In another thread, one of the younger and more enthusiastic members stated he could not photograph his own models because he does not have a layout.
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I am also “sans layout” right now. I have had a lot of fun phtotographing my models for “Show Me Something” and “Weekend Photo Fun” using this 24" by 24" set up.
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I have a lot of scenic elements I can pose for various scenes, and it allows me to participate. This scene was shot on the board using some wargaming terrain and a few scenic props.
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I think this kind of thing is easy if you want to play along.
Seems to me you have a lot going on and are well immersed in the hobby. IMO, you certainly don’t need a layout to be a valuable part of the forum.
But it would sure be nice if one was a model builder or had first hand knowledge of stuff like RR operations, DCC and signal electronics or any field applicable to the enjoyment of the hobby.
Wishful thinking is fine, but it is not an endall in itself. A stream of “I’m gonnas” only goes so far…
And effective too! Kevin, I never would have guessed you were without a layout judging simply by the photos you post. Beyond this though, we see photos in the various threads all the time (especially the WPF) of models in various stages of completion on someone’s work bench and that’s great! They’re BUILDING something. It’s what this hobby requires.
Nothing wrong with dreaming…“Dream, Plan, Build”…but you don’t want to get stuck there.
However, “having a layout” is not and has never been the price of admission to the hobby or to gain respect within it in any fashion, old or new.
First, it’s about building models. Having a layout to put them on is nice, but strictly optional.
Second, in the old days, much of the hobby activity took place at club layouts. After WWII, economic expansion meant many of us could afford the kind of space that supports home layouts, but never, ever ALL of us were that blessed.
Third, in any form - NMRA or other convention contest, RPM, show display - most or all of the judging and assessement, ranked, judged, or popular vote - it’s all abut the models, not the layout as a whole.
I could go on…
But while it’s a great thing to operate on or simply display what you got, a ;ayout is completely optional. If you got one, share it, but if not, that’s OK, too.
Just want to say that you can have a layout without having a layout. Just build a module and get involved with Free-mo. Bring your module and do a set-up with the others.
I don’t have a real layout. But I expect to be running on a 30 x 60 layout the first weekend of June. Which hopefully will give me the time to actually finish the scenery on one of my two modules. To the surprise and delight (I hope) of my buddies.
OK. Mr. Free-mo has gone down to the basement to work. I’ll just add that I, too, don’t see a requirement to have a layout, or even want one. Or even be a model builder, for that matter. An interest in model railroading and sharing that interest with others is all I see needed to be here.
I haven’t had a layout since re-entering this hobby; it just re-focuses where and how you participate. Because I don’t have a layout, I spend a lot more train time reading and researching. I know a bit more about how trains actually run - and the type of layout I eventually want to build has changed significantly as a result.
I used to buy any old loco I liked the look of - a Southerrn 2-8-0 here, CNJ Blue Comet 4-6-2 there, and hey, those SP Daylights sure are pretty… But now I’m working on collecting a cohesive roster for a plausible future protolance layout (pre-diesel PRR in Central PA/MD). I never learned to properly weather rolling stock before, so that’s the next frontier - and very hands-on.
I really should think about a 2x2 or 2x4 ‘diorama’ for photographing models. That will be a great excuse to build some structures, play with modern scenery materials (static grass, etc), give a try to handlaying track, and play with block signaling.
The more I think about it, the more I realize I couldn’t even build the layout I’d be happy with right now, even if someone handed me the keys to the space for one. There are a lot of elements to this hobby, and building a layout without serious flaws requires pre-existing competency in many of them… or a lot of rebuilding.
As tstage noted in the that other thread/topic, the issue may not be so much not having a layout, but listening to the ABUNDANT advice already given over the past 6 months and “actually” putting it into practice. [:S] There lies the crux of the matter. Until that happens, we can talk ourselves blue in the face and post even more reams of advice and suggestions and photo’s, but it’s all moot if it isn’t happening in real life. But, as my wife from England would say … “crack on” and who knows? [:o)]
From what I’m seeing, we may be well past the point of diminishing returns. But I’ve been wrong before. My uncle used to have a plaque in his boat which stated: “I once thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken”.
You don’t have to own a train or even a single boxcar. Just show up at the clubhouse completely empty-handed and they’ll give you a throttle and point you to the sign that says ‘To The Trains’. Show up on Thursday night for the work session and they’ll give you scissors and glue and a #11 x-acto and a stool to sit on. Easy.
Of course, you do not really have to even completely give up the computer. There’s this new thing I’ve heard about called “smart phones” - my experience with them is mostly turning old ones into new wireless throttles by adding an app.
So you really can have your computer and use it on the layout, too, with today’s technology.
More than one scene pictured on the cover of MR was just built specifically to be a cover photo and was not part of a real operating layout. Same with the photos in virtually all of the advertising.
Renting right now, so I don’t have the space for a layout at present, but…I’m still building up my roster for my “Someday layout”. Although, I’ mplanning to start a small (8 square feet or so) L shaped layout so I can switch stuff around, and run my stuff without going to the club layout. I do hope my regular contributions for WPF makes me a valued member of the forum.
Even that didn;t stop me. I rented a 2 bedroom aaprtment, slept in the smaller of the two bedrooms (how much space do you need for a bed and a coupel of dressers anyway?), and built a layout in the other bedroom. Freestanding, on legs, so no damage to the walls. Built in sections so it could come down and be removed (and after 3 years of sitting in my new basement, hauled away as scrap). I actually previously planned that layout for my old apartment, which did not have a spare bedroom - it was going to be a 2x8 (2 modules) switching layout against the wall in my dining room. Was going to run over the bookcases that held my magazine and book collection.
Sometimes you get stuck with half a layout. Happened to me, twice now. While my first two builds were concerted efforts over a few months, ending with a nice layout, my last build and the latest stalled at times. Most recently, I went about a year without so much as a glance at the sub-roadbed on risers and the open frame as I walked past to get something in the rest of the garage.
It took a long time to get even a whiff of motivation, but I remembered that old saying, “A journey of 1000 miles…” I eventually walked into the garage, turned left, and began to ponder how to put my sub-roadbed up, then laid the cork, then the rails, and so on. I’m finally running trains, except no scenery, not even ballast.
Build dioramas. Make them part of your dream build so that you can insert them seamlessly into your layout, just like a piece of a cardboard picture puzzle. You can take them out into the sunshine, with a real partly cloudy sky, and take amazing photos.
It’s really not even the size, quantity, or skill of what someone contributes here so much as the fact that they’re making a sincere effort to contribute, an effort to improve their skills, and an effort to help others by sharing it.
Nobody starts off as a young John Allen, probably not even John Allen. It’s seeing how we grow as we post that is among the most truly useful and inspiring parts of this forum’s aid to this hobby.
I’ve never had a layout since I was a teenager. Been doing HO scale modules for the past 30 years, they are now retired. Much of my photography has been on dioramas and scenes set up for photography. I have painted a wall in a hobby room with blue sky and clouds for my backgrounds. Eleven of my 30 magazine cover photos were staged on dioramas. Many of my scenes and how they were taken are demonstrated in my model railroad photography website in my signature below.
Let me rephrase. One needs to get off the collective electronic virtual world devices and get into the physical world and go to a club. What a concept, which may be especially difficult for the younger generation [:-,]
