get to be fun?[;)]
I’m this far on my first layout and was wondering when the fun starts. I’m kidding of course, if it wasn’t I’d go do something else. What I do wonder about is what, in the building process ,do people enjoy the most. It can’t be building benchwork, or sanding and painting. Probably it’s the scenery part 'cause it can’t be wiring.
Or can it?
Jarrell
Some of us are especially interested in (and eventually more adept at) wiring, soldering, DCC and decoders, castings, kit-bashing, scenery, bench-building, and some of us just like to run trains.
The soldering got to me, and then I started to get fed up with gluing structures together. I enjoyed the bench-building, scenery, wiring, castings, painting, and trestle building. So, you will have to grit your teeth some times, but you’ll get through the not-so-interesting stuff. Personally, my next really big item (I’ve been demuring over it, and waiting to get a few $) is the backdrop, and I am starting to chomp at the bit. Wanna goooo!
I actually like the wiring a lot. I feel that there is nothing better then giving life to a new house or other building.
Jarrell,
Just so you know: the track goes horizonal on the plywood; NOT the masonite…[;)] [(-D] If it’s any encouragement at all, it’s looking good so far. [:)]
I’ve found out that I really enjoy the model building aspect (scenery, structures, etc.) of MRRing. Much to my surprise, the other aspect that I have come to enjoy - and one that I didn’t really consider before getting into the hobby - was the joy of learning the history of railroading, which helps me to better model my layout and make it more prototypical.
There are other things that I have NOT tried yet so I don’t know whether will like them or not.
Tom
Actually, I enjoy the benchwork - just like working with wood. Plus it’s a good chance to practice skills. Wiring is probably my least favorite. But I do enjoy it all coming together.
Enjoy
Paul
I have to say I enjoy the wiring and decoder installs the best. I’ve always was taking things apart & rewiring them, like my first car… What The very best is sitting with my 7 year old son and running a few trains around, even if there is no scenery,buildingsor special effects. The smiles say it all! Keep it up, it’ll pay off.
I hate to admit this… but you’re actually farther along than I am! lol I’ve got the basic framework of the layout done, still need to add a few more joists for the benchwork top (using combination tabletop and cookiecutter method), but I won’t be able to buy the plywood for the top for at least another month or two. I don’t like buying stuff a piece at a time, so I save up for a month or so in a ‘railroad fund’ and then deplete everything all at once buying whatever I need. lol I’m going to need around 9 sheets of plywood to finish everything, plus enough masonite to do the backdrop, like what you’re working on in the picture. Fun stuff! Little by little though! I hope to at least have trains running (no scenery) by next winter. I am starting from scratch this time. I have a few ‘toy’ cars and some old Athearn locos, but since I’m going DCC only on this layout, I really don’t want to use them for anything but collecting dust. lol
Good luck getting there!
Jacon,
Your photo killed me…lol!!! You caught the paradox of Model railroading perfectly. The photo describes many moments I have had the last two years working on the new layout!!!
Jacon,
If you used joint compound then just smooth over the joints with a wet sponge instead of sanding. The stuff is water soluble!
Well, I’m not sure what I like the most.
Planning: I enjoy this, but it is easy to get carried away and overdo it.
Benchwork: I can get a lot of it done in an evening, so it is easy to see progress and feel good about the work.
Subroadbed: Okay, I hate cutting the plywood, but I enjoy laying out the track centers. I can step back, improvise, get a mental image of what should go where (buildings, scenery, etc.) Sort of a creative process that makes the jig saw worthwhile.
Roadbed/Track: When it goes well, it’s great. When it doesn’t, its awful. I always glued roadbed down, and I liked laying track a lot more when I started putting it down with adhesive. And when a section is done and set, you get to run trains over it under the guise of testing.
Wiring: I’m an electrical/computer junkie, so that is not a problem. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it, either.
Scenery: Haven’t gotten there yet.
Painting rolling stock: I’m modeling a freelance line, so everything starts undecorated. When I’m in the mood, it is a lot of fun. When I’m not in the mood, they stay undecorated for a while.
Each part has its fun and drudgery. Overall, there isn’t anything that I don’t enjoy to one degree or another.
To borrow a golf saying: a bad day on the railroad is better than a good day at work.
Selector, what type backdrop are you planning and do you already have scenery on your benchwork?
Jarrell
Woody, I thought wiring was going to be my biggest headache, crawling around under the benches etc., since I know nothing about it. But I may be saved by a friend who is very very good at it.
Jarrell
Awww heck, Tom… and I had planned some really good grades going up that masonite! I know what you mean on the history side of it, I’ve learned a lot also. I like going to small towns and seeing how they put sidings into the darnest places and what type businesses are sitting right beside the track. Things I never paid attention to before.
Jarrell
Paul, I haven’t got there yet but I think laying track is going to be my least favorite. But I figure I’ve got an edge, see. I don’t know a darned thing about any of it, so it’s all new to me, so everything I do that turns out halfway right, or better, is cause for a big celebration!
Jarrell
My hat is off to you doing a cookie cutter top. I wanted to do that but I knew I just didn’t have the know how or the skills. Man, it would be the year 2015 before I ran a train on it and then it would probably fall over every 2 feet… 
Train fund? Oh yes, I do that too!!
Jarrell
I mean, just LOOK at that picture. Does that even look like I’m working on a MR layout? Well, we know what it is but the average person wouldn’t have a clue. I’m so tired of filling and sanding! Why didn’t I sink those screw heads better!! I shoulda already had that thing painted by now and be cutting foam for the bench top! But Nooooooo, I had to NOT take the good advice I got here and ru***hrough the backdrop without doing the thing properly.
Well, lesson learned…
Jarrell
Ahem… my dear beloved wife talked me into this stuff. She is now banned from the train room until track laying begins. Maybe longer.
Jarrell
Mark, it’s that planning thing that is getting me. I’m STILL doing it. But I’m going to sit down soon and get serious about it. I really am.
Jarrell
I tend to think whatever you do, you have this dream running of a finished layout and whatever step along the way is just a part of producing that dream.
Jarrell, I’m just a little farther along then you. My masonite is painted high gloss white.
Reason: I found some great looking cloud/sky wallpaper at Home Depot and am almost ready to put it up. I’ve waited on the benchwork until I get all the background done and the layout lighting installed. This is saving me a lot of leaning and stretching, which is good for this 63 year old body. By the way, this is my umpteenth layout, and that is why I’m doing all the room and backdrop and lighting in this order. Tough to not have trains running, but it looks like it will be worth it. Nice picture of you working.
Ray Great Northern fan.