What's the most enjoyable aspect ?

2897 Views 24 Replies 17 Participants Last post by 5696Arethusa, Jul 30, 2008

upnick

Discussion Starter · Jul 23, 2008

Hi All,
The question here is what's the most enjoyable aspect when creating a layout ... is it the planning,trackwork, wiring,scenery, conversion of locos to dcc to run on the layout.
Also what techniques do you use to solve problems ?

It was just a thought while doing my layout what others found interesting and enjoy and could share here.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

harkins77

· #2 · Jul 23, 2008

to be honest since I started the renumbering of 1 or 2 of my locos I find that the most satisfying and ejoyable when it's done correctly.

neil_s_wood

· #3 · Jul 23, 2008

My favourite bit is doing the scenery as this is what most people will see on the layout. Laying track, wiring etc is just a chore and I find it quite tedious. Like wise with installing a decoder, especially in Hornby locos. Installing sound decoders is a bit more interesting so I don't mind doing that.

Lancashire Fusilier

· #4 · Jul 23, 2008

2

Anything that involves soldering is good; locos, signals, wiring, circuits etc.

Worst part for me (not yet mastered) is painting a Wills or Ratio kit 'cause I am so crap at it, its not funny.

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ebaykal

· #5 · Jul 23, 2008

2

....Ballasting !

Seriously, the detailing of everybit on the layout, be it a station house, tree, tensioners.....all sorts of scenary. ( I hope I will one day come to this stage of doing them)

Baykal

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Brian Considine

· #6 · Jul 23, 2008

Most of the things that I do I find enjoyable, although when things do not go as planned, or something I've spent ages on does not work as intended....................

I have not the patience to paint figures, or do the "little bits" scenery wise (BRITHO does that, to which I am grateful).

The most satisfying to me is when exhibiting & seeing that people appreciate what you have done. It can be hard work but well worth it.

john woodall

· #7 · Jul 23, 2008

At any given point in time I enjoy doing it all.

At the moment I am having a lot of fun (and frustration) building some Oe stock.

My poor HO layout has had nothing done to it for a few months (I havn't even run a train on it for a while)

Soon I will get re-enthused with it and construction will continue.

Ultimately I think Brian is correct that having people view it and pass nice comments makes it all well worth while.

John

Does it for relaxation

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hairyhandedfool

· #8 · Jul 23, 2008

I prefer the planning stage, working out all the problems that may arise, planning what will run where and what scenery is used, to the extent that I have about 5 plans for various sized layouts that I will probably never build!

Robert Stokes

· #9 · Jul 23, 2008

I love the planning stage. This always involves lots of scale diagrams each one, I hope, a slight improvement on the previous one. I quite like the woodwork involved wioth the making of baseboards. I'm happy with track laying and the wiring except the soldering part which I'm not too good at. Everything on my layout is R.T.R. as I don't think that I have the skill or patience for kit-building or, heaven forbid, scratch building.

upnick

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 23, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

Some very varied views on our layouts ...personally the ballasting i would gladly farm out to someone if i could as although kato track is ready done and all well i prefer to use peco code 55 flexi for my layout giving me the element of flexibility.
Weathering and painting always brings a scene to life how many times have you built a scene or building and had the thought 'will it look how i want it too '' its amazing what a coat of paint will do ........ long hours weathering military subjects in years past have shown with good quaility powders the results achieved.

As to soldering i enjoy it immensley many a happy hour converting my loco collection to DCC, though electrically i am challenged when it comes to sorting the wiring out at times.

John Webb

· #11 · Jul 24, 2008

For me the best point is when the layout is sufficiently complete to actually run trains on it. This indicates that the major 'heavy' works such as baseboard construction, track-laying and wiring are complete, and it's now the small stuff such as scenery, signals etc which can be done with the relaxing sound of the trains running round.

