I have been working (playing) on my n-scale layout for some time now. I haven't actually gotten anything done, except to be able to run trains around, and painted the base of the layout several times. I need to know what is the best way to proceed from the people that have built layout's here, and some what completed them I start on one thing and than I jump to something differnet with no real order. I have discovered that I like to change the position of the track on a whim (sp?) , which makes it kinda of difficult to really nail anything down. Any suggestions? I really would like to complete something, or have a goal towards completion anyway I only have temp access to trainboard at this time, as I am using someone else's computer, so I can only check about once a week and on the weekend'.s. Although I have a complete spare bedroom I am afraid to put any ground cover on as it might damage the carpeting in the room. Plus I am not really sure how too. Thanks for your help! in2trainz
You are doing fine so far. Don't get anxious. Right now you are going through the "pre-planning stage" we all go through to some extent. Being able to alter track is easiest at this point. Pretty soon, your thoughts and desires will begin to gel, and certain things you like will become more clear to you. You will notice you really enjoy working in the yards, or running trains, or taking photos, or building super detailed engines or houses, trees, or whatever.... When the time comes along that you really enjoy the trackwork, but now desire scenery, you can go to a hardware store and buy a cheap plastic tarp. Get one big enough to cover all the area under the layout and extend beyond on all sides a couple of feet or more. Lay sheets of news paper down on the tarp before working with any kind of liquids. Several layers deep, not folded. (6 or 8 thicknesses). You can lift one leg an inch or so and slide the tarp under (with a little thought) until it will lay flat with no holes to allow water or paint to seep under it into the carpet. And of course, if you have help, they can lift the layout table up while you unroll the tarp and center it under the legs. Get a pair of cheap sandals you can easily slip into and out of, and leave them at the edge, but still on the tarp, every time you finish working or have to go answer the phone or something. You will step onto a drop of paint, glue, or plaster, and it can stay on those shoes still on the tarp. Your feet will stay clean to walk on the rug see? Do NOT allow kiddies or visitors to enter while there is wet paint on the tarp! PERIOD! After working on an area, pickup the top sheet of paper where drops of paint have fallen, and throw them in the trash. You may need to put down some more papers as you go depending upon how sloppy the work goes. You can also hang a tarp on the wall if you are really splashing! Wait for one whole week or more after all scenery is finished before removing the papers and tarp, then roll it up and carry it out to the trash. If you have kept your mind about you, the carpet should be good as new. That is the mark of a good craftsman!
Just keep playing trains, if you want to make it more permanent get lots of books and read about layouts, start with a small one first so you wont be overwelmed
You might try building a few simple structures, from kits or scratch, with bases so you can move them around as well. Also maybe you can keep one area permanent, and start working on the scenery there. This would let you get your feet wet in a few of the other areas of the hobby without committing yourself too much.
Watash, That is some really GREAT advice!!! I have been playing with trains for over 30 years and I have never thought of something like your tarp idea. You really ought to publish. [ 15 July 2002, 14:01: Message edited by: Johnnie C. Scott ]
Eye wood publish Johnnie, but I cain't spel fer snuff, sew thar ain't no futur n treyeun. C? Eye is 2 shy 2 rite reedin' when it are wit by han.
For what it's worth, I planned my layout in the three stages - track, landscape, structures, and I made sure to complete one stage in just basic appearance before going to the next. In other words, I didn't fully complete each stage...I just concentrated on getting a general implementation of the stage. 1. TRACK - First I decided on the track plan and laid track, getting it all operational. I permanently affixed the track but did not ballast. 2. LANDSCAPE - Next, I built the shell for the scenery, installing tunnels, mountains, etc. Once the shell was built, I painted as much as a could. Fortunately, the material I used finished gray so if it wasn't painted it looked like rock. No groundfoam and trees yet. 3. STRUCTURES - I placed existing kits I'd built on the layout, added new ones along with paved roads, sidewalks, etc. Again, I didn't superdetail. Once this was complete, it looked like I had a somewhat completed railroad, but with little or no detail. Then the fun part: Track ballasting, installation of ground foam, trees, plaster rocks, people, automobiles, etc. It was important to me to get the basic shell built so that it appeared I had a visually consistent and complete model railroad. When I mean complete, it was complete as far as the novice was concerned (i.e., brown paint represented dirt, green paint represented grass). I didn't want to build one end of the layout and super detail it, then have the Plywood Central running a foot away. I wanted to be able to go into my train room after completing the initial stages and feel like I was running my trains on a cohesive layout. And as I operated, it would stimulate the need for more detail, which I added over time. Attached is a page from a local website promoting my layout on a tour I was on last year. Hope the link works. Hope this helps, and good luck with your new pike. http://www.wiringfordcc.com/pts_blackwell.htm
I, too, am guilty of starting and then changing my mind in mid stream. I bought vast quantities of Bachmann snap track, you know the one with the grey roadbed. This allows me to set up my track and then make changes on the fly. Once I have something firm planned, I change over to cork roadbed and Atlas flextrack. However, even then I will make track changes. The snap track is an invaluable tool for me!
