Soooo...... when does this

[jacon12]

get to be fun?[;)]

I'm this far on my first layout and was wondering when the fun starts. I'm kidding of course, if it wasn't I'd go do something else. What I do wonder about is what, in the building process ,do people enjoy the most. It can't be building benchwork, or sanding and painting. Probably it's the scenery part 'cause it can't be wiring.
Or can it?
Jarrell

[selector]

Some of us are especially interested in (and eventually more adept at) wiring, soldering, DCC and decoders, castings, kit-bashing, scenery, bench-building, and some of us just like to run trains.

The soldering got to me, and then I started to get fed up with gluing structures together. I enjoyed the bench-building, scenery, wiring, castings, painting, and trestle building. So, you will have to grit your teeth some times, but you'll get through the not-so-interesting stuff. Personally, my next really big item (I've been demuring over it, and waiting to get a few $) is the backdrop, and I am starting to chomp at the bit. Wanna goooo!

[Anonymous]

I actually like the wiring a lot. I feel that there is nothing better then giving life to a new house or other building.

[tstage]

Jarrell,

Just so you know: the track goes horizonal on the plywood; NOT the masonite...[;)] [(-D] If it's any encouragement at all, it's looking good so far. [:)]

I've found out that I really enjoy the model building aspect (scenery, structures, etc.) of MRRing. Much to my surprise, the other aspect that I have come to enjoy - and one that I didn't really consider before getting into the hobby - was the joy of learning the history of railroading, which helps me to better model my layout and make it more prototypical.

There are other things that I have NOT tried yet so I don't know whether will like them or not.

Tom

[IRONROOSTER]

Actually, I enjoy the benchwork - just like working with wood. Plus it's a good chance to practice skills. Wiring is probably my least favorite. But I do enjoy it all coming together.
Enjoy
Paul

[FCnota]

I have to say I enjoy the wiring and decoder installs the best. I've always was taking things apart & rewiring them, like my first car..... What The very best is sitting with my 7 year old son and running a few trains around, even if there is no scenery,buildingsor special effects. The smiles say it all! Keep it up, it'll pay off.

[Anonymous]

I hate to admit this.... but you're actually farther along than I am! lol I've got the basic framework of the layout done, still need to add a few more joists for the benchwork top (using combination tabletop and cookiecutter method), but I won't be able to buy the plywood for the top for at least another month or two. I don't like buying stuff a piece at a time, so I save up for a month or so in a 'railroad fund' and then deplete everything all at once buying whatever I need. lol I'm going to need around 9 sheets of plywood to finish everything, plus enough masonite to do the backdrop, like what you're working on in the picture. Fun stuff! Little by little though! I hope to at least have trains running (no scenery) by next winter. I am starting from scratch this time. I have a few 'toy' cars and some old Athearn locos, but since I'm going DCC only on this layout, I really don't want to use them for anything but collecting dust. lol

Good luck getting there!

[Anonymous]

Jacon,

Your photo killed me......lol!!! You caught the paradox of Model railroading perfectly. The photo describes many moments I have had the last two years working on the new layout!!!!!

[Benjamin Maggi]

Jacon,
If you used joint compound then just smooth over the joints with a wet sponge instead of sanding. The stuff is water soluble!

[Adelie]

Well, I'm not sure what I like the most.
Planning: I enjoy this, but it is easy to get carried away and overdo it.
Benchwork: I can get a lot of it done in an evening, so it is easy to see progress and feel good about the work.
Subroadbed: Okay, I hate cutting the plywood, but I enjoy laying out the track centers. I can step back, improvise, get a mental image of what should go where (buildings, scenery, etc.) Sort of a creative process that makes the jig saw worthwhile.
Roadbed/Track: When it goes well, it's great. When it doesn't, its awful. I always glued roadbed down, and I liked laying track a lot more when I started putting it down with adhesive. And when a section is done and set, you get to run trains over it under the guise of testing.
Wiring: I'm an electrical/computer junkie, so that is not a problem. I don't love it, but I don't hate it, either.
Scenery: Haven't gotten there yet.
Painting rolling stock: I'm modeling a freelance line, so everything starts undecorated. When I'm in the mood, it is a lot of fun. When I'm not in the mood, they stay undecorated for a while.

