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Do you have software like Cadrail/3rdplanit/trainZ where you can build your layout virtually? You can operate it in the meantime, and maybe find someplaces where you want to change the trackplan before you build it in the real world. If not, is there room in the budget for something like that? How about sketching out the layout in like 1/4 or 1/8 scale on cardboard from old boxes or such, and spend the time going over how it works for operation, and get a better idea of how the different scenes relate to each other? Make mockups for the buildings and structures like bridges out of cardstock (like empty cereal or kleenex boxes, that's what I made my very basic mockups from). And speaking along those lines, there are also several guys who will build up a full 3-D model of your model railroad. Scale to whatever works for you. Use some balsa wood for benchwork if you want, use balsa wood or leftover cardboard/cardstock and paper for subroadbed and the like. Use clay or something for hills, ground cover foam for foliage, and the get the feel for the space and coloring of your planned railroad, and make changes from that. ---jps
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