I've seen/read many posts, here and other forums about folks tearing down thire layouts; for all kinds of reasons,and rebuilding.
Got me to wonder; is there any data, or good guesses as to the average life span of a layout?
I had mine about 12 yrs, moved it a few times, and added to it many times. But the same basic layout. I got this urge to tear it down and rebuild, perhaps bigger, but better
The average life span of my layouts are around 3 years. The reason is, I change my mind on what scale / gauge and era that I want to model. I've had layouts in N, HOn2-1/2, HOn3, HO, Sn3, and my current one, On30.
One of these years, I'll figure it out! I have been buying N scale stuff again...
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
There is no expiration date on layouts. The changes is within yourself.
If your bored with you current layout, tear it down and rebuild. It doesn't have to be a different era or scale.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Mine have lasted from 1 month to 13 years. Changing family requirements, moves, etc. have limited most of mine to about 1-2 years. But I almost always have one in some stage of construction, usually far enough along to run some trains. My current S scale layout is 6 years old and my Lionel layout is about 3 years old. But I'm facing a move in the next few months and a new start.
Paul
Not to get too overly-philosophical about it, but there's likely a correlation between lifespan of the layout, and some underlying aspect of the layout.
For example, some people claim that the more complete the plan, the more likely you are to finish it.
For me, the ones that have lasted the longest (4+ years)have had some flexibility to them where I could change scenes, eras, trackwork without too much trouble.
As noted above, getting a layout to "running" condition (with track laid, wires connected, and trains running) probably goes a long way towards extending the layout's lifetime.
Also, constantly switching scales, eras, and prototypes likely has an adverse effect on the lifespan. The high of seeing a new project railroad in a magazine, or a forgotten locomotive can cause one to switch in a jiffy. I've gone through the blitz of benchwork, track and wiring over a week off, only for the layout to sit there in limbo because one of the above was a "phase", and I'd lost interest. At least lumber and track can be salvaged.
Just food for thought.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
An average won't tell you anything much about how long your own layout will last. For that, I think it depends a lot on how well you researched your interests in what you plan to depict, how much effort you put into your operational scheme and track plan, and how well you constructed everything from benchwork to wiring.
A layout that fails to satisfy can be the result and is much more likely to come down.
Then there's all that realworld stuff like job loss, kids moving out, retirement, bad health, etc that affect the longevity of layouts.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
As a (retired) statistician, I consider the average lifespan of a layout to fall under the heading, "Useless information." Layout half-life is determined by the circumstances of the individual modeler - and no two are equal.
My own layouts lasted anywhere from three months to (present) the rest of my life. Having been an active duty nomad, my usual layout survival was from initial arrival to receipt of reassignment orders. The present layout is the second in its present venue - partially re-purposed from the first after my wife ceded her half of the double garage. I expect the next major redesign to take place in my next lifetime, if at all.
The sidebars in Model Railroader layout articles sometimes say that the featured layout is one with the dodo, having been dismantled when the modeler adopted another theme and/or moved (think Bruce Chubb, Tony Koester.) OTOH, John Armstrong started building the Canandaigua Southern during the Korean War and was still operating it (and tinkering with construction) when he died half a century later. The South Shasta Lines had similar longevity, as, I'm sure, did many more.
My take. Forget about what other people have done or may do. Do your own thing, follow your own heart and leave others to form opinions - for which they will get extra points if they keep them to themselves.
Chuck (Old fossil modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - until 3626)
Well, my present layout has undergone several changes and a move. I began construction on a shelf-style L-shaped layout about 10 years ago. About 5 years ago I decided to add an extension, which included staging; also at that time I decided to reconfigure some of the track. All of that took me about a year and a half of on-and-off work. Then, after much work on wiring and a nice control panel, I moved. The layout came apart in four not yet sceniced sections. Presently, the layout is all bolted back together but I need to do some minor track modifications and reconnect the wiring.
So, I have to agree with the other posts here. It really depends on what you want to do. As one gets further into this hobby and the skill set is expanded, so too are one's interests. Knowledge of both modeling and often the prototype railroads change and expand; you might say that, for most of us, it's a fluid situation
I think that some of it has to do with quality of construction. If you find yourself having constant derailments and other problems, it might be time for a rebuild. If you find that your track plan does not support the type of train running you like you might want to consider a rebuid. If you are bored with the layout, and feel that it no longer meets your modeling objectives its time for a change.
Hello all,
Until my wife says I can expand.
