Now, I have a quandry.  I live in a flat, it's a reasonable size as flats go.  But, that said, it is still a flat and my proposed layout is restricted as a result of that.
Some of you, I know, followed my 'planning thread' and moved with me to the 'build thread' when the time came.
Well, I have now heard from the landlord.  There are plans to make quite a few improvements to this property.  The relevent one being that a new hot-water/heating-system will be installed.  The new equipment will give me a space that would allow for a completely different and much better approach to a layout.  It would actually give me a dedicated room for this purpose, and, at the same time, give me back the living room area now taken up by the current effort.
Here is the quandary - work is planned to start in the spring of next year and finish before the proper onset of summer.  The current layout is not suitable for incorporation into what would come from the new space.
In cash terms then, any spending, other than on stock and buildings etc. would be just as well flushed down the loo in one sense.  Same applies in other ways to time and effort on, for instance, landscaping.
I see the options as:
1) continue work and take it as experience (hard to be enthusiastic about what will likely end up as landfill to some degree) 
2) go back to planning for what will eventually be a far more adventurous/exciting/satisfying project in the longer term.

Any thoughts and opinions will be most welcome.

Regards, Allan.....

Couldn't you build a smaller module that can be added to when you get more space. That would let you run trains and wouldn't be wasted.

An interesting idea by Malc. Personally, I would be inclined to do a bit of both 1) and 2). By that, I mean can you still do any work on your current set up without spending any, (or very little), money? Things like using your current stock of scenic materials to enhance what you have at the moment? It is all experience. You could also spend time planning the new layout - you have quite a bit of time and maybe incorporate some of your ideas for the future into your current set up. This quandary is starting to give me a headache  David.

Use the time to hone your skills, be it soldering/wiring/lighting, scenic work, kit building, track laying/ballasting.  All of these could be done on a small module until the time comes to build the biggy!!  It will also give you time to plan and reflect on whether it will actually work and how it will work,

Hmmm, I tend to agree ... make a small module you can map into the larger layout.  Or ... do a couple of dioramas to experiment & learn on ?

But make sure you put most of the cash you'd otherwise spend on the (wasted) layout into a secure kitty for next year 

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on August 28, 2015, 09:36:51 PM
2) go back to planning for what will eventually be a far more adventurous/exciting/satisfying project in the longer term.

You will be doing this regardless of what you build. I've yet to make it halfway through a layout before I start thinking about the next one. Which will of course be bigger, better and more fun to operate!

So you may as well build something now, even if it's a box file layout. I was at a show a week or so ago where I saw a layout called Kidmore Magna. The thing is tiny, 76 cm by 61 cm. But it's really good; filled with handcrafted details and beautifully done scenics. It's deliberately timeless too, so the operator can run steam or diesel as required.

There's also the classic Gum Stump & Snowshoe Railroad, which in N scales down to a bit over 90 cm by 15 cm. Tiny, but plenty of operating potential if you want something a bit more complex than the usual shunting plank or branchline terminus.

Cheers, NeMo

Make at least draft plans for using the new space, from that figure out what you are likely to need in terms of stock and buildings; keep scanning  for bargains to fulfill those needs, also spend some time making kits or scratch building stock and/or buildings that can be used on the new layout;

Do sufficient work on the current layout if necessary  so that you can run the trains you do have, they don't like sitting in their boxes with the oil congealing.

I agree with Mike above
espeically about keeping things running, any machine, even small trains are better if they are run often

Thanks for all the replies folks.  What is really gripping my bits about this is that I just got all the bits, switches, LED's etc., and spent a lot of time drawing and preparing, to build a very fancy computer (Arduino) based mimic board for what I have now.  I have only got as far as building the power supplies though.  I suppose that's a good thing.  The software I can change to suit what ever comes to be.

As one response above says, 'this quandary is giving me a headache'!

I am taking heed to what was said regarding running the trains.  Fortunately, I don't have a whole lot of stock to think about in that regard since I had been buying for a very small layout.  At least I can now think about some passenger traffic beyond just a two car DMU.

Tomorrow I will measure up the space that is going to become available and plug the floor plan into SCARM and start playing about a bit.

AH!  Just thinking as I type here - I have been putting off getting a plotter/cutter, this could be the time to get one ordered!  I had been thinking Metcalfe buildings but then so do a lot of other people.  That came to me when I saw a reply from Mike.

OK, it's late and my head is running away with me!

Thanks again for the suggestions...  Looks like it's gonna be back to the planning thread for me.

Regards, Allan.....

Allan are these modifications to your flat set in stone, then if they are go ahead with new plans, if you do not then later down the line you will kick yourself for not taking advantage of the extra space, remember it is only a hobby and the number of times I have changed my layout because of extra space is around 3 times, so be more adventurous and build your layout in sections that way you will be able to carry on modelling until your extra space is finished.

I am sure you will be able to use every thing you have bought for your new layout, do not be down hearted but more up beat about the new layout you are about to design and build.

All the very best with your up and coming new layout.

I was about to say the same sort of thing.

Consider a demountable layout of several baseboards that you can work on individually in the space you have, while eventually fitting as a whole into the new space. It does add to the complexity of the build and electrics (multiway connectors, etc.) but you can keep on working on it, even when space might be more limited by the improvement work.

Squaff a few of your Guinness-cherry cocktails, Zogbert, and everything will become clear.

Webbo

Nothing really to add to what everyone else has said, Allan.
Planning the next 'big' layout is always fun but I'd see what of your current layout could be incorporated into the new one such that you can practice various modelling skills, even if you just construct a diorama you can pose your stock on and take piccies.
As for running stock for 'freeing up' purposes, if that's what's needed get a rolling road

Quote from: NeMo on August 28, 2015, 11:06:36 PM

Quote from: Zogbert Splod on August 28, 2015, 09:36:51 PM
2) go back to planning for what will eventually be a far more adventurous/exciting/satisfying project in the longer term.

You will be doing this regardless of what you build. I've yet to make it halfway through a layout before I start thinking about the next one. Which will of course be bigger, better and more fun to operate!

So you may as well build something now, even if it's a box file layout. I was at a show a week or so ago where I saw a layout called Kidmore Magna. The thing is tiny, 76 cm by 61 cm. But it's really good; filled with handcrafted details and beautifully done scenics. It's deliberately timeless too, so the operator can run steam or diesel as required.

There's also the classic Gum Stump & Snowshoe Railroad, which in N scales down to a bit over 90 cm by 15 cm. Tiny, but plenty of operating potential if you want something a bit more complex than the usual shunting plank or branchline terminus.

Cheers, NeMo

I have never seen the Gum Stump and Snowshoe before, but on looking at it now I can see a vague similarity to the Drinnick Mill / Nanpean area

It would need a fair bit of jiggling about, and would be somewhat larger but it would still be pretty small and cool to build and play with

Quote from: JasonBz on September 02, 2015, 03:51:59 PM
I have never seen the Gum Stump and Snowshoe before, but on looking at it now I can see a vague similarity to the Drinnick Mill / Nanpean area

I was looking at the track plan again today. Was thinking about how it could be turned into a harbour side layout, perhaps in Scotland. At the top a DMU shuttle to a station, with a seafront parade of shops, while the gradient downwards leads to the harbour proper, where something like a Class 26 could shunt a couple of fish vans or oil tankers.

Cheers, NeMo