Modeling scenery -VS- running trains

[Anonymous]

I was wondering....I like running trains. I WANT to learn how to do "realistic" scenery, but that means my (actual) trains will be "down" for a LONG TIME! (As in not being able to run them while I build mountains, tunnels, rivers, etc etc.) I read the pages of Model Railroader and the layouts they feature seem to be WAY MORE about the "artistry of scenery".
Does anybody out there "just run trains"?
I mean, like on a flat piece of plywood or homasote (painted of course) JUST for the joy of "running trains", or am I "alone"?

[Anonymous]

I'm sure you're not alone. I do MRR for the modeling aspect of the hobby, scenery structures, detailing etc. IMHO watching a train go round-and-round on a bare, flat, layout would be boring.

[Anonymous]

I agree, but does this necessarily mean going weeks (or MONTHS) w/o running a train? See, up till now I've been a "flat-land / plasticville" kinda guy. I want mountains and tunnels and bridges.....it just SEEMS like I might go from a "model TRAIN" enthusiast to a "model TERRAIN" enthusiast.....HEY, that almost sounds like a pun! (You can use it if you like! *LoL*)

[Anonymous]

I prefer modelling locos and cars to scenery - guess that's why my layout's a shelf setup - don't have to do much scenery and can display my latest projects when I'm not operating. I tend to find scenic modelling very dull after locos.

Speaking of flat boards with no scenery, this is a pretty accurate description of my test track - I set up a large oval track using Hornby setrack to allow me to run new locos to bed in components - a bit tricky on an end-to-end setup!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by untabubba

I was wondering....I like running trains. I WANT to learn how to do "realistic" scenery, but that means my (actual) trains will be "down" for a LONG TIME! (As in not being able to run them while I build mountains, tunnels, rivers, etc etc.) I read the pages of Model Railroader and the layouts they feature seem to be WAY MORE about the "artistry of scenery".
Does anybody out there "just run trains"?
I mean, like on a flat piece of plywood or homasote (painted of course) JUST for the joy of "running trains", or am I "alone"?

Lots of model railroaders are in this situation. Because it takes time to build benchwork and lay track, after that part is done, many of us just run trains on it for a while. And, like most things in life, this temporary situation frequently streteches into a long, long time.

Some experienced modelers will tell you it's a good thing, too, because if you decide your track plan isn't working well in reality (even if it looked good on paper), it is a lot easier to make changes on bare plywood than afetr you have started scenery.

Eventually, you will want to create scenery. Maybe it'll be an MR article that motivates you, or a visit to a show, or just because you get tired of looking at "CDX" all over your basement. Then, you'll start building scenery because it'll be on your schedule. (Or maybe you'll want to be a PART of a show and that'll motivate you!)

If you create scenery one section at a time, you don't have to stop running trains at all. I've built many layouts where--except while the paint and Sculptamold was drying--I ran trains the entire time I was doing scenery. here's no reason to stop.

So don't worry. Whatever makes you happy right now is fine.

[CP5415]

Even when I had my layout half torn down due to renovations, that never stopped me from running trains.
I'm not going to let the scenery stop me either.
I'm going to scenik a 2 foot section at a time that way a basic clean-up won't be a problem.

Gordon

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Hello untabubba,

Hmmm, I'd never considered these two to be exclusive. As soon as I had benchwork I had some track down and trains running. None of the scenery building was allowed to interfere with train running for more than the time working on it. Certainly a much slower process but the trains have to run on time and that is the priority.

I have some really bad pictures taken with my $20 digital camera of the first 9 months;
http://www.hairyotters.com/gallery/2001

[IRONROOSTER]

When I got my first track in, I ran the trains a lot, but after a while it was less and less. Now that I'm laying the second track on my double track mainline interest in running is picking up. I think the key here is constantly completing/improving the layout, whether with track, scenery, locos, rolling stock, or structures, etc. I suspect for a lot of us, when the building stops so does the interest. I notice even the heavy duty prototype operations folks are constantly adding/changing also.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I do. i don't have the money to make scenery and it is to cold to do any thing the plaster would freeze.

[Roadtrp]

I've just had my layout for a bit over a month -- so far I've concentrated on adding track, turnouts and running my train. I've also bought about 7 built-up buildings, a pre-fab tunnel and a large package of Woodland Scenics trees, but that is it for scenery.

