For me, budget is my "driver." Between kids' music lessons, sports, etc. I try to keep the model RR stuff as a separate item. I'd have to rank performance criteria in the middle, and time as my weak constraint. I'm hoping to actually have trains running before next fall/winter but there's no hard, fast deadline. What about others?
Time is no issue with me as I am laidoff from my job presently. Expense I have just always done that as I could afford it. My main concern is that if you don't take your time and do it right the first time then you are just wasting your time and money. Bob Wintle Parsons, Ks.
"Mood" was not a choice but is my biggest factor. I have to be in the right frame of mind to do some work like electrical. Electrical is critical but not real visible unless something does not work. I am not good at it either so it requires more time and patience. I also have to be especially motivated to work on the room since that does not add anything to the layout where there are always lots of projects. Nevertheless I try to make progress each and every week. My latest project is making my curved wall seams look smooth and that is a real pain but really adds a lot to the operating environment. I have a few done in the main KC area with a couple left. Completing the curved walls enables me to lay more carpet squares which really show progress. My operating crew members prefer it over my bare concrete floors. Once I get more walls completed and carpet down, I will start acquiring the lumber and plywood needed to push south of Ft Scott and on to Springfield. My suggestion for layout owners or prospective layout owners is to get something done each week if not each day. Even if you can only get in 20 minutes a day, something can get accomplished and the cumulative effect is fantastic. Ship IT on the Frisco ! Rick
I would have to say budget. I'm trying to get a new layout going but I don't have the funds for a decent one. I'm still deciding weather to go for better operating enjoyment or work on getting more frisco into the roster.
Mine is definately performance criteria. I'd like to do Dixon Hill again, but there just wasn't enough action there after 1945 to keep many operators interested in such a layout. Pre 1945 would require a fleet change to steam era. I may just boil it down to a two-scene-plus staging layout and work on MMR. The two scenes will be Dixon and Lebanon, with Dixon done in two different eras - 1914 to correspond with an old photo and for the Prototype Scene AP award, and then 1965-67 with some interchangable track sections and a few buildings different. Lebanon will have to be mid 60's or later also since that's the photos I have. The space is there in the basement 71 squares based on 27" radius. A bigger discriminant for me is failing eyesight. Doug
My main constraint regarding layout construction, frankly, is a lack of interest in it - no doubt driven by a lack of talent for this part of model railroading. My "layout" remains a glorified and expanded version of the original 4'x8' layout I built for son Kurt in Cincinnati in 1974. My real interest in this hobby is building and detailing HO equipment - locomotives and rolling stock. I agree with Doug - a growing constraint to all my modeling is eyesight. It's getting harder and harder to see the tiny details like I used to. I have to have my modeling bench lit up like Busch Stadium often when doing detail work. Sometimes, trying to get that tiny grabiron into that tiny hole also results in a case of the shakes. Aging is a terrible thing! ..... though it beats all known alternatives. Ken
I would say a couple of items. Time was one, but now I take the time. My eyes aren't what they used to be, thats why the switch to large scale, and because of that, now its budget. But, after seeing the price of the upcoming 4500, large scale looks pretty good!! Dan
My real interest in this hobby is building and detailing HO equipment - locomotives and rolling stock. Ken[/quote] Bring your equipment to my layout, we can run it there. Rick
Rick - I'd love to. Several of my models have been fortunate enough to win a few modeling contests, but none of them have EVER run on a first class Frisco layout. I buy 'em, build 'em, detail 'em, set 'em on a shelf for a few years, keep dusting 'em, finally sell 'em. Some life, eh? But it's fun. Ken
Ken, Those excellent models look even better when they are on the track in revenue service. . . . . . . Ship IT on the Frisco! Rick
My biggest constraint is time. I could include distance (I work in Muskogee, OK, and have a permanent residence in Sherman, TX), but that wasn't one of the choices. For a while, it was budget- I was without work for 3 months (and so was the missus). Now that we're making money again, we're catching up on bills, and I can now see chances to go to a hobby shop to get what I need. I have an N scale layout on a hollow-core door, and I'm not happy with my efforts- I can foresee a chance to start over again, with a slightly wider door, better legs, and another location for the layout.
Can I change my vote? I should have answered "TIME"! I am new to the blog. I AM SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME READING AND LOOKING AT ALL THE GOOD STUFF THAT HAS BEEN POSTED .. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. What a find .. A wealth of knowledge about the FRISCO. I am in Love again.
