03-05-2011, 01:11 PM
I hate to add an additional choice for you, but if you are going off to college in a year and a half, you might want to consider a small switching layout that would fit on top of a dresser in a dorm room. Just a little something to take to college with you to use to relax and unwind. Galen built a timesaver. I know the timesaver is not a prototypically realistic switching layout, but it fits an a small space. He did some great scenery on it, good enough to be featured in Walther's "Magic of model railroading" section in one of their catalogs a few years ago. With a Bachmann 44 toner, and a few freight cars, it was fun to play with after the meeting one night at the modular club. This would be a layout that you would finish. Make it light weight enough that it is easily transported when you go to college. Build a cover box that could be installed to keep dust off or protect it when moving. I don't know about you, but when I'm studying or dealing with a difficult problem, sometimes just stepping away for a few minutes to do something else allows my subconscious to solve the problem for me. This one would not need to be dcc, since it is so small. You can "noodle and doodle" your dream layout for when you graduate from college and finally get a "real job" and a home of your own. No matter what you build to fit in your current bed room or what ever your layout space, it probably won't fit your next place after you graduate from college.