I'm seeing a lot of people suggest a switching layout.
My dads a programmer, the way he got into computers in the first place was that his cousin showed him model railroading. Doing the wiring for his trains is what got him into computers (kinda a similar story to how a bunch of advancements were made at MIT due to their MRR club doing advanced wiring, now that I think about it...). He actually stole my Grandparent's credit card when he was 13 so that he could order the lumber and wiring he needed to make his first layout, I don't even think he had trains at that point, he just loved the electronics portion.
Anyway, the wiring portion is what stuck with him, that's what he says is his favorite part. He uses DCC, are switching layouts interesting/hard to wire in DCC? Because if they are, then I think that he might really enjoy making a switching layout.
@RR_Mel
The main issue with this type of design (and the reason that I asked for help) is that there is a door located approximately 30" from what's logically the upper, left-hand corner of the room (when looking at it from the same perspective as the design you showed) but that does definitively give me some ideas, thank you.
P.S. I looked at your layout page, nice work on that truck, doing the fine detail lighting without destroying the thing I'm putting them in is always what got me when I tried to light up my models.
MisterBeasleysign him up to receive their monthly flyer, showing sales and new products. Don't even tell him about it. Let the mail carrier bring him a surprise every month. If you catch him reading the flyers, you might think about a subscription to Model Railroader for him.
that's a great idea!!! we used to get the GIANT annual Walthers catalog, i had no idea that they had a flyer.
and I'm already trying to get him to re-subscribe to trains magazine under the guise that it's for my N-scale efforts (which is admittedly half true)
Since you don't have much room for more than a switching layout, it may be possible to introduce your father to operations. A timetable (or even a simple train sequence) with train orders and car cards makes even a simple switching layout a lot more fun!
Hornblower
I am with everyone else welcoming you to the forum and thanking you for your wonderful care of your father. Trains were something my dad and I shared although we never build a layout together. I have had my daughter help me with my layouts. This hobby can be a great way to reinforce your connection. During this insane time I've found the hobby to be a huge stress reliever.
There are a lot of track plans on this site, and you can always just create something simple. It's the working together part that is important.
Welcome to the forums! Over the past few months Ive really learned a lot from all of the wonderful people on here. A real great bunch of guys. I recently moved out of my parents house and into a small apartment and constructed a 8x2 HO switching layout and I have loads of fun building and opperating it. Layout doesn't need to be big as long as your imagination is! I've always tried to get my dad into it and finally got him to go to a show with me and I think Ive changed his mind now. With todays circumstances that is not possible for anyone. As someone said above, Walthers is a great resource for all your modeling needs, and as a bonus they send you a neat little flyer every month. I think once you start getting the ball rolling, he should be back into it in no time! Also sometimes I get lost watching layout tours on youtube and send my dad all the ones he would enjoy. maybe something simple like that would also be enough to reignite the flame. Best of luck to you and the new railroad! And again welcome to the forums. All of us are here to answer any questions. ( I have a lot of those )
I don't know if you can spend much time with your dad, or if you do routinely...? Before I read Overmod's post, what flashed before me was the two of you watching your favourite TV show together, but you have a small shelf of MDF or particle board on the footstool in front of you, and you are putting down some trackage and some scenery, or you're building a kit...right where his eyes will continually fall and he'll soon be watching you intently, making comments.
Unfortunately, this is going to be a distinct and possibly intractable problem unless you understand the nature of his funk. It may be one big, seemingly insurmountable, obstacle or impediment, but it might be three or four rather considerable obstacles that sap all of his mojo. About the best you can do is provide an example of how you (and he) should be using some of your time together. That means initiative, already mentioned, and I like Mr. B's approach as well...rather a good idea. You may actually have to say so many words, "Dad, I'd really like to start a concept railroad, but I'm going to need your input and maybe some of your talent."
And keep in mind that you can design the layout as modules, both in design and construction. So nothing is wasted if you decide to enlarge, or even if you decide to move again.
So it is not wasted effort to look at more complex plans in some of the online resources, or to tinker with 'subsections' that are standalone at your anticipated footprint with a few additional 'hooks' (in the programming sense) left in for ultimate expansion or additional features...
It sounds like your dad is going through challenging times. My dad went through a tough period in one point of his life, and his brain was definitely not in the "hobby" mood when that happened. Perhaps the way to go at it is to take your own initiative and start building something yourself, and keeping him in the loop (no pun intended). There are many plans online - the Atlas site comes to mind for small layouts.
I'm a dad and I really like it when my teenage boys take initiative. I'm also busy at work and prefer to ride along on their projects than the other way around.
