I hear you. We model railroaders might complain about lots of things on our layouts, but not having a layout at all would be the worst. Have you thought about building a shelf-style layout or a module? ...Roy
I understand the problems railroading could be too.....It's all part of the hobby. :) At my age, I have a small apartment. But it sure would be fun! When I was younger I had HO trains with simple layouts.
I hate spending my layout time on maintenance and repair work. Switch machine gremlins are at the top of my list for my least favorite things I have to spend my time on! Fixing and/or replacing damaged detail parts is also close to the top of my list.
Nice video, I enjoy just running trains myself, however I find it amazing how big and prototypical some layouts are. Once again, great video and layout!
Boy, Bench work, electrical, track planning and track work, ballasting, and scenery. What's left? It does take sort of a wide variety of skills to be successful here, but that's where the fun is. It's the journey not the end result. There's never an end result either, there is always something more that must be done. The continues of the journey of course :)
I just discovered your channel and I love it! As a kid I had a Hornby oval and always wanted a proper layout, but it'll probably be some years yet before I have a permanent address and the disposable income to even think about building one, so it's great to be able to watch and hear about the process of putting together such a nice setup.
If and when the time comes, I will probably also end up using N scale. It really appeals to me after watching many of the videos on this channel just how much layout can be squeezed into a room, compared to HO or OO. As to the quality of Hornby, I never had a point of comparison, but I certainly had my fair share of troubles with my oval.
I can tell you that I'm very happy with N-scale. It has improved enormously in quality and availability in recent years. I would stick with N-scale even if I had a lot more space. ...Roy
N scale is great because it allows me to run full length trains in a relatively short space! The one thing I hate seeing is trains running half length or worse, especially high speed trains like a 00 Hornby HST with only one passenger car!
I really hate cleaning track after shutting down the railroad over the summer months. My layout is a big double decker with a lot of spurs going into industries. After firing back up the railroad making the first initial track cleaning is a pain I hate, but much easier to maintain after the major scrubbing.
I hate track cleaning, too, Terrell. But it's necessary for smooth-running trains, especially here in the tropical climate of Panama where I live, which makes frequent track cleaning necessary. ...Roy
Ballasting = not bad but I use the same process you do except I pile on the ballast and when dry, use a brush to pull the extra up to the track to use between the rails. Then I tap (rather hard) on the underside of the road bed and the vibrations usually cause most of the ballast to settle down where I want. Wiring = don't do it any more as I went to a complete battery powered layout. No shorts, no worries about y's or reverse loops. Bench work = No problems as I use a system of 1 X 4 wood covered with plywood and then foam. Track work = never a problem as I do this slowly and test every part before gluing it down. Works great with the battery power. Track cleaning = No problem as I don't have to worry about electrical pick up and clean the track with a vacuum cleaner. Scenery = This is where I go the slowest. I've made my own rock molds and have only a 1 level layout. There are mountains and hills but not a second level... Operations = Haven't got that down yet and will set this at one of the least great things I do.
Thanks for your comment, Jon. The backdrop is made entirely from photographs taken in the area I'm modeling and put together with the help of a photographer friend. ...Roy
I have a basic DC layout where I can run trains around a couple of different circuits, what annoys me most is, when sitting back enjoying the trains having done multiple circuits, out of nowhere the dreaded derail. You fix it and then watch that area of track to try and find out a cause, and everything works fine until you sit back down. Anyhow Roy, keep up the great work on the layout and videos. Looking forward to the planned track changes. Cheers
Thanks for sharing your experience, my friend. Derailments - and the catastrophes that follow - are a model railroader's worst nightmare. But we love the hobby anyways. ...Roy
Derailments are what dictated the design for my layout. It's quite wide and one sided so I've had to place all the points at the front because that's where all my derailments occur. Not ideal but it'll do and has lead to a more interesting design too.
At first I thought I knew which one that I hated the most, but you kept coming up with ones that I haven't even done yet. So the one I hate the most is a toss up with speed matching(haven't done yet), wiring for lights in buildings(do I need a resistor or not), really small stuff(couplers, air lines). The one that I love doing: track planning! Trying to design a new track plan now! Roy H.
Sometimes I think it's hard to say which one we like and dislike the most, because they seem to change over time. We may not enjoy some aspects of the hobby, but the good news is: We still love the hobby. Thanks for watching and commenting, Roy H. ...Roy S.
When I get to a layout somewhere before I die I don't want to have much in the way of operations on it, I want to have mostly a scenic portion where trains just run through the scenery and maybe there are 1 or two places along the way where one train stops to wait for another to pass, or stops to cut in a helper engine to go up a large grade. At present I have no space for a layout so I'm just jotting down notes from guys like you on what I would like to get into a future layout once I have the space / time / money for one
Bench work and layout planning has been simplified for me by deciding to do N-trak modules. The part I dread the most is scratch building but it is necessary to make the modules I want. N-trak helps that by letting me do it in small sections.
