With my interest in trains coupled with the enjoyment of scratch building and kit bashing, I don’t see my layout ever being completed. As far as the railroad itself - Double Six Northern, well, I don’t see it ever being completed either. Adding engines and rolling stock, changing couplers and wheel sets, repainting and weathering, the list goes on.
Does anyone consider their railroad and/or layout completed?
A model railroad is never finished [:)]
Hi Dave [:)]
I was actually trying to respond to your email when I came to the forums to the the addy and link you to the coffee shops. I first got an error that the website couldn’t find the page, then between the computer, website, and internet I kept getting error messages and the comp finally froze up. It took me over 10 minutes to finally get into this thread. [:(!] [:(!] [:(!]
Some of the forum members have actualy mailed (by regular mail) pics to me of their layout. Some have even added onto the house just to add a train room or extend their layout. So I guess no matter how large your layout is we as modelers are just never satisfied. [}:)] [;)] I wonder how many people look into the hobby and are scared off by the overwhelming work and skills required that are necessary to do a decent layout, and not overlooking the cost of engines either.
I guess one of the biggest problems is just having space for a layout. That is my problem right now. Along with money, time, material, tools, etc., etc., oh well, I am depressing myself. [:(] Time to look at some pics of a nice Alco or two, that will cheer me up. [;)]
Just as Dougal said, a model railroad is never finished. [:)]
Glad to see you back Dave!
imo the fact that a layout never will be considered finisihed can be one of the reasons to keep busy [:D] isn’t this a great hobby, you never have to be bored because there allways will be something to do !
Sure it is. That means it’s time to rip it out by the roots and build a bigger, better version and correct the mistakes you made on the previous one. [:)]
Heeeee’s Baaack
Good to see you Dave, and no a railroard is never finished, mine anyway. After having it sit idle for three months and then running it yesterday I’m tempted to rip it up and start over again. I’ll wait and see come September.
Dave,Heres a twist on that old wives tale about not completing a layout…You see it depends on size of the layout.There are those super size layouts that never get finish…Then there is my type of layout the smaller layout…These can be finish in just a matter of weeks.[:D]
Lets look at my N scale industrial switching layout.It now has all the track laid and ballast.and all buildings in place.This afternoon I will add the streets,let dry and paint them later tonight.While that is drying,I will add the few trees, ground cover where needed,LPBs and perhaps a miniscene…I should have this layout completed in the next say 7-10 days.[:D] After completion I will do what I love to do OPERATE! [:D][tup] [:p] So yeah, a layout can be finished…All it takes is discipline to stay the course and plan your work and work your plan.
This layout id 2’ x11’6".
where does it end? the list goes on and on. theres always something I find to add to the mess! Wether its a tree or bush, a piece of junk, an out of the way car or other vehicle, an animal or person, or a building.
Aaaahhhh, that’s my problem. [:D] At the rate of progress (almost negative) that I’m making on mine (and it’s pretty small) I project completion around 2011. Of course, by then I might have enough space to add on the sections for the staging yards. [swg]
Good to see you posting again, Dave.
Regards
Ed
My problem is that I continue to buy new items to add to the layout that just can’t seem to get finished. I keep telling myself that eventually I’ll run out of money in retirement, and I’ll have enough projects in the hopper to really fini***he layout. I would say my layout is 50% complete. The first 50% went up in 3 three weeks. The next 50% looks like its going to take years!
As sacred as the adage “no model railroad is ever complete” may be I don’t think it’s really the case.
There is a point, further away from now for some of us than others, when it’s time to move on. Whether we literally move out of the building housing the layout, or simply decide “the painting is finished” to quote Chuck Hitchcock, there are times when the layout simply doesn’t do it anymore – and no amount of painting, weathering, or adding fine details will do.
My good friend and regular MR author Paul Dolkos has finished his layout – when pressed by some asking him if he is going to back and add more details he quipped – “While there are always some details to add . . . . I’d say I’ve executed the basic plan”
Of course, that took him more than 15 years, the layout is extremely well done, and isn’t really all that big.
Guess I better get to work.
Marty
My layout has parts that look like the latest Cat Mountain and Santa Fe and other parts that are pretty far along as far as completeness goes. I’m sorta like Malcom Furlow, some parts are well sceniced and others are bare plywood and cork road bed with track (I’m not compairing the work done to Malcom’s, only that I’m sporadic in what gets the priority). I can run trains and I could operate, if I knew how.
I like almost all aspects of the project and like the fact that when I get boared doing one thing, I can go do something else. I eventually go back to the thing I got bored with and just keep plucking away at the whole!
I guess I don’t look at it like it has to get finished, I look at it like I am enjoying doing it. If I felt pressure to finish, it would loose some of it’s charm.
You just got to keep on keepin’ on, when the mood moves you!
Plan it, think of what you want to see finished first. But the most important thing is to have fun, so if you’re having fun tweaking with the couplers or changing the trucks, then what’s the problem? You’ll have a smooth running train after all, the rest will just come later. What do you consider a finished layout? How big is your layout? The bigger, the longer it will take of course, but the only important thing is to HAVE FUN!
When people come over the house and see my layout, one of the questions they often ask is “When will it be finished”. I usually reply that I don’t want to “finish” it because then I have only two choices…rip it up and start over or lie down and die, because I won’t have anything to do.
All kidding aside…it’s kind of like retirement…you don’t want to run out of money before you die and you certainly don’t want to “finish” the layout before you die either. I guess the trick is to spend your last dime on the last piece of scenery and then check out.
Mondo
I agree cause u always keep adding or changing detail or redo something cause it wasnt the best beacause it was the first time or u learned a new way 2 do it or a new more advanced or better detailed piece comes out
I think the layout is finished when you decide it is. If you end up with a plywood pacific so be it. The key is to complete the things that interest you.
Besides even if it’s finshed you can always upgrade or add detail as you decide.
Forget all that…don’t look at what it will take to finish look at and enjoy what you have done.
Bet that has been more than you realize.
DT
If a model railroad were ever finished, the model train manufactures would be hurtin’! There is always something to do over or add on to.
If you find the layout size a daunting task, try to find some friends that share similar interests as you and have some work sessions. If you are clear up front that it is not a ‘club’ layout and that you have the final say so in any matter, you will be surprised what can be accomplished. You might even be able to set up a round-robin sort of thing where you have everyone over to your place once a month. Then your group would go to the next guy’s house the following week and rotate around. Having 3-5 people in such a group certainly has the potential of getting more done than doing it all by yourself. The key is being an effective manager and have projects/tasks lined up before the crews gets there.
Ah, you have learned well, Grasshopper.[^]