January 17th, 2009 I joined this forum. I was about to close on a great house with a huge loft that was PERFECT for a big HO layout, was super excited. Then, like too many of us back then, I lost a good job, which meant I lost the house, as well. I've had three jobs in two states since then, struggled for quite a while, went back and got my degree, and finally ended up getting back to a place where I could get myself a very small house, but a house of my own - at 45, my first! Fast forward thirteen (THIRTEEN!) years, and here I am, still lurking on TB. I have learned so much from this place despite never actually posting anything until now, and just recently finished a small family room downstairs. I just purchased my first ever trains - 2 N Scale Kato portram trolleys. They don't even have power (!!!) but I am crazy excited. It's finally happening. I have my layout meticulously planned (you know, since have had a decade+ to plan it HAHAHA) and even though it's likely to take me years to finish it because I want to do some unconventional things I haven't seen too often, I finally get to take the first step today. Feels good, too.
@Pfunk Moose bid you hearty congratulations for finally posting, getting a house (13 years ago) and taking the record for longest planning stage (10 years?!)! Sooo, let's see some posts of your layout plans!
The house didn't come until 2019, but thanks for the kind words. When I get home can put up the AnyRail diags, am doing it all in Unitrack for now, at least. Train-wise is rather basic, am more about the modeling and diorama to be honest. But, layout is 3 levels: 1st: Japanese metro with tram on multiple turnouts running under elevated tram, city has airport, downtown, park, and residential homes areas 2nd: Subway to festival across from shrine on a hill, gondola lift from city above down to festival (not powered, am not that ambitious yet!) 3rd: large ovals around water, tracks split off for container yard on the water, the other to refinery. Beach below the festival, long lift-bridge over bay on opposite side. 2nd and 3rd levels both run partially under first, will either leave open on the sides or build doors to access in case of derails. Have quite a few kits picked out, but a lot of it will have to be made from scratch, and a few of the trains I really love are out of production now so will cost more to put hands on but I am stubborn and like what I like Lots of ideas, am sure will need lots of help too though.
Moose is an engineer, therefore by default cannot do maths without a calculator! Moose has scratched from time to time, but you probably don't want to read about that...
Hi Pfunk, Welcome. Glad you came out of the closet after lurking many years. Looking forward to seeing your progress. I like your handle, Pfunk. I have a friend whose surname is Pfaff. He says the "P" is silent as in swimming. LOL
Welcome, and best of luck. Wow, three levels, I have trouble trying to figure out 2 flat 2'x4' bases Should be really cool!
We bought a house in '93 then sold it in '03 when we went into ministry. All my train stuff stayed in storage until now. We're still living in a church parsonage, but now we live we close enough to a good club to do stuff there and we're close enough to retirement that we're looking at/dreaming about buying our retirement place (big enough for us, our stuff, maybe horses, grandkids (eventually) and, as my wife says, "all John's crap." Patience. Glad your season seems to have arrived. Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk