Buildings Win: Ferrari Factory Loses

Lee, you need to consider a renovation project and double your layout area. That would help with all the new buildings coming on line. 

Lee

That Ferrari factory is one of your signature scenes. It inspired my New Lyon Grand Prix staging area:

https://ogrforum.com/t...40#36203420466977940

Have you considered "plug and play" scenery, where the factory is on a removable board that interchanges with other scenes that plug into the same space? A clever man like you ought to go one step further and automate the changes, a la the licence plates on James Bond's DB5

A man got to do what he's got to do BUT the "Ferrari factory"

Larry

Ah yep.

Richie

Like real life the farmlands get consumed . might have to use up some open country.

It's tough making those decisions "to get rid of" areas on the model railroad that we love. But the only thing constant is change and the updating of the model with new ideas and projects is one of the things that continue to make this hobby so interesting. If you left everything the same and didn't continue to improve and expand some of the joy would be lost. My Model railroad club has been around for 30 years and every year we change and/or improve something. That's what maintains the interest and fun. Good luck with your new endeavor and enjoy the journey.

I like your Church. I have looked for models of churches but I haven't found one that is a good size.  

Lee, I love the way that you thought out things in advance.  But as you say, priorities change and you have to be willing to change.  I too love the open spaces but also love buildings and haven't figured out how to say no to them.  My town was originally planned to be a big coal fired power plant with long sidings to house my unit coal trains, but my town of Spencer couldn't be denied and the rest is history as they say.

Art

Lee, with all your urban renewal taking place, you might consider a link between the 2 "streets" areas via a tunnel and spiral up to the new level!

I know I speak for all of the forum members that we appreciate and enjoy your sharing your projects here. Great inspiration for a lot of us!

Sam

I was wondering if you were going to cover up all of the lake with the new buildings. Menard's is killing me with all of the great buildings there putting out.

No No!  Think back to your childhood and your Dad and Grandfather and those fishing trips! How about the beautiful drive out and back?  Don't lose this wilderness area. I haven't seen any scenes like this that could be considered any nicer!

You've received several good suggestions from Bran and John that will retain your beautiful scenery. Is there not some way to add on to your home (or move?) and enlarge your layout?  With your wonderful imagination I would suspect that you will run out of room again in the not-too-distant future... 

Remember the lyric from the old song "They paved paradise and put in a parking lot" 

Lee, once again it's exciting to read about changes to your layout. I have to agree that it's sad to see the Ferrari factory go, since I know how much you (and many others) like that brand.  Hopefully it can come back again sometime if the future on your display (or maybe find a new home in the lobby in the factory Maranello or the showroom at F40 Motorsports).

Urban sprawl not allowed in my little world. I'm buying more trees and selling buildings.

Clem  

I like the way you think. 

Richie

Your right Sam,

that's more of a loss than the "Ferrari factory"

Dad and Grandfather, don't get much better meories.

Larry

As goes Lee's plateau, so goes the rest of the world. Population growth and urban sprawl will consume our world...

Thanks for all the kind words and suggestions.  Sorry it took a while to get back to this thread.  

Some comments:

- I plan a helix under the plataeu down to the first level.

- I am also considering some way to expand the area of buildings, etc., in an innovative manner.  Not sure just what and how yet, but . . . 

- Still, the countryside I have left must stay countryside, "regardless of cost" - at least for now.  

Well Lee no matter what you do, one thing is for sure, you always make improvements.

Looking forward to your projects.

Clem  

Lee

 What did you use to make that lake ?

Lee,

Your lake scene is fantastic....just beautiful. 

Noooooooooo!  Not the Ferrari Factory!  Blasphemy!  

Seems to me there was a rumor about a "secret" Ferrari facility located in a clearing in the forest. Unless you knew what you were looking for, you'd pass right by it on the highway because there isn't a sign by the road, but it's visible from certain areas other than the road. [hint-hint]

I love Ferraris!  I have a Ferrari F1 Piston and a stock F40 piston on my desk at work!  However, NDAs prevent me from explaining further.  

ahhh  URBAN REMOVAL!

Lee,

Does this mean the end of "Oh Marie" sung by a choir played as background sounds?

The struggles of that city planners and developers go through.

Is it possible to use the area between your streets and countryside to put in a removable country scene?   I have considered having a removable lake/riverbank area with boats and fishing that would look nice (in my mind anyway) but be a flexible removable diorama that could be easily picked up and moved out of the way should I need to get access to that part of the layout.  

Lee,

Can I buy a conservation easement? 

Best to carefully plan rather than commit an inconvenient goof.  Pave the environment!

AG

Bruce

Lee,

I sure hope nobody from the EPA gets wind of your moving lakes around. They'll be all over you at warp speed.  