Regards,
John

Duztee

· #12 · Jul 24, 2008

I think it is not so important which bit as the fact that you do enjoy it, and continue to get pleasure from what ever you do.
Generally I enjoy all the various tasks, as long as it doesn't get boring, so I usually have several different things going on at the same time, so I can paint rails for a while until the arm aches or the eyes blur, then do something else, having a complete loop to send a train around is also good to galvanise me into more action, especially now i have fitted sound to a couple of locos.

bri.s

· #13 · Jul 24, 2008

due to the fact that im no good at wiring getting it done and having it work as you want it to more relief i suppose but then you can get on with the good part scenery

railstimulator

· #14 · Jul 24, 2008

Planning the track layout. Spent hours marking out the plan on the board with the actual trains in place. then ordered the points to get what I wanted only to find that they take up more room than at first thought and the result is a platform too short. so back to the drawing board. Now I have the points it will be easier.

Anyone know a good cheap source of Hornby track etc. other than Hattons. What other makers track is similar to Hornby current track, i.e. Peco 100??

Duztee

· #15 · Jul 24, 2008

A further thought,
Should the question be which part or why?
It is clear a number of people prefer the challenge of building something very realistc and detailed, and most importantly correct in detail which they can enjoy exibiting.
But for me the pleasure is all in having my own little dictatorship, where everything suits me, I can run trains of any era pulling any rolling stock that I like the look of, and time is of no importance what so ever!
The hours just roll away in total enjoyment, the lawn and garden are not so happy with this situation tho'!

Robert Stokes

· #16 · Jul 24, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

Dutzee's reply backs up something that I reported on another thread some months ago. A psychologist was asked why so many men enjoyed having a model railway. He said that most people are employed and so have to take orders from someone in authority over them. On the model railway you are the boss!

The only thing that this doesn't explain is why so many of us continue to get enjoyment from our model railways into retirement.

ebaykal

· #17 · Jul 24, 2008

QUOTE (Robert Stokes @ 24 Jul 2008, 16:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Dutzee's reply backs up something that I reported on another thread some months ago. A psychologist was asked why so many men enjoyed having a model railway. He said that most people are employed and so have to take orders from someone in authority over them. On the model railway you are the boss!

The only thing that this doesn't explain is why so many of us continue to get enjoyment from our model railways into retirement.

Robert, your statement also reminded me that the disease of Alzeimer is also very rare, nearly null among modelrailroaders.

The brain is constantly busy, even on the move, of how should I lay the tracks, what is the best way to tackle an electrical issue.......the list goes on and on.
Since no layout is ever finished, seems we are all on the safe side.

Baykal

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7113

· #18 · Jul 24, 2008

I think the most enjoable aspect is almost certainly the pleasure of building and operating your own layout. If that is for public viewing then so much the better as other people can share your enthusiasm for the subject modelled.

I think in my case the only bit I don't find enjoyable is wireing!!

Regards

upnick

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jul 24, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

QUOTE (Duztee @ 24 Jul 2008, 13:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>A further thought,
Should the question be which part or why?
It is clear a number of people prefer the challenge of building something very realistc and detailed, and most importantly correct in detail which they can enjoy exibiting.
But for me the pleasure is all in having my own little dictatorship, where everything suits me, I can run trains of any era pulling any rolling stock that I like the look of, and time is of no importance what so ever!
The hours just roll away in total enjoyment, the lawn and garden are not so happy with this situation tho'!

Dutzee i gave up the gardening years ago

for a more pleasurable and relaxing experience my layout although three years in the planning and excecuting it after a move finally i have the boards up and ready .......

Tested my new purchase today Minitrix 'evening star' fitted with a Lenz decoder and cant wait to let it run the length of the boards pulling the rake of cream/brown coaches that came with it, yes i agree the layout will feature modern deisel with steam and hey who cares if it is correct in its running gives me pleasure that surely is what it's all about.

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Brian Considine

· #20 · Jul 25, 2008

Another aspect or two that I like is when you get a new locomotive & run it on the layout for the first time, especially if it exceeds your expectations.

Also there is a great deal of satisfaction in getting a secondhand locomotive that runs & sounds like a bag of spanners, to run sweetly.

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

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