My wife was looking at my most recent build, and commeted that I had only room for 2-3 more buildings. After takeing a good look, I reailze she"s right.
So,,after every square inch of table top is under track,buildings, trees or road, what then? I can't expand anymore, I guess you could super detail, but that's mostly a buy and place type of thing. I can't believe I'm the only one who built himself into a corner.
To just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon.
Do we tear it all down and start over?
That's how a great many in the hobby get to your point. They enjoy the building most, and then only after the idealizing, planning, and acquisition phases. When they get to where you find yourself at present, they feel deflated a bit, or dismayed, or eager to start a new layout.
There are others who are quite content to lay track on a G1S Pacific and to run trains with a $12 depot kit and two trees stuck in there someplace. Detailing and making scenery are secondary.
If you do decide that this one is baked, please don't destroy everything willy-nilly. Consider keeping the best section as is for incorporation in the new layout, or at least take up and re-use the track elements, trees, and any buildings. I have even re-used entire hillsides made of ground goop that came up in one big chunk. A little care, some judicious trimming, and it fit right into a new layout.
The layout is NEVER done, I can attest to that and so can my wife.
Hi!
I believe the vast majority of us "oldtimers" will readily say a layout is never finished. There is always something to add, to redo, to freshen up, to detail.
I do feel your pain. My HO layout is about 50 percent scenicked but I find I don't have the drive as I did during the design and construction phase. I think many of us are builders first, operators second. I know I am.
May I suggest......if your layout is all you can manage at this time, you might look into doing some addition of operating signals. You can do as few or as many as you like, and make it simple or complicated.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I guess if it were Me....I would have to tear it down and start over. I have always been more of a builder, than a player. But at 74 I'm not too keen on doing that....But I DID down size and set-up sections to incorporate on My Grandson's layout....Mine had become too big, for one person to really enjoy! So now I get into finer detailing and adding full interiors and Also adding annimation, like lighted signs with chase patterns and the like, working crossings and so forth. Annimation is a real attention getter on any display/layout.
Change a scene. You don't mention time/era, change some of that. I based My layout on the late 30's to the early 80's...so it's easy to change the time frame, by equipment, vehicles and even buildings.......none of mine are glued down, they are all screwed in place on their own foundation. Remove two screws, disconnect two wires and It's at the work bench.
Good Luck!
Have Fun!
Frank
Btw: Still a work in progress.....a lot has been done to this section since the pic' was taken about 3 months ago. The sign, lights up in different patterns before it is fully on....46 different ways to choose from. I caught the pic' when it was fully on. There are also other's in the scene now.
The term 'done' is very subjective. I can't ever imagine being finished on my layout and only on my first. Perhaps walk away from it for a bit to explore somethings others have done that you think to replicate. Goodness, I can't tell you how many times I've done that even after putting in scenery and track!
There's always something to upgrade and do. For me, finding anything to try rekindles the joy flame.
There are a few guy's on here that are members of the "hole in the wall gang". I suggest you join the group and knock a mouse hole through the wall and expand. What the heck, just knock the whole wall out. Don't forget to add a beam and proper supports if it is a bearing wall.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
The 1:1 scale folks in my home town have the answer.
Structures old and new cover almost every square inch of Las Vegas. So, when somebody really wants to put up the next, "Latest and Greatest," the existing occupant is purchased, stripped, rendered asbestos-free and prepped. Then, usually sometime about zero-dark-hundred, there is a series of sharp cracks, a dull rumble and the standing structure is suddenly reduced to a trash sandwich, ready for the front end loaders and double bottom dump trucks.
Nobody has a law that says you can't clean off a couple of square feet (or yards) of mediocre early work and replace it with your own latest and greatest. I would suggest that you squelch any urge to make creative use of explosives in the process...
Chuck (Las Vegas resident modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
UNCLEBUTCH To just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon. Do we tear it all down and start over?
Alton Junction
I can only second what Rich has stated - a layout is done when you think it´s done! Which in effect means you start losing your interest in it! This can happen at any time during a layout build.
I am in the same situation with my layout. OK, I could add more detail here and there, but it would not mean a dramatic change to it, just adding to the expense. As it is a small layout, my decision is to sell it.
The answer, of course, is "operate prototypically."
