up on E-Gadbay. Be prepared for sticker shock.
Or you can hire a professional layout builder (several advertise in Model Railroader) to design and build a layout to your design ‘givens and druthers.’ If buying off E-rrr is like purchasing an existing house, a custom builder is like hiring an architect/general contractor for your mansion-to-be.
The alternative depends on your patience and skills - including willingness to learn skills you don’t already have. Then you start with a sketch of your space, laid out in Armstrong squares, and doodle track plans that offer the things you want in your own layout. Benchwork is one of the fastest parts of layout assembly. Underlayment, roadbed and track can be almost as fast, especially if you design for sectional track with attached roadbed, or much slower if you decide to lay flex track and hand-laid specialwork or go all hand-laid. Scenery is slower, but if you build it you get to decide what it will look like, from the flat plains of West Texas to the vertical contours of the Royal Gorge.
The real kicker is that if you Dream - Plan - Build it yourself, you will end up with what YOU want, not a rehash of someone else’s dream…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - flex track, handlaid specialwork and scenery that stands on edge, in a Southern Nevada double garage)
I would suggest HOYardSale or Craig’s List.
One could always go for one of those Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail sets with Kato Unitrack or Atlas Tru-Track.
Watch your local Craigs List. Whole layouts often show up there. I picked up one for free for the childern last summer here in Denver.
Thank you for all the suggestions!