Each part has its fun and drudgery. Overall, there isn't anything that I don't enjoy to one degree or another.

To borrow a golf saying: a bad day on the railroad is better than a good day at work.

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Some of us are especially interested in (and eventually more adept at) wiring, soldering, DCC and decoders, castings, kit-bashing, scenery, bench-building, and some of us just like to run trains.

The soldering got to me, and then I started to get fed up with gluing structures together. I enjoyed the bench-building, scenery, wiring, castings, painting, and trestle building. So, you will have to grit your teeth some times, but you'll get through the not-so-interesting stuff. Personally, my next really big item (I've been demuring over it, and waiting to get a few $) is the backdrop, and I am starting to chomp at the bit. Wanna goooo!

Selector, what type backdrop are you planning and do you already have scenery on your benchwork?
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by woodyjp

I actually like the wiring a lot. I feel that there is nothing better then giving life to a new house or other building.

Woody, I thought wiring was going to be my biggest headache, crawling around under the benches etc., since I know nothing about it. But I may be saved by a friend who is very very good at it.
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tstage

Jarrell,

Just so you know: the track goes horizonal on the plywood; NOT the masonite...[;)] [(-D] If it's any encouragement at all, it's looking good so far. [:)]

I've found out that I really enjoy the model building aspect (scenery, structures, etc.) of MRRing. Much to my surprise, the other aspect that I have come to enjoy - and one that I didn't really consider before getting into the hobby - was the joy of learning the history of railroading, which helps me to better model my layout and make it more prototypical.

There are other things that I have NOT tried yet so I don't know whether will like them or not.

Tom

Awww heck, Tom.. and I had planned some really good grades going up that masonite! I know what you mean on the history side of it, I've learned a lot also. I like going to small towns and seeing how they put sidings into the darnest places and what type businesses are sitting right beside the track. Things I never paid attention to before.
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by IRONROOSTER

Actually, I enjoy the benchwork - just like working with wood. Plus it's a good chance to practice skills. Wiring is probably my least favorite. But I do enjoy it all coming together.
Enjoy
Paul

Paul, I haven't got there yet but I think laying track is going to be my least favorite. But I figure I've got an edge, see. I don't know a darned thing about any of it, so it's all new to me, so everything I do that turns out halfway right, or better, is cause for a big celebration!
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jshrade

I hate to admit this.... but you're actually farther along than I am! lol I've got the basic framework of the layout done, still need to add a few more joists for the benchwork top (using combination tabletop and cookiecutter method), but I won't be able to buy the plywood for the top for at least another month or two. I don't like buying stuff a piece at a time, so I save up for a month or so in a 'railroad fund' and then deplete everything all at once buying whatever I need. lol I'm going to need around 9 sheets of plywood to finish everything, plus enough masonite to do the backdrop, like what you're working on in the picture. Fun stuff! Little by little though! I hope to at least have trains running (no scenery) by next winter. I am starting from scratch this time. I have a few 'toy' cars and some old Athearn locos, but since I'm going DCC only on this layout, I really don't want to use them for anything but collecting dust. lol

Good luck getting there!

My hat is off to you doing a cookie cutter top. I wanted to do that but I knew I just didn't have the know how or the skills. Man, it would be the year 2015 before I ran a train on it and then it would probably fall over every 2 feet.. :)
Train fund? Oh yes, I do that too!!
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trainnut1250

Jacon,

Your photo killed me......lol!!! You caught the paradox of Model railroading perfectly. The photo describes many moments I have had the last two years working on the new layout!!!!!

I mean, just LOOK at that picture. Does that even look like I'm working on a MR layout? Well, we know what it is but the average person wouldn't have a clue. I'm so tired of filling and sanding! Why didn't I sink those screw heads better!! I shoulda already had that thing painted by now and be cutting foam for the bench top! But Nooooooo, I had to NOT take the good advice I got here and ru***hrough the backdrop without doing the thing properly.
Well, lesson learned.. :)
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scoobster28

Jacon,
If you used joint compound then just smooth over the joints with a wet sponge instead of sanding. The stuff is water soluble!

