I am a planner and designer. My old block control rr is totally documented. I plan projects in fairly tight detail. That all takes time, but saves so much frustration in the long run.
Of course, there's also amateur radio, bicycle riding and projects, home improvement, volunteer work, ...
Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority, run through Amtrak and CSX Intermodal
CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield
Cloverdale Dave Trains that I make are relatively new to me, but I spent countless hours weathering my dads. For my newest layout, just a foot of scenery takes me at least four hours (it is far from conventional...but that is another story). For me I weather, build models, and paint. And think about what is next because I like really dense layouts. Sorry folks denegrated your post with negative responses...but pictures of every train track you can find will help. The rail where I live is abandoned and has been for years but it still gives me ideas.
Trains that I make are relatively new to me, but I spent countless hours weathering my dads. For my newest layout, just a foot of scenery takes me at least four hours (it is far from conventional...but that is another story). For me I weather, build models, and paint. And think about what is next because I like really dense layouts. Sorry folks denegrated your post with negative responses...but pictures of every train track you can find will help. The rail where I live is abandoned and has been for years but it still gives me ideas.
Oh, don't apologize! I've gotten every answer i needed, and can take constructive criticisim. Now I'm just watching where it goes.
Welcome aboard!
Stu
Streamlined steam, oh, what a dream!!
Looking great Jim, I did the same planking on our place in the north woods of WI. Your train room is coming right along!
Waiting to see your layout build!
Mike.
My You Tube
Cloverdale Dave, I see you are new here! to the forums!
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
I fully agree with all that has been stated. Where my old layout was and I were far enough away I couldn't get to it all the time, I would stock up on stuff, build and detail cars, structures and engines; and other railroad items to keep the fire going. (Consequently, I have around 30 engines, 100-125 freight cars and 15-20 passenger cars.) But it kept the fire going.
I now have a layout that started in my bedroom of my old apartment. When I moved to my new house, the layout moved with me. I even expanded it in the garage.
Here's an out there idea...
Plan your next track plan, then pre fab your wiring harness.
You can do this at the kitchen table and bundle together the track buss, signal wiring, turnout control etc.
Then just unroll it before installing the table top.
Minimize the time crawling under the layout.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
RG5761: The basement is looking great! That looks like you will have an incredible train room.
.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Jim, that space has turned out really nice. That looks like vinyl plank flooring. If so, we just put down the same color. (but not in the train room )
- Douglas
Little Timmy I usually just start an Argument with the wife........ then I end up in the "modeling shed" in no time ! L O L
I usually just start an Argument with the wife........ then I end up in the "modeling shed" in no time ! L O L
My wife is from England but has always said the shed out back is for naughty husbands.
Seriously tho.... I also have a similar problem. My workshop is F U L L of material for building our house. I can't even GET to my workbench at the moment,... ( it's blocked by cabenet's,and a pile of plywood and 2X4 's. I just focus on building rolling stock at a small table in front of the TV each night......... S I G H ......
I just focus on building rolling stock at a small table in front of the TV each night.........
S I G H ......
Hey, at least you have time to work on trains somewhere. I've had basically no hobby time for the past year because all weekends and days off have been dedicated to slaving away fininshing the basement. There is a utility room with some hobby work tables, but like your workshop, it's full of wood, tools, buckets, materials, paint stuff etc.
But getting back to the shed thing ... my wife kindly hunted for a house we could afford in this area (we can't afford big houses with 4 car garages like some here apparently can) so the house we bought she said I could have the entire basement.
As I worked on a track plan, I could see the room near the walk-out doors was not going to work well for the layout so I told her she could have it. She is making it her lounge are with a coffee/tea bar, sofa, mini fridge, TV and maybe a sunbed. It's the area in the foreground below, blue area in the background is the train room area, about 34 feet long.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Little Timmy. I also have a similar problem. My workshop is F U L L of material for building our house. I can't even GET to my workbench at the moment,
I remember that situation. When my model workbench was in the garage I had weeks when it could not be accessed.
When #1 daughter moved out, the workbench went into her old room immediately.
Seriously tho.... I also have a similar problem. My workshop is F U L L of material for building our house. I can't even GET to my workbench at the moment,... ( it's blocked by cabenet's,and a pile of plywood and 2X4 's.
