Another thing no one has mentioned is signals. It's not something everyone puts in the first time around. My signals now, those few that I have, are turnout position indicators, not block or "train ahead" warnings. In a similar vein, how about grade crossing signals, either flashers or gates?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Thanks for all the replies and thoughts guys, I really appreciate it. At the moment I might step back from the railroad for a while. I think sometimes its good to step back and pursue other hobbies and interests and let the batteries recharge. I am busy at the moment finding another job as I lost mine on Monday and I want to get around to building a few armor kits that have been sitting on the shelf for a while when I get free time.
Also lately in my free time I have been enjoying just reading and playing video games. Im sure the railroad bug will bite again soon enough though,lol
Do you guys step back from your railroads every now and then?
I have never had a layout get anywhere close to finished before I had to tear down and start another one. Various reasons over the years. I usually salvage most of the parts. Some of the wood pieces in my current layout are on their 4th layout.
I'm retired and plan this to be the last one - we'll see.
The current phase is 12x31 ft and I can expand into another part of the basement that is 14x50 ft. Whether I will ever fill the basement or not, I don't expect this layout to ever be finished. My immediate goal is to get phase 1 operational with a minimal level of scenery.
But I'm having fun and that's what's most important.
Enjoy
Paul
Hey Jeremy.
Why don't you post a photo of a scene on your layout. The rest of us will suggest detail items you can add to that scene. We'll keep you busy for the rest of your life. You know things like "there's no garden hose on the side of that house" or "there's a dog in the yard, but no poop's on the lawn" It's just that easy to come up with more work for you.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I know what you mean. My layout is not finished but most of the major projects are. Adding details is certainly fun but quite expensive to do. Every time I add details to a scene it looks good up close but you can't tell from a distance. Bang for your buck is not achieved in the details. I'm buying a house this spring so I know I don't want to 'finish' this layout anymore than it is. I've switched to improving my locomotives and rolling stock while I ponder my next move. The current layout is somewhat movable since I built it in sections knowing I'd move eventually. I made the comment of redoing the entire Mankato half of the layout once we move. My wife gave me a look that was surprise mixed with being alarmed at the same time! I think that means I may have the green light to 'improve' the layout in the new house. Now I just need to find the right layout room with a house on top of it!
If you don'y have one,get a good digital SLR and sturdy tripod. Learn to take great photos of your railroad. It's not that easy what with the limited depth of field with close up photography. You'll have to learn about lighting, camera placement depth of field etc. This is my next step when I finish my rr. Joe
I'm truly surprised that no one has mention operations yet.
A model RR is meant to be RUN. Set up an operating scheme. If you don't know how, do some research and ask questions here on the forums.
I have been at the same place you are at a couple of times, but then I took a look at operations. I have a medium size layout and decided to enjoy MORE of the hobby besides just building a layout. I invite three friends over and we “operate” my layout. We run trains and deliver cars. You can even do this with a small 4 X 8 layout. It just takes a little planning. So much the better if your small layout has a yard of 2 or 3 tracks.
You would be surprised at the fun you and your friends will have when operating your layout. By the way, these friends don't have to be model railroaders either. I have much more fun now, and it is getting hard for me to to work on my layout much because I would rather have an operating session. You may even find some things that you want to change on your present layout to make it operate better.
Operating your layout with even one friend is better than running trains by yourself.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Somedays I feel I am getting close but then, like in real life, progress happens- I am currently working on a section that was forested and have taken out the trees and added a couple industries, an overpass and few background buildings. I think my early next year project will be to get rid of my sad looking Atlas SPDT switches and track diagram with something more "professional" look it and use some small toggle switches. Would like to add in some BLMA cantilever road signals and get them working some kind of track detection.
I also find when I am stuck it is best not to even go in the train room for a few weeks and then I can see it all with fresh eyes again.
Joe Staten Island West
My layouts are finished when I am about to tear them down. Until that moment, there is still the slightest hope that I can figure out an improvement, a novel angle for imaging, or a change that will extend their interest for me. Otherwise, hooped, toast, finished...it's all the same.
Crandell
If most of your buildings are plastic kits that everyone else has, then start scratchbuilding new, unique ones to replace them. Like Richard said, start rebuilding scenes. Your skills have probably improved since you built some of those scenes so put your new talents to work.
Steve S
For one reason or another, I've never had a layout come within sniper rifle range of completion.
My present project, a work in very slow progress, is my, "Last in this lifetime." If it ever does reach a stage of near-completion, I'll keep busy operating the 140+ trains scheduled for each fast clock 'day,' to the prototype's timetables. I've yet to find anything that I would change.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Jeremy
Do you really like the layout you have? If so, make it primo with all the little things that can be done as others have suggested. But. If you are not satisfied and wish you had done a few or more things differet, start planing my freind, for a new project.
