Missing my trains

Wow... Skagway, Alaska!  You're a fur piece from me here in good ol' Oklahoma!!

You asked:

"Any ideas on how to beat the no model blues?"

Well, there's "V scale". ("Virtual" scale. That is, computer simulation.)  All you need is a place for a decent PC, some good speakers, and you'll be ready to get started in V scale.

Three primary programs available:

Microsoft Train Simulator ("MSTS"): An older program that's been significantly updated via the MSTS user community, as well as having its life prolonged into the future via the "Open Rails" open source simulator platform that can run MSTS content.  Literally 10's of thousands of items available for MSTS, nearly 90% of freeware.

Trainz: A program with a large following that also has a lot of freeware content. At this time Trainz is trying to transistion from an older platform to a newer one, so it's not the best of times to be getting into Trainz.

Train Simulator 2015: Previously named "Railworks", then before that "Rail Simulator". I'm not too familiar with this product. From what I read there isn't a vast amount of freeware available for it as in the above two, instead the "TS201X" platform developers push payware content. Typically, this program is updated yearly.

Not only am I interested in model railroading, but I also have an interest in V scale via MSTS. (I've been involved with it since 2001.)  For space and/or budget constraints, you can't beat the space and cost effectiveness of V scale via MSTS.

Below is a pic of a V scale route project of mine that's set in the Ozark mountains of Arkansas, circa 1893. You're looking at the town of St. Paul, Arkansas.  This scene is from my "Ozark Northern" route. The Ozark Northern is about 20 miles long (real time) and features helper grades, lumber mills, zinc mines, towns, et al. All of this resides entirely on your hard drive!

V scale can give you fixes until the time comes that you can again have a layout.

Something to think about.

nothing wrong with a little carpet central action to fill the gap.

Tom,

In the 60's, Crosby Stills & Nash sang,

"If you can't be with the one you love/

Love the one you're with"

There's a time for making your dreams happen, and there's a time for doing what's in front of you to do.  With that much live action outside your door, space for a layout very limited, and your time there temporary, if I was in your shoes I'd keep my dream for a layout alive, but not act on it right now.

Watch the White Pass.  Visit their yard, small as it is.  Study the activity, figure out how they switch and move the cars.  What is the rolling stock?  What do the flat car loads look like? Do they have a unique or interesting way of off-loading the containers or other freight?  What are the steepest grades they have to deal with? Take tons of photos; of the equipment, the ROW and track configurations, the terminal buildings, and also of the incredible scenery... all with a view to one day modeling the Skagway on a layout.  

The WP&Y is a road that a lot of modelers like to model; it's unique and has an Alaska Frontier romance to it.  But few of us have any first-hand experience of it.  With your time there, you can become the leading expert and have tons of documentation and knowledge  on this railway which, who knows, may not be there in another decade.  

Good luck and have fun with it!

david

Plan, Plan and then plan again.  Use this down time to plan your next empire.  I must have created a dozen or more layouts with RRTrack before the first piece of lumber was cut.

Do you have room to build or model some small structures now, before they are needed?

Did you plan on making things that required internet research?  I've been contemplating some custom made paper buildings.  The time on the internet seems exhausting at times finding the right shapes pieces and sizes.  You can go through this web site for days or weeks.

http://www.cgtextures.com/

Solder some leads to pieces of track now.  When you go to set it up your soldering will be complete.

I like the carpet central idea too from Steve.  Especially if you have kids.

How about a small point to point along a bedroom wall?  Maybe a time saver?  You could even put in on a hinge so the layout folds down when not in use?

ENJOY THOSE FULL SCALE TRAINS!!!

Ron

Pictures, man!  Get out there and take all the photos and videos you can!