Rust...... It's a good thing !
RastafarrCardboard layout planning
Stu, Your thread makes for a nice exchange of ideas. Yeah, 3D cardboard planning can offer good visualization. Cereal and cracker boxes work good for structures and are fun and ez to construct with a good ruled straight edge, razor knife and hot glue gun. They can be moved around or modified, windows and doors drawn on and when trains are running can serve as stand-ins until models can built or accquired.
Thanks and regards, Peter
RastafarrSo what to do in the meantime? I'm honestly interested in how people scratch the train itch when working on a layout isn't an option. Hang out by the tracks?
Well, that is an option. Like many who have already posted here, I too have been in a constant state of flux - - - until now. In the past 12 years or so, I have moved four times. But, within that time I have built two small switching layouts (not scenicked, as I had anticipated each move), did all the planning, gathering, acquiring of "stuff" and built a number of structures. Now, I finally have a dedicated train room, albeit small (11' x 10'-8"). It has been a little over a year since the structure was built, but I have the L-girder framework done for the "around-the-walls" layout. I am now waiting for my help to arrive (which will come next week, a fellow model railroader), so that I can cut and install the plywood and the already painted sky blue masonite backdrop. this has been a looooong time coming. Over the last 25 years or so, I have had three layouts completely tracked and wired and then had to move. I believe I now have a permanent home for my railroad. I look forward to each small (or large) phase of construction and, of course, running trains; that's what its all about.
I suppose I could have phrased it better. It was meant less as a 'please help me' and more as a 'huh. What do you guys think?'
Given the state of my setup and the space I'll still have access to, it makes the most sense to work on collecting, weathering, and testing rolling stock. My theme and era have been nailed down for years (modern era tourist rail, think the Rocky Mountaineer with steamers thrown in), so finding and prettying up streamliners and E units fits right in. After that? Cardboard layout planning. I like that idea.
Thanks to all for their input!
trwroute I find it interesting that someone has to ask what to do when there is no layout in sight. There have been a number of good suggestions, but it's interesting that the op couldn't figure this stuff out on their own. If model railroading is your thing, it should be easy to know...
I find it interesting that someone has to ask what to do when there is no layout in sight. There have been a number of good suggestions, but it's interesting that the op couldn't figure this stuff out on their own.
If model railroading is your thing, it should be easy to know...
I agree, but this forum seems to have many lost souls needing hand holding.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
Rastafarr Okay. So, my current layout is about four years old, still a pinkboard paradise. It's running and running well, but the decision was recently made to undertake a major renovation in a year or two. The space the layout currently occupies will become a bedroom. I've got another larger space picked out for the next layout (score!) but it won't be available for trainification until the renos are done. There aren't any clubs within a feasible distance either; I'm a lone wolf by the circumstances, I'm afraid. So what to do in the meantime? I'm honestly interested in how people scratch the train itch when working on a layout isn't an option. Hang out by the tracks? Stu
Okay. So, my current layout is about four years old, still a pinkboard paradise. It's running and running well, but the decision was recently made to undertake a major renovation in a year or two. The space the layout currently occupies will become a bedroom. I've got another larger space picked out for the next layout (score!) but it won't be available for trainification until the renos are done. There aren't any clubs within a feasible distance either; I'm a lone wolf by the circumstances, I'm afraid.
So what to do in the meantime? I'm honestly interested in how people scratch the train itch when working on a layout isn't an option. Hang out by the tracks?
For some 14 years I didn't have space for really even a 4x8, so consider yourself lucky. But I did work on a roster of rolling stock for the RR I wanted to model, I did research and I built some kits.
I guess the thing to remember is that there is a lot more to this hobby than just building layouts.
There is plenty to do to prepare for the next layout.
I'm in your situation right now and I've been waiting for four years. Hopefully I'll be able to start my layout in about six months.
What I've been doing is reading everything I can about layouts (including Model Railroader Magazines going back many years). I've been planning what my layout will look like (in detail, including wiring). I built a very small N scale layout as a learning experience. I've been collecting everything I will need for the layout along with the locomotives and rollling stock. I've been going to all the local train swap meets (my wife goes with me if I take her out for breakfast). This way when the room becomes available I hope to hit the ground running!