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Bayfield Transfer Railway The answer, of course, is "operate prototypically."
That may be the answer for you, but not for all. Even prototypical operation can get boring after a few minutes, if all you can do is switch the two or three industries you have on your small layout.
Let´s face it, the time to move on has come when you start having second thoughts on your layout or don´t feel inclined to do work on it or operate it.
That´s the time the lyout is finished - in both meanings of the word.
I don't have a layout, and I get bored.
When sometimes I'm alone I'll take out the tracks, cars and locomotives. (Sometimes I don't because I don't feel like it.) When it's all put together on the tracks they start rolling along the oval. Around 5 to 10 minutes I get bored because there's no scenery, buildings or cars. So I switch railroads at least 3 to 4 times. Play time is about 1 hour and putting something away is another half hour thru 45 minutes close to a hour.
I don't know if I'll be this way if my layout might be built. It gets tiring designing track plans on paper, but it's the only thing I have. I do have Scram but that gets boring twice as fast.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I'm not bored or burnt out, so mutch as nothing let to do. My house was built in 1884, basement walls are field stone,24-30 in. thick, a hole in the wall aint gonna happen.The next room is an unused fruit celler,dirt floor.
I came up with my own car card system for switching, have 14 spots to switch, with spurs coming off main both ways, so you have to do a little planing. But I found I grow tired of that after a while. But I can spend hours at the bench every day,there for I must be a builder more then a player.
I'll build till I run out of real estate,then perhaps go back to where I started, and maybe rekitbash some of my first kitbashes.
I think its OK to build a building just to build it,and then set said building on a shelf right?
There is also the possibility to build a diorama ...
... or a micro layout, just for the fun of it.
Plenty of options!
"...I think its OK to build a building just to build it,and then set said building on a shelf right?"
For you, why not...or absolutely...either way, answer for yourself because you are using your time and your money. We shouldn't dictate your choice of trains, or your track plan, or your way of running your trains. We shouldn't decide how or when you spend your time and talents. If you would like to try something new or different, or if you want to tear it down and start fresh, it's always your call. And if so, you are always 'right'.
Saw a fellow at a recent train show in Canada who ONLY builds structures. They are fully detailed and lit and sit on very nice bases that include a small power supply. He had a very nice display. He also placed well in the contest they had. Bill
UNCLEBUTCHTo just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon. Do we tear it all down and start over?
Food for thought. You spend $XXXXX amount of dollars on lumber,track,buildings scenery materials,vehicles etc,etc. Then you spent $XXXXX amount on cars,locomotives ,KD couplers metal wheels etc.
After all that investment run trains and get a return on your thousands of dollars investment.You can always add details to the layout like working crossing gates,signal cabinets, working block signals add interior and people to those vacant buildings,place drivers in your cars and trucks,then add license plates,DOT decals to your big rigs add Dumpsters to your industries,add rip rap like blade covers from disposable razors for machinery.Weather your cars and locomotives.
Or you can rip out that $XXXX amount and spend $XX,XXX by starting over.Remember everything cost more.
Your money,your call.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I'm never done with mine. I just add more detailing. I have many details to build/model for my transloading yard, such as dry bulk trucks, augers, conveyors, my AMTRAK station, my street scenes, my locomotives and cars, refreshing landscape details, (such as static grass), it goes on and on!
Mike.
My You Tube
You can even add some ''fun'' scene's.....they don't have to be permanant.....great attraction for the wee' Modeler's.
The Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago has a few scene's on it that a lot of people overlook...... but the kid's see them! One such scene in the city, has people waiting at a bus stop. One older lady is sitting on a bus stop bench. with other people standing...sitting next to Her on the bench, sits a ''cow'' reading a newspaper. Many other scene's as well. Push buttons...kids height, to open and close drawbridges for street traffic, etc.
Take Care!
Tear it all down and start over.
Just think of all the fun that you will have in designing and building a new layout.
Sounds like a lot more fun than detailing stuff or building new scenes.
Go for it!
Rich
I should start out by pointing out that the title of this thread goes against everything I've ever read in MR magazine since I was in Jr High in the 1970's. Your title says: "What do we do when it's done?"
