Do you find as you build your layout you have the track plan to your liking and start on the none railway bits that you do a hill or place a building, and a few days later or weeks and my have even taken a photo that it does not look right so ripe it out and redo it i have on quite a few times on my new layout goseunderton junction pictures are in albums to see what i mean .http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=media;sa=album;in=788
kevin141

I thought that was par for the course!    I tend to place the bits in rough situ and leave it for a couple of days and then shuffle things around.

The small layout that I'm doing at the moment I'm actually pondering doing two scenic views because I can't quite make my mind up. The idea being that I can hot swap from a small terminal station with a small TMD, to a clay works site. Each view would be on its own separate card bases around the one track plan.

I have a rough idea of what I want and change my mind quite often. That's because there are a lot of things to consider, the track plan, the scenery and buildings you need to fit in and a fair amount of town planning to make everything work together, then there is the visual aspect, sometime things just don't look right and need to be changed. I'd be very surprised if most of us didn't make changes as we went along.

As I am now on my 2nd layout, I have decided on a track plan, started laying the track and now am looking at where I can put the bits and pieces I salvaged from my last layout. I find that layouts are generally "Work in Progress" and a bit flexible in my case. In fact, when it comes to fastening things down, I do it lightly as it is probably going to move around at some stage. I don't intend to exhibit my layout, so I don't expect to ever finish it completely. As long as I get as much fun out of building it as I do running it, all is well in the world of model railways.

I find that I have a plan in my head and then lay the track down roughly to gain a feel for what I want to achieve (I'm afraid that I can't work from track planning software).
I then plan hills and roads etc around my track plan but often change my mind mid way !

I'm another one who hasn't got to grips with track planning software, I decided it would take too long to learn to use and got out a piece of paper. I'm half way through track laying on a new layout and am playing around with points in situ to get the right combination. There are so many things to consider.

I'm one of the masochists who still uses graph paper, a scale rule and a compass !

Vivent les vieux !

Best regards,


Joe

Flexibility of the plan is key to enjoyment.
I'd hate to persistently pursue the first plan by laying the track and then find I hated it some time later
Therefore my branch line has remained dormant whilst I keep looking at it to see if I can improve it

I have a PHD in changing my mind....

My current layout is probably in it's 7th version, not to mention the 20+ layouts i've started but never finished...

I'm not going to jinx it by saying this is my last layout blah blah blah blah............ but it does have to end somewhere !
I'm trying a new tactic now, just build it then tell everyone - then, it'll be too late to change stuff...

I'm glad to see we are not alone. As Mike says, a PHD in changing my mind. Like that. Think I'm well on my way to a doctorate.

In 9 months I think I have changed my mind and altered my layout at least once every month I have been working on it. Trouble is it costs me money each time, as I invariably want more track, and new rolling stock to go on it, and I have to wait quite a while for it to be shipped over, and at least one order so far has never materialised.

Because I only have limited space I am using entirely Peco Setrack, but have had a few troubles with left & right hand points not always making good contact when changed or the moving rail breaking on me - am I alone in this?.

I used set track on one of my layout incarnations and didn't have any real issues with contacts on the moving rail. I had about 15 points and only one failed and needed to be replaced. I did clean then at spasmodic intervals, when I remembered.

Things change as I progress or when I see an opportunity to 'improve' something regardless of whether its track, electrics, scenery of buildings.
Its all part of the enjoyment for me (even sorting out niggling problems is fun )
I have an end product in mind but for now and probably another year its on-going and may show vast differences from the original ideas

I think I've only changed mine once and that was before I started track-laying, but then I spent months, and months, and months planning it on Anyrail and full-size with cardboard templates on the bare boards


Paul

I had to rejig my goods yard a bit. I was using an old board and I thought the track plan would fit it nicely but once I actaually laid it, I realised I had to lose a siding from the goods yard to fit the width of the board. Not a disaster but definitely something I will remember for future.

Slightly more disappointing was the run around loop which I am sure should be long enough for 3 coaches. In practice it will only hold 2.    Again not a total disaster as my normal serivce is a B-set plus tank engine but a little flexibility would have been nice.  I know for future to allow a bit more length and measure before I commit to the plan.

Measure twice, cut once.