Hi all, back from my self imposed exile, ( 2 moves in 6 months and working more hours than humans should) ,, real quick again,,, I am a scale modeler, armor and ships, wanting to get into model RR'ing. I have seen non running Dio's of trains, love that stuff since I am a modeler first and foremost. That might really be the thing for me, but, a question. When building a layout is it always best practice to lay the track first and build the scenery around it, (tree's, buildings and such) ? I am thinking about getting all my buildings, scenery and detail items done then doing all the track work so I dont have track laying done while it takes me months or years or maybe never to do everything else. I will be scratching or kit bashing almost everything. The worst thing I could have on my hands is a half done layout, runnable but not completed. I am detail oriented and it just won;t work for me. Building is first and foremost running is not that important to me. If I run I run if not so be it. Worst case is I will have some items done to build a few Dio's but no track layed sitting taking up space. Any of you guys taken this approach ? Get it done then worry about running trains ? My original EL prototype plan was going to be 30x48 in. now I have the room to go 3'x6' or 4'x8' so I will be building for quite some time. Thanks Tony
Do you have a trackplan in mind? Since I am not prototypical, I started with the structures I liked and thought were neat and worked around them. I proceeded to build the structures and figured out a trackplan to incorporate them.
It can be done either way, but.... When doing track work, you need to be able to get in close. What type of track are you planning on using, roadbed, etc? If anything, work your scenery, get your buildings placed, etc., but don't attach them permanently. Then, as you need to work the track in an area, you can move things to work around them. An example right now is in my Jacalar thread. I posted pictures last week on my first mining area buildings, then, these past few days, I've started the actual terrain, etc. Since I'm using Unitrack, I even pull it up, and then replace it.
Think you can do it either way, but my experience when 1st starting was that getting really good trackage was difficult ... both the track plan and the track laying/prove-out with the wiring issues went better because there was no scenery to work around ... after several times redoing it all, I have a plan I like very much (worth adding scenery, finally) and now I'm discovering the geography, features, and structures that are really pleasing to me ... and I'm seeing the flexibility I once enjoyed rapidly disapearing ... Its yours, do it your way, but with some thought, the best way ...
As has been stated, people do trackwork first so they don't have to work around scenery. Makes things much easier in that case. What you can do is build buildings and whatnot to "test fit" them into the layout as you go - without securing anything down. Once you like how things look, mark the scenery plan on the layout then add your trackage. Once your track is in running order, your scenery will quickly go in since most of it is already built.
You are not alone. Here are a few photos indicating my approach. Both photos show the same area. A few thoughts: 1. This approach allowed me to start and complete the biggest messes before laying any track. 2. Building roadbed and landforms from the same material simplified construction enormously. 3. I found it easier to make the landforms believable this way. My goal is to give the impression that the landforms existed before the railroad came along. 4. Foam landforms make modification easier later. This view below shows an embankment added after most scenery was complete. 5. My methods are not traditional, but they allow me to focus on the parts of the hobby that I enjoy the most.
More on the diorama approach These first three photos represent about 6 hours of work one cold day last winter. Notice here that the track is one of the last details added. Tony, the modeler in me agrees wholeheartedly with your approach. I don't run trains all that often. When I do, they frequently run around the loop over and over for a few hours while I work at my desk. I prefer to see trains running in completed scenes. This diorama approach has enabled me to make quick progress toward the goal you stated, "get it done then worry about running trains".
Pre note: (I'm using Kato Unitrack that has not been glued down) I never ever thought to question "track goes down first". Never! Hmmm, but, now that you have had the audacity to conceive of such a thing you have me thinking. I'm about to add two inches of blue foam to my layout mostly because I want to start 'fresh'. My plan is, er was, to: Lay the foam, (on top of old cut up irregular foam), Make sure it fits right and glue it down. Paint the foam Lay the track Build mountains / rivers Place structures ------------------------ New Thoughts Part A: Lay the foam, (on top of old cut up irregular foam) Make sure it fits right and glue it down. Paint the foam Lay the track Part B: Outline the track on the foam Lift the track off the foam leaving the yard in place Build the mountains / cut the rivers Design the bridges Design / build (some of), the structures Lay the track Advantages: I don't have to worry about keeping the track clean will make construction in place easier No temptation to run trains - keeps cars and locos out of the way No running trains provides incentives to get it finished Presence of the track will not inhibit formation / creation of scenery I'll bet there are other advantages.
Trackplan Yes the EL in Jamestown NY, a member here drew it up for me it's posted here on one of my old threads, doubt I could retrieve it now though. At first I had very limited space it was going to be 30 in x 48 in, now I have the room to go larger probably in the area of 3x6 to 3x8. I DO NOT want a big layout that is barren, I want to use the smallest possible area for this prorotype and want to include as many details as possible, that's my focus. Yes the trackage will go down before placing buildings and such, I will do the grades, scenery and trackage at the same time. its all the buildings, tree's and details I want to build before laying any track. Portability I want also if possible. Its not set in stone that this EL is the layout I will do, never know what I'll do in the end. Thanks Tony
You've started me thinking, Steve! I have just ripped up my long term (20 years or so) project of a line in England's Yorkshire Dales, and was about to take the old panels off the frame. Now, if I put foam on top, then all the undulations are eliminated and I can start the revised layout sooner . . . Good point, that!!! Regards, Pete Davies
few thoughts I never thought it made sense to put the track down first, I see many unfinished layouts with trains running on them, foam everywhere, bare plywood, wires, etc. to me anyway thats backwards, to the hardcore train runner I guess he has to get em rolling to be happy. Yes I would treat each scene as a vignette or Dio in it's self. This is why I mention maybe Never being done enough to lay track. Absolutely my track would go down before any buidings are put in place also the groundwork, but 99% of the buildings would be built detailed and weathered, I hope anyway. I think maybe get buying and started on a few buildings, maybe make a small dio or maybe save them for the layout. I HATE looking for and buying supplies, I love to research what I am trying to model but really hate the running around and or looking over all kinds of websites for parts and such. I want to buy my kits and materials and get to building. If I could get it all in one place and have it dropped here I'd be a happier modeler. !! Kato Uni Track is looking more and more attractive to me for some reason. Tony
