Layout size and material dilemma

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Here is my dilemma. I’ve been planning and collecting models for my “future” dream layout for a long time. I’ve finally come to the realization that because of my family, job, and time constraints that I probably will not be able to build that dream layout. I’ve designed a new layout that is more focused and much smaller is size and material. Plus it is transportable.

Should I sell the equipment, parts, and decals that I have gathered for the large layout so I can super-detail the smaller layout (ie sound in every locomotive)? Or should I hold on to the equipment and still hope for the time and space? I am still young and it could still happen. I know that I’ve already spent a great deal of time finding the locomotives and freight cars that I wanted for the large layout and probably, unless at great cost, if I sold them I will not be able to get them back.

Nate

2

Most of the stuff I sold, I now wish I had back. I didn’t get much for it, but it looked like real money then. For me, I wish I would have found some boxes and kept it. The truth is, now 20 - 40 years after I sold the stuff, I am building my dream railroad. You may also.

3

If when you started building this collection you had specific goals in ind - era, place, a particular railroad you planned this dream layout around - you might want to hang on to it all because you never know down the road. Kids grow up and move out - eventually (you hope [:D] ) That dream layout could be yours, just not today.

On the other hand, if you picked up anythign and everything that caught your eye, once you decide on what your focus will be, selling off those models that don’t fit or make sense. Eba can be a gold mine for the seller since some people will pay ridiculous amounts for things. I did quite well getting rid of all the old 70’s Tyco stuff I had from when I was a kid. I saved a few peieces that had sentimental value, but sold off almost all the rest. None of it particularly rare, all of it used - we didn’t buy things and put them on the shelf, they got run on the layout.

–Randy

4

I agree. I’m currently on layout number 7 and it was several moves and houses from conception to reality. I would hate to see you dispose of items that you may not ever be able to replace and even if you can the price will likely be many times what you paid.

Although the current layout may not fill an 1800 foot basement, with judicious use of staging, multiple levels and live interchanges you can get an amazing amount of railroading in a pretty small space. The Brits are masters at this.

None of us can really model a 1500 mile mainline but we can model a portion of it. By trading a 500’ mainline for a 100’ mainline with some of the tricks of the trade like staging etc. a railroad that’s fun to operate can fill in until the big one becomes possible.

5

I agree with others.

Here is a quick little story to maybe make you think.

When I was 16 I packed up small collection of HO stuff I had gathered over the years from family and freinds. I knew at the time that I was getting to a point in life that I wouldnt be playing with them again… for awhile. Highschool, college, life, I saw it all on the horizon and was very, very tempted to sell it or give it away. When would I have time? Besides, it was old junky stuff. TYCO and most of it was pretty beat, haveing survived my childhood.

I remember very vividly, packing them all up, useing old socks, newspapers and towles. It was a sad day, but I knew in my haeart, I decided to keep it… , trains, trees,buildings,cars and people…all of it. 5 boxes later all was secured and set for long term storage. At the time… who knew when they would see day light again.

Well, I went on in life, 2 more years of highschool, 2 years of community college, 2 years at at a state college, and 5 years of my business. I lost track of the times I moved the boxes, where I stashed for years at a time. I cant recall, where the heck I put them all those years.

But, I can tell you the day I unpacked them. I was 28, I had just moved in with my then, girlfreind, who had a 3 year old son. I had no idea how to bond with a 3 year old kid,… it was awkward to say the least. Then, I remembered my “trains”. After a bunch of phone calls, driveing all over to get all the boxes, I returned one night with an arm full of boxes. I walked in the door and I was greeted by my future son and he said whats in the boxes? “Oh, my old trains. You wanna see?”

“Yes!”

As the nights went on that first week we played with the trains, it occurred ot me that even though they might have been old, cheap trains

6

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-George

7

I have everything I ever bought and I’m glad I do. I don’t know if I will ever use it all. But my hobby goals and layout space change over time so I keep it all just in case - in 4 scales yet.

OTOH if you have to pay to store them, it may not make economic sense to keep it all.

Enjoy

Paul

8

OK, here’s my perspective from an “old gezzer”. We never know what the future will bring and I can tell you from experience, our goals and dreams change as we get older. Also from experience, the older we get the more hind sight we have and the realization we can’t go back and change things. In a “nut shell”, my advice is to carefully pack the stuff away, you’ll not regret it 10, 15, 20 years from now. Ken

9

I don’t know about where you are at but out here in the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west we have these things we call boxes. Why don’t you see if they have them thar things in your region of the country and, if they do, acquire a few of them. Put your train equipment in them and take a piece (read: locomotive) out every now and then and superdetail it - which might include the installation of sound. Stop being so consarned anxious to get rid of things. You wanna wake up some day with “sellers” remorse like ARTHILL?

If you haven’t already you might look into the The "N’ Crowd post and check out some of the photos of Dave Vollmer’s layout - its an “N-Scale on a Door” layout but it shows an awful lot of what can be done in relatively small quarters. I am sure that Brother Dave wishes that he had more space available and I am equally sure that he will at some time in the future which will allow for a larger layout. You have been buying on the come; been there - done that - bought the T-Shirt - and then converted from HO to N.

10

Here’s why you should keep them:

My stuff haD been in boxes for years. My grandson was very sick as a baby and has ADD & some other issues. He would not even look at TV for more than 5 minutes at age 1, untill I bought “Kids Love Toy Trains #1” - he didn’t move for 45 minutes watching it! Since then the boxes came out, a 4x8 was set up, and a “few” more purchases made. 10 minutes of watching him play with them is worth everything. He loves my 40 year old Athern BB’s as much as the sound/DCC locos - KEEP THE STUFF!![:D]

11

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-George

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Add me to this conga line. Forty-two years after deciding what I wanted to model and starting my collection of appropriate rolling stock and accessories, I’ve finally acquired permanent title to the layout space I need to build about 87% of my dream.

In the meantime, I belonged to clubs, built several small layouts and, twenty-six years ago, put together a module bearing the trackage of my ‘end of the shortline’ station. During all of that time, I never abandoned either the dream or my choice of prototype. Now I’m beginning to operate rolling stock that has been stored in its original boxes for more than half my lifetime.

By all means, build something to operate now. Just keep it within the realm of your overall scheme, and use those items of your collection that will fit comfortably. Sooner or later, you will be glad you didn’t abandon the bigger dream.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

12

I knew what i was interested in modeling when i was 16, i’m 53 and now i’m building the basement sized layout i’d dreamed about. fortunately as i went a long i bought what i liked when i found it and now i’m getting it out of boxes.

13

I’ve decided to take everyones advice on holding on to my models that I have collected. I already keep them in boxes with a spreadsheet and word document covering which boxes they are in, what has and what needs to be done to them, what decals are set aside for what, etc. Yes, I do know what boxes are and they came in very handy for my 4th move in 4 years.

Something I was thinking is that if I build a small layout and it’s sectional, then I can switch out sections and model different roads when the mood hits. I’m a Mopac fan, but I have come to enjoy the Rock Island also.

I’m going on my 3rd trip to Iraq very soon and this time I plan to take some of my models so I can relax/unwind and enjoy my hobby. I have over 600 Sergent couplers to assemble and I can work on weathering techniques. Thank you all for the advice and help.

Nate