What do you feel is the "wow factor" on your layout? (Pics)

Susan - I can see that your visitors would be very impressed with your layout filling the room with the action and excitement of the model railroad.  The helix is super cool.

Forrest - The same is true about your layout.  I can see the "wow factor" one gets when they first see the size and scope of your layout.

I love it when you visit someone's layout and are still talking about it after you leave.  And then when you are trying to describe it to a friend you mention that's the layout with _____ and then describe the "wow factor" of that layout.

Great pictures everyone, please keep them coming.

Art

Chris...Thanks so much!!

Jon...Thank you for your kind words...I think every layout has more than one WOW factor as one can see from the many fine layouts posted here on the forum...

Art...Thanks for your very nice compliment...it means a lot coming from you.  I am looking forward to your progress as it is obvious you will have a bunch of WOW factors on your layout.  The station area is beautiful and ....HOLY COW WOW...your grain elevator complex is going to be a real show stopper!!....as a matter of fact, it would make a great magazine how to article...

Alan

Alan; I would agree with everyone else. Your layout is just magnificent. I also would love to see it someday.

Other layouts I would love to see;

Brian V.

Alex M.

Marty F.

Roger W.

There is a lot of WOW in this thread.  On my small layout, its is the engine house that Frank53 (Knautz) built:

Alan, Your layout is a wonderland as it has most everything that one would desire.

Here is another photo from the my layout showing the ELevated bridge system weaving its way through the industrial section which includes many of my favorite Lionel accessories from years ago.

Thanks Spence...and you are welcome anytime!  By the way, I love your Mustang!!!

Jim...part of the reason I have some WOW factor is because of you!!...can you count how many custom projects on my layout with which you had something to do..??!!

Thanks,

Alan

Currently it would be these two areas.  Trestle bridge for main level and blue line station stop for subway level.

Bryan, Love your subway level.  I'm going to make one some day, I hope.

Our 'Lionel inspired' arch bridge gets a lot of attention today as it made the transition to the club's layout after our home one came down. The home layout had about 15 bridges in all, about half that were scratch-built..

Here it is today behind the wooden trestle

Well, I have to say that Brian (Passenger Train Collector) is being a bit modest, and while the bridge is nice, I think it has no where near the "WOW" factor as this image below. I was fortunate to view this layout in person and the images do not do the grand expanse of Department 56 buildings justice.

I also think Art is being a bit shy, as when you first see the bench work and track work on his layout it completely overtakes any individual element on the layout. Maybe after the rest of sceanery is complete it may better compete with the track work, but at this time the WOW factor would be the attention to detail of the bench and track work.

Charlie

When I designed my layout, I knew I needed to have a John Allen type scene where I or my visitors could place a stool and watch trains for a long time without getting bored.

This is my "sweet spot".

While my entry in this category pales in light of some of these layouts, this one depicting the Korber roundhouse and Millhouse turntable have my guests saying "wow!"  I guess it is the idea of trains going through walls and the ability to choose which train and which track you can put it on adds to the wow and more importantly to the " fun" factor!

-Pete

Alan - Thanks for your comments, they mean a lot to me coming from a modeler of your caliber.  I'm not sure what to think about a how-to article, I haven't been in the habit of taking pictures during the process.

Bryan - Wow, your wood trestle looks great and so does your subway station.  Definite wow factors.

Charlie - You are right about Brian's Dept 56 city, it is not only beautiful, but very impressive.  I haven't seen it in person, but from the pictures it is fantastic.  And so much to look at.  And thank you very much for the kind words.

TonkaNut - Wow! Wow!  That is the "wow factor" on steroids.  What a fabulous scene you have created!  You are the poster child for WF scenes.

Pete - What a great roundhouse and turntable scene.  Because it is isolated from the rest of the layout it must cause people to stop and really take in all the action and details.  Very nice job.

Great pictures guys!

Art

Wow guy's this thread keep's on getting better and better every time I look at it.

Pete, this scene is amazing, I would love to see the rest of the layout.

Thanks,

Alex

I am thoroughly impressed by all these pics - wow. Thanks for sharing and keep 'em coming. 

Pete, I agree with Alex, that is one great scene!!!!!

Thanks Alex and Brian for the nice compliments.  Alex, I did post a few more pics of the layout in the subway forum and Brian, a compliment coming from you, who has such an outstanding looking layout,  is much appreciated.

Pete

I couldn't decide -

The JJ Trestle?  

Alarco Elevators?

The Turntable?

The HPJ Subway Mall>

Yard?

Archery Range?

West End view?

Lake Chiemsee?

Alex

How sweet this is   I love this scene

Alex all of them no question

Ken M

Ingeniero #1; beautiful layout & great photos.

Alex - I'm so glad that you posted pictures of your great layout.  There is no doubt that you have multiple "wow factors".  Your grain elevators are really high on my list, but that trestle really makes a statement too. 

