Terrain for Trains / Woodland

[Anonymous]

I am curious as to the quality of these "pre-built" layouts. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge or qorking experience with either the Terrain for Trains or the Woodland Scenics pre-built layouts? Are they worth the price?

Please understand that I would love to create my own layout from scratch, but I am a pragmatist and I understand my own time limitations.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

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[Anonymous]

If I'm not mistaken, these layouts are not "prebuilt." They are kits to build a complete layout; they come packaged with everything you need except track, but you still have to do the assembly, scenery, etc. I believe it's Atlas who sells packaged "rail sets" for the Woodland Scenics kits.

So it seems to me that the biggest advantages would be having the layout planned and not having to shop for a lot of different items. But it also seems to me that the time spent in assembly/construction would be the same as that spent on a "scratch" layout. Perhaps, though, someone else will have a different perspective on this.

[Anonymous]

As previously stated I have not see any pre built layouts unless you go to one of the companys that will build everything for you then deliver it. The only ones that I have see are kits, one of the local hobby stores has one that they are building, woodland scenics, as a display. The only differance that I, and other rr's, can see is that you get all the products in a box. I think you get the basic package then have to either buy the rail/switches separately or their package, I think this is atlas. Then you have to purchase buildings the same way, either in a package or separately.
I, nor do I know of anyone, who has sat down and done a cost estimate and before I think anyone would purchase such a kit this would have to be done. See how much the total cost of buying via their kits vrs how much it would it be if you went out and bought the products separately. If you like the plan for it just look in the RR mags and see their add, the plan is strait forward and can easily be copied on paper, then go from there and obtain necessary materials for framework, track, buildings that you choose to put on and then scenery materials of how you would like to build it. You can follow their track plan and put in your own ideas. Check out some of the track plan ideas that are out in book form at the hobby shops some of them add ideas for land contours, scenery , building and road placement ideas. You can also go to Atlas site and check their plans out.
One thing to remember, most of us are all busy with things in life and do not have much time to devote to this hobby, but it is a hobby and most of us have had it, and will have it, as a life long hobby and there fore take a long time to build a layout, even small one that I am building. It is not how much time that you spend on the hobby, we always want to spend more, it is the good quality time and enjoyment that we have when we do spend time on the hobby and the friends that we do make from this hobby.
Ron..

[Anonymous]

I remember someone on another forum building the woodland scenics kit in N-scale, but imagine it would be pretty much the same for an HO one.

He really liked it, and Woodland Scenics has some of the best products. I think if you price the parts separatly they come to a little more than the kit, so the kit is a reasonable cost. One thing about the kits is you know you have all the basics and you won't be making 5 or 6 trips to the hobby shop for little peices of something here and there that you didn't count on, provided you have all the necessary construction tools up front like glues, etc. that may not come in the kit. However, if you want to go as cheap and quick as possible, and you at least like the trackplan, buy the Woodland scenics risers to do the tunnels and elevations because they will make it so much simpler than cutting your own risers, then buy the track kit from Atlas to corrospond with what you have done so far with the risers and roadbed and get that up and running. Then you can take the scenery at the speed you want, with the parts you want to use. If I remember right the kits come with a lot of scenery materials and mountain supplies that may not be what you really want, so that is another thing to consider.

On another tangent, I put together an RC Airplane once with my dad, and man was I glad I got the 90% prebuilt kit that still took us 2 months to finish. I guess they make kits for a reason...