Layout Design Discussion, and Various Shrieks of Frustration

Chops Mar 29, 2022

  1. Chops

    Chops TrainBoard Member

    506
    490
    17


    If it was easy, then it wouldn't be fun.
     
    gmorider and Pfunk like this.
  2. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

    4,332
    5,037
    93
    What we do with out all the sounds of enjoyment. :LOL::LOL:
     
    gmorider likes this.
  3. Chops

    Chops TrainBoard Member

    506
    490
    17
    It occurs to me this may be the defining characteristic of Homo Sapiens: we create puzzles and problems so that we may solve them. While we share a ton of DNA with other primates (99.5% with chimpanzees, and the orangutan is practically a cousin), no species at all does this anomaly, being too preoccupied with simple survival. Minah birds create what could be classified as "art," and some of it is remarkably elaborate.

    Yeah, I got a few questions for the Man Upstairs when this is all over. Or, with my luck, it'll be long distance.
     
    gmorider likes this.
  4. Kisatchie

    Kisatchie TrainBoard Member

    1,031
    1,322
    44
    Hmm... No nearly enough
    of a distant cousin to suit
    me...
    [​IMG]
     
    gmorider and BNSF FAN like this.
  5. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    If puzzles are created and solved for recreation, that's one thing. Many puzzles are created and solved to advance knowledge through testing. Sometimes puzzles help generalize knowledge from one domain to another. A puzzle may be a model for a life-situation, or it might be abstract.

    Most adult, non-human animals don't have time to dream up puzzles to solve; there are plenty of ready-made puzzles to solve just to survive, or to acquire the skills to survive. An orca may simplify a life-puzzle for its young by catching prey but not killing it, so they can figure out how to catch/kill it more easily, increasing the efficiency of the learning process.

    A common skill associated with intelligence is tool use, which has been demonstrated in the wild by many animal species (primates, birds, octopi dolphins, even wasps).






    .
     
    gmorider and Shortround like this.
  6. Pfunk

    Pfunk TrainBoard Member

    548
    1,868
    40
    anybody else wondering how you reach the middle parts of it? Looks like quite a bit of real estate without a walkaround! Very cool, though, and that collection in the cases!!
     
  7. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

    4,332
    5,037
    93
    Yes. I would like reach the middle. That is a great collection. It's no wonder the rest of us can't find anymore.
    What scale/gauge is it? Definitely not N.
     
  8. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

    1,502
    638
    41
    That's nothing (skip ahead to 3:52 to see his display cases):
     
  9. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    From the views shown, including the reflections in the glass doors of the display cabinets on the wall, it does appear to have walk-around access to all four sides.

    One of the views also shows what might be an access hatch to pop up in the middle of the layout, after crawling underneath the layout from the nearest edge. Note that there appears to be a lot of unfinished trackwork in the middle. But enough is complete for the guys to enjoy running trains around the layout!

    O gauge?
     
  10. CSX Robert

    CSX Robert TrainBoard Member

    1,502
    638
    41
    HO, that's Bachmann E-Z Track.
     
  11. Chops

    Chops TrainBoard Member

    506
    490
    17
    CSX Robert is correct. I am not a fan of Jimmy's decision to go with 8 x 16 format, and the aisle next to the baseboards is very narrow. The "hatch" is actually one of the boards warping. Scenicking the center area is going to be a nightmare. The elevated track is the most distant from the edges, so
    fortunately that Life Lock interlocking track is fairly reliable. For the most part.
     
  12. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    Reliability is directly proportional to the difficulty of access.
     
    gmorider and Pfunk like this.
  13. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    Actually, I should have said that reliability is inversely proportional to difficulty of access,
    or that reliability is directly proportional to ease of access.
     
    Chops, CSX Robert and gmorider like this.
  14. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

    10,534
    707
    129
    As amazing as that layout is, there's still something to be said for shelf-style, around-the-wall layouts. As we age, ease of access becomes more of an issue.

    But wow- all.....those...trees!
     
  15. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

    3,259
    6,172
    70
    Wow, all that EVERYTHING! Railcars, locomotives, trees, track, space, you name it!
     
    friscobob likes this.

Share This Page