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At what point is it feasible for a novice to build his own layout empire vs having it custom built?

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  • Member since
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Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Sunday, February 1, 2015 12:58 AM
I've been mulling this thread over for a while, I guess I had a change of heart and the only executor of your wishes is you Regg build it or buy it is up to you. I do share some concerns with you on actually building a layout, my benchwork never comes out perfect much like my kits when I do build them. What I do like to do and I enjoy it immensely is tinker with my locos.

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Sunday, February 1, 2015 12:32 PM

The answer to the original question "

At what point is it feasible for a novice to build his own layout empire vs having it custom built?"

The answer is at the point you have a lot of money, and I mean A LOT.  Even 20 years ago it cost in the range of $50K to $150K to have a decent layout custom built for you.  At todays prices you are probably talking $100-200 grand for a custom layout.  

Ninety five percent of us never even ask that question because the money simply isn't there.   You probably have to be in the top 3% earning category in the US to afford a good sized custom layout.  I knew a guy in Indiana who claimed to be in that category and he was building himself a large basement layout, but he was buying a lot of brass steam engines etc. and doing his layout the cheaper way, getting some help.

Yes, you will find most people in this forum will advocate DIY, and mainly because thats the only way most average schmucks can even come close to affording a layout is to build it ourselves.  That said, if you have enough money to afford the very expensive costs of having a layout custom built, don't let the members of this forum intimidate you from doing what YOU want.  Plenty of people in the hobby will try to make you feel you are doing something wrong if you aren't doing it their way.  

IMO, the hobby is all about having fun, and if you buy your trains all ready to run out of the box and pay someone to build your layout for you; if thats fun for you then go for it!

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by JAMES MOON on Sunday, February 1, 2015 1:10 PM

I suscribe to the school of continuous learning.  Therefore am a big advocate of build as much as you can yourself for the adventure of learning and doing.  If you don't have a lot of skills or tools, spend some money on tools.  I recently built bench work using pretty much a DeWalt compound miter saw, a DeWalt battery powered drill and both scrap and new lumber.  Cut the tops with a 7-1/4 circular saw and a couple of curves with a Bosch saber saw from 1/2  inch CDX grade plywood (the cheap stuff but not as cheap as OSB).  My bench work may not be the best but it will get the job done for me.

Most importantly, have fun! Its your layout and you should do what makes you happy and satisfied in the end product.

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Posted by Marc_Magnus on Sunday, February 1, 2015 3:32 PM

I think the more important thing I have win whith the construction of my layout in Nscale is....satisfaction.

Ordering a layout to a custom layout builder have strictly no interest for me, it's not a critics, but it's like you order a car, you just have the satisfaction to have it, to drive it, but never able to say look what I have accomplish, what I am able to do.

I feel it's something we found in our sad modern world, just buy it and you have it; we are slowly formated to lose any interest to accomplish something by ourself, but in place buy it......ndlr, we see ready build structures to buy!

May be I'm from the old school, from an another time, a time which seems to me to dissappear, the time of a personnal satisfaction by myself.

Of course friend of mine have help to build my layout and I not include them in this speaking.

Building a layout is for me a three step accomplisment.

Of course I don't speak about money because it's too personnal.

First, of course you need a room where to build the layout and here comes the three step process,

First planning, lot of planning, take your time, plan the layout but also the accomodation in the layout room, like the ceiling, the valence, electricity, painting of the room, carpeting and everything which can interact whith the layout construction and his future maintenance. Not forget something can be a real challenge by itself.

Second is the construction of the layout in the finished room, small layout are more affordable than a big project; whith my 492 feet mainline in Nscale I have work for the coming 20 years for sure, so be sure you have the potential and the power to finish the project, I'm sure to have the flame  but you never know what can happen, take consideration of that.

Third, you learn a lot, everyday in train modeling, you are a carpenter, and elctrician, a fellow electronician, an architect and a crazy dreamer!

And this is real for everything you accomplish by yourself, a feeling you could never approach by buying it!

We have two mainline step in our life, family and our work, but something really personnal to accomplish is rare, so if we have one, for instance for us here a layout, don't lose any chance to do it.

 

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Posted by NP2626 on Sunday, February 1, 2015 7:54 PM

JAMES MOON

I recently built bench work using pretty much a DeWalt compound miter saw, a DeWalt battery powered drill and both scrap and new lumber.  Cut the tops with a 7-1/4 circular saw and a couple of curves with a Bosch saber saw from 1/2  inch CDX grade plywood (the cheap stuff but not as cheap as OSB).  My bench work may not be the best but it will get the job done for me.

 

I started my bench-work in 1978.  All of the lumber was cut with hand powered Cross Cut and Rip Saws, including the plywood gussets.  The screw holes were drilled with my B&D corded drill motor; but, the screws turned in with my Yankee Screw Driver.  I did have a powered saber saw to make the cookie cutter cuts for my 1/2 inch plywood sub road bed.
 
I'm not stating the above to make myself look superior, because I did not use many power tools, I state it because I am proud of the fact that I know how to use these hand tools and I like using them.  I also know how to use power tools and machine tools, having been a tool and die maker and am proud of the fact that I have skills at using all these different tools.
 
What I'm getting at, is knowing how to use tools and actually using them is a source of pride, the same goes for building my model railroad!  It was/is both a source of pride and has been a source of real enjoyment. 
 
I still have understanding for people who have no interest in what I am interested in.  To each his own!

The O.P. asked the question: “At what point is it feasible for a novice to build his own layout empire vs having it custom built?”  I would postulate that it is always feasible for any novice to build his own layout empire.  However, it is only feasible for a novice to have a layout empire built, if he/she can afford it!   

 

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

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Posted by OT Dean on Monday, February 2, 2015 2:31 AM

Hey, guys, we old-timers spent 50 years or more fighting the people who insisted on calling model railroading "playing with trains" like we were running Lionel, Marx, or American Flyer. I literally cringe every time I hear some guy on "Tracks Ahead" telling the uninitiated that he "likes playing with trains."!!! Even the old-timers--and there were a LOT of them--who started out in the '30s and '40s with Lionel, Ives, and American Flyer "O gauge" equipment didn't want to be branded with the "Playing with trains" image. They worked on their locos and rolling stock, built scenery (well, a lot of O-scalers and early HO-scalers either didn't get around to it or only had rudimentary scenery) were still working at "model railroading." Yes, play baseball, basketball, tennis, golf or cards, but no matter how much fun we have running trains, please don't tell people you're playing with trains. My 2 cents.

Deano

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Posted by ndbprr on Monday, February 2, 2015 6:04 AM
In glancing through the responses there is a missing factor. if as a novice you have a layout built what happens when you decide to modify it? I would bet most of us do not have our original layout as it doesn't meet our needs or wants as we become more knowledgable. Starter layouts are primarily experience creators to allow us to correct issues in the future layouts.
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Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, February 2, 2015 7:06 AM

When is it feasible?

Good question and there are some real answers to look at.

1.The builder is dangerous with any power tool since he lacks the needed skills.There are those out there.

2.Those that lack carpentry skills to take on such a project..I fit into that group since I have enough skills to build a simple 4x8' or a switching layout.

3.The granddaddy..The modeler is handicap and can not do the needed work.One may be surprise how fast  one's "friends" or family can  find other demanding chores to do on a routine bases when asked to lend a helping hand..

If I were rich I would be more then happy to have my dream ISL professionally built because of my limited carpentry skills and limited use of my right hand..

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, February 2, 2015 12:50 PM

Yes, it all comes down to money if it is feasable.  End of story.

Cheers!

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by dinwitty on Monday, February 2, 2015 5:53 PM
if you are like any beginner in the hobby, you start and build small, just make a quick tabletop and loop, and you learn and grow from there. Call it in the 30-s 40's 50's there were few shake in the box put it on the layout stuff, it was kits, you build it, you want a layout, you do it. I just got done wiring a side panel for a module just now and will return after poking on this forum. No I am not coming to help build your layout. Its a hobby for the enjoyment. Hiring somebody in and you run into problems you run into calling them back. Even with problems you learn you can deal with it and fix it yourself. Call me biased?.. I say you havent experienced this hobby fully. This is a rich hobby of experience, somebody out there wants I Want It layout, this immediately shows lack of skill and experience. We have a pay to play world out there and this is whats making people dumb. Money world I dont fix my car, I pay you do it. But the other side of the coin is I want, no time, I Pay for some help. OK. But you have to accept the work that helper does. There are folks out there advertising layout building, and they have a system to do it as well. They ARE out there if thats what you want to do. You may like to operate the trains but understanding what it takes is a skill builder for YOU. Get some books on the hobby, they are out there. If you find something on John Allen, hes a respected (late) hobbyist, he started his layout from a 4x6 layout, it was highly detailed, he gave it a back story and meaning. There are many ways to enjoy the hobby but its so much better for you if you get your feet wet in it. I see your point of view. But imagine there are folks in this hobby who scratchbuild from practically nothing using lathes, tools and put all their mad skillz into it. Thats enjoying the hobby.

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