loss of interest...

Yep, just to echo what has been said already quite a few times - HANG IN THERE !! You've got a great start - and a little earth colored paint and ground foam will make a world of difference. Just having a little bit of scenery will motivate you - it did me when all I had was a bunch of track and benchwork!!

 

I'm 6ft 4 and I got l o n g arms pal !

Seriously thanks for your opinion. There are parts of the layout that I might re-do as far as the track plan. And no I didn't give too much thought to scenery when I was putting track down.

The mainline that runs all the way around the layout is a double mainlaine the whole way. It takes about 10 minutes or so to navigate the perimeter.

This weekend I'll get back in the garage and start giving things a closer look. Maybe I'll post some newer photos and get some more opinions.

Thanks once again !
You guys Rock !

 

If you think that is a lot of uni-track on the layout you should see the box I got left over under the table !!

Let me get this thing up and running and then I'll give you first crack at the extras.. How's that ??

 

Bill,

Don't worry about designing your yards or spurs at this point. Take it one step at a time, one accomplishment at a time. Concentrate on getting your mainline operational so that you can run some trains and get the creative juices flowing. To each his own but I wouldn't rip it up and start smaller just don't try to do it all in a short period of time. I started my layout almost 3 years ago and there are still many areas of the beautiful plywood scenery areas waiting for me to get to. I'm in no hurry and you get to decide your own pace and level of satisfaction as you be the ONLY one that matters as it's your layout.

Again, you have more than a great start. Once you can run a train or two; things will change for you. You may even alter your original track plan after operating for a while. That's just part of the process. Most importantly; have fun!

Brian

 

I remember this layout from last year when the trackwork went down for the first time. I remember being impressed by the complexity of it, but also couldn't really see its theme.

I'll admit that I'm backwards from just 90% of other layout builders I've seen, and focus more on N scale as big scenery rather than lots of operating space for track, but on this layout I couldn't really see the big picture being all that believable, even if it was geared more for operation than railfanning.

For example, the container yard down below the horse shoe curved raised mainline . . that will be a tough sell with scenery to make it match its surroundings. Container yards usually have roads, holding lots for containers, or ship ports adjacent to them and the loop main line just seems to spoil that scene's potential IMO.

Secondly, the main yard is in a similar situation, being situated between two raised main lines. Again, making that scene look believable will be tough if one of the main lines is not hidden by a back drop, although I have seen pictures of prototypical yards in _Track Planning for Realistic Operation_ where there is an interchange with a yard between it . . yet I personally would have trouble scenicing the yard because of the main lines that have it cornered.

Something inside me tells me this is the source of your lack of motivation . . that the end result will resemble a layout and not a bystander's perspective of an actual railroad. When I first saw this layout last year, again, the trackwork was impressive but it seemed to follow the confines of the board with as much trackage as possible, rather than being geared to have a overall big picture to it.

*this is just my candid opinion* and I don't have much to show for my own efforts, certainly not with that level of trackwork. Everyone seems to be behind your layout so far and I agree that the craftmanship is promising . . . although I know first hand the loss of abandonment of a layout once scenicing is done because I just couldn't make the scene believable to my eye.

 

How much running of your trains on the layout have you done?

Have you been running lone wolf?

Have you been working lone worlf?

 

You bring up a good a valid point to be honest. When I started this layout it started as a "door" sized layout then I added to it then added some more and etc....

I just ran a double track mainline all around but wanted a higher rise with a bridge and the tracks to loop around back under that same bridge. From there a buddy of mine was helping me and we basically just snapped track together to see what it looked like.

I wanted a yard of course and the only place to put it was down the middle. I aquired a lot of container stuff , double stack cars etc., so I wanted a yard for that. Only place available was inside the loop. From a visual standpoint I guess a lot of this doesn't really look right. It is a very busy layout as far as amount of track.

Maybe I should re-think my track plan and see what I can come up with.

To be totaly honest. I started this to just run trains around. I wanted a bridge maybe a tunnel or two and some elevation changes. Running a big operational plan wasn't the plan.


Thanks !

 

My own thoughts would be:
1) Will your track be damged by ripping it up.
---If so then maybe just do 30 minutes a night of senery. After painting the foam, start in a corner and just do small amounts at a time.

2) If the track won't be damaged then consider a new plan on a much smaller scale with room to expand.

Note: I have not laid an inch of track in 25 years so I don't know how valid my ideas are. I have finished my design for a door sized layout with just a loop for "running" and with a major switching area .

 

No the track isn't glued down yet. I can take it apart quite easily.

I've made up my mind against making it smaller, but I might adjust the track plan somewhat.

Thanks for the comments !

 

I've built two biggish layout over the past thirteen years, and am planning to build a new one, even bigger than before (we've moved and I have a dedicated room). I have experienced what I thought was a lack of motivation, as well. But what it was, really, was the need to recharge. Once I figured this out, I realized that this was just a part of the building process: to walk away, do something else, and let the old cranial synapses cook for awhile.

And the advice about tearing out and starting over is also OK. I've done that, too.

Just give yourwelf some time to think and reflect. Just because you ain't doin' something doesn't mean you ain't making progress.