Simon
I took a couple of minutes to do the drawing below. It fits in your room. Just an example of what you could do. This the original John Allen G&D sized to fit your room.This is my drawing of the G&D normal sizeMel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Hi, and welcome aboard to both of you.
We are all in the same boat, or perhaps the same gondola. Train clubs have been shuttered, train shows are cancelled, and there are fewer train shops every day. Many, perhaps most of us have learned to live with the realities of our increasingly on-line world. Mail order has become our new normal.
Here's an easy cost-free option that might get him thinking. One of the biggest suppliers in the hobby is Walthers. You can go to www.walthers.com
and sign him up to receive their monthly flyer, showing sales and new products. Don't even tell him about it. Let the mail carrier bring him a surprise every month. If you catch him reading the flyers, you might think about a subscription to Model Railroader for him.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Welcome! We're glad you came to us with your plans.
I don't really have much advice to give other than to encourage you. You are doing the right thing, and it may not seem like it, but your father will appreciate it.
York1 John
What a fantastic son you are, Congratulations! I too have diabetes and if one lets it it can be devastating. I also have been under the quarantine but adding to the problems is old age. I’m 83 with very little feeling in my fingers and zero in my feet. It dinged my model railroading but didn’t kill it. Things aren’t easy but model railroading is my life and it helps keep me going. Model railroading will help keep your dad going too.When my Arthritis lets me I really get after my layout, when it won’t let me I constantly work at either my computer or my workbench . . . ON TRAIN STUFF.I have modeled the Southern Pacific mid 50s in HO since 1951 with a shelf layout, two 4’x 8’ layouts (John Allen G&D layouts) and my final 10’x14’ layout. http://www.doug56.net/GD/Original_Track_Plan.jpg
My first layout wasn’t in a much larger space as you have. An around the wall shelf layout would be approximately 72’ of linear track or mainline, not too shabby. Maybe you could build a shelf layout and invite your dad to help you. I built my first shelf layout around a room off our garage when I was 14, without help, you can do it. That just might hook your dad again, once a model railroader always a model railroader.Keep us posted on your progress!!!!Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
to the Model Railroader forums. Your first few posts will be delayed by the moderators, but this ends after four or five posts, so please stick it out and join us.
My father and I built a train layout together when I was very young, and it stayed in the garage until I was about ten years old. Then in High School I built my first N scale layout with a lot of help from him.
He always planned to build a big Lionel layout, and collected a lot of stuff towards that goal. He bought a big two story duplex in Iowa to be his retirement home with the plan to convert the entire upstairs of one half of the duplex into his train room.
My father never did anything he planned. He passed away in Texas at age 56 in 1997.
Since you arer still very young, I would suggest simply showing an interest in building the layout with your father might get him going.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
The thoughfulness and love that you display towards your father is inspirational, especially during these times. As a father myself, I thank you for the post.
You can google search "small HO switching layouts" and many examples will appear. Unfortunately, you don't have much space for anything else.
Just having a small layout like that, with the ability to see his models in motion once again, could reignite his passion, or at least provide an oasis from some of the maybe more serious things on his plate.
Edit: Must have misread the space that you have the first time. You can do more than a switching layout.
- Douglas
Welcome to the Forums! I've taken the liberty of moving your post to the Model Railroader magazine Layouts and Layout Building Forum. I'm sure you'll get more replies here than you would have in the Trains.com Forum.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
My dad was the one who got me into model railroading, he had gobs of HO stuff, some really nice models including all but one of the Athearn challengers, and I always loved it. I was born into a house with a model railroad, I lived only an hour away from the amazing B&O museum, trains were everywhere. But when we moved from Maryland to Washington state, we left that behind. The new house we moved to had a great crawlspace that my dad planned his newest railroad around. his new plan had 2000+ feet of HO track, two levels, and even multiple helices. But my dad got remarried and we moved yet again.
My father has been struggling lately, he's diabetic so we've been in a strict, no contact, quarantine for 4-5 months now and it's getting to him. He's also been dealing with some other family stuff, as well as business concerns, but I won't get into that here.
He still has all of his HO stuff, and I think that getting him back into the hobby he used to love could be really good for him.
the only room we have available is a 9'6"L by 5'11" network room. it has a 2'6" wide door, located 2'6" from the right corner along the long side of the room (as in 2.5 feet in between the start of the door and the corner of the room), which swings in.
I'm only 15 and don't have enough railroad design experience to know what to do in such a small space. which is why I need some help. could people send me links to walk-in/self layout designs that could work in this space? just as a proof of concept to show him that it's possible.