I had planned a city area using exisiting buildings.  This was planned before the introduction of these new buildings.  Two problems.  First problem is my city area is way too small to add in all the buildings I would like.   Problem #2 (and the biggest) if I were to even casually raise the idea of extending out another 10' my wife will file my committment papers immediately. Sadly, she's had these papers all filled out since the 80’s.  

I do like the idea someone posted about having removable areas. I can see having sections of the city built in such a way that they can be lifted out and a different section dropped in its place.  Good suggestion.

Thanks,

Ed

Might I suggest getting a bigger house? I know people that bought really big houses just to get a larger mud room. If they can do that, certainly you can have a bigger house to build a bigger empire.

I love Ferrari's! I love your factory! No! ncng

A lot of guys never run into this problem because they take a lifetime to fill up their layout.  But with the speed you build/modify new buildings, it's no wonder you are filling up quickly.  Especially with all of the great built-ups in the past few years from Woodland Scenics and Menard's.  Many people are struggling with where to possibly put another building.  The few fortunate people on this board with large pocketbooks and large homes are enviable just for this reason.  The world is their oyster in terms of their layout size.

Lee,

I believe the local green party is ready to take up arms to curtail this trend of unchecked development...

There was an earlier suggestion by Lee in which he suggests using a method of "plug and play".  Some years ago I saw a portable layout that GM owns (it was housed in some kind of vehicle) in which you could see how the era of the vehicle changed with time.   The layout started out as a simple road traveled by some early vehicles surrounded by un built-up landscape.  The over time the scene changes, to the next decade.   The scene changes were accomplished by sections of the layout literally revolving around.  For example where a grove of trees stood, that section would simply revolve to reveal say an early gas station.  Later that same section would revolve once more to depict an upgraded service station.  Each of these sections had about three different scenes.  Even the road on which the autos traveled would rotate out.  Quite ingenious to say the least.  I've always envisioned doing the same thing to my layout when the time came to build it.  If done right you could have two or three very different looking layouts all in one.  

I agree with C.Sam, not to develop your woodland area.  I know part of is now gone, but it could be undeveloped and set back to its original format.   The Ferrari plant is well done and I vote to keep it in. 

Lee,

I have a unique suggestion for your problem. See if you can find a local club that is still building their layout. I am a big proponent of Railroad clubs. Not having room for a layout in my house, I do all my running at the club and all my modeling for the club. A club would be excited to get a member with your imagination and talents. In addition, you could do some modeling and building projects for the club layout. This would give you additional space for your projects. It would help improve the club layout and also would be a showcase to the public at club open houses. 

Saw that operate at a museum many years ago, was quite ingenious! One of the empty vehicles went for $4 million this spring.

In the real world, once zoning changes are made, variances are given, and land is built upon into concrete canyons there is never any going back, it is ruined forever. Save both the wilderness area and Ferrari!

First, I love Ferraris, too.  So the Ferrari factory will not be thrown out.  It was built to be removable and it has been removed and will be stored away.  It is seriously too cool: I spent too much time on all the tiny details, like the concrete dirtied from exhaust, the two guys working on the an engine, tools on the workbench - even the drawings hanging on the walls - one is a set of tiny blueprints for the Lampredi 4.4 liter engine.

And yes, there are Maseratis, OSCAs, Cisitalias and even the odd Fiat 8V, but here, too, is il commendatore himself.

The Ferrari factory will go safely in a closet, and from time to time emerge to go back on the layout in place of the brewery and feed and seed.  

I too love Ferraris.  I've got addicted early, and seriously.  In high school study hall I drew, over and over again my favorite: mid-engined, scoops high on the rear fenders and low in from of the wheels.  Shark nose and all the right equipment of course.  Red with a Ferrari emblem on the front fender.  Here it is in my other "closet."  Five years old now and not as fast as the new 488 , but its much faster than I am and its my baby.   It takes me to work on mild-weather days when: a) I go to work (not today) and b) it doesn't rain (as today).  Like the trains (and the Ferrari factory) I will keep it as long as I am around.

That last shot looks sooooo real! You even modeled scale extension cords on the floor... what gauge wire did you use for that wire? No wait... you mean that's a real Ferrari you own. Holy cow! A great model railroad and a Ferrari too! You are one very fortunate person. I would say that's one definition of "making it". I like the model Ferrari agency also.

Thanks Trainman2001.  Yes, it is a 1:1 scale car.  And that is actually not an extension cord on the floor, but the factory-provided, half-inch thick charger cord to the black vehicle in the foreground, a Chevy Volt.  The outlet I use is behind the Ferrari.  I realize the stark, even ironic, contrast between the two cars in my garage, but it works for me.