The only thing I hate about my layout is that as it's eight feet up the wall, I'm going to have to buy a second 8-foot ladder to create a scaffold, (to safely complete the landscaping - the underside wiring was, of course, dead easy..) and I'm out of walls to store it on!
At least I have a layout. And it works for operations just fine. I like my layout a lot. Of course there are things I would do differently If I was starting from scratch. Since there is no high speed mainline, perfect strait track like in the real world is not needed. In my world the track is older and got replaced as needed. Or if I screwed up laying it down, and finely got tired of the section being less then operational. My #1 complaint is the lack of a climate controlled room. Every thing gets layer of dust and spiderwebs. I can clean the track and engine wheels easily enough. So I only do a complete dusting and vacuuming when I can't stand it any more.
BroadwayLion LION did tear down a layout because it wasnt working/what him wanted or whatever. It was an ok layout, but it just wasnt where I wanted to be. So it came down. New layout much better. And I can run eight trains at once. How cool is that. Well it keeps me off the streets at night. It is a focus for spare time, and I enjoy working on it, but sometimes I stop work and just let the trains run. ROAR
LION did tear down a layout because it wasnt working/what him wanted or whatever. It was an ok layout, but it just wasnt where I wanted to be. So it came down. New layout much better. And I can run eight trains at once. How cool is that.
Well it keeps me off the streets at night.
It is a focus for spare time, and I enjoy working on it, but sometimes I stop work and just let the trains run.
ROAR
Lions don't need streets. And if I am not mistaken, there are very, very few streets around your area. Maybe some nice dirt roads? Lions can find deer on them.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
Geared Steam richhotrain I'm thinking this. LOL You need to recycle what you can first! Remember to invite us over for a wieny roast (before the snow lies anyway)
richhotrain I'm thinking this.
I'm thinking this.
LOL
You need to recycle what you can first!
Remember to invite us over for a wieny roast (before the snow lies anyway)
Alton Junction
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
steemtrayn Some people are so poor, all they have is money.
Some people are so poor, all they have is money.
Eh?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I moved, now I have a medium size basement to fill.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinker #10 - I don't currently have one #9 - I don't currently have one #8 - I don't currently have one #7 - I don't currently have one #6 - I don't currently have one #5 - I don't currently have one #4 - I don't currently have one #3 - I don't currently have one #2 - I don't currently have one and the #1 top reason why I hate my layout is....................... I don't currently have one --Randy
#10 - I don't currently have one
#9 - I don't currently have one
#8 - I don't currently have one
#7 - I don't currently have one
#6 - I don't currently have one
#5 - I don't currently have one
#4 - I don't currently have one
#3 - I don't currently have one
#2 - I don't currently have one
and the #1 top reason why I hate my layout is.......................
Uh oh. What did you do??
Dean
30 years 1:1 Canadian Pacific.....now switching in HO
Rich, If you believe that you can build a better layout that will make you happy, then go to it. Look at the old layout as a learning expierience of what you liked and didn't like.
__________________________________________________________________
Mike Kieran
Port Able Railway
I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.
riogrande5761 I know many folks don't even have space to even build a layout, so I wonder how they feel reading about people who have built a layout, and are unhappy even though they have been blessed with things many don't have. It seems like a commontary about how prosperous we can be in our country, and yet ...Ultimately we are in hobbies for fun and relaxation. From a common sense view point, it sounds like you have answered your own question. Now you just need to act on the answer you already have.
I know many folks don't even have space to even build a layout, so I wonder how they feel reading about people who have built a layout, and are unhappy even though they have been blessed with things many don't have. It seems like a commontary about how prosperous we can be in our country, and yet ...Ultimately we are in hobbies for fun and relaxation. From a common sense view point, it sounds like you have answered your own question. Now you just need to act on the answer you already have.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
Wow!! You really are bored with your layout Guess it's time for a new scale, era, prototype, whatever.
MisterBeasley Geared Steam Buy one of these and start over. No, man, you want one of these: Hit one nail with a chain saw and you'll jam the chain. The sawzall will go right through it. Besides, you've already got a chain saw. Projects are more fun when you get to buy a new tool.
Geared Steam Buy one of these and start over.
Buy one of these
and start over.
No, man, you want one of these:
Hit one nail with a chain saw and you'll jam the chain. The sawzall will go right through it. Besides, you've already got a chain saw. Projects are more fun when you get to buy a new tool.
Chainsaw layout is a reference used in some circles to describe a modeler who builds a practice layout in order to hone his skills before he builds that layout of a lifetime.
In the case of Rich, I don't believe he intentionalluy started that way, but now sees room for improvement. Rip out (usinbg the proper tools) what is not right and fix it, or start over again, using the skills he's learned.
I think the saw zaw will work! Get crackin or maybe just cut out a portion of it and redo that! The part that needs the most redoing.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
mactier_hogger dehusman After reading reasons 10 through 2 I find it hard to believe you can say reason #1. I heartily agree!
dehusman After reading reasons 10 through 2 I find it hard to believe you can say reason #1.
I heartily agree!
But, seriously, if you think about it, the first nine reasons, though written tongue in cheek, reflect shortcomings as I built my current layout. So, it's became a learning process. Now, my choice is to correct those shortcomings or move on and build a new layout, having learned from my mistakes.
