I'm like Mel, as there is always something that could be better. For me it's never ending, and that's the way I like it. In between detailing locos or cars, I add scenery items, or I improve something, or I come up with other ideas. It's never boring, and it's never complete, but continues to evolve. I have tons of things I want to add to my transloading yard.
In the evening, or the early am, I may get into operating and switching sessions. Then after the chores and errands are done for the day, I'm back to detailing, and, most times while running errands, I see something that would look good modeled, so my mind begins to come up with ways to model what I saw.
Now that spring is making it's way around the corner, eventually my modeling will be set aside for the out door work I get into, and back to the garage, and my other hobby of fixing old garden tractors, along with on-going building projects on our property in northern WI.
It's always enjoyable.
Mike.
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I hate Rust
While my layout is far from complete, trackwork is complete enough to try operating and I've read that you should start operating when the trackwork is sufficient and before scenery is added, so that adjustments can be made.
I hope we all get a sense of satisfaction when we complete or fix some aspect of our layouts, but I have to wonder if operating is going to be as satisfying as working on the layout? Am I going to walk away after operating the layout by myself and feel that same sense of satisfaction?
Byron's Ops Challenge (and Fun!) on a Small Layout page provides some ideas on how to keep operations interesting over time.
Rich created a thread about a year ago, What's a Lone Wolf to Do?, which discussed what to do with a completed layout if you're not interested in operating.
As a member of the Pacific Southern, I get to experience big time operation with multiple tower operators and engineers. It can be entertaining at times but often enjoyable just watching long coal trains with twin articulateds, Pennsy T1s and long passenger trains go by or passing one another. It's a relaxing night.
I can see how even simple operation with a visitor who knows little about trains can be interesting. But I wonder what people who operate their layout by themselves do to make it routinely enjoyable?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading