Layout too big?

Your layout being too big is something your wife says.

 

At least that's what mine said.

 

I hope you're right, Brother Vail!  I hope you're right.      Meanwhile, why don't we remove all doubt and let me sublet your garage!

For about 6 months of the year when the boat is in the water, the lower level is available. You good build the layout with pulleys and fix that problem. The only problem left is the commute, but with your private jet, that should be no issue. 

My layout is 30 x 14,(28) switches,(18) isolated sidings. I can run (3) trains at once.

 

My biggest problem is dust,at least once a year I climb on the layout to clean my painted black roads with soap and water and all of my Automobiles (76 total)get removed and cleaned with Windex.I leave the buildings and trains alone because the dust makes them look more real

Well, when I was in my house I had various layouts up to 330 sq ft. As I downsized and moved into my apartment I knew I had to get much smaller.  So I built a 4 x 8 table. Since then I expanded it to 10 ft long with a little 2 X 3 ft extension. That is it unless I

get rid of my computer space (NO). So I am being happy with what I have. Just re-designed it as the track is just sitting on the carpeted table top. 

Sometimes I think I went too big...but...I have to admit that going big (almost 1500 square feet) has kept me busy with always something to do.  My goal is to get the layout to a detail level where it looks more realistic but with a large layout it takes a lot of time to get to that point especially if you are still in the work force and the only time you have is a few hours per week.  I THINK I could have enjoyed the hobby with a smaller layout but then again, just this weekend, I kept saying that I wish I had more room for a large hidden staging yard for the long trains I like to run...GHEEZZZ!!!

 

Alan

I'm in the same boat. Been at it since 2010 on a 14x39' layout. Keep saying "this is the year". Still not done laying track and haven't even started wiring....

 

Wish I had started smaller and just gotten "something" running.

 

Gilly

Too big?   Nae.....

 

Time's too short!!  Now THAT's a problem, 2 B sure!

 

Then there's Elliot's earlier contribution..."Web of Death"....IOW, table's too low!!  Especially as the joints are too stiff, the eyesight too cloudy, unfocused, the hands too shakey, .....just some of the 'toos' that bedevil moi.

 

But too big?   Nevahhhhh!!

 

Especially for O gauge.

 

Actually, truth be known, I'm VERY happy that I chose O3R as for the space available (approx. 25'X40').  Until a few years ago, I had visions of using the very same space for my then-dream layout.....in HO scale!!!!   Now, with all of the aforementioned 'toos' that afflict the aging, I am SOOOOOO happy to not have TWICE the work...No, WAIT!  In a square footage context it would be FOUR TIMES the work!!!  Wouldn't it???...to complete a layout of that size! 

 

Yepper.  That calls for a beer!  (Any excuse at all.)

 

Cheers!

 

Later.

 

I do like the big layout as I like running long trains. We looked at 42 houses before buying our present one.  I would walk into the basement come up and say no (drove the realtor nuts).  Now I have a 56x14 layout that runs 6 trains simultaneously (although I only run all 6 when company comes). Not much scenery yet but it runs well.  I prefer double headed steam and multiple unit diesels with 50' trains than any other part of the hobby.  I love nice scenery but prefer the above scenario to a local pulling a few cars thru nice scenery.  Oh to have both though.  I did try a different approach to building it.  I used to put out all my items and place them where I thought they would go. The result however is I would work on different areas at once and never see a clear result.  Got discouraged and would loose interest in scenery.  Now I put everything away and work on one area at a time.  I find the work goes quicker and keeps my interest.  It's probably bigger than I should have now but I figure do the base scenery now and fill in the details as I get older.
Also thanks to Neil Schorr your layout and especially the backgrounds gave great ideas and more than a little inspiration as I'm building my horseshoe curve section.

Stroker McGurk once said, "Some is good, more is better, and too much is just enough."

 

I have seen more than one small layout unused and covered with dust.  There must be something to keep a person interested in a layout.  Running trains in a loop around a 4x8 piece of plywood doesn't do it for me.

 

I buy mostly post war stuff that may need repair.  The repair keeps things interesting for me.

The last layout I had of any size filled two bedrooms of a 3 bedroom town house.  It had 50 022 switches, 40 of which were on the main line, and were controlled by the train using the non-derailing function.  The switches were wired together in pairs.  All I had to do was watch the train run and control the speed.  The layout could be configured by switches to run one, two, or three trains.  When running one train, it took 22 minutes for the train to complete one circuit.  