Art  

Alex:

From the pictures you posted, I would sat it is this one.

Ken, Spence, Art, Brian -

In retrospect, I really should have narrowed it down to the JJ Trestle and the ALARCO Elevators. But I sort of like it all 

Thank You!

Alex

I think the overall wow factor is the whole scope of the layout rather than details or a couple of buildings that makes a larger impression. I don't mean the size just the overall look.

On the tinplate layout, the trains and accessories are the focus themselves, not scenery.

On the more hi-rail layout, I think it's a sense of place.

On some layouts the scenery seems to overwhelm the trains as if the trains were an accessory to the scenery rather than the other way around.

In N scale, this really seems to be the case. To me its a balancing act that's subjective.

If realism is the aim then the details count..although when I had details..no one seemed to notice them except me.

The more complete the layout the tougher it is to tear down..all that work that went into it...but thats just me.

I would have to say that my steam locomotive servicing facility has the "wow factor" on my layout.

Hot Water - Jack, I would have to agree.  The overall effect of it and your attention to detail are fantastic.  We really need a picture for those that haven't had the pleasure of seeing it in person.

Art 

First Impressions!

Electroliner wrote, in part:

"I think the overall wow factor is the whole scope of the layout..."

I agree, and together with the overall theme, the impression a person gets when first arriving and looking at the layout - that 'first impression' - most definitely can be a wow factor.

In my short experience in visiting layouts, I am thinking of two layouts in particular that have tremendous wow factors when first seen as a whole, and their themes jump out at you.

PatrickH's layout - A beautifully done, highly detailed layout with beautiful terrain, hills, weathered buildings, fully sceniced dioramas, and in addition, it is a lot of fun to operate; i.e., run trains. What a sight to see when you first arrive!

Alan's (OGR As Man) layout - When you arrive and take your first look at Alan's layout, you can't help but to think 'Chicago', and if I remember correctly, that is what exactly what he intended. In addition to his fantastic skyscrapers (*) and impressive train station, he also has a tremendous amount of fine details throughout.

Another wow factor is what you don't see or don't know about some of the layouts. The obstacles, trials and tribulations that some of our friends in the forum have had to endure and overcome just to build a layout, are double-wow factors. I won't mention any names as I do not have 'clearance', to tell.

Just my 2¢.

Alex 

PS. (*) The stories behind how Alan built each of his skyscrapers are wow factors by themselves as well.

Jim,

Thanks for the info.  I quickly checked the OGR digital library and unfortunately your issue is not included....yet.  So I went to the bay and found your issue for under 5 bucks...arrived yesterday.  A fantastic article with great pictures of the process. Needless to say I will be using your techniques on my switching layout.  Thanks again for producing a great article for OGR.  

This page gets beater and beater every day, great job guys,love all your work!!!

Chessie,

Glad you were able to find the article and that it was useful. It's hard to believe that was over 6 years ago already. In "scale time" that might mean it's time to update the geology - a few new arches, etc.

Jim

WOW SIMPLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks,

Alex

IMO, not for me to say, but what some - most - folks  have said, the moment they have reached the cellar stairs and looked to the left at the spread of most of the layout (Moon Township) laid out before them, their out-loud "Wow" was due to their not expecting to see so much, both in square footage and in details. I think they envisioned a 4'x8' oval, if that was their experience with model/toy trains up to that moment. Then they walk back and forth, from one end of the layout to the other, on numerous mini-adventures, as they make their discoveries, commenting on this-n-that feature which seemed to have delighted or related to them.

My wife always waits at the foot of the stairs for that "Wow" moment and enjoys it immensely. (I'm around the corner, out of sight, getting the ZW's cranked up and the ten loops of trains and one trolley ready to roll.)

FrankM

...view from foot of stairs back toward the rear section...

The layout continues off to the right, in the right rear corner of this photo...But this is most of what they can see when we may get to hear that moment of discovery...

..front to back of 2/3 of layout...

...looking toward the left, under the cellar stairs...

...the front, right-hand corner...at stomach level...

Frank....your layout is a masterpiece!!

Alan

Yes...I agree with me Frank....your layout is one of the most beautiful and detailed I have ever seen....absolutely a complete....wow..Wow..WOW!!!

Alan

Alex...thanks so much and yes, I wanted folks to feel like they were traveling down the Chicago River looking at the skyscrapers towering on either side of them.... 

As far as your layout, you have accomplished a lot of "WOW's" not the least of which is the control systems that you have installed...and that BEAUTIFUL trestle bridge......WOW!!!

Alan

What a  pleasant surprise hearing from you, Alan. I much appreciate your very kind approval ! Perhaps, I'll get to say Hello to you, again, in-person at York, this coming TCA Meet in Oct. That would be nice.

FrankM