Train show layouts: What are some basic criteria?

[Anonymous]

I'm toying with the idea of building a small layout just for display at the local train show. I'd like some advice from those who have experience with this on topics such as ideal size, type of track plan, what structures/scenery draw the most oohs and ahhs from the crowd, appropriate height, how simple/complex, etc. Thanks for the input!

[fwright]

It really depends on what your goal is with the display layout.

Is the layout aimed at introducing kids to the hobby? What age group is your primary target? If so, set the height appropriately - should be about chin high for the smallest kid you want to interest. Kids like action - animated accessories as well as the trains. Kids would love to be allowed to touch and/or control - at least in certain areas. Highly detailed scenes won't impress most kids nearly as much as it impresses you. Mulitple trains crossing over/under or across each others tracks are far more entertaining. Long trains aren't necessary, and in fact will detract if they are at all troublesome. Durability and reliability, coupled with ability to allow kids to "do" something will make the layout a smash hit with them.

If you are trying to impress other adults with your modeling skills - a perfectly legitimate goal - then a highly detailed diorama-style layout will work very well. Use height and glass/plexiglass/Lexan and possibly even posts and rope to protect your layout from "touchers" - note both adults and unwatched kids fall into this category.

If you are trying to sell particular products (another legitimate show goal), then a layout that not only prominently displays the products, but suggests how the products could be used/fit in the viewer's home layout, is more the ideal. Placards with lists of products and short descriptions of use are helpful. So are carry away materials with these points. How-to clinics demonstrating use of a product on an actual layout is always a hit. But put in plenty of rehearsal first - and still expect to be surprised!

Trying to interest 1st time adults in the hobby is another goal. In this case, the layout should demonstrate how a lot of satisfaction can be derived from a modest investment - at least until interest is established.

In all cases, all actions, whether running trains, putting on a clinic, or animated scenes have to work and work well for the entire show. Nothing is more discouraging for both viewer and exhibitor than an exhibit that doesn't work, or that breaks down.

The best exhibits have 1) a friendly, warm welcome 2) something worthwhile seeing 3) some form of interaction with the exhibit besides just viewing - whether it be simply chatting with the exhibitor about modelling methods or being invited to operate something.

yours in exhibition
Fred Wright

[BR60103]

I'll second all of Fred's points.
I would say the essentials are:
It should work.
It should be "finished" -- at least in part. There should be at least basic scenery cover on a major section.
Additional points:
It should improve from year to year. Basic plywood should give way to scenery and then to detailed scenery.
There should be a hook. You need a reason why the public will look at your layout instead of the stamp collection next door. Could be something different (Traction or foreign prototype) or operations. You may put little quest for the youngsters (find the ivory-billed woodpecker and the holes in the trees). A partially finished layout can have an educational aspect -- the eight stages of scenery making.
Make sure you have spare rolling stock. By Murphy, if you only take one locomotive it will split a gear or throw a rod about noon on Saturday and no dealer at the show will have anything remotely near what you need.
Model something that people will find interesting. Don't model operations during the 1956 strike when nothing moved for a month.

[Anonymous]

One of my friends built a trolley layout in HO about 5X5 feet. It has Lenz DCC with 2 "knobby" throttles. Now here is the fun part. He has the system set up so the trolleys will only go up to half speed, and kids can come and run the trains. I ran it for him at a train show a few months ago and the kids (and adults[;)]) had lots of fun being able to run thier own train. Just something to consider.

[Anonymous]

You might want to check out some of the British modelling publications such as "British Railway Modelling" and "Railway Modeller". Our friends across the pond are masters at exhibition layouts and you'll find gobs of good ideas to consider.

[Anonymous]

I go to extremely few shows now... and when I do there are extremely few layouts I spend any time looking at.

Reasons for this...

