A few months ago I posted about having to tear down my layout in order to create room in the basement for my re-modeling or should I say modeling job since there was nothing there and I’m building rooms. I got lots of great suggestions on how I can stay in the hobby in the mean time without having a layout, something I was REALLY having a hard time coming to terms with. But it truly has come around to having and finding some really great things to do in the mean time in preparation for my next layout.Initially I was going to try and build a small HO layout on a 44"x60" platform in our spare room upstairs but I just couldn’t create a track plan that would excite me for more than a few days, and since the table was so small, inclines were pretty much out of the questions without 6.5 degree angles and I was really stuck with a roundy-round and a few switches, and after coming from my 13’x60" it just didn’t have all the bells and whistles I wish I could have. Well, while whining to the wifey about this the other night she came up with an idea that was given to me here a while ago. And that was to set up a work table in the spare room for now and work on my models, locos and rolling stock so that they’d all be ready to go when I finally DID get to my next big layout. I thought this was a grand idea; it would keep me out of the freezing basement for the winter, keep me close to my daughter and still enjoy my hobby. So yesterday I got home a little early from work after a dentist appointment, and with half a numb face I put the small platform back in the basement, and dug out a folding table that’s about 5x2 and started to setup shop. My first task will be to tune up and install DCC decoders in my A
AltoonaRailroader - I know quite well how it feels being without a layout. Economic reasons have forced me to sell off all of my model railroading gear, all that there is left, is an old Marklin electric that my wife gave me on the occasion of our first wedding anniversary. No silver lining to be seen at the horizon, so I will stay in the “Dream and Plan” phase for quite some time. The “build” phase will also come, one fine day, I am sure!
As long as you have the means to tinker around a little, the no-layout time is not so bad!
Sorry to hear about the hard times Sir Madog. Keep a stiff upper lip and good luck, I’m sure you’ll be back to your layout dreams soon.
I had to tear down a small HO layout a few years ago to make way for a major remodel of our house. Now that I’m planning a much larger layout, my son is rapidly approaching college age. His goal is to attend MIT and darned if he isn’t making the grades in the right classes to get accepted there. MIT gets $54,000 per year, so I don’t see my next layout getting started very soon. Oh yeah, they don’t give merit scholarships, only financial aid. Being a white middle class male, of course my son wouldn’t qualify for financial aid!
Horn,
I feel your pain. I’m currently paying roughly that amount per year for all my kids’ educations combined. But luckily, I managed to get a decent-sized layout up and running in my garage before the major tuition bills hit. I just can’t buy new stuff for it…[sigh]
Are you from Altoona? I was born and raised there. Most of my family is still back there. Not having a layout isn’t that bad. You get lots of work done on the rolling stock and locomotives in the meantime.
Chris
Why not build a micro-layout that can fit on top of a desk or dresser or bookshelf, etc? It doesn’t have to excite you operationally (although it can). At the very least, it provides a diorama for the rolling stock you are working on.
I’m kind of partial to Wye River City (see http://www.carendt.com/microplans/pages/shelf/termini/index.html#3 part way down the page) as a good starting point for a micro-layout. There are many other good ideas at Carl’s site. It takes 1x4ft (1x3 if a cassette is used for staging), and could easily be built on a slab of foam as the base. Add some Gatorboard or 1/8" plywood or Masonite to the sides to protect the foam. Make the sides extend below the foam if you like to provide room for underside wiring. The whole point is to keep it very simple - don’t grow the project too much. Then if operations don’t prove satisfying, go back to where you are now with just a test track.
If you make the scenery decent looking, the good woman may accept it as a wall display.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Sir Maddog I’m about 2 seconds from doing the same thing. The world is so fudged up I’m preping my handful of locos tha have value for sale. Chin up.
Altoonrailroader—good. stay fired up. Its good to have enthusiasm about somthing. latey my spirit is gone.
AggroJones - I am sorry to heart that. It is true, the world has changed a lot, but unfortunately for some of us , like you and me, not for the better. I still hope to see more of your beautifully weathered and detailed cars!
Glad your on your way to a solution. I don’t have a lot of space, but that aint stoppin me. Multi-level.Only way to get all my interests in. I currently have an operating dogbone but only to test my module and equipment and get them in shape. Then I hit the real layout deal, which is burning my rears to build real bad, dern cold snuffs out your enthusiasm, but thats temp.
I kinda am at your situation a temp layout, test and build equipment and layout planned out yet still replanning. Getting more things to fit. gonna be a busy layout.
Hi PRR in AZ. Yep, I’m from Altoona and currently living here too. I was raised like two miles from the Horseshoe Curve and had family that worked for PRR, PC, Conrail and now NS so RR is sorta in my blood.
Thanks for the input Fred. That might be a good idea to try. I still have a rather large piece of 1.5" blue foam board from my old layout. It’s gonna be mighty ugly outside this weekend, so it should be a great time to get into some MRR fun. Thanks for the idea and the link, maybe I’ll try that. I have an engine house and a few manufacturing buildings that might make up a nice little scene. [;)]
It will be the 7th time I have torn down a layout and threw it into a dumpster while holding onto the rolling stock and stuff. Did I say stuff?
Already the room that used to be the train room is now the new room for other uses more important than trains. I think one corner serves as a weapons cleaning bench LOL.
The other part of the room will be build a On30 Layout sometime in 2010. The On30 rolling stock and layout plan has been established and purchasing has started.
Just because there is NO layout to run on right now, it does not mean train time is over. Things roll on.
In long ago days modelers like me were called “Armchair” railroaders. No layout, but plenty of paper drawn plans, lists of things to buy and a tiny bit of wall/corner to work with.
More than likely this will be my 8th and final layout.
Then again there might be a 9th layout after we move away from our current abode. Who knows?