RastafarrThere aren't any clubs within a feasible distance either; I'm a lone wolf by the circumstances, I'm afraid.
kasskaboose - does that answer your question?
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Besides the numerous suggestions listed, why not join a local NMRA club?
I'm having my right hip replaced in early February and I can't do much of anything right now. What I can do is work on my rolling stock while seated at my model bench. So far, I've looked over my HO stuff that's been in storage while working in S scale. Now that I'm back to HO, the stored rolling stock isn't without missing ladders, grabs, a few roof walks, and small detail parts. I also have two cars and one unbuilt kit that need parts and trucks, too. I may upgrade all of the couplers while I'm at it. It's the kind of work that I really would like to have out of the way when it comes time to concentrate on laying track.
Russ
Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ. Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/
Thanks Wayne, I was wondering how to post something other than the line of link data.
In the outline below, I've made the stuff you need to type as bold characters to clarify what's needed in order to create a clickable link that's more than a line of data. Do not type them in bold when creating the link, though, as such a link will not work.
First, right-click on the subject/title to which you wish to link, and then, on the menu which appears, select "Copy Link Location"
Next, type [
...followed, without a space, by url=
then "paste" the copied link location immediately after the = sign shown above, then following it with another ]
Next, type in the word or phrase that you wish to appear when you post your message. It could be literally any character that your keyboard can make, or if you really wanted to annoy viewers, several paragraphs on a topic about which no one cares. Follow that, without a space, with [/url]
When you click to post your message for all of us to see, the stuff you typed in between the ] and the [/url] is what will appear to viewers, ready to be clicked upon.
F'rinstance, Kevin's 1:1 cardboard mock-up layout
Wayne
RastafarrI'm honestly interested in how people scratch the train itch when working on a layout isn't an option. Hang out by the tracks?
Actually, I think hanging out by the tracks -- a form of prototype research -- is a very practical and good idea. Prototype research can also involve internet searching (including these Forums of course), acquriing and reading the books and magazine articles that are relevant, and getting involved with the historical society of your favorite railroad(s). Hanging out by the tracks is also a chance to expand your photography skills. E.g. commit to spending an entire day out with the camera without relying on the "automatic" features, and really learn aperture and shutter speed and such.
Speaking of skills, being between layouts can also be a time to beef up skills "in the abstract" so to speak. Soldering for example. If you know of someone building or rehabbing a house, see if you can get the cutoff remnants of the copper wire - good way to practice soldering on the cheap. You can never be too perfect at soldering feeder and bus wires.
Bits of brass also if you can find them - leaning how to solder a brass detail part onto brass where there is already a detail part without unsoldering the first one is a skill that like any genuine skill is learned by practice.
So is hand laying track particularly turnouts and crossings. And many guys who have received NMRA Achievement Program recognition for track have done so with practice boards rather than layouts per se (also easier to take the board to the evaluator).
Airbrushing and weathering are also skills that can be practiced in the abstract. Even scenery and mastering the finer points of static grass.
If you have back issues of Model Railroad Planning magazine, or find them for sale at swap meets, I think some deep immersion in that magazine (right back to 1995 or whenever the first issue was) BEFORE commencing the new layout would be time well spent. Create an ideas file.
Dave Nelson
mbinsewiI dunno Kevin. Did you highlight and copy the address after you added the url things?
Yes I did. Several people have instructed me for how to do this, but I just seem to be missing one crucial piece to the puzzle.
Maybe I should add this to my "What's driving you crazy right now" thread.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/274301.aspx?page=6#3188655
OH MY GOSH... IT WORKED THAT TIME!
I can't explain what I did differently. This is a great day!
I dunno Kevin. Did you highlight and copy the address after you added the url things?
mbinsewiWith the link in the address bar, add the url in brackets to the front, and /url in brackets to the end. Copy that, go back to your post, and paste where you want it, and DON'T use the "link" thingy, just paste right into the post.
Mike, I did not use the link button in my post.
I put "url" before the link and "/url" after the link, but with square brackets before and after the web address.
This is a picture:
What should I have changed?