 

I had a stepper switch that controlled the 022 switch that allowed the train to go to the second bedroom.  The stepper switch was controlled by a control section of straight track.  Because of dirt on the wheels of the cars (most likely good ole' dried out Lionel Lube), the control of the stepper switch was random.  This means that the train movement was random, and so the time to complete a circuit of the layout was essentially infinite.  It was a fun layout, and I am preparing to build even a larger one.

BTW, I like running trains, and the more complicated the layout, the better I like it.  I don't like making scenery.  I am a toy train operator, not a model railroader.

I do not believe that too big is the issue. Detail, no of levels, scenery, carpentry and no of loops all play into the difficulty of building a layout.

NCT's layout 28'X 59'. That is more than big to me since my layout is 9' X 10'.  Have had a lot of fun applying plaster for scenery and helping to finish it, not done yet.  My hat is off to NCT for letting us to enjoy his dream.  Never thought I would ever have the layout I have and to be able to enjoy NCT's layout is great.  Have made some great friend's in the O gauge Hobby.

 

Lets get back to work!

Nope, house is too small

I have a 30 X 30 foot double decker and in O, its a small layout.... wish it were much larger...

Sad thing is almost have all my track down.... what do you do once the layout is done?

This is strictly mind over matter. Depends on what is important to you. We started an 8 ft. by 25 ft. layout in January. We are almost done. Two main lines, lots of scenery details, hundreds of lights installed, and a lot of "fun" work. Neither one of us wanted to drag this project out. The ice has dropped in our lake and it is time for the boating season.

 

 

Too big is like saying you have to much horse power in your car.

According to Stroker McGurk in Hot Rod Magazine back in the '50s, "If some is good, more is better, and too much is just enough."

I'm glad I did not go through with plans to expand my layout.  It's really all I can handle.

Right you are!

 

If your planned expansion won't fit in your basement, your layout isn't too big. You have insufficient basement syndrome. Expand.

It's a matter of priorities.

If you want a large layout, you REALLY have to want a large layout (wishing and doing are completely different). 

After work, do you sit around and 'have to watch that favorite program' on the idiot box, watch the news (which, if you wait a week, it's the same news, only a different place and time), ad nauseum.

OR, after work, you can't wait to get working on the layout, spending time every night and every weekend. 

Some would see it as too much 'work', the ones building the layout don't see it as 'work, but see it as a way to relax and achieve an objective.  There is great satisfaction in building something with your hands versus being a passive observer as in watching TV. 

Whether the layout is large or small, as long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.  You have to decide how dedicated you are to putting hours into a hobby to achieve your objectives. 

PS: get rid of your cable TV (and have only one TV, at most): you will be amazed at how much time you have to do constructive activities.

OK, I'm getting off my soap box, now!

Train cars or, real four wheelers?

"It's a matter of priorities.

If you want a large layout, you REALLY have to want a large layout (wishing and doing are completely different). After work, do you sit around and 'have to watch that favorite program' on the idiot box, watch the news (which, if you wait a week, it's the same news, only a different place and time), ad nauseum.

OR, after work, you can't wait to get working on the layout, spending time every night and every weekend. 

Some would see it as too much 'work', the ones building the layout don't see it as 'work, but see it as a way to relax and achieve an objective.  There is great satisfaction in building something with your hands versus being a passive observer as in watching TV. 

Whether the layout is large or small, as long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.  You have to decide how dedicated you are to putting hours into a hobby to achieve your objectives. 

PS: get rid of your cable TV (and have only one TV, at most): you will be amazed at how much time you have to do constructive activities.

OK, I'm getting off my soap box, now!"

 

I could not agree with you more. Those who want to get it done find a way and don't make excuses.

Do two things for a month:

1) write down what you do with your time.

2) write down how much you spend and on what.

Make sure your totals equals the hours in a month.

(if that's too long, do it for a week)

 

You'll be surprised at how much time you waste on useless stuff and you'll really be surprised at how much you p!ss away on, either useless stuff or can find a cheaper way of having it (ie, buying coffee every day).

ie: a good example was when I worked downtown, I never paid for parking.  I'd park far enough away where it was free: 1) it was good exercise and 2) multiply that over 5 days a week, times 52 times the number of years you work (do the same with your cable TV).  That's a lot of trains that I can buy with that kind of money. 

