N scale Falls Road Secondary 'Retro Modeling Childhood memories'

[learmoia]

More Progress..

[learmoia]

Start Rant...

Every time I start tangible progress on a layout, some piece of life news comes up that derails continuation of the building plan..

At the old-old house, I was focused on work and didn't have interest in model railroading after my crazy work schedule... Once I got on a better daylight schedule, I wanted to finish the basement before I started, then as soon as I was ready to build, we found out that our office was going to get relocated, and I wanted to take the opportunity to move to a larger house....

In the larger house we quickly found some water issues that made me nervous to start right away, and my anxiety about things at the time pushed things off several years.. until my first post on this thread when I got started with L-Girders and some benchwork.. then my wife made a sudden career change, where we decided to move to a mid-point in between a little over a year ago..

The current house had a finished basement, that was basically ready for a layout.. Once we got settled, I started picking away at it up to today where I have most of the shelf brackets up and about half the homosote/plywood up and cut and I'm ready to lay track.

Now I have news that within the next 12=18 months, my job and location will be up on the air.. (may not change at all... may have to move to keep my job, may be best to look for a new job to where I may or may not have to relocate.. .. )

F*ck.. now what....  With my luck.. I was almost waiting for something to happen because I was so close to getting a functional layout. 
.... (Rant Over)..

It seems counter intuitive to keep building the layout, but I'm soo close to getting 'something' running, and thats really all I wanted... Do I just finish up the basics, throw track on it and run trains?...

I was going to use Peco track, but is that the right choice?, or should I use Kato Unitrak so I can just throw it up run trains... then its easy to tear it down and put it up at the next house?... if there is no next house (meaning, I don't have to move in the near future), then.. we'll just keep developing it.

Thoughts?  ~Ian
 

[peteski]

Man, that's tough!
Maybe build some NTRAK, T-TRAK or some other standard modules to keep your model RR habit satisfied?  Maybe build actual pieces of your future layout as portable modules which can later be incorporated into a layout once you settle down?

I don't even know if you are a builder or operator.  If you are an operator, then just set up some Unitrak on the floor with some cardboard structures and start your OPS.

[learmoia]

Thanks for the input Pete...

After thinking it out some more overnight..
I'm far enough along in my current build, that I could put 1 sheet of homosote and a few 1x4s in expense along with a few weekends of effort and end up with a level flat surface to build a 25'x30' loop of track.

I've got a box of used Atlas Code 80 along with a few bundles of Flex, that I could throw something down...

I've also got the Peco Code 55 track I was going to use for the permanent build, but I'm hesitant to dig into a bunch of New/NOS track and cut it up into something that could be torn down in the next 2 years.

Another option is.. I have 100s of unfinished model projects that I could start working through and finish..

I'll think more on it this weekend and tinker things and see what sparks my interest..

[Ed Kapuscinski]

JFRTM my dude.

Do what Pete says. Build some Freemo or TTRAK modules to scratch itches.

For some of us modeling can be the Thanksgiving dinner. For others it's tapas. Do what works and can bring you joy now. Who knows about tomorrow?

[wazzou]

Build a door layout.

[peteski]

Thanks for the input Pete...

Another option is.. I have 100s of unfinished model projects that I could start working through and finish..

While not as satisfying as building the layout itself, that could be a good alternative. Think of those projects as building very small pieces of the layout (since they will probably end up on the layout when it is built). Plus I suspect those projects can easily be transported to the final destination in small boxes.

A door layout also sounds like a very good suggestion if modular thing is not for you.  The funny thing is that I have been living in my house for about 30 years (with no plans for moving) and all I ever work on is small projects.  I basically resigned myself to the fact that I will likely will never have a permanent home layout.  I co-own couple of NTRAK modules, but my friend is their caretaker for now.  And I have to admit that I can scratch my "layout itch" by having couple of friends with permanent layouts, both within couple of miles of where I live.  I have been participating in both construction and operation on both of those layouts.

