Things you realise after a certain point

Bob Tidbury · July 26, 2015, 09:33:33 AM

Never mind Peter .
My friend in Canada says her Dad has never ever finished a layout in the last 42 years but at least he keeps trying. But that's part of the fun .
Bob

Trent · July 26, 2015, 06:08:05 PM

Interesting replies.

It's an interesting situation to be in with this vast range of more or less prefab scenic items available. It undoubtedly makes the hobby more accessible which brings in £££/$$$ which is vital for it to exist at all, but I wonder if it impacts on the general idea of 'what the hobby is about'? i.e. makes the hobby 'about' kits.

silly moo · July 26, 2015, 07:06:50 PM

I realised after a certain point quite recently that sticking to Peco track was a very good idea. Years ago I used quite a bit of Atlas track including their points which was very frustrating.

Quite recently I thought I could get away with a simple circle of Lima set track, bad idea! I'm now replacing it with Peco track so I can get decent running.

Pengi · July 26, 2015, 07:43:32 PM

Quote from: Biggy on July 25, 2015, 09:55:32 PM
For me it's. If you want to do something get the right kit first. It costs a bit more up front but saves time and money in the long run.
This learnt when I tried soldering wire to my track with an old large soldering iron no flux no stand no chance ended up with a lot of melted sleepers and no connection

Very true - the best costs less

railsquid · July 27, 2015, 02:43:29 AM

Quote from: Trent on July 26, 2015, 06:08:05 PM
Interesting replies.

It's an interesting situation to be in with this vast range of more or less prefab scenic items available. It undoubtedly makes the hobby more accessible which brings in £££/$$$ which is vital for it to exist at all, but I wonder if it impacts on the general idea of 'what the hobby is about'? i.e. makes the hobby 'about' kits.

I thought the hobby was about trains?

D1042 Western Princess · July 27, 2015, 07:01:43 AM

Quote from: silly moo on July 26, 2015, 07:06:50 PM
I realised after a certain point quite recently that sticking to Peco track was a very good idea. I'm now replacing it with Peco track so I can get decent running.

I totally concur S/M. The only fault I've found with Peco track over the years that I've been using it is that if you try loose ballast you get problems (almost certainly my own inexperience with using it) and that the sleeper spacing/gauge isn't right for British prototype, but good for much of the rest of the world (an understandable commercial decision).
People go on about other types but I'm happy too with what I have.
But in future it's Code 80 and ballast inlays for me as I found that produces reliable results, even if it doesn't look 100%.

alibuchan · July 27, 2015, 09:14:05 AM

Electrickery I can cope with. It's the scenery that causes me issues. I have managed to get to the stage where the electrics, track work, and ballasting are complete only to have a little go with the scenery and stop.

I have currently 2 months to finish the wiring and point motors and then do a complete 6 foot scenic section on top of them ready for the 3rd October.

Alistair

D1042 Western Princess · July 27, 2015, 10:00:06 AM

Quote from: alibuchan on July 27, 2015, 09:14:05 AM
Electrickery I can cope with. It's the scenery that causes me issues. I have managed to get to the stage where the electrics, track work, and ballasting are complete only to have a little go with the scenery and stop.

I have currently 2 months to finish the wiring and point motors and then do a complete 6 foot scenic section on top of them ready for the 3rd October.

Alistair

Alistair, I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart

.
Others make scenic work seem so simple but like you I find it most baffling

!
I was beginning to think I was alone with that particular problem.

Regards,
Greg.

alibuchan · July 27, 2015, 10:47:52 AM

I must have completed the wiring on 5 or 6 layouts for various people and myself. I just don't have that artistic creativity when it comes to the scenery side.

Where as one of my mates can't do electrics for toffee but give him a board with track down and in a running state and a week later secenery is done and annoyingly it's done very well. His layouts are booked in to shows with just a name not seeing it or pictures because it's not yet been built. He will produce a layout to suit that name.

Alistair

Trent · July 27, 2015, 11:33:58 PM

QuoteOthers make scenic work seem so simple but like you I find it most baffling

You definitely don't want to google image search for Michael Confalone Allagash Railroad.

Uses actual dried leaves, put through different blenders to get different gradings (!!!) and then handcrafts a mound of dried leaves under every deciduous tree on an a great outdoors layout that fills an entire yank basement. He also does partly melted snowdrifts.

The only natural scenery I've cracked is nasty styrofoam cliff faces. Can't be doing with most model trees either since I saw Supertrees in action and they are very expensive and fragile. I cut my losses and went urban themed, which solved some probs but introduced something called 'roads' which I just don't get because I'm not a driver

D1042 Western Princess · July 28, 2015, 07:31:44 AM

Quote from: Trent on July 27, 2015, 11:33:58 PM
QuoteOthers make scenic work seem so simple but like you I find it most baffling

I cut my losses and went urban themed, which solved some probs but introduced something called 'roads' which I just don't get because I'm not a driver

Snap. As a non car driver/owner myself I recon it's what helped me pay off the mortgage 7 years early.
Returning to topic do you think that's the problem with our scenic work?
Maybe we should start a new thread - do motorists make better scenic modellers than non motorists?

What do you think, Trent?

Greg.

railsquid · July 28, 2015, 07:45:16 AM

Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on July 28, 2015, 07:31:44 AM
Quote from: Trent on July 27, 2015, 11:33:58 PM
QuoteOthers make scenic work seem so simple but like you I find it most baffling

I cut my losses and went urban themed, which solved some probs but introduced something called 'roads' which I just don't get because I'm not a driver

Snap. As a non car driver/owner myself I recon it's what helped me pay off the mortgage 7 years early.
Returning to topic do you think that's the problem with our scenic work?
Maybe we should start a new thread - do motorists make better scenic modellers than non motorists?

As another non-car owner, I must say this whole scenic lark is quite fun, so far. Not that I've got very far, just the one hill as of the time of writing, which will need a good rigorous flocking before I can decorate it with lichen.

Trent · July 28, 2015, 04:11:28 PM

QuoteSnap. As a non car driver/owner myself I recon it's what helped me pay off the mortgage 7 years early.
Returning to topic do you think that's the problem with our scenic work?
Maybe we should start a new thread - do motorists make better scenic modellers than non motorists?
What do you think, Trent?

Definitely if you've got real life experience of something - not necessarily technical knowledge, just experience - it's much easier to replicate it

acko22 · July 29, 2015, 09:06:34 AM

I don't think you can just say do motorist make better scenic modellers, but experience of what you are trying to model always helps.

I am going to be modeling an area on western edge of the Pennines near Saddleworth moor, mostly because I know the area and the look I am going for after spending many a day walking across there!

silly moo · July 29, 2015, 04:41:17 PM

Also make a note of any paint colours used for large areas of scenery and if you have a ballast recipe ( I mix three colours together ) make a note of that too. Make a note of which colours of scatter material you use as well.

All of the above is useful if you need to make alterations to your layout.