12-01-2014, 09:28 AM
I am in the same boat almost... Operating is important to me but there must be something to build too. In fact I spend more time building than operating the layout. But I hate it to have no functioning layout and to be forced to build only.
My preferred solution is a constant rework of the layout that stays mainly operational during the rework. Last winter was the operation interrupted for two weeks due to major trackage rework. All other reworks interfered with one or two tracks for an afternoon or so.
There are basically two types of rework
1. Change of the overall theme of the layout. I break it down into sections and work from right to left each section until it is all done.
2. Change of an isolated area only.
That method permits constant build and operation in parallel almost all the time
My preferred solution is a constant rework of the layout that stays mainly operational during the rework. Last winter was the operation interrupted for two weeks due to major trackage rework. All other reworks interfered with one or two tracks for an afternoon or so.
There are basically two types of rework
1. Change of the overall theme of the layout. I break it down into sections and work from right to left each section until it is all done.
2. Change of an isolated area only.
That method permits constant build and operation in parallel almost all the time
Reinhard