I'm afraid there are a lot of us in the same boat. The modeling talent on this forum is pretty amazing. But learning is half the fun and trial and error is how we get there. :lightning:
For all those guys looking to 'finish the layout'.... just enjoy the ride. Because you're never finished. And if you are, you get really, really bored. I've had a 'finished' layout for a long time, and keep going back and redoing stuff a second or even a third time. Current projects are almost entirely replacing stuff (everything from C80 track over to C55 to 1970's NGI brass El Capitan hi levels over to Katos) with newer, better items to improved overall standards. Last weekends project was retiring a couple old custom-painted Trix cylindrical hoppers to current-standard Intermountains, just got in a couple MT Autoracks to be able to retire 30-year old Trix cars. And before that the Kato F's replaced all the Trix F's, Kato passenger cars replace everything, and Atlas GP's replaced Rapidos, BLMA signal bridges replace Bachmann, and.... well you get the idea. Since I started studying Tom Mann and went over to washes + chalks weathering, the end car upgrades are just quantum leaps, to the point where everything else looks awful by comparison, and every modeler knows that feeling! You look around the layout and say to yourself 'hmmm. What looks like crap?' and get on with replacing it, take it up a notch.
1. PRR M1a. BTW- When asked about their 2010 schedule over on their forum, Matt Williamson replied, "Our number one priority in N Scale in 2010 will be the PRR M1a." Now take a few grains of salt... 2. The room for my layout. I've got it planned, now why can't I find a contractor?
If only it will come to pass. I'd set aside some tax return money for this but I'm not sure I want my hopes dashed again.
ATSF zebra stripe Kato NW2. When the NW2 was first released I thought they might do all the paint schemes they did in HO even if it took several years, but they seem to have slowed down a bit.
They are sooooo nice! I only got two but will make up the difference with the next release in a few months
Odd, because as recently 18 Jan one of their forum mods said "late 2010 at the earliest." That doesn't sound like a priority. It sounds like more PCM buffoonery to me.
Model Power sort-of anounced an SW1500 over 5 years ago then never mentioned it again. I would love to see what happened to it. Deluxe 53' and 57' spine cars.
Since no one alive today can remember when it was first announced, late 2010 is really pulling out all the stops if they really mean it.
Spidge, I’ll see your Athearn Southern Pacific Bay Window Caboose with my Western Pacific and raise you an Atlas Trinity Funnel Flow Tank Car.