I just wonder where people feel their layout stands rated by these main standards? I mean it is just a fun way to see how people see their own layout. I think a 10 does not have to be a "Professional" MR magazine contributers layout but one that offers all three standards very nicely. Not eveyone can make it in the magazine click but there is alot of amazon work I have seen on this and the other forum. I have seen some really bad ones too. LOL
I would personally rate my layout a 9 because I am almost completely satisfied with how it runs , the operation is nice, appearance in the trainroom is not bad and it has the realistic feel. When I show the picture albulm to people they say wow is that real? I look at the pictures and I can see they are good too. Im certainly Not trying to blow my own horn but we all can see when something looks good or not, right? Plus since I asked the question I figured I had to give my answer too. Here is some detail about the standard of rating
Realisticity - When you look at the scenes they look like they can be real? or does the layout scenes make you realize you are looking at a toy trainset?
Operation - Does the layout have very nice laid track with minimal derailments, and the track is realistic too. Or is the operations a circle, spaghetti track, and bad looking track?
Appearance - Does your layout have a nice appearance like facia, fascia cloth, a work station NOT on the layout or in it, A valace above, Is it clean and inviting? Or is the layout sloppy looking, dust everywhere, no fascia, fascia cloth or valace?
Okay. I'll bite
Reality-0 I have a couple temporary structures, but nothing permanent. Foam central.
Operation-8 Not perfect yet but getting there.
Appearance--4 Have the oak fascia & hump yard switches, but I have cuts all over my layout from running cables. (The trackwork at leasts looks interesting)
Total=3
Edit I was ranking 3 points instead of 0-10 on each point. I'm also ranking it on how much finished. When I get done I hope for an 8 or nine, but every building has to be scratched.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
This refers to a layout that is UNDER CONSTRUCTION, a not-very-complete work in rather slow progress. Hence the three ratings: Currrent/Full operation/final target:
For the record, Current is as of 4:00 PM this afternoon. Full Operation will be when the main, sidings and enough yard and other trckage is in to allow me to begin operating to the prototype's September, 1964 timetable. Final is the state I hope to reach some time before my estate has to figure out what to do with the layout.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I'm not far enough along to put numbers on it. But, I know that I am going to try to get the best I can given the skills, knowledge, time, space, patience, and budget that I currently have. I'm sure that by the time I'm done I'll have learned enough that if I was to start over I gain at least 2 points, and at least two if I did it again, and I think I'd be fooling myself to expect that I'm going to get above 8 without quitting my job and winning the lottery (perhaps in the other order?), so I guess I'm hoping for a 4 or 5. That doesn't sound too good, but if a bare plywood oval is 0, and John Allen (or insert your favorite historic level modeler here) is 10, maybe halfway there isn't too bad!
Hopefully I'll continue to have fun with it for a long time, which would make it way closer to a 10.
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
If I had to rate our layout, it would be pretty difficult. Our's is not the average MR write-up by a long shot, but it does have some interesting points. Progress and end result also suffers from two girls who suffer from SAST (Short Attention Span Theater ).
So to rate in all fairness would be:
Realism - 3
Operation - 4
Overall appearance - 5
My .02 from the desert
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
Well, in realisim, over half is still "Foam Central" to quote SpaceMouse, but the parts that are finished I would rate 8 1/2, as several people have congradulated me on it.
Operation wise, I have 3 completly dead spots, which I hope can be fixed with feeder wires to the piece of track in question, but the rest of the layout runs smoothly, I rate it an 8.
Overall apearance: 3, most of the scenery is still unfinished, and I have'nt put up drapes along the fascia, so evreyone can see all my JUNK underneath! But the layout is cleaned of scenery tools and other junk,in preperation for Sunday's Op. session.
My ratings would be pretty low, I'm still in the tracklaying/wiring stage.
Operation: 7 I have enough of the trackage laid and wired to actually pull a loco out of the roundhouse, run to the yard and make up a train, then pull it out to the mainline and run it. The main has grades, 30 inch minimum radius curves, and enough switches and crossovers to give the trains a good "test run."
Ease of operation: 10 (I know that wasn't one of the categories stated above) I designed and built schematic type control panels (I still use DC block control) for all sections because I found this type the easiest for other operators to understand, even if they're not familiar with your layout.
Realism: 3 The mainline is a double track folded dogbone, but it gives me continuous running for testing the locos and cars. I have yet to install the first building, and am still experimenting with the type of ballast and adhesive that I'm going to use.
Appearance: Probably a 2. I had to build storage shelves as the base for the layout as a compromise so I could get the space. I haven't gone to the point of covering them, but it will probably be just some kind of curtain. The background at this point is just blue painted sheetrock walls.
Overall satisfaction so far, easily a 9. I've built layouts before and realize that it takes time.
Realistic: It depends if the grandkids are coming over! If they are it's a 2. If they aren't and I remove all the dinosaurs they its an 8.
Operation: I don't know why but everything works well. Starts when I turn it on, doesn't derail, etc. Some exceptions for times when the cats derailed something while I was out and I found out when I started a train. Otherwise it is a 9 1/2.
Appearance: This too depends on what I have been doing lately. The unfinished arear sometimes serves as a temporary work table. I have curtains, but they are not up now as I am rearranging stuff under the tables. Generally I would say about a 7.
I dont do ratings.
I have enjoyed layouts that were done very well and also plywood central.
Once I settled down and tried to be consistent and learn the "Right" way to do a layout item I have more fun.
If you were to look at my train room now it is most definately a collection of buildings, track and construction tools. Organized chaos is what I rate my work lol.
Ask me again next year.
Hard for me to rate.
The track works, seldom if ever a derailment and it was designed for the big steamers I have (wide radius, reasonable grades), so for that, I'd probably give it an 8, though since I'm DC and not DCC, I only operate two trains at a time max (but then I'm modeling a Western mountain railroad, so I wouldn't be operating as many trains as might be running on Horseshoe Curve at any given time).
The scenery isn't finished (when is it ever?) but what I have in is pretty representational of the topography I'm modeling (northern Sierra Nevada), and it works for me pretty well right now--I'd give it probably a 7 or so.
It's a garage railroad, no valances, though it's lit pretty well and you can see all the junk underneath, so I'd give that about a 4. I'm at least working on a backdrop.
But overall I'm pretty happy with the Yuba River Sub. I just wish I'd planned in a bigger yard and some better passing and spur tracks. Hindsight, you know, LOL!
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!