[packers#1]

Man I’d throw some stuff down to build the loop like you suggested, and then build one of your towns on a module to Freemo standards. Pick one that could function as its own switching layout so that way you can go to Freemo meets if you’re interested, you can easily move the module, any progress you make on what you want for your layout will stay, and then if you do have to move you just gotta set the module up and you can start running trains again while getting the rest of the layout set up

[pdx1955]

I think either building modules or sectional pieces that fit your theme that can fit into a larger layout later is probably best. This way you can move forward on your long-range ideas with very little if any throwaway/rebuild. Regardless , do something - I've known folks who were in your position but they only did permanent layouts (L-girder etc) but 20 plus years later they still have nothing.

[learmoia]

Build a door layout.

Way ahead of ya... If you watched the videos, you may have noticed a door layout laying along a wall...

I put that up this afternoon and spent some time repairing the track, and re-laying the curves with flex track, along with putting in the second loop.

So that should be up and running this week so I can run.... Something..

I also found my stash of decoders, and I think I have enough (probably more) decoders than I have locos to install them in... So I can do some DCC conversions.

I also did some decaling on some models I painted a few months ago... that has been... more frustrating that I remember it 10 years ago.. Decals and MicroSet/Sol has a shelf life for effectiveness?... (I knew old decals break apart, but the issue I'm having is decals not softening with the Set/Sol..)

[learmoia]

I had a good weekend... 

As noted in the weekend update I......
Didn't think about work (well hardly at all... dealt with a couple of day to day things)...
Installed a Tsunami 2 decoder into my HO Bachmann Niagara.
Tried to decal some painted projects... (kind of a fail)..
Sold and packed a bunch of excess stuff to rebuild my model train funds depleted by overspending earlier this year.

Plus.. Layout specific..
Replaced the 9 3/4" curves with a broader flex track curves, and added the outside 2nd loop on my door layout.
Sold the pool table, and buyer hauled it away today.
Pending Sale my Peco Code 55 Track stash which frees up funds for (probably Kato Unitrak) for a quicker build, and easier tear down and rebuild should I need to relocate in the future road.

I was going to do an update video, but spent most of the afternoon and evening going through sales and packing.

~Ian

[learmoia]

I put in an order for some samples of various pieces of Kato Unitrack so I can make some decisions before I put in a full order for supplies for the layout.

I was looking for some used #6 switches to practice trimming them down for 33mm crossovers... but people want almost on line prices for used track, I might as well just practice on a new switch.

So if anyone has any used/broken #6 switches, I'd be interested.

I ordered samples of the broadest double track sets of wood tie curves.
Two pair of #4s (LH/RH)
Two pair of #6s (LH/RH)
A set of the broadest concrete tie super elevated curve, where I'm going to try to paint the ties black and see how well it blends with black tie track.

I doubt the stuff will come in until mid-week next week.. so it will give me something to do through the long weekend next weekend

In the meantime.. this weekend I hope to..

Laminate the remaining sections of Plywood/Homosote
Get them mounted to the shelf brakets.
I also need to string some bus wire and some loconet cable.

~Ian

[learmoia]

I need to do another update video, but over the last week:

I finished refurbishing the door layout and it's ready to gift to a co-workers nephew..
Installed DCC into 2 Kato F7s and tuned some freight and passenger cars for said nephew.
Spent some time running trains on said layout.   

-Got the remaining sections of homosote laminated to plywood and ready to cut to size and install.
-Finished a couple of custom paint/decal projects for gifts.
-Worked on roughing in two sections of L girder bench work:
-- The penninsula  for the auto parts plant.
-- A removable (if needed) section to have access to one of the egress windows in case it needs to be replaced.

I have another 4 day weekend over the new year.. (I think).. so hopefully more progress...

My goal was to be laying track buy 2024.. but I won't quite make it.... close though..

[learmoia]

Forgot to post 3 update videos...

[learmoia]