That means..."Until death do us part."
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
tomikawaTTAs a (retired) statistician, I consider the average lifespan of a layout to fall under the heading, "Useless information." Layout half-life is determined by the circumstances of the individual modeler - and no two are equal.
This is the kind of sitting around the campfire and drinking way too many adult beverages topic that comes up from time to time. It was great as a college freshman, but the days of drinking 0.99 cent quarts of beer have lost their appeal.
I was pretty happy with my layout and then I got divorced. Had that not happened, I think I would have gotten more elaborate with details and building interiors. Maybe I would have added a big staging area or at least a larger yard, but I don't think I would have started over.
I guess job changes would be high on the list of reasons that would cause a teardown/rebuild.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I agree with Chuck that an average figure would be meaningless because of the wideness of the curve depicting the distribution of layout life in years. There is so much variance due to so many issues that force us to destroy or to dismantle a layout that the mathematical 'mean' would only be a number and offer zero insight into why a layout's life expectancy is only 6 years and not 11, or whether one should expect one's own layout to last about an average length of time. IOW, it's a silly goose chase once you look at the data and hope to pin the demise of any one layout on some sort of prediction offered by a mathematical average (or mean). In fact, the 'mode' might be a better or more useful statistic because the mode, in statistics, tells you the number with the most frequency in the data set. You might find that while only 6000 layouts make it to 7 years, 23,000 make it to 6 years. Even then, would you be willing to slap down a 'bill' on a bet you'd be one of those lasting only 6 years? I wouldn't.
Briefly, because I know I tend to drag on (cough), my first lasted 14 months, and then we decided to finish the basement...it had to be dismantled. The second, the one with all of my photos published here over the years, lasted six years, because I grew tired of it. The third last three years (we moved), and I'm a year into the fourth build (and it's sssslllllllloooooooooooowww..).
One last comment about a point raised in an earlier post: it's true, a layout that takes years to get to the point of running a single train is not going to last for most of us. Most of us need to be up and running, even without scenery, within a few months or we'll stall, move, figure out a better plan, experience a fire, divorce...you get the idea.
As my knowledge and skills expanded I found my first layout unsatisfactory so I built my second layoutand ripped it down to number 3. But I found myself laid up and rebuilding my house to meet my new reality forced number 3 down. So number 4 is under way. I have lived here 9 years so that 2 1/2 years per layout average accounting for times when there was no layout.
I can never say that each layout was a complete teardown as I save elements buildings track etc from layout to layout.
Joe Staten Island West
I wasn't really expecting an exact number,but as I consider tearing mine down to rebuild I became curious. I see that, that ''number'' is all over the place, the same as to the reasons why.
In my case, I consider the thing compleate.Scenery covers every sq. inch. Runs fine,most derailments are the results of dumbness.My noplan track plan does what I want/need.I spent many hours just looking for something to change;not a thing.
I get my fix by building,I got 3 buildings sitting on a shelf and working on a 4th at the bench, and nowhere to go with them. I feel the need to rebuild,bigger and better. And that got me to wondering.
UNCLEBUTCHI get my fix by building,I got 3 buildings sitting on a shelf and working on a 4th at the bench, and nowhere to go with them. I feel the need to rebuild,bigger and better. And that got me to wondering.
Lots of my buildings were made rather quickly to fill in the industry spots, etc in order to faciliate early operations. Some people spend lots of time planning and building, aiming to get it "right" the first time and never have to deal with it again.
I just wanted something that looked good and filled the gap at first with many. Some I did put lots of effort into. But I'd have no problem replacing many with better ones with more detail, etc. It's what I call a positive take on planned obsolescence.
UNCLEBUTCH I've seen/read many posts, here and other forums about folks tearing down thire layouts; for all kinds of reasons,and rebuilding. Got me to wonder; is there any data, or good guesses as to the average life span of a layout? I had mine about 12 yrs, moved it a few times, and added to it many times. But the same basic layout. I got this urge to tear it down and rebuild, perhaps bigger, but better.
I had mine about 12 yrs, moved it a few times, and added to it many times. But the same basic layout. I got this urge to tear it down and rebuild, perhaps bigger, but better.
UNCLEBUTCH I wasn't really expecting an exact number,but as I consider tearing mine down to rebuild I became curious. I see that, that ''number'' is all over the place, the same as to the reasons why. In my case, I consider the thing complete. Scenery covers every sq. inch. Runs fine,most derailments are the results of dumbness.My noplan track plan does what I want/need.I spent many hours just looking for something to change;not a thing. I get my fix by building,I got 3 buildings sitting on a shelf and working on a 4th at the bench, and nowhere to go with them. I feel the need to rebuild,bigger and better. And that got me to wondering.