Ahem.... my dear beloved wife talked me into this stuff. She is now banned from the train room until track laying begins. Maybe longer.
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Adelie

Well, I'm not sure what I like the most.
Planning: I enjoy this, but it is easy to get carried away and overdo it.
Benchwork: I can get a lot of it done in an evening, so it is easy to see progress and feel good about the work.
Subroadbed: Okay, I hate cutting the plywood, but I enjoy laying out the track centers. I can step back, improvise, get a mental image of what should go where (buildings, scenery, etc.) Sort of a creative process that makes the jig saw worthwhile.
Roadbed/Track: When it goes well, it's great. When it doesn't, its awful. I always glued roadbed down, and I liked laying track a lot more when I started putting it down with adhesive. And when a section is done and set, you get to run trains over it under the guise of testing.
Wiring: I'm an electrical/computer junkie, so that is not a problem. I don't love it, but I don't hate it, either.
Scenery: Haven't gotten there yet.
Painting rolling stock: I'm modeling a freelance line, so everything starts undecorated. When I'm in the mood, it is a lot of fun. When I'm not in the mood, they stay undecorated for a while.

Each part has its fun and drudgery. Overall, there isn't anything that I don't enjoy to one degree or another.

To borrow a golf saying: a bad day on the railroad is better than a good day at work.

Mark, it's that planning thing that is getting me. I'm STILL doing it. But I'm going to sit down soon and get serious about it. I really am.
Jarrell

[dinwitty]

I tend to think whatever you do, you have this dream running of a finished layout and whatever step along the way is just a part of producing that dream.

[rayhippard]

Jarrell, I'm just a little farther along then you. My masonite is painted high gloss white.
Reason: I found some great looking cloud/sky wallpaper at Home Depot and am almost ready to put it up. I've waited on the benchwork until I get all the background done and the layout lighting installed. This is saving me a lot of leaning and stretching, which is good for this 63 year old body. By the way, this is my umpteenth layout, and that is why I'm doing all the room and backdrop and lighting in this order. Tough to not have trains running, but it looks like it will be worth it. Nice picture of you working.
Ray Great Northern fan.

[Anonymous]

We (I) am still a long ways from having our first layout done... it's really my 6-year-old's, but there's alot of things he can't help with (yet).

What's the fun part (so far)?....

It's going to Caboose Hobby or browsing the Walther's Catalog and listening to the ideas on how he wants the (his layout) to look.... the buildings, the scenery, the figures, etc....

It's getting the tunnels enclosed and doing a "dry run" of the trains to check clearances on the portals, etc... and getting down at his eye-level and watching the trains from his perspective.....

For me it's working late nights to get this thing done (trains were never my hobby...it's his).... and not minding, becuase when he "checks on my progress" in the mornings, I can see his face light up that we are getting "closer".... and I see the excitement and joy it brings him.

So the project is taking 200 times longer than I thought, I'm learning through stumbling, and the project is costing about 1000% more than I planned, but listening to the little guy talk, watching him help (where he can), and seeing the make-believe world we are building emerge together makes every aspect of this fun.

(and a little scotch doesn't hurt [;)])

[selector]

Jarrell, yes, my scenery is very close to complete. You can see some images at :

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/crandelloverton

As for the backdrop, I intend to use the thinnest masonite I can get, frame and bend it, as you have done, and fini***he joins. Then, roller paint the primer, roller paint the blue sky, probably roller on the bands of lighter blue and blend with a brush, and then experiment with free-hand clouds AND stencils so that I can discuss the merits of each knowledgeably.

First, though, I have to get my turntable foolproof (I'm trying to get the drive and track wipers to work better), and cut and wire sections of Flex-trak for the roundhouse.

I like what I see in your image. Work looks great. I would describe the look on your face as 'bemused'.

[Jetrock]

Planning is fun. I must agree that research is fun--for me, it's probably one of my favorite parts, so much that I'm considering graduate school to study this stuff in more detail. Scenery and kit construction is fun.

I hate wiring. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I don't like backdrops much either, so I have been stalling on mine and when I take photos I stick a piece of Masonite spray-painted blue behind my subject.

I don't mind benchwork, and tracklaying is actually kind of fun. I am building in modular fashion (a piece at a time) so I get to play with each section as I finish it, rather than spending a long time on a big half-completed room and never getting to play with the trains. (Note: Being able to play with the half-completed layout is fun, but may lead to contentedly playing with half a layout instead of finishing it.)

I think I get the most satisfaction out of scenery: making something unreal look REAL is lots of fun.