 

There is probably no better way to get motivated to complete a layout than to arrange to have a public showing of your layout. If you are involved in a club see about arranging a members layout tour of a few layouts in your area and put yours on the agenda. Or if there is an NMRA event in your area such as a regional or divisional convention in the future get your layout on the layout tours and you'll suddenly have tons of motivation.

BTW: checked out your photos and your layout is off to a very good start.

 

Hey NS,

I'm about where you are in terms of progress. My 3x10 is wired and operational but zero scenery except for some cardboard forms and screen. I was very intimidated by doing the scenery, worrying that it wouldn't be good enough compared to what I see the 'stars' on here can do.

I thought, hey, I should practice first! I grabbed a board that's about 1x1.5 and glued down some track. Brushed on my Elmer's and water mix and tried out different Woodland Scenics colors. Stuck in a couple trees. Found out many things. One, a single color looks terrible. Two, the right blend looks awesome! Three, this ain't that hard... Then I slathered on some drywall mud to make some low hills to break up the plywood plains. Again, wow! Looks totally decent and usable.

So, with just some practice, skepticism turned to confidence. Trepidation turned to enthusiasm. My mountains will be done! It's taking awhile, but I know it will look half decent when I'm finished.

I will admit, it would be nice to have a working buddy as the lone-wolf approach is sometimes tough. My 8 year old son is good for about 15 minutes, but if there's nothing on fire or crashing he gets kind of bored. But Trainboard (and even that somewhat cantankerous other board) is a huge help! That being said, anyone in southern OC calif. want to help me build some mountains? The beer is cold, and so is the garage!

Cheers!

 

I really appreciate all the help and inspiration I have gotten here on the boards in the last day or two. This is really a great community and everyone is so helpful.

I’m not sure if lack of scenery was caused my “break” from the layout. I think a bigger problem I have is with my so-called track plan. It really isn’t scenery friendly and I’m not sure all that track I have laid out will be operating friendly either.

It may be ok and work just fine. I need to run a few trains around and see if it will work.

Thanks again for all the advice, you guys are the best !

 

Bill,

Here is a slightly different thought to consider.

I agree to start some scenery and wire some track. In running trains you may find you don't use certain loops (we all tend to overdesign, and realize, as you have, that there is a good element to less track in reduced maintenance. You just realized it sooner than most of us.

It seems like you have several parallel loops in spots, so perhaps you could simply remove all the "unnnecessary track" to simplify what you alread have. And, it would preserve a lot of good work.

Jeff

 

Just to the contrary, your layout is quite "scenery friendly" due to all the elevation changes.

You can create many mountainous areas by using rock formations on the higher elevations.

You just have to step back and view all the posssiblities that you have.


This is what you can accomplish scenery wise with the back part of your layout...





Have fun.....

Stay cool and run steam steam.....

[ 19. November 2004, 02:24: Message edited by: Powersteamguy1790 ]

 

Jeff,

I think you hit the nail on the head. I'm planning on trying to run some trains over what I have and see if all this track will work. I might "streamline" a few areas and see what happens.

Thanks pal

 

Man that looks sweet ! Stop showing off ! LOL

 

You got a couple things that you mentioned.

1. Loss of interest
2. Daunting layout size.

I think everyone here will describe having lost interest at some point or another. the best thing to do is go do something else for a while. The worst thing to do. Tear out the layout you've worked so hard on.

I think that model railroading can become overwhelming at times because the magazines only show the world class layouts. So we get into competition with guys who have been working on their layouts sometimes for decades. Even if they say the layout is only three years old, the rolling stock is from previous layouts. The structures culled from numerous layout incarnations etc. You really have to step back sometimes and just enjoy your layout for what it is.

Also different tasks are easier than others to different people. I personally love to do scenery. It's relaxing like gardening is relaxing. I sort of like building structures, but after I've been working on a structure kit I feel like i've put in a day at the office and am wiped out.

It looks like your layout has hit the scenery stage. Maybe that isn't your cup of tea. Or maybe the prospect of having to do it "Right" is daunting. Or as you mentioned maybe the darned thing is just too much to do in one sitting.

My advice for you is to pick a square foot area. Scenic just that small area till you feel it is up to the standards you have set for yourself. Then move to the next section. Take your time. Give yourself two weeks to do one square foot of scenery at a relaxed pace. Have fun!

I have always been a lone wolf modeller. I never had people to talk to about trains. Now I have my online train friends and I even have a real life train friend I met through this forum. It really helps having someone around who understands what your dealing with when it comes to trains. It's sort of a hobby and a passion mixed into one and it can get the best of us sometimes. Besides, You've got such a nice sized layout, it would be a shame not to have a buddy over to play trains.

If your track works, you can already start experimenting with simple operations. Why not just run some locals on your layout and switch the industries. No need for scenery or structures. Once again, why not invite a train buddy over to do this? Once guy runs the engine the other guy holds the switch list, throws the switches, and plays conductor. Pretty simple and lots of fun.

It seems to me you just need to get back to enjoying this hobby. Its supposed to be relaxing.

[ 20. November 2004, 05:14: Message edited by: traingeekboy ]