Modular Layout DECISIONS?

I'd consider holding on another year, then possible stewardship. Put a sign up at the events you are most likely to missed at, that it needs new caretakers. (nursing/hosp., etc.. the folks it really means something to when you set up).

Maybe a troop sale?  Our dues paid for some cool stuff at times, ho was too finicky for most and didn't last.... tried to tell them 

The "mobile crowd" or new layout folk here is a great idea too. I suggested modules a few times this summer already. (Jeffthecoasterguy was one)

Might be worth waiting but we're not getting any younger!

My base line thinking is that passing the layout on to a younger group (of for someone's home) would insure that the stuff gets used more, and it would get sold at a very reasonable price.  I understand I may only recover a small percentage of original cost/effort (that's the way this train stuff works!)

As an aging member of a modular club I can appreciate not wanting to lug these modules around. Unless you expect to get a sudden influx of younger members I would suggest selling the layout as a whole. Offer it here, craigslist, Facebook marketplace, etc and see if you can generate any interest. Looks like a good starting place for a home layout.

Pete

This is a clean and versatile layout that would be a nice setup in a home with very little effort.  

Selling it may be the best choice. Or raffle it off.

Hint for future mobile layouts:  get some 4x8 pink Styrofoam, FasTrack, LionChief locomotives, 2x4 folding tables and some buildings.

Paint the top of the SF green or brown.  Or a roll of "snow". Lay FT on it.  Buildings get light power from track.

Figure out what space you will get.  Take the amount of SF, folding tables, FT and trains you need.

I did see this being done on a layout for a train show.  Much lighter than the heavy as a tank modules. Think KISS.(*)   LionChief cutsvdown on wiring needs.  Might need beefier power supply if the track is the main buss for power.

And some places may have tables you can set the SF on, so you will not need them.

Children of all ages love the movement, lights and sounds.  

*Not the band!

That's a big step down in modeling potential over what can be done with good modules imo. 

I not saying it isn't cool too,.but it's like comparing my layout styles to a master modelers. Apples and nectarines (I dare to be... )

I tried to give an old set away in april. It may have been covid fears, but they get deliverys daily too.  The kids seemed interested, the fast crowd parents more interested in FB and yelling "go play".... Rejected, my hopes for our youth rose again after a driveway layout I set up attracted "the slow crowd" of all ages. Many "have one too"... I wonder how many came out again over the weeks of"vacation" since then?  . 

You can lead a horse to water....

Adriatic, although much of what you say is true, there's still a few "one in a thousand" kids around that really get into trains.  We see them at our club every time we have an open house.  I'd like to think all is not lost.

And to clarify, the design criteria for my modular layout was to seek a "middle of the road" toy train look.  Certainly not the complexity of some of the finely scenic-ed modules I've seen at the annual Big E show! Many modular clubs have scenes that are overwhelming in quality and detail.

But, in my own way, I think I created a highly viable portable layout.  It has multiple configurations, takes about an hour to set up with 2 or 3 guys, and because its all pre-wired, things like the building lights don't need to be connected.  The buildings are just placed over a light bulb that is wired into the layout.

One significant design factor was portability.  The whole set of 8 modules, cases with buildings, accessories, power, etc., toolboxes, and the engines and rolling stock all fit into one mid size SUV.  The modules stack so nothing on the module needs to be protected from the module placed on top of it. 

Domenic, I think that would be hard to do using styrofoam in place of the relatively lightweight frames with 1/4" plywood tops I used.  I like that we have a separate transformer for lighting, so the voltage is constant and track independent. 

For our crew (all over 70), it's more about the bulk, stretching, carrying all the items in and out of the location, loading and unloading, etc., that makes it decision time for my modular layout. For a younger crew, it would be a breeze!

We are lucky to also have a museum full of all scale layouts that we can continue to share with all who visit!

I think you're right that,  "Children of all ages love the movement, lights and sounds" and based on years of running our modular layout, I'm happy to have provided that for the places we've visited!

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions!