You sir are in error Have you not heard the belabored slogan? "A Model Railroad is Never Finished"?
If you have been around the hobby for very long, you surely know the options:
1) Operate2) Tear part down and re-do3) Tear all down and build a totally new one.
So my guess is you posted this because you wanted people to convince you of one of the above. IMO, thats totally up to you.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
richhotrain Tear it all down and start over. Just think of all the fun that you will have in designing and building a new layout. Sounds like a lot more fun than detailing stuff or building new scenes. Go for it! Rich
Rich,my pal, I will never understand that logic. We pour thousands of dollars building a layout buying cars ,locomotives,scenery material etc,etc,etc and so on and when finish some tears it out.Now if the track and switches can't be salvage there's hundreds or thousands of dollars more buying replacement track switches ballast and roadbed.
Even my small ISLs see use for several months simply because my hobby pocket has never been that deep(my late wife always said I was Ebeneser Scrooge when spending my hobby dollars) and I think that pocket may have shrunk since retirement..
Whatever floats one's rowboat.
I have a similar problem. I designed my small 8x8 layout when I didn't know much about prototype running. It's almost completely scenicked, but I get bored with the round and round stuff. I'm determined to start a new one, but I want to be smarter about it this time. You could try what I'm doing. Make a new track plan, but only do a section at a time. I'm going to start with the grain elevator and corresponding yard. I'll be able to operate it as a switching layout under my existing one. Once that part is completed, I will dismantle the existing layout and continue so I don't have to be completely without something to operate.
You join the OpSIG and get social. Run trains with friends on their layouts, then invite them to operate on yours.
Then the conversation starts about what yu like and don't like, so you can make improvements to your layouts from the good observations running trains on the other layouts.
Then you join the LDSIG and read about new and unique ideas about layout desings and decide whether it's time to start over, over modify what you have.
Travers, 7-22-16
Hi
You only have two opptions because every layout reaches a point where this descision has to be made.
Option one part ripdown and up grade using better products and techneques that are now avalable that where not back whenever.
This can fix some of the bits your not happy about and bring new things into play.
Or option two total rip down and start again making sure everything reusable is saved for reuse.
regards John
You need to rethink that unused fruit cellar and build another layout there. Maybe in a different scale just to be more interesting.
Or build a heated/cooled shed in the backyard.
Or build a second level.
Do you really use dining room?
There's always a way to build more layout.
Good luck
Paul
Keep current inside layout and move to the outside with a garden RR that runs through your plants, bushes and trees. If done right, it will involve your wife doing landscaping her flowers in with your track.
I did something like this by building my mainline first and then going back and adding various sidings. Landscaping is NEVER done because the landscapes change with the season and there is always something new to plant.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
UNCLEBUTCH My wife was looking at my most recent build, and commeted that I had only room for 2-3 more buildings. After takeing a good look, I reailze she"s right. So,,after every square inch of table top is under track,buildings, trees or road, what then? I can't expand anymore, I guess you could super detail, but that's mostly a buy and place type of thing. I can't believe I'm the only one who built himself into a corner. To just run trains is fine, but I think I would lose interest soon. Do we tear it all down and start over?
There have been a few comments about the investment you've made in your layout.
Really, there two investments.
The money and your time.
For most of us, both of these can be considerable.
But if you find you're not getting the same satisfaction out of running and there's little more to do as far as constructiuon is concerned, you may very well have reached the point where starting over is the best option.
The pros and cons of tearing your layout down and starting over have been covered.
But if I may, I'd like to offer a couple of other ideas you may want to consider.
You may want to think about changing eras, geographic location and even scale.
A move a couple of years ago meant taking my large HO scale layout down.
I sold everything.
I had made the decision that the next layout would be smaller and thought I'd take a close look at N scale.
I was pleasently surprised at the improvement in quality and detail from what was available a few years earlier and decided, that for me, it was the right choice.
I stayed with the same era and geographic area. But the change to N scale has worked well for me.
That's one of the great things about this hobby. We can made significant changes in what we do and still enjoy it.
None of these options may be right for you, but I'd respectfully suggest that if you do decide to re-build, take a little time to consider all the options you have.
Also, never think of tearing a layout down and starting over as anything but an opportunity to take the lessons you've learned to make the next layout even better.