Okay, guys, help me out here. I don't think that I'm good enough yet to build a model railroad. Let me explain: I'm working in Z scale. Before I built my first layout, I built an N scale diorama, just to practice making scenery. Rock castings, grass, homemade trees, ballast... all of that. Learned from a LOT of mistakes! It turned out pretty good, so I built a small double loop briefcase layout. Just for practice. Made more mistakes, learned more. That turned out pretty good, too. Didn't work too well, due to poor trackwork. So I built a small desktop oval. Learned even more, the hard way. It looked even better, and functions flawlessly, due to extreme care with trackwork, and researching other people's blogs. I'm getting better with practice, in other words. Not as good as a lot of you guys, but good enough to make me happy. At least until the next layout comes out better, that is. Sooooooo..... My end goal was a 6'x14" bookshelf layout (Now 8'). I have the Rokuhan track, the materials and tools to build the benchwork, the supplies to make the scenery, everything I need except for the courage to proceed. The problem is that this will be a permanent layout. I can see the progression of my skills from one layout to another, and I'm worried. With such a large layout, (for z scale) I'm worried that my later work will be so much better that my earlier work that I'll want to rip it out and start over! Question 1: How do you know when you're good enough to build something that you'll live with and enjoy for years? Question 2: What do you do when you have all of the fun of building a layout, and then after you've run the trains for a while, you realize that building it was the fun part, and now you want to put it aside and build another? I can visualize running out of storage space. Help! I want to build the bookshelf, but I want to sit back and enjoy enjoy watching the trains run, not sit back and ponder things that I want to change!
I think you're making the mental mistake of this being a "permanent" layout. I haven't been around all that long, but from what I can tell those don't exist. If you start building a layout, and the later stuff is better than the earlier stuff... then go back and rework the earlier stuff... if you "finish" it and find that it was the building that you enjoyed ... rip it up and start over! It's a hobby. The layout is NEVER finished until you are finished.
Hi Peter, First, relax. Trains are fun. Enjoy them! Next, we can't achieve perfection, at least not in this life, so don't sweat it. Build the layout and enjoy it. If you find out later on that you want to tear up part of it and rebuild it, then go for it! Building this stuff is half the fun (at least it is to me, anyway!). But don't sweat it. There's a lot more important things in life to worry about. Trains shouldn't be one of them.
And while you worry about it, you have neither. Build, or build not. There is no "permanent layout". I find it very helpful to have a few goals for each new layout: skills & techniques you want to learn, scenery or kit-/scratch-building you want to try, a new electrial challenge without the shock, etc. That way, instead of seeing everything as falling short (which we tend to do from time to time anyway), you have raised a very specific / limited bar that only matters to you. Goals that challenge you, but you can meet. It sounds as though you've learned a lot & can apply a great many skills to this new layout. It seems as if you are confusing "permanent" with "perfect". What are your goals for THIS layout? It sounds as though you want: 1) a tidy, well-made-looking presentation (clean fascia, cabinetry, lighting, control panel, etc.) 2) reliable track operation (smooth connection of sections, even power flow, few derailments, etc.) 3) improved scenery techniques (you say its good enough "to make you happy", which means you're comfortable with it, which means you'll want a couple of challenges to improve your skills)(yes?) The benchwork & track (two of your big goals) will take a while to accomplish. So get going on it. What are you going to do, specifically, to make those aspects the best you can? All the other stuff (scenery, buildings, etc.) is just window dressing. You can start, declare it a disaster, and rip it out without affecting your #1 & #2 goals. In many ways, a layout is like Penelope at her loom: you can weave away & create some beautiful (or ugly) stuff, but if somebody comes & tries to marry you (to it), you can rip it all out in a night & start again. And some people spend 20 years at it. The great thing about small layouts (like 8'x 14"), is that you can focus on those specific goals in a limited space and see the results rather soon, as opposed to spending a couple years on the room, benchwork & wiring before even getting a single track laid. What's the worst that could happen? You throw out an 8'x14" piece of wood with some foam & some mangled track stuck to it. I have 4-5 of those sitting in my garage right now, cause I haven't found someone with a chainsaw I can borrow yet. But I really enjoyed the time I spent "messing them up" Just build it.
Everyone here has differing abilities, and you have done a great step for yours by practicing different skills/techniques on a few...trials. The ones that are having the most fun are the ones that are 'just doin' it' and they're not worrying about whether they're as good as Dave Frary or George Sellios...they're buildin' & runnin' trains. As soon as my son moves out, I get to join that club! As you've already noted...bulletproof track work is one of the keys...so take your time there...and don't be afraid to tear something out you don't like. Smooth rails!
