How many times have we heard," I don’t know what to get dad, he has everthing." Or “I would love to get him something for his trains, but I don’t know what,etc.”
The answer " Your talent and time" Dad does not have or know everthing.
I have just spend 2, wonderful 12 hour days with my 40 year year old son as he created my railroads benchwork around a 13’ x13’ room with numerus doors and windows to get around.
I have been out of the hobby for 30 years and now with retirement have the time to get back into it. I have limited knowledge of tools or wood working. As a birthday present, my son suggested he do the benchwork, as he knew I was having problems going from the arm chair to the rails.
So my suggestion is to all in similar situations, look at family and friends and have a wonderful experience,and get out of the chair and onto the head end of that special train,or what ever it is that turns you on.
What a great post! This is one LARGE part of model railroading–bringing the generations together. My dad bought me my first Lionel train in 1964–now he’s helping his grandchildren with their HO layout more than 40 years later. To me, that is really cool![8D]
Terrific - thank you Bevrog, and welcome to the forum.
I am working on the benchwork for my room layout also.
I no longer have the opportunity to share this hobby with my father, and now I am the 40 yr old trying to get my kids interested in the hobby. They love hanging out at the club with me, and now at home we plan to take some extra track, toss it on a plywood sheet and run it under the Christmas Tree.
Hey… You guys made my day…Tis the Season
Bevrog,
I’m sure your son enjoyed the time spent building your benchwork as you did!!! I also am 40, but my dad passed away several years ago. He’s the one that introduced me to this great hobby and I wish I could spend a couple of days building benchwork for him!!
Hey, maybe next year you can give him a couple of building kits for him to build and ad to your layout. I think that would be way cool!!!
Thanks to those replying. Now my wife has also signed on to become the scenery VP. Since she is an artist, that is a good thing. So that leaves me with track laying and operations. Guess I’d better get started catching up on this DCC stuff,etc. Am working on the Palmer,MA. yard layout so if anyone has info on yard layout or operations would be appreciated.
Scenery VP? Hmmmmmmm. I’m sure she’ll be CEO and Chairwoman of the Board in no time! Here’s to wishing you nothing but happiness model railroading with the family!!
[#welcome] Bevrog. Happy Rails.
Bevrog,
Do you have a copy of Model Railroad Planning 2000? Marty McGuirk’s plan for a Central Vermont layout had a plan for a small yard based on the CV in Palmer. Marty’s layout was bigger than the one you plan to build, but his version of Palmer was a bit condensed and might fit into your layout.
Andre