Decision:

It's time to sell the layout.  I think it will get more use with another club... hoping the price will encourage another group to jump into the MODULAR WORLD !

I will list it in the OGR For Sale forum later today

If you know someone who may be interested, please refer 'em to this webpage for more info:

http://empowersites.com/ogauge...-layout-information/

Thanks!

Looking to build a modular for my home layout that I can pack up,and take to local,shows , as a way to display my Fairbanks Morse loco collection ....

like the use of the plastic tables , as legs ... be the right height for home , too ...

i like to sit and watch trains , not stand 😂😂😂

looks like a 5x9 is where I’ll start with 4 small corner modules and 2 straight modules , to build a “Island “ layout , until I can expand to a shelf style  wall layout ...

thanks for the pictures , for ideas ....

eddiem:

Although hope is eternal, a reality check would confirm a decision to sell the modular layout is warranted at this point in time, given the current state of the hobby and the profile of many train club members with medical issues - actual or emerging.

Your team has offered many sessions of enjoyment for all ages, so you all can take great pride in that community service! "Passing the torch" to another club or individual counts as promoting the hobby.  Carry on with your decision.

Mike Mottler     LCCA 12394
Former President, Central Arkansas Model RR Club - which faced reality and disposed of a large O-gauge modular layout
by parting it out to members.

Update:  The modular layout is sold!  Hoping for a club but ended up selling it to a family that participates in a modular club and volunteers at the local historical train club.  They had a cobbled together layout and wanted to replace it with an easy to construct, more "finished" layout.  And, they plan on adding modules to expand later!  A great new home!

Thanks for your thoughts Mike... my solution and decision was a bit easier.  I built all the modules and owned all the accessories, etc. so it was sold as a complete setup by me.  Club members made all of our "remote" events possible, and although the modular is gone, we still have our club museum and layout, and have almost completed our outdoor G Gauge layout!

dPrasse, If I was building a home layout now, I'd go with a modular design so it would be easily expanded and moveable in the future. I would suggest a fixed module size of 30" x 30" for quarter curves, and 30" x 60" for straights... lots of possibilities at those dimensions.

Key is the corners.  More difficult to store, and move.  IMO.   Fort Pitt Highrailers had talked about rebuilding the corners, just never happened.  Repair after repair, still being used.  

@Mike CT posted:

Key is the corners.  More difficult to store, and move.  IMO.   Fort Pitt Highrailers had talked about rebuilding the corners, just never happened.  Repair after repair, still being used.  

Sounds like my IT department! 

I don't know what incentives your club would have to offer, but what about a "corner building" contest. Build a corner by X date to the clubs standards.  

Best looking and constructed corner wins a prize. Competition can be a great motivation.

I’ve had some degree of involvement with modular layouts and the real question is, how do you expect to move them around? Once modules become much more than 4’x2’ it’s awkward to move them, and they won’t fit into most cars. 

The “toy train”/hi-Rail style isn’t usual over here, most modular layouts are more-or-less fully scenic. Toy Train style layouts at exhibitions are usually “loose lay”, adapted to whatever is available at the venue; the Hornby Collectors Club are well known for this, or the O Gauge Group I’m a member of;

The 30 x 60 format worked out very well for us.  When I started designing, I tried all different sizes and found that with Fastrack, that size is the "golden Rectangle".  The catch is that it works well with O36 and O48 curves, not bigger. 

I actually made each quarter corner at 30 x 30 but we ended up keeping 2 quarters bolted together to make a semi-circular end loop.

Must SUV's are OK for transporting the 5' length.  When I delivered the sold modular, the complete layout fit in the buyer's Subaru SUV including the boxes of buildings, accessories, power units, and extra track.  THe modules I made are stackable and about 4" high, so you could fit (8) 30 x 60 modules in a space 30 x 60 x 32 high.

Turns out that the Lionel-designed standard module dimensions (developed after I designed mine) are very similar in size and design, but they made the corners a lot bigger (and not very transport-friendly, IMHO)