For me the greatest part of this hobby is dreaming. How I would do it again if I were to start over and try to remember what I did wrong on the last one.
The new ideas just seem a whole lot more interesing and fun than the ones already tried.
Be well, Ron
I see no reason why you can't do a little of all three of your first ideas.
Pick a good scene and work on superdetailing it.
Pick a few cars (cheapies) or locomotive to start honing your detailing and weathering skills.
Is there a scene you would like to change, either the landscape or industries/buildings? You can rebuild a small section that was used to improve your skills to the level you now have and you can use some of the new materials you have collected over time. You don't have to rebuild a whole layout at one time, you can make improvements to sections and take time doing it, Then you can superdetail it and run some of your newly detailed and weathered rolling stock through it.
Good luck,
Richard
mine will be finished soon, but I'd like to super detail my rolling stock and weather my freight cars.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
I too am close to that point with my S scale Citrus Belt, it's been in existence for 15 years and S scale has evolved quite a bit since those stone age days! I could continue to super detail and upgrade my structures to better match their prototypes as i'm content with my current fleet of rolling stock and locomotives, overall layout design and operations, or......I could return to HO for the next incarnation, or.....abandon steam operations for juice jacks under catanary while remaining in S scale ...Decisions, decisions.
Dave
If you are like most MR's on this site you can probably start assembling those 500 to a 1000 kits you have stored under the layout, some members have built 6 or 7 complete layouts, I wonder what they do with the previous layouts? junk them, use parts of them or just add on to the existing layout, to keep busy start on the stored car and building kits, that will keep you busy for the next 35 years.
Larry had it right. I've built 7 layouts since 1959. Are you ever really finished with any one of them?
What happens is you tire or grow bored with a specific layout at some point and either let it lay fallow while off chasing other rainbows or you get enthusiastic about some new direction and start all over again, forgeting how much time and effort you spent 10 years back.
If you stay in the same scale and gauge, much can be saved or transferred to the new pike if you work the same era or geography of the last layout.
With advancing technology, a certain amount of your stuff may be obsolete or out of step with current MR layout operations. Some out of the date stuff can be modified and other stuff can be sold as antiques.
For the first time, I have changed gauge, (not scale), after all those years in HO and am now doing HOn3 and a new layout. Yippee!
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
Thanks for the help fellas. I think your right on the money ( sorry the pun ) Larry. I put alot of money into this somewhat small layout and don't really want to start all over again. Maybe it is time to go back and look at some scenes and see what I can do to add those small details that will make a scene "pop".
Another thing I have found lately is that I have lost motivation to work on anything related to the railroad. I go in the workshop intending on working on something but find myself coming right back out having done nothing.
Jeremy, I'm very close to that point also. If I really pushed it I could have mine 'finished' in a month or so, but I'm not pushing very hard at present...
I know there will be several replies along the line of " it's never finished", there's always something else to do on a layout...... but still, I sometimes think about it.
I'm with you, super detailing is probably the way to go. I'll be 70 next year so I don't really relish the idea of starting a completely new layout. BUT.. if I did start over from scratch again, I'd figure out a way to get larger curves, larger than the 22 inch radius I have now, a couple of more passing sidings, maybe model a more modern era because I've found I like big diesels more than big steam, (I know, weird for a guy my age!) But I probably won't ever do that, I'll just settle more super detailing also.
Jarrell
,I have finished 16 or more ISLs and 4 loop layouts in the 56 years I been in the hobby.
When finish I enjoy the fruits of my labors by using the models I bought and the layout as intended.
Now with a finished layout and IMHO its time to let the tools gather dust while you sharpen your other hidden skills like detailing mini scenes,adding interior to your structures,weathering your cars and locomotives.You can add trees,scrubs,weeds and grass.Maybe add working signals,neon signs etc.
Now at today's costs maybe the last thing you will want is to tear up a perfect layout that you spent hundred of dollars building and start over?
Its your call.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Hi Guys
Have you ever found yourself in the position where you have pretty much finished a layout or where to the point you think you finished it. I find myself in that position know.
My layout has pretty much been finished now for a year or so ( scenery finished,trackwork done, structures complete ) and am know wondering what next? I have been spending the train time just running and operating the layout but haven't had any scenery to do since last winter and am wondering what to do next? either:
- Superdetail scenes?
- detail rolling stock and locomotives ?
- go back and redo scenery using better materials?
- Or start plans on a new railroad?
So far am leaning toward the detailing part as I dont really want to start building a new layout anytime soon and I figure even if there is no layout work going on I can still work on freight car projects and locomotives. Its funny because at one point I said to myself " I cant wait until the layout is complete and I can just operate ", I come to realize that when you operate all the time that you really wish you had some scenery work to do,lol. It is nice having things running pretty decently though but I guess things are becoming a bit stale.
Anybody else that has been in this situation I would like to hear what you did?