Just curious as to how often most folks here build a new layout. For example, do you build/rebuild your layout every 3-4 years -- or, once it's made, does it stay in place for decades?
I remember, as a teen, when my Dad took me to visit a friend of his who had just finished a new layout (it was approx 4x6'). While my Dad was impressed by it, he said, "Look, he's just finished this layout -- now he's going to tear it up and start all over!" He was rolling his eyes and questioning the logic of constantly rebuilding!
It also depends on what size of layout(s) you have. Obviously, if you have a "basement empire" you will probably only make a few changes, or possibly rebuild one section. In my case, I have 2-3 small layouts (i.e. under 4x6', micros, etc.). I'm gradually salvaging buildings & track from my first (4x6') layout, then I'll dispose of it. I have a small 3.5x6' layout and a 10"x50" switching layout, and am now thinking of building a 1x6' switching layout.
Cheers,
Rob
I do usually an annually rework effecting 50% of the layout space including some kind of trackage changes. The 2012 rework did start yesterday. Smaller changes without effecting the tracks may happen quarterly.
faraway Wrote:I do usually an annually rework effecting 50% of the layout space including some kind of trackage changes. The 2012 rework did start yesterday. Smaller changes without effecting the tracks may happen quarterly.
Thanks! That's interesting. I assume you have a fairly large layout then?
As a "serial Layout builder" at least one micro layout per year - but coming up with new ideas all the time.
shortliner Wrote:As a "serial Layout builder" at least one micro layout per year - but coming up with new ideas all the time.
Thanks -- it's good to compare. Maybe I'm on the verge of becoming a "serial layout" builder too!
I used to be a serial rebuilder. I would lay track based upon a track plan I liked that appeared in Model Railroader. I would get bored with it and tear it up and start over again, never satisfied with the results. Then due to the pressures of day to day living I dropped out of the hobby for a while. When I returned, I built a table and then started thinking about what I wanted. I knew I wanted a yard so that went there. Then I had to get the cars in and out of the yard so that came next.
Then I had to have a way for trains to get in and out of town so a mainline and siding were installed. I had some buildings left over from previous layouts so I started putting them around the table. OK, now I need to get freight cars to them so I put down some more track.
Once I had that in place I needed a place for the cars to go so I built another table and laid tracks to the second town using much the same planning techniques as in the first town. All the tracks are down and I'm slowly putting in scenery.
All this is a long winded way of saying that I'm quite happy with the layout I have and don't plan on building another one for a long time.
Tom
RobertInOntario Wrote:faraway Wrote:I do usually an annually rework effecting 50% of the layout space including some kind of trackage changes. The 2012 rework did start yesterday. Smaller changes without effecting the tracks may happen quarterly.
Thanks! That's interesting. I assume you have a fairly large layout then?
Not really. It is around the wall in 13' x 6' home office. Only one side has a 2' deep full scenery. You can watch me doing the current rebuild in the Freelance 2012 thread.
Not really. It is around the wall in 13' x 6' home office. Only one side has a 2' deep full scenery. You can watch me doing the current rebuild in the Freelance 2012 thread.
Thanks, Reinhard. That sounds great. I currently have my our (my son's & my) small switching layout in my home office as well. Just have to make sure that it doesn't distract me from work! I'll try to check the Freelance 2012 thread. Cheers, Rob
FiatFan Wrote:I used to be a serial rebuilder ...
All this is a long winded way of saying that I'm quite happy with the layout I have and don't plan on building another one for a long time.
Tom
Tom:
Yes, I'm sure you can go overboard with the rebuilding / building.
This was partly the problem with my first layout -- I had re-laid track and reworked so many sections of it that this was causing problems. For example, I had to remove (dig out) old, previously-ballasted areas and remove cork, etc. It began to look messy as well as causing operating problems.
I think it's to each his own, but there is a limit to how many layouts you can have -- in terms of space to keep, costs and (as mentioned above) you can have problems if you re-work one too many times.
My 12 X 20 foot layout is large enough that I have no interest in tearing it down and builidng a new one. I did do a remodel a few years ago when electrical work in the ceiling forced me to break the layout apart so the electrician could access the areas. That was a good thing though because it let me rid the layout of an annoying duck under section and I reconfigured the track plan. Now I'm just working to improve the exisiting layout as much as possible. If we ever we plan to move I'll take down the layout and eagerly look forward to planning a new one in our next home.
Ralph
I tend to rebuild when we move house. about 15 year average.
When we moved into our first "bought" house I tried to move and expand my previous layout but very soon took it apart for another one.
After that I've had 2 layouts.
But now my wife is getting the O and G stuff going ...
Constant rebuilding...
I experiment at home what the club layout members wouldn't accept! ;-)
The club layout, since it started in 2007, is always changing. At first, it was hard for me. My idea of a layout was stylish, scenic and "realist". But I've learned the hard way and now enjoy doing thing in a different manners. I think it's why my interest in rolling stocks and realistic operation grew since then. Before, I was more into the "WOW" and scenery.
It's also the reason why there's no scenic work done at all (ballast, ground cover), except a peninsula totally dedicated to scenic experiments. We came to the conclusion it would be a waste of time and money to invest in that. The idea is that an operation layout is like the real thing, it evolves according to the needs. However, the era and locale is pretty well define, so we just explore from different angles the same subject. We've just finished completing the new trackage and we were already talking about new improvements and modification.
Matt
No matter how well you design a layout on paper, when you build it and operate it, you will probably see areas to improve it. My plan is to build my layout, operate it, and once I'm satisfied with it's operation to then add ballast, scenery, etc. If you do a lot of scenery before you have done extensive operating on a layout, you may find that it is more difficult to make the changes that you need to make.