In my case, I consider the thing complete. Scenery covers every sq. inch. Runs fine,most derailments are the results of dumbness.My noplan track plan does what I want/need.I spent many hours just looking for something to change;not a thing.
Alton Junction
After 46 years, several layouts, several periods where space or time did not allow for a layout, several cub memberships, helping several others build layouts (often large layouts), I have reached a point where the current layout efforts are directed at a design that is modular and can move with me.
Not modular in the sense of NMRA modular standards, but rather just constructed in a way as to allow dis-assembly into sections that can be moved in a reasonable fashion.
A new location might require modification, or "fill in" modules, but core elements of all layout efforts from here on out will be built in a way that allows relocation.
I'm tired of tearing down layouts that are 50% to 80% complete - no more.
Sure, moving a layout, even one built to be moved, will require re-doing some things - that beats starting over.
Especially since at this point I know exactly what I want to model and have no interest in changing scales, era, local, road modeled, etc.
Personally, I can't even begin to understand those who change their mind about such things on such short time frames, every few years? But to each their own.
I know of many modelers with layouts that are decades old, constantly upgraded, improved, changed, but the core layout has lasted 20, 30 years or more.
A club I was once active in has a layout started in 1968, large parts of which are still the same as originally built, and as originally published in MR in the 70's and 80's.
Once you reach a satisfying skill level, why would you start over completely?
I was once "well rounded" until I learned what I really like.
Sheldon
UNCLEBUTCH I've seen/read many posts, here and other forums about folks tearing down thire layouts; for all kinds of reasons,and rebuilding. Got me to wonder; is there any data, or good guesses as to the average life span
Got me to wonder; is there any data, or good guesses as to the average life span
Probably no data out there which is scientific or statistically significant on layout lifespan. Considering so many people move a lot ys (raises hand) probably the average life is short, a few years. That said there do seem to be a few old codgers on forums who appear to have been lucky and had stable lives and been in the same house for a long time and buck that trend.
One other thing, if you've read MR magazine for any length of time, you'll know it's a mantra that a layout is never finished and many tear down and rebuild as a course of ordinary activity.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
A freind of mine built a 4 x 16' layout in '68 and lasted until he passed in 2012.All he did was refresh the scenery every few years.It still had its original brass track when it was torn out and taken to the landfill..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Since we moved to Florida in 2011 I'm on my 4th layout... N-H0-N-H0
Michael
The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V3
I had several rebuilds due to moves so I decided to make my layout portable via modules like used in train shows. I got started down that trail but decided I did not like that approach. I then heard about layouts in a trailer so after some investigation, I purchased an old 26' travel trailer for cheap since it needed a lot of work to make it servicable as a RV. After gutting it, I had a 8'x23' space for my N scale layout. It is still under construction but I am very happy with this approach since it gives me adequate space for a good sized N scale layout plus a lot of space for storage. I expect to be moving again in about 3 months so I can take the layout with me without destroying all my work. This will be my first move with it so I do not know how much damage I may get from the move but I can repair any damage easier than tearing down and rebuilding a layout.
Several items to consider if you go this route.
- N scale allowed me to do a folded dogbone with 24" shelving on each side and 19" radius loops on each end.
- Tearing out the interior was a lot more work than I expected. Lots of screws and glue holding everything together with many long screws that had been inserted from the OUTSIDE thru the side walls into the interior wall and cabinets. I salvage all the cabinet work that was below my layout as well as upper cabinets that did not interfer with my layout. Great support to layout plus a lot of storage area.
- The HVAC worked so the space has heat and air. I considered a enclosed utility trailer but they do not had insulation nor a HVAC. Old RV trailer is much cheaper.
- Plan to do a lot of work to get it sealed against rain. Old RV's typically have leaky roofs/windows that allowed water in and caused structural damage to the interior wood in walls, roof and floor. Mine did. However, I was able to work around it or repair to make it servicable for my needs. As a minimum, plan to reseal the roof.
- I probably have about $3000 invested in mine after repairs were done. Not cheap but not bad considering that I have a portable unit that has my layout and all my RR stuff in it. Makes moving and set up much easier.
I learned a lot in this process and can offer a lot of tips to help someone attempting this approach.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's