I plan to get serious about scenery when I get back from our upcoming vacation. I dread it a little because it will be my first attempt, and I'm not sure how skilled I will be at it. At this time I don't know if I will enjoy the process of building scenery, but I do know that it will enhance the enjoyment I receive from running trains. The more realistic environment my trains run in, the more fun I think it will be.

[Jetrock]

Who says you have to stop running trains to work on scenery? I'm doing scenery right now (well, adding streets, sidewalks and dirt to my industrial layout) and even though I'm interacting directly with the track (putting cardboard & styrene "street" surface on it) I still run trains--in fact, it's necessary to run trains at this phase to ensure that the work I'm doing won't interfere with flangeways and other clearances.

If you don't object to running trains on bare plywood, what's to stop you from running trains through a winter wonderland of cut styrofoam or unpainted plaster? You might have to temporarily put something over the track to protect it from falling blobs of plaster or paint, but you can take it right off afterward and start rolling along if you'd like, in fact, it is a great way to pass the time while waiting for things to dry.

Personally, I enjoy working on the scenery and structures as much as the trains themselves, but I still keep running trains no matter what state the layout is in. Just make sure your MoW crews follow safety rules and can get out of the way of the through freights!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by untabubba

Does anybody out there "just run trains"?
I mean, like on a flat piece of plywood or homasote (painted of course) JUST for the joy of "running trains", or am I "alone"?

You're definitely not alone. Before taking a stab at my first layout, I was content just to have tracks in place on plywood sheets and watching the trains whiz by. I mean, I could sit for what seemed like an eternity and just watch two trains travel in opposite directions, pass one another, and repeat the circuit--without a trace of scenery, structures, nada. In time though that may begin to lose it's appeal to you and you'll want to try something different. It could be something as simple as modeling a small hillside with a tunnel for the trains to pass under, without a lot of 'down time' to disrupt your enjoyment of watching the trains roll. Move at your own pace; you'll know when you're ready to take the next step of adding structures, etc.[:)]

[Hawks05]

i think i'm really going to enjoy the running of the trains part. my friend has a 2 level 2 room layout and he has a ton of scenery on it but to me only some of it is cool while other parts are lacking. i really like his rolling stock and the weathering he's tried and the variety and just going over there and watching the trains run is cool. but i think once i get going and after awhile of running trains i'll want to build stuff and do scenery for the layout. i already have a depot and i plan on getting a ADM Grain Tower this weekend, well i hope my mom will for me.

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by untabubba

I agree, but does this necessarily mean going weeks (or MONTHS) w/o running a train? See, up till now I've been a "flat-land / plasticville" kinda guy. I want mountains and tunnels and bridges.....it just SEEMS like I might go from a "model TRAIN" enthusiast to a "model TERRAIN" enthusiast.....HEY, that almost sounds like a pun! (You can use it if you like! *LoL*)

One approach is to rough in some scenery, do some of the detail, do another batch of roughing in etc. etc.

That way you never have a huge mess to clean up, you get to learn in small steps, instead of screwing up in large ones[;)][:)][:)]! You try a piece that doesn't interfer with track first, that allows you to run your trains in the meantime.

BTW it doesn't hurt to make some notes of the materials and methods you use as you go along. This makes repeating the same texture and colour much easier.

[on30francisco]

I enjoy building structures and rolling stock out of wood and superdetailing them. I also like modeling scenery and watching the trains go through it. I also do some operating but my favorite part of the hobby is structures and scenic effects.

[easyaces]

The scenery makes the layout come alive!!!!! Having a dull drab spartan layout could not be to much fun.

[Fergmiester]

Not True!

Scenery and ops are do-able at the same time. makes it interesting and enjoyable. Only problem is the level of dust on the tracks and gear.

Remember 100 years of leaves falling from trees makes an inch of topsoil. A day in the work shop chopping wood fills the eyes as far as they can see!

[Dayliner]

As others have said, do scenery a bit at a time, and it won't interfere with operations at all. I hesitated for a long time over scenery--this is pretty normal, I think; when I took the plunge I found that it was easier than I had ever expected, and improved my layout out of all proportion to the time and money spent on it (not that I've done a lot--but that back corner sure looks nice!)

[BNSFNUT]

I now have most of my scenery done but am always adding detail.
I ran with just bare plywood for about 5 mo. When I decided to add scenery I decided to do it in parts. The first project was a large mountiain with tunnel. I built the whole thing of plaster and after it dried I got the railroad running it was out of service for about a week.
I did the rock work and ground cover a little at at time and never had the railroad not running for more than a 2-3 days , most the time it was up and runing the next day.
The longest time besides the tunnel work was about a 8 days due to many delays completing a project.
Try to keep each task small enough to keep it from becoming a long project and you can keep running trains most of the time.

[BRAKIE]

Now,I would rather operate then make scenery.However,all of my past switching layouts have scenery based on the type of scenery you would find at a industrial park or industrial area of a small town or city..I always been a urban modeler more then the country type with mountains,rivers and such like.
To put it another way I prefer to switch cars then running trains in loops though tunnels and up unrealistic grades seeing I never had a basement empire inorder to have more realistic grades and had to settle for the very few smaller layouts that feature switching industries over mountains and grades..Again I have had more industrial switching layouts then small loop layouts over the years.So,my scenery has been base more on the urban side.[;)]
Of course to each his/her own way..[:D][tup]

[Jetrock]

Hey, I'm an urban modeler myself--my entire layout is set within the same city! Urban modeling is just another sort of scenery--structures BECOME the scenery, but urban scenery also includes streets, sidewalks, fences, yards, trees, homes, parks, gardens, vacant lots, city bridges, water towers, etcetera. They're no less a scenic item than a mountain or river, and due to the density of cities can contain a wealth of detail.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by untabubba

I was wondering....I like running trains. I WANT to learn how to do "realistic" scenery, but that means my (actual) trains will be "down" for a LONG TIME! (As in not being able to run them while I build mountains, tunnels, rivers, etc etc.) I read the pages of Model Railroader and the layouts they feature seem to be WAY MORE about the "artistry of scenery".
Does anybody out there "just run trains"?
I mean, like on a flat piece of plywood or homasote (painted of course) JUST for the joy of "running trains", or am I "alone"?

You're not alone. Lots of people do just that.

However, they usually put a Christmas tree in the middle first!
[}:)]

[darth9x9]

Hey untabubba,

Doing scenery is pretty easy. Check out this clinic that we have online:
http://www.fcsme.org/bcarl/basic_scenery.htm

All the scenery was done in three weekends. Just focus on small sections and work your way around the layout.

[Anonymous]

Working on number 5 right now.
Started with Lionel HO,
then a 4x8 CB&Q layout see http://users.adelphia.net/~wmry1407/
then n scale while I lived in an apartment,
then HO again (Western Maryland) and
now #5, so far just an eclectic group of modules, with more on the way[:D]

[twhite]

Funny this should come up again in a different guise. I'm about to replace about 5 feet of HO track with a curved viaduct this morning after coffee and toast. That means that a portion of my layout will be out of commission while I set and adjust the towers, allow for a 1% grade and measure out wood and foam for a sub-base. However, my yard and passing spurs will be available for running every time I take a break from the construction. Scenery is done in increments, not all at once. Sure you can run trains while you do other things on the layout. I've been doing it for two years and I'm only about 15% scenicked. However, this winter----!

[jfugate]

For me, it's both ... realistic scenery and realistic operations. I don't run trains very often outside of an op session. But anyone who has seen the scenery on my HO Siskiyou Line can tell you I'm also a stickler for realistic scenery.



A more useful distinction to me is one the Layout Design Special Interest Group (LDSIG) makes. They said you should determine if you are a railfan or an engineer.

If you are a railfan, you can be content to sit in one place and just watch the trains run. But if you are an engineer, you want to focus on one train, and follow it along on its route. We're all some combination of the two, but tend to favor one over the other. Few of us are 100% one and 0% the other, we're some mix.

Naturally, this distinction can have a dramatic influence on your layout design and how satisfying it can be. I find it's an excellent distinction, and it has helped me design my Siskiyou Line well. After 14 years, the layout is more satisfying than ever, and this distinction helped a lot in getting the design off on the right foot.

[johncolley]

If you are going to do a section of scenery, mask off the tracks with newspaper and blue masking tape (not on the rails, geez!) no matter how sloppy the plastering or painting just take up the masking and operate! Main thing is to keep the tracks clean.