Do you?

[Anonymous]

i'm not dicsiplined enough to follow one way so I do a little of everything [:)]

[kstrong]

I'd have to say "buy as I go." Of course, I have the advantage of passing Caboose Hobbies every day on my commute into work, so I am at a distinct advantage, and my modeling really begins to resemble "just in time" manufacturing. If I see myself needing 3/32" brass rod, I add it to the shopping list and grab it on my way in.

My wife views DSW Shoe Warehouse in the same light as I view Caboose, so we have a natural way to keep our mutual spending in check. She's also got "her" trains, so our hobbies coexist quite peacefully.

I don't buy much in the way of r-t-r equipment, so my "major" purchases are few and far between. Next year's track/landscaping purchases will be planned and budgeted for, but such large expenses are certainly the exception.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone.
Some great replies.I always make my wife out to be so harsh.(She's not looking over my shoulder,honest).She really has no interest in railways but realizes that I do.As long as the children have a big area to play in ,the rest is mine.Luckily for her (and me,indirectly)the garden slopes significantly so my options are limited.The railway ,for me, will always be part of the garden and not the other way round.In a way She is my reality check.If I am going to get something She enquires where it is going to go.
With hindsight ,She is usually right.
However,I am going to use the same method with clothes and shoe shops[}:)]

[Anonymous]

[#ditto] Brian, My wife saw the concrete pad on mine and was shocked! 30'x40' My house is only 30' x 53'. Incidently she hasn't parked in the garage since 1998[:0](opps) Wood shop in the front garage cars in the back. Serously could you imagine getting sawdust on my Camaro?[:D]

She's a good hearted woman!

[bman36]

Hey guys,
This thread is just too funny. I must say I had no real plans in my mind. I just wanted a BIG layout. Since I must leave some yard for the kids I opted for what I call "medium". My wife already knows about my "Tim Taylor" style of doing things when the garage was built. Being 30'x30' it's larger than the main floor of our house! She noticed this right after the pad was poured. All I could do was GRIN. Soooooo then comes Large Scale. My way to build here is to build and go "Look honey!". Thank God she likes what I have done so far. Carefull Brian...anyhow as haphazard as this may sound it has worked for me! Later eh...Brian.

[hobbyfossi201]

Hi,
I wrote a short list of the musts and the maybe´s and then spent the money until my beloved said it might be enough for a fair start.
hobbyfossi201

[Anonymous]

I would not buy anything unless i have too, as ideas change and requirements change and you are often left with a lot of stuff you really wish you didn't have and inversly that you did have the spare cash you had spent on this stuff you don't want.

I buy in bursts, and have a major push forward and outward at strategic times. I heavily involve my better half, as she is my partner in evrything and quite often has some very good input.

Speak regularly to your wife about how hard you work, how much money you earn and how little of it you spend on your own personal pleasures. Do not be put off if she comes up with how she spoends even less; and criticise her for so doing as she is worth more. Adding just because you have nothing you want, it doesn't mean that I haven't; or words to that effect.


Regards Ian

PS.

The idea of getting rid of your wife will be cold comfort of a winters night in Pommieland.

[powlee]

[;)] I tend to plan,buy and sometimes change my mind. Hence, surplus of track. That`s where Ebay comes in. My wife doesn`t mind. I ran 00 in the garden for 15 years (that`s a challenge in an English climate).
We were visiting a model railroad store in Florida when she says
`Why don`t you run these bigger ones, they would look better in the garden.`

Never argue with a woman when its to your advantage.
All the best IAN

[Tom The Brat]

I thought of a theme and started acquiring piece by piece. I put the pieces I had together. At one point all I had was a loco, transformer and 2ft of track[8)]

[Gary Crawley]

Hey Guy's
Take your wife for a dirty weekend away, romantic dinner, wine etc, then at the right moment mention how fantastic it would be to improve the garden. (railway) if she wakes up to what your up to, "Go Fishing"

Gary

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,
I said 'sod it...........' with a slight variation. I say 'sod it and don't tell the wife'!! The first she knows about it is when she sees the box of goodies arriving home with me. The usual added benefit is 3 days (at least) silence I get and I look as though I'm not enjoying it![;)]
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Me
i make a list and ponder what I will actualy be able to get and what I will have to make because i can't get it.
as for the last option i like my comfort so make it an air conditioned shed and you have a deal[:D]
Hope SWMBO doesn't see this
regards John

[Anonymous]

make a list and put some more track at the top of it,and then ,more rolling stock. and maybe a new engine. now it begins to cost much more then i have funds. ben [:(]

[Marty Cozad]

Many of the above, but the last one has crossed my mind a time or two.

[Anonymous]

I said make a list and ponder, money is a little tight right now and pondering and lists are FREE![:D]

[Anonymous]

I like to use my Mind's Eye to envision how the project will look. Often I will then use a photograph and edit it with Paint Shop Pro to see how it will turn out. That's the way I did it when I transformed an LGB Euro-style car into my Jersey Diner.

Regards,
Bill C.
South Jersey

[vsmith]

I cant vote because I do a little of all of them (except the last one)

Heres how I started building...

1. Make lists of what you want and ponder
2. Hoard stuff until you start
3. Make more lists and start building what you want
4. Stop, Realize half of everything you got wont work anymore
5. Slowly buy what will work as you go and see how it turns out

So it was a little of all.

Granted my circumstances are unique, having gone from a planned large out-ee layout to a smaller in-ee layout.

[tangerine-jack]

What can I say? Women come and go, but the land is forever................................[oX)]

[Anonymous]

I was caught making a wish list on the internet of various things I liked.I was told (informed)by my beloved that the dining room was to be redecorated first.I just wondered what other people do[:D]