I've seen most of them before
They don't work
The people behind them don't have a clue what to do with them (even when the above two don't apply)
I got fed up with looking at the tops of variously balding heads (as the people behind couple/uncouple, re-rail, poke, prod...)
I got fed up with the people behind looking bored brainless by their own creation...(great to build, talk about, plan [shouldn't that be first]? talk about exhibiting at shows... Oh good grief I've run every combination of moves in the first hour of the show... only another eleven to go...)
I got fed up with the people behind having various discussions and ignoring the layout and paying customers even to the extent of running nothing at all.
I got fed up with various combinations of humourless, detail obsessed, opinionated, rude, ignorant....
MOST of all... I got fed up with totally useless instructions on how to find the venue.
(YOU MAY know where it is... get someone who doesn't to check out your instructions before you print them)

SO... whatever you plan for your layout... ALL you have to do is achieve none of the above.

Have fun!

[Big_Boy_4005]

This is a very deep question, and you need to consider many things beyond the actual construction.

I have done dozens of shows personally, and seen hundreds of display layouts over the last 20 years. Rule number one is don't make too much work for yourself. Whatever you build, if you can't set it up in a couple of hours, it's too complicated, and that takes much of the fun out of it.

Is this a one man operation, or are you going to have help, both with setup / tear down, and staffing during the show?

How much layout can your vehicle transport?

What size trains are you thinking about?

Same size as you have at home or something different?

I happen to do 3 rail O at home, so that's what I take on the road. I did 3 shows last season, and have invitations to consider for the same 3 again this season.

My dilema is, the way I designed my layout, it takes too much effort to set up, but it is always a big hit with the crowds. I need to make a decision soon.

I love sharing my hobby with the public, but it costs me time, money, and energy to do public showings. Time I have, but money and energy are in short supply.

I know what it costs, but what do I get in return?

How much do I value making people smile?

I know you are looking for answers, and much of what I've said is more questions, but if you can answer them to your own satisfaction, you will find direction. This is really about understanding what you are getting into, and deciding if you have the temprament for it. At the age of 44, I'm starting to lose it. Please don't let me scare you out of doing this, but it can be a lot of work to do it well.

Here are some photos from last season. The layout is freeform modular. Each show had a different trackplan and table design.

Show #1







Show #2







Show #3

[Big_Boy_4005]

Thanks Dave, perhaps the reason I'm a little down on this subject, is that I am almost a one man operation. Big Girl was a huge help during those 3 shows, but she could only do so much, since the setup was pretty technical. This layout has been with me and evolving for more than 20 years.

Because of the setup time, it is hard to justify doing 2 day shows, and there's the rub.

From what I have seen, small layouts get little attention at shows. They are usually upstaged by large layouts, unless they are very obviously special. Large layouts are have the advantage of multiple people working together.

My advice to Yankeejwb, would be to find a club that does modules and shows, join it, and get involved that way. In the long run it will preserve your sanity, and enjoyment of the hobby. In my case it's too late.[banghead][;)]

[conford]

I have built and shown two different layouts, both using the same general concept. I was appalled my model rails who stand behind their circled modules and tell children "don't touch", because I believe contact with the trains and with real people is the key to understanding the hobby. So I built a "lone wolf" layout that was 13 by 5 feet, designed to just barely fit in my Volvo station wagon. The layout was an HO scale double track oval. I let kids run the trains and they had a great time. There was often a line to run the trains. I also took this layout to public libraries.

However it became exhausting to haul the beast around, so I incorporated the yard into my home layout and built another double track oval (I call it the racetrack design) that was more of a 4x8. This worked pretty well, but still took over 90 mins to set up. Besides I had just become a parent, and now I don't have time to sit with the layout at a train show all weekend.

So I would ask you this: who is the audience and what are you trying to tell them?

And my advice is this: build something that will fold up and fit in the trunk of your car. Set up will be easier. This will only work in the smaller scales. Consider a switching layout. My current road layout is a foldable Timesaver based on one I saw at the NMRA convention in Seattle.

You have to keep it fun. It got to the point where I was exhausted by the set up and I didn't enjoy the layout nearly as much as I should have. Also find a way to draw people in. For me, it was letting the kids run the trains. It may be something different for you.

So think it over before you start. I am going to try to take the Timesaver somewhere on public transportation and set it up in less than 15 minutes someday. Just looking for the right opportunity.

Regards
Peter
conford