You ae never "Good enough" Hi, You are never "Good Enough" you just keep getting better. As said before go back and redo the first part after your skills get better. We all have done that or should have. You are constantly learning while building a layout. Always trying something different, always improving your skills. Furthermore, you have to decide what is "Good Enough" for you. If you are doing it for your self satisfaction and not entering any contest with the layout or don't have plans of being published in any of the mags then your "Good Enough" may be lower then if you are want to be in contests or be published. Also there will be different levels of "Good Enough" on the layout. It all depends on what you are doing and why. No layout is permanent. I'm on #5 at this time and it really does not look like it started 7 years ago. It is a long way from being finished. If you don't sweat the little things then you will enjoy the hobby much more. Gary
Nothing is permanent. Always in flux is the train force. Build must you or remain in a state of delusional permanence. (What Yoda told me about model railroading)
Always listen to Yoda, I built some sections of my line as recently as six months ago and I thought "that's pretty good". But then I learned a couple new tricks and took a second look and now I'm tearing those sections up to make them better. Railroads evolve and the evolution never stops.
The nice thing about this hobby is there are no standards you MUST meet, or you'll be banned on the brotherhood. You start with what you're shooting for, and if it doesn't work, try again. YOU are your only limitation to what you can do in this hobby. And in building, we are learning things- applying what we learn, we improve our skills. "Good enough" is a pretty loose goal, IMO. Just relax and enjoy the hobby. The only person you really have to satisfy is yourself.
Peter, relax no worries. One of the best things in Model Railroading is that FUN is built right in. As far as good enough; no sweat there either as stated earlier here on Earth to reach perfection....Naah no worries it's all good we made it and you know who made us...LOL. (You've always been good enough. ;-) So have fun learn as you go and naturally things will be different as you grow with your new hobby. Can't wait to see your layouts progression.
There is no "done" or "good enough" that I am aware of. I am on my 8th layout in the last 17 years or so, none of the layouts that have come before ever had more than 35% sceniced before I ripped it all out and started over. Oh the learning experiences! Haven't had a real layout for about the last 5 years, so I am finally working on a real layout again. Doing everything totally different from what I have done before. I doubt I will get far with this layout either, since the wife and I have discussed the possibility of looking for a larger home in 5 to 7 years (with a basement!!!)
If you're laying your own track (as opposed to going, say, all Kato) then you obviously like building things. This means that by the time you're "finished" with your "permanent" layout, you'll already be planning extension or remodeling. If some of your trackwork turns out to be crap at the end, well, REDO.
Thanks for all of the great advice, everyone! You're right, I just need to get started. Well, actually, I already have. I've got the plan, track, supplies and mental image... I guess the benchwork is next. That's going to be a little tricky, since it's only going to be a couple of inches thick (bookshelf!). I figure 1/4"plywood on each face with a 1x2" frame will make it exactly 2". I'll start posting photos as soon as I move some furniture and get it started. Yeah, since it's Z scale, I'm really going to have to put a lot of time and effort into the trackwork. I'm not hand laying it, just using Rokuhan. It's about the best that I've found, although even it needs to be massaged a little. Maybe if I plan in advance to be able to remove and replace scenery, it won't be so bad when it happens. As it seems to happen to all of us!
1)yes 2)YES! 3)yes. You're correct on all counts, MC. I'm going to start on the benchwork as soon as the track plan is finalized... if that ever happens! I found myself looking at the space I have, and thought, "I can fit a 12'x18" layout in there..." So I've ordered more track from the Monster (Yay, Anthony!). I figure that I won't be able to quit modifying the plan until I've actually laid and ballasted the track. (Don't bother telling me that I'm wrong to think that, guys... I already know.) But, yeah, I want nice cabinetry. I just finished building my kitchen cabinets from scratch, and they look pretty good, so I'm not too worried about benchwork, just get it done. (I'm 6'2", so stock kitchen cabinets are too short and shallow. My girlfriend is 5'4", I want her to stay OUT of my kitchen. Cooking is a man's job, the dishwasher is down at floor level where she can reach it easily...) One of the reasons I widened from 14" is that I'd planned on using 95mmR curves, but my favorite cars, the 3-axle coaches, wouldn't negotiate them. Now I have 3 circles of 95 that I can't use! Maybe a little practice desktop is in my future? Planning is so much fun, building ought to be a blast!