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Jarrell, yes, my scenery is very close to complete. You can see some images at :

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/crandelloverton

As for the backdrop, I intend to use the thinnest masonite I can get, frame and bend it, as you have done, and fini***he joins. Then, roller paint the primer, roller paint the blue sky, probably roller on the bands of lighter blue and blend with a brush, and then experiment with free-hand clouds AND stencils so that I can discuss the merits of each knowledgeably.

First, though, I have to get my turntable foolproof (I'm trying to get the drive and track wipers to work better), and cut and wire sections of Flex-trak for the roundhouse.

I like what I see in your image. Work looks great. I would describe the look on your face as 'bemused'.

I kinda wish mine was as far along as yours. Yours is looking real good! I saw the picture of your turntable and I'm thinking about putting one in so you become an expert on it so when I get to that stage you can give me some pointers!
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

but may lead to contentedly playing with half a layout instead of finishing it.)

That is so true. When I finished my benchwork I laid some track from one end to the other, no spurs or anything and started running my two locomotives.. and I almost never got back to actually advancing to the next step.
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dinwitty

I tend to think whatever you do, you have this dream running of a finished layout and whatever step along the way is just a part of producing that dream.

Dinwitty, I think some of my problem is that patience has never been a virtue of mine, and in this hobby you need a big supply of it.
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rayhippard

Jarrell, I'm just a little farther along then you. My masonite is painted high gloss white.
Reason: I found some great looking cloud/sky wallpaper at Home Depot and am almost ready to put it up. I've waited on the benchwork until I get all the background done and the layout lighting installed. This is saving me a lot of leaning and stretching, which is good for this 63 year old body. By the way, this is my umpteenth layout, and that is why I'm doing all the room and backdrop and lighting in this order. Tough to not have trains running, but it looks like it will be worth it. Nice picture of you working.
Ray Great Northern fan.

Ray, be sure and post a picture of your backdrop showing the wallpaper. I'd like to see it!
I was going to wish you good luck with it, but if you've done that many layouts you don't need luck, like me. You already know how.
I know what you mean about the body! I somehow twisted my right knee yesterday and it's giving me a fit today.[B)]
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by malexenko

We (I) am still a long ways from having our first layout done... it's really my 6-year-old's, but there's alot of things he can't help with (yet).

What's the fun part (so far)?....

It's going to Caboose Hobby or browsing the Walther's Catalog and listening to the ideas on how he wants the (his layout) to look.... the buildings, the scenery, the figures, etc....

It's getting the tunnels enclosed and doing a "dry run" of the trains to check clearances on the portals, etc... and getting down at his eye-level and watching the trains from his perspective.....

For me it's working late nights to get this thing done (trains were never my hobby...it's his).... and not minding, becuase when he "checks on my progress" in the mornings, I can see his face light up that we are getting "closer".... and I see the excitement and joy it brings him.

So the project is taking 200 times longer than I thought, I'm learning through stumbling, and the project is costing about 1000% more than I planned, but listening to the little guy talk, watching him help (where he can), and seeing the make-believe world we are building emerge together makes every aspect of this fun.

(and a little scotch doesn't hurt [;)])

My friend, you're one of the luckiest people in the world. Oh... and don't you screw up his layout!
Jarrell

[grandeman]

Hang in there, Jerrell! The scenery is the fun part for me, hopefully you'll enjoy it too. Never forget the vision of the end product and take your time building.

[Adelie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jacon12


Mark, it's that planning thing that is getting me. I'm STILL doing it. But I'm going to sit down soon and get serious about it. I really am.
Jarrell

I sort of enjoy the planning, to a point. I use CadRail and rename the working file every day that something is done on it, so I can fall back when I do something incredibly stupid. So, it makes trial and error easy, but....

If I waited to strart construction until the plan was done, I'd never get to it. Construction started when the staging area design was done, the helixes up and down to it were in final form, and the space-critical loops and curves were in place. I build the same way, from the space critical inwards. At some point, construction will pass the plan and I will be laying out spurs and industrial complexes by eye and adding them to the plan later. Same will be true for some bridges and trestles, where my eyes tell me a river or ravine ought to exist.

Planning is great, but it eventually can get in the way of building! This fall the plan will probably hit the point where I am documenting what I am building, rather than the other way around.