I want to redo the amusement park area on the North side rather than the south, and get all 9-10 signal strength on DCS. Much more on my to-do list but that would be a good start.
Originally Posted by Gandalf97:
Originally Posted by david1:
Here is a tip to you Gary and everybody else.
Try to work on the layout everyday for as long as you like, 10 minutes, or 3 hours. But when you do, don't stare. Run a wire, hook up some power leads, ballast a small section of track.
The thing is, do something no matter how small. Those small things will add up over time and before you know it, allot has been done.
It's how I completed my large layout I built about 12 years ago. Small steps go along way.
This advice is GOLDEN. We think that we don't have time to do something so we put it off. Breaking the bigger jobs into small (or micro) tasks that are manageable really helps make a seemingly impossible job doable.
I agree, I just got started; but have been working small to large time slots. I would add that I always pick what the next task will be upon my return. By doing that I can mull it over and anticipate snags before getting into it.
GGman..thank you for the detailed response.I sure will try some of those tricks!Have a great year!
1) Find a new basement with a house on top.
2) Claim a portion of said basement for trains, not just storage.
3) Finally replace the Carpet Central with the beginnings of a real layout
To maybe start building one I ordered RR tracks software today to start getting an idea of sumthing that will work for me. Its getting pretty old running on the carpet and back and forth on my bar.
Originally Posted by EricF:
1) Find a new basement with a house on top.
2) Claim a portion of said basement for trains, not just storage.
3) Finally replace the Carpet Central with the beginnings of a real layout
I did this exact same thing last year!
1) Tear down existing layout
2) Refinish basement with new drywall,ceiling and lighting
3) Decide on new layout design
4)Construct bench work
5) Lay and wire track
6) Run some trains
1940DRGW 20x40 layout 2012:
Finished room
Finished track plan (a work in progress as we build)
Finished basic bench work
Finsihed all of the wood work for the road bed
Wired in a small portion of track work for testing
Hopeful goals for 2013:
Install all of the cork roadbed
Install all of the mainline switches
Install all of the mainline trackage
Install all of the mainline switch machines including wireing
Try and figure out how DCC makes all of the 'stuff' work! 
Try and see if I can paint a backdrop (it's double deck layout, so almost 200 feet of backdrop! 
Complete one of the town areas to completion including all of the scenery and lighting.
Most important have the first Operations Meet before the end of 2013.
Russ
Having missed my goal for the past 30 years; last year was a new beginning.
I ordered the Mianne benchwork from Tim Foley in October and had it up in November. I have been running wires and configuring control boards.
My immeadiate goal is to put the table top on before February. Following that the track and switches are already in hand.
Maybe a bit to ambitious; but my long range goal is to start scenery before the summer.
Earlier I posted that I was tearing down and rebuilding my layout this year. Here is my progress so far.
From this:
To this.
just to get the stinking junk outta
the garage that my wife keeps piling out there,
so i can have my space back.
My 2013 Goal is to get phase 1 of my new Layout Built, and have at least two loops of Super O track operational... So far progress have been great. Working every night at least 4hrs, and at least 20hrs each weekend. I can only hope I can continue this pace.
I am very close to having the most difficult stuff done. Then the fun stuff begins, laying track and seeing the layout take shape. I am able to salvage much benchwork from my old layout, so only having to build about 10% new bench.
It is very important (in this hobby) to make a goal and stick to it, and see it to completion. I was very happy to see this post. I have many friends who have so many great trains, and great ideas, and never get around to actually building anything. They miss out on so much fun, and pride. I hope at least one person out there reads this and decides to finally take the plunge into building their layout.
It does not matter how big, how detailed, or complicated. This is an ever growing hobby and same for a layout. The most important thing is to just start. It can always be changed. So take the plunge and start.
I had a friend who designed (and resedigned) his layout for 20years. He never built it and has all the cool trains and accessories in boxes. It is a shame. I hope more take the plunge and start building layouts.
Good Luck!
Im rebuilding an O, O27 gauge postwar Lionel
layout that I take to train shows. 8'x 12' with
a 4 track mainline. Airport, diners, gas stations,
farms. I also put a Standard gauge set on the floor
running around the board. There are two tunnel
portals that the standard gauge set runs through
and under the board and out the other side.
The kids love it!!!!!!!!!
Attachments
Images (2)
Get the washer and dryer out of the train room!
Will put them in another room stacking set thus should cut my dust down considerably.
Also seal off the doors that go to the furnace room, should also cut the dust. Some foam door seals when they are closed.
(Furnace can still breath a vent in there from outside and open to false ceiling area plenty of air)
When that is done then can redo and expand and finish my city scenes clear the dust out and do the scenery in detail.
Also major instead of having to install the track every time I want to run over the washer and dryer and remove when done for access.
When the washer/dryer are gone I can build a nice big floor up scene of mountain and bridges that curve around to hold the track up in that corner. And run any time I want!
Counting down the days till the family member moves out and I can move the washer dryer! Like waiting for Christmas morning!
In the mean time building shops and houses for the new city scenes.
No matter what I accomplish or try to accomplish I have but the one goal: Have Fun!
Pete
My naiveté about model railroading lead to a layout with inadequate train storage sidings. Steam era named passenger trains and Long Island Railroad steam era commuter trains are my passion, so my layout suffers from a lack of 8-foot long sidings for trains of 8-car 027 passenger cars.
To solve the shortcoming of inadequate sidings, my goal for 2013 is to add two extensions to the layout, one with a coach yard and a steam engine servicing facility, and the second with 7 sidings for staging passenger trains.
A loop of upper level track. I'm thinking of using the MTH made for Fastrack trestles.
Originally Posted by Texas Pete:
No matter what I accomplish or try to accomplish I have but the one goal: Have Fun!
Pete
Now there is the real goal.
Originally Posted by Super O Bob:
My 2013 Goal is to get phase 1 of my new Layout Built, and have at least two loops of Super O track operational... So far progress have been great. Working every night at least 4hrs, and at least 20hrs each weekend. I can only hope I can continue this pace.
I am very close to having the most difficult stuff done. Then the fun stuff begins, laying track and seeing the layout take shape. I am able to salvage much benchwork from my old layout, so only having to build about 10% new bench.
It is very important (in this hobby) to make a goal and stick to it, and see it to completion. I was very happy to see this post. I have many friends who have so many great trains, and great ideas, and never get around to actually building anything. They miss out on so much fun, and pride. I hope at least one person out there reads this and decides to finally take the plunge into building their layout.
It does not matter how big, how detailed, or complicated. This is an ever growing hobby and same for a layout. The most important thing is to just start. It can always be changed. So take the plunge and start.
I had a friend who designed (and resedigned) his layout for 20years. He never built it and has all the cool trains and accessories in boxes. It is a shame. I hope more take the plunge and start building layouts.
Good Luck!
Good!Your doing it right!Have fun
You can view my layout (My Hi-Rail Erie-Lackawanna Themed Layout0)
I want to finish the city, lay the streets and put up the structures. And work on the ceiling blocks to finish the room.
I hope to get a 4x8 layout built with a 3 or 4 track staging yard off to one side. I already picked a track plan and bought all the track, then decided I probably want to run Atlas O 3 rail track instead of the FasTrack I bought. Also the 0-4-0 Lionel locomotive I bought is gorgeous but it's too big to look "right" with my Polar Express locomotive, so I guess goal number one is to sell all the stuff I won't be using and number two is to build the layout so I can run trains. Number 3 is to get my BEEPs custom painted.
Cheers,
Ken