Meanwhile, at least in my mind, I have reached the "What do I do next stage?".
So, Reason #1 is a natural extension of those first nine reasons. At least, it is with me.
Rich
dehusmanAfter reading reasons 10 through 2 I find it hard to believe you can say reason #1.
richhotrain OK, I admit it. I can no longer restrain myself with these love/hate threads. I hate my layout, and here is why. 10. It has taken me 10 years to make ny track work bullet proof, and I am still not completely there. 9. My long runs of mainline track are not laser straight, far from it. 8. My landscaping looks amateurish. 7. My ballasting looks somewhat sloppy. 6. My wiring resembles an explosion in a sphagetti factory. 5. My freelance efforts should have more closely reflected the prototype. 4. Not all parts of my layout are readily accessible. 3. I should have provided for staging. 2. I no longer have space on my layout to do "this and that". 1. Now that my layout is completed, I am bored. Is it time to tear it down? Now, be nice to me. I am extremely sensitive. Rich
OK, I admit it. I can no longer restrain myself with these love/hate threads.
I hate my layout, and here is why.
10. It has taken me 10 years to make ny track work bullet proof, and I am still not completely there.
9. My long runs of mainline track are not laser straight, far from it.
8. My landscaping looks amateurish.
7. My ballasting looks somewhat sloppy.
6. My wiring resembles an explosion in a sphagetti factory.
5. My freelance efforts should have more closely reflected the prototype.
4. Not all parts of my layout are readily accessible.
3. I should have provided for staging.
2. I no longer have space on my layout to do "this and that".
1. Now that my layout is completed, I am bored. Is it time to tear it down?
Now, be nice to me. I am extremely sensitive.
Sure doesn't sound to me that it's completed
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I am sure all the problems can be fixed. I had a section of old layout, a yard, that I incorperated into the new. The wiring was spagetti!!!! First thing I did was cut all the wires as long as possible, ran the new buss line and rehooked everything up with Posi-taps. Took less than 4 hours for a 6' yard.
I was at this point with my last layout. It was done and it was quite nice…buuut it had little in the way of operations and other issues. I had changed so much as a modeler in the process of building it that the layout wasn’t meeting my needs. I took a couple of years to get the time and gumption to tear it out and build a room in the garage to house the current double deck monster.
During that two years I stopped working on the layout and started building rolling stock and structures for the new layout. I built lots of pretty cool cars and models that helped me jump start the new layout when I started building.
I was careful on this attempt to design a layout that will hopefully keep my interest for a longer period of time as it gets closer to completion. This is easy as I am into operations and I designed this layout specifically for that purpose.
Rich, as others have said all you need to do is act on the decision that you appear to have already made. Just suggesting you can still model and have fun while easing into the demolition phase. BTW: Demoing can be fun too. Swinging a sledge hammer into plaster mountains is the ultimate, “Something you have secretly wanted to do but would never say so out loud” type of activity. I’m sure chainsaws would be similar.
I always have a list of things I would do differently on the layout. With each layout hopefully the list is different.
Wait …….do I hear a chainsaw??
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
richhotrain It's just that others may have something more legitimate to complain about. Like Brent.
and a
PS; Take the tugboat scene to the new layout, it's a keeper.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I purchased a layout from someone who had passed and it was a walk in layout. 8 x 16 in size or so and I have been always contemplating tearing it down because I kept getting frustrated with some of it, but I have learned that railoads will never be perfect and that is the beauty/frustration of the hobby. The layout was DC I converted to DCC. The layout has a section that if not in place the second loop is not accessible so i had to fix that. There weren't any passing sidings so I had to add one. I have learned that even in an imperfect layout there are opportunities to improve my railroading skills and try new things. But a lot of times I want to start over as i learn how to do new things
riogrande5761 I know many folks don't even have space to even build a layout, so I wonder how they feel reading about people who have built a layout, and are unhappy even though they have been blessed with things many don't have. It seems like a commontary about how prosperous we can be in our country, and yet ...
I know many folks don't even have space to even build a layout, so I wonder how they feel reading about people who have built a layout, and are unhappy even though they have been blessed with things many don't have. It seems like a commontary about how prosperous we can be in our country, and yet ...
Ehh, that's too philosophical. Every Christmas, you see newspaper ads in which a woman wearing a fur coat moans, "I have nothing to wear" as she contemplates an ucoming holiday party, while a poor homeless person sits on the sidewalk nearby with nothing to wear.
Just because you have a layout doesn't mean that you have nothing to complain about. It's just that others may have something more legitimate to complain about. Like Brent.
riogrande5761Now you just need to act on the answer you already have.
Ya, everytime my buddy restores a classic car, he has to sell it so he can do it again. It is gut churning for him to say goodbye to something he has laboured on for years sometimes. He has sold a few at a loss, but as he says that is the cost of enjoying his hobby.
I did not tear down my layout, but was able to sell it at a calculable loss. The reason I disposed of it read similar to your reasons 10 down to 6, plus I grossly underestimated the space requirement for O scale buildings.
I have just started construction of a new layout - this time much smaller, both in size and scale.
If your not happy with your layout - get rid of it. If you still like the hobby, which I assume you do, start a new one, but take your time.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS