At one point I had a small N scale layout, an HO layout and a Lionel 3 rail O layout. It all depends on space, and what you want. I have "dad's" trains (Lionel/Marx) that I like to run, my HO collection and a little N (and one G loco). Ultimately I want to have a larger HO and a nice O layout. Someday...
Just thinking out loud here and talking through this.
jjdamnit If I had enough room for two separate pikes of different scales I would not be constrained to a 4'x8' in HO.
Yes, I would too, if that were the situation. I wish I had one big space but instead I have two separate 12x12 bedrooms. Initially one will be a workroom while the other a layout. I could later turn the second room into another layout. Just trying to figure out which layout I desire more in case the second never comes to fruition.
jjdamnit On the other hand, two layouts- -twice the expense and twice the headache. With my relationship with "Murphy" and his law, neither would be running for months! Hope this helps.
With my relationship with "Murphy" and his law, neither would be running for months!
Hope this helps.
I hear ya' there. I'm trying to plan ahead to avoid wasted purchases and dead ends. I appreciate the feedback from everyone.
MJ4562 Just thinking out loud here and talking through this. jjdamnit If I had enough room for two separate pikes of different scales I would not be constrained to a 4'x8' in HO. Yes, I would too, if that were the situation. I wish I had one big space but instead I have two separate 12x12 bedrooms. Initially one will be a workroom while the other a layout. I could later turn the second room into another layout. Just trying to figure out which layout I desire more in case the second never comes to fruition. jjdamnit On the other hand, two layouts- -twice the expense and twice the headache. With my relationship with "Murphy" and his law, neither would be running for months! Hope this helps. I hear ya' there. I'm trying to plan ahead to avoid wasted purchases and dead ends. I appreciate the feedback from everyone.
Well, here is how I avoided wasted purchases and dead ends.
I started in this hobby at age 10 with a lot of help from my father. With a 70 sq ft layout he built for me, HO scale.
I never had a LIONEL train, because we always had the HO trains the whole time I was growing up.
By age 14 I was working in a local hobby shop.
At age 15 I was invited to be a member of a local club that normally did not invite "junior" members without a parent. A club that even then was well known for its high modeling standards and which has appeared in MR multiple times.
At age 20 I was the train department manager in another hobby shop.
At age 30, after building several layouts, and making modeling contributions to that club, I seriously reviewed my likes and interests in both real and model trains.
I selected an era, local, theme and modeling approach that fit my interests.
All my purchases since then (35 years ago) have been aimed at that single set of goals. And thru two other layouts I have refined my approach to layout design and operation.
On paper, and in my head, there is a carefully constructed plan for my new layout - modeling resources are not diverted to items outside the theme.
Example - my theme is the Mid Atlantic region in 1954 with my fictional ATLANTIC CENTRAL and its interchange with the WESTERN MARYLAND, B&O and C&O.
I have never in my 55 years in this hobby owned a UP Big Boy......, or a PRR K4, etc.
So a big part was learning enough to know what really interests me, and what does not......
Sheldon