When I was raising a family of 5 on one income, you become creative to support your hobby! 

If you're happy having the 'other' versus your hobby, fine, but if you set priorities, you can have anything you want (you just can't have everything you want). 

OK: that was the last soap box.

 

Mine is in a 10X11 foot room, a switching point-to-point in On30.

I don't think I'd want anything much bigger, other than it'd be cool to have more open track between areas of turnouts.

People who know of my layout keep saying they're impressed with how much I'm accomplished since the end of July last year. Realistically, all I have left is to complete the scenery as the rest is pretyt much completed.

Other than I would have liked a slightly longer main line run, I have for the most part, exactly what I have wanted since my teens...

I made my layout, Moon Township, the size (approx. 440sq.ft.) that interested me and that seemed do-able to me. I was in no rush and accomplished it as the creative urge inspired and relaxed me. I'm still changing it to this day, every time the creative impulse grabs me and pulls me back in.

FrankM.

P.S. As far as size goes, honestly, I don't know what large is because it seems such a relative term, relating to each hobbyist's domicile differently. For example, a 4'x8' layout might be just right and of a good size given the room or space allotted to it in someone's home. Of course, NJ Hi-Railers' layout seems big to me, but I'll bet if they had more room, they would move right on into it. That layout in Germany seems "large" in the videos and photos I have seen of it, but I don't know for sure how "big" it is.

 

So, I would say the size of a layout is relative to the enjoyment you may get from building, crafting, operating, and having it. You'll know when it is enough.

Definitely agree that "size" is often in the eye of the beholder, and that it's easy to get in over your head.  I'm merely I the planning stages for my first O layout, and it's easy to get tempted.  I'm a loop runner at heart, but ideally want different places for my trains to "go" on the layout, as well as some switching, yard work, etc.  I also like long trains, O scale, and the ability to run more than one train at once, which pushes me towards a larger, or at least longer, layout.

 

In various parts due to space and cost constraints, as well as the desire to get up and running sooner, I've ended up planning my layout(s) (haven't made a final design decision yet) in various phases, with a main loop & yard network in the base area, & the ability to build additional large loops or sidings off of that over time.  I figure if I prove that I can handle the base layout, and get that done, then I can dedicate more space to an expansion.  If not, then I should just stick w/what I've got.  Once I get the track up & functional, I suppose I could live with a snail's pace on the scenery if my attention got diverted.  Whether I can practice what I preach, though, is a matter yet to be determined.... 

My room is roughly 13 x 16 I feel I have used almost every usable space in it. multi level and still have not gotton a real good yard out of it I have a decent engine yard. I know of one place I might be able to put a yard but it would be hidden and a pain so I haven't . mine has been done in just over a month to the point I am at. it has just shy of 374 ft of track. running tmcc and DCS I wish I has just a 16 x 6 or 8 ft area for a big yard. both the red and blue runs are fine and are tied together I am working on the yellow and it will be a separate loop

 

 

I have had several layouts, the most room I ever had was two 3x5 foot modules set in an L shape.  This was in N scale.  Now I have a 4x8 O gauge, which is the size of my largest HO scale layout.  I make the best of what I have had.  I do not want a large layout, but I would like one larger tHan what I have.  Hopefully I will be able to build in a 12x12 room once our last daughter moves out.  I think that will be a manageable size for me.  Everyone's resources and desires are different.

Never driven an Isetta with a 2300cc twin turbo air cooled VW motor have you?

 Just strap me to a rocket, I'd feel much safer. 

No such thing........

 

Unavoidable law of nature #1 : Layouts expand to fit all available space.

Unavoidable law of nature #2: See #1

Unavoidable law of nature #3: Layout complexity and decay approaches total chaos.

Unavoidable law of nature #4. Subject tears layout down, begins at Law #1.

Do you ever regret making the layout too big?

No, but I wish I had been able to render it more accessible.  Invariably, I want to do something several feet from the end.  An around-the-room layout would have been better, but it would have had to pass too many windows and doors.

 

 

i agree with Spence too big is like saying you have too much horsepower in your car. never too big or enough horsepower even the fuel dragster i drove!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That wheel base makes a huge difference in control, even though the two examples spend allot of time on two wheels, when they come down again, its a new game 

The largest was 6'x16'. The new one will be 4'x12' - much easier to wire and reach things, and will hold all my PW accessories (with a little crowding). This will leave room in the basement for a G & Standard gauge layout for my wife.