I’m surprised more people haven’t commented about this. A lot of people on here are always asking for more unfinished layouts to be featured in MR.
September’s cover story was for an unfinished layout.
I think unfinished layouts are a double edged sword. It’s good to see others’ progress, yet it’s also nice to fill the pages with completed scenes.
There’s no such thing as a finished layout…
Sorry and with due respects I fully disagree with that unlearned statement…Regardless of the popular belief a layout can be finished…I have finished several industrial switching layouts over the years…The club’s layout is finish and been finished for 12 years.So,a layout can be finished.[:D]
Well, regardless of whether there is a defintion of a finished layout, there’s definately an unfinished layout. (bare plywood showing, unbalasted track, etc.)
There is of course no true definition, but bare with me here, most would consider that unfinished (and the creator of the model railroad calls it unfinished also).
It was cool to see an update of a groundbreaking model railroad, but it was definately unfinished.
I’ve been mulling this over since I got my new MR. Yes, its nice to see progress, and dont get me wrong, I realiize that there was a lot of effort put forth to build (and rebuild) that layout.
However,
Was the cover shot truly worthy of a publication that strives to showcase the hobby? Yes the engine consist was good, and the V&O and AM engines were a nice touch. But the unpainted rail, exposed cork and unweathered cars cause me to think of Classic Toy Trains more than MR.
Having lived through an MR photo shoot with the club I belong to, and being exposed to the criteria required for “magazine quality” photos, I was shocked to see the cover.
Nice article, I just think it should not have been the “lead” article for the month,
thats my [2c]
Not surprising considering how many scenes are actually modules and not an actual layout. I have a layout but also think the concept of making a highly detailed module scene is kinda neat, and have been thinking about trying it.
Any one remember the cover from way back when (70’s?) that had a train going up grade, but the grade was make from Atlas piers and unsupported track? I believe one of the trucks on the engine was also off the track. That sure brought forth lots of comments.
While I do enjoy seeing a “completed” scene on the cover, there may be an argument to have a cover shot that has unpainted rails, exposed cork etc. It seems many folks think that a “finished” scene can be intimitating to a new person. Perhaps this was a way to say “you don’t have to be an expert scenery, painting etc guy to have a great layout.” The article itself said that Jim was getting frustrated by the lack of progress towards completion, when he realized that having fun was more important than “completion.”
Building a layout by modules or in sections is a pretty good idea IMHO.You see one can finish a module/domino/section and move on to the next.One can still add grades and tunnels by planing ahead…The around the walls industrial switching layout I am building is being built in sections and each section will be completed before I move on to the next.
I thought it was cool when George Sellios’ layout was featured in 1989 or so that it was superduperduper detailed right up to a point, then it was plywood.
Although he’s an extreme detailer, it was interesting to see how he wouldn’t move an inch on scenery until the part he was already working on was finished.
I think the definition of finished is the builder is no longer adding to it. BTW there was a time when scenery was not considered a requirement and some “inished” layouts had none. I have no problem with unfinished layouts on the cover - after all I suspect that’s really where many if not most of us are.
Enjoy
Paul
I started my current layout roughly 12 years ago…and I still don’t have much in the way of scenery. I have buildings sitting on a bare plywood tabletop, with roads (and my notes) scrawled in with pencil. Even my backdrop is a piece of unpainted white cardboard. Eventually, I’ll “finish” it, but for now, I enjoy running trains 
emdgp92
What a great idea putting your notes rights on the layout! At least you don’t have spend times looking all over the place for that one scrap of paper.
Actually I think it was a nice change of pace showing a layout not completed. It makes the person building the layout a little more personable, identifiable. Usually they feature awesome layouts I would only be able to dream about. In my mind it kind of puts these “professional layouts” in a little mental nich labeled “fantasy land”. Nice to look at but not obtainalbe by me due to abilities, space or money. So when I see a layout featured unfinished I think, hey I can relate to that. I found it refreshing and would like to see more.
Somebody mentioned building your layout in modules. That is exactly what I did. It is a 13 x 9 around the room divided into four sections. I built one section at a time and had each section running trains before I began the next section. I get impatient and want to run trains NOW! I just finished the last section a day or so ago and am now accumullating the items for scenery. It was a great feeling when I began the last section the first thing I did was fini***he dual mainline so I could run trains around for the first time. The I went back and finished up the yard and pass term.
Terry
davekelly,
I got tired of losing my notes. Besides, they’re going to be hidden sooner or later anyway 
Anyway, my layout was one of MR’s track plans that I adapted to modular benchwork. It’s a 2’ wide shelf layout that runs along 2 walls in my workshop. It’s all modular so if I have to move house, it’s not a problem.
I’ve a hunch there may be more unfinished layouts in the pages of MR than it looks. Ever notice how some apparently “finished” layouts only have pics taken in just two or three places? It’s a bone of contention with me as the overall layout drawing presented often shows scenes I’d like to see, yet there are no pictures taken of that area.
Something to ponder…?
I think a failing of Model railroader is that it doesn’t adequately represent the hobby, that ALL it shows is what I call “MR porn”: the dream layouts that most of us will never see let alone build. And as Vampire points out, it shows a distorted view of layouts too: just the “perfect bits”. Like porn, it gives an unreal expectation of what consitutes a good layout and sets unrealistic expectations of what we sgould all aspire to.
I for one want to see more shots of “normal” model railroads, along with the dream stuff. Both have their place in a balanced magazine.
And I’m BUSTING to see hsots of what the great layouts look like overall, a room view, and what they look like in the less than perfect areas.
This whole striving-for-perfection thing is way out of hand, and can only contribute to the disillusionment of lots of modellers. Scubaterry nailed it: it was a long-overdue change of pace. In fact I would argue it didn’t go near far enough. I didn’t even notice the “issues” raised here until they were pointed out: I thought it was a pretty good shot that I would be proud to have built. Yes there is potential to keep improving it, there always is, hence no layout is really really finished, but I would categorise it as it stands as pretty darn good. There is still tons of room for MR to show more “ordinary” modellers, and to show the incomplete, imperfect bits of the experts’ work too.
Dave Barrow’s dominio style industrial switching layout is “unfinished” by design and was featured in the Great Model Railroads special edition a couple years back. Thing is, it was so interesting operationally that I would have preferred operating my equipment on that layout instead of some of the others featured. On the other hand, while I respect what Malcolm Furlow does with scenery I have no real desire to run my trains on his layouts.
I guess there’s more than one approach to the hobby.
I’ve exhibited unfinished layouts in the past - I feel it’s not a bad thing (assuming the entire show isn’t filled with them) as it shows potential modellers how you go about building the layout. A nice touch is if you have an annual show in your area, you can take the same layout showing the progress (maybe also have a board with photos of the build process) from bare boards to completed scenery.
This topic is very close to my heart.
If it photographs well, it’s worthy. If it runs well, it’s worthy. If if’s cool, it’s worthy.
what else really matters? if you’re proud of it and ready to share it, then share it.
I spend a lot of my time and energy out-of-doors where there are particular challenges, and if a train can run a full loop without derailing, then it’s worthy. End story!
I’ve commented publicly on Garden Railway’s cover layouts with glaring , and I’m strongly in favour. the intent is the overall effect. German word: “stimmung” = mood. You are not == NOT trying to recreate reality; you are trying to evoke a mood, situation, moment. If you are succesful at making you viewers feel something, remember something, imagine something, then you are succcessful.
last word: if MR covers are to be restricted to ‘perfect’, then I quit.
p.s. welcome Neil Besouglof! Use your power wisely!
Are you saying we’re actually supposed to finish these things??[%-)]