Great video as always, Roy! Like you, I have a hard time motivating myself to finish structures on my layout. Favorite thing is weathering locos/rolling stock/structures. I think effective, realistic weathering really makes or breaks the look of every part of a layout. It really is an art form in and of itself.
Roy! Stop procrastinating! I'm dying to see more of your beautiful scenic work on your layout! Your's is one of only two model railroad RU-vid channels that I follow and I have been going crazy for almost a year now waiting to see what echo canyon will look like!!!!
Good idea, Max! Stop procrastinating, I mean. It's taking me forever to make any progress on my layout, especially at Echo Canyon. I've really got to get going with it. ...Roy
Track cleaning for sure. Even after you clean it, it’s still gonna leave two black stripes on the palm of your hand when you trying to reach the furthest part of your layout
I buy all mine from Amazon Japan and the longest I've had to wait is 3 days and that's in the middle of a global pandemic! I've trains arrive from Tokyo to London arrive in less than 24 hours before!
okay...where to start. At the moment (and yes, this probably tells you where I am in the process of building my n scale model railroad. 1. troubleshooting code 55 track and turnouts. I would like some feedback on this. One of the problems with N scale, the darn cars rock and roll, especially over turnouts. (Atlas). I opted for code 55 because of its "prototypical" look. But if I had it to do over again...???? 2.. And this could be associated with the code 55 track. But I have cars that want to 'slinky'. This is particularly true at slow speeds. I've changed out the couplers, I've changed out the trucks, I've replaced the wheels with metal wheels and still, the darn car goes, hesitates, goes again, hesitates again, etc etc. Any suggestions on how to fix this would be appreciated. 3. Uncoupling. let me repeat that, uncoupling. It is a small layout and only services a few industries (not built yet). I don't understand how people on larger layouts do it. When I try, it just turns into derailments.
I don't have a layout, but I would hate dusting the cars and buildings I'm certain if I were landscaping useing small pieces to look like foliage most of the pieces would be stuck to my fingers
Oh Yea ! I also hate wiring . I do agree with you about track work. My last layout had a helix and I used Kato Unitrack . It works very well and eliminates a LOT of headaches . I intend to use it for 99% of my track work from now on. It even matches well with Walthers Shinohara switches. Thanks for the video.
Dusting! Sure from 10 feet away it looks like prototypical weathering but close-up photos look horrible when things are dusty. It also fades scenery and nothing breaks more delicate details than dusting. Broken trees, figurines getting sucked up, power lines breaking, handrails, etc. all while trying to be careful. I wish that I could hermetically seal my layout.
Maybe that dust adds an certain amount of realism to our layouts. Maybe we don't have to do as much weathering. Or maybe not. Then there's cats. I don't have a cat, but many friends in the hobby do, and their cats love to jump up on their layouts, scattering cat fur everywhere and destroying everything in sight. ...Roy
Roy, I would have to say the task I "presently" dislike the most is Cleaning the Track. My current layout is out in a screen porch here in Florida.. since putting it out there I have taken down almost all of the structures and every piece of rolling stock. It is presently covered with a blue plastic tarp..When I want to use it..I have to carefully remove the tarp..clean every bit of track because it is now partially exposed to the climate and conditions..then I have to drag out some rolling stock , that is presently packed away making it very hard to get to, and then hook up temp power to use it...by the time I get to use it..often the joy of running it is over. Hopefully this will all change sometime this year when this room will be insulated and sided and will become my permanent layout. What I enjoy most is scenery..In N..man, we really get to make a believable ratio of scenery to railroad. Unfortunately..the people are so hard to see.. and, one of my absolute joys is to see what the people are doing on people's layouts.. Well, this has been a bit lengthy.. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.. Tom
I agree, Tom. Track cleaning is no fun. I can imagine doing it is especially challenging in the climate of Florida, just as it is here in the tropical climate of Panama. ...Roy
I noticed in one of your shots that you place cork roadbed in between the Kato track. I was considering building an HO switching yard with Kato track but I was concerned with the height of the Kato track, but building up the height with the cork would save me a lot of ballast and give the yard a flatter appearance. Thanks for your informative videos, you're a natural, were you a teacher or instructor as a profession?
Thanks for your comment, Paul. I really appreciate it. Yes, in my yards I use cork roadbed between the tracks. I do this to reduce the apparent height of the Kato Unitrack where it should not be so high, and it takes a lot less ballast to achieve this effect. Actually, I'm a military retiree. Thanks for asking. ...Roy
That's great, thanks for your service! I spent 3 years in the Canadian infantry when I was younger and I actually trained on several occasions at American base, Fort Drum, NY. Great experiences and friends.
Here! Here! I agree with you, Roy, about speed matching. It's definitely the most loathsome task. It's so frustrating! My favorite task is actually choosing my locomotives and cars that I'll be running that day, whether they be freight or passenger, or both, and then experiencing the enjoyment of seeing them run. Hey Roy, did you notice that your RU-vid channel is coming up on 2000 subscribers? Fairly soon you will reach that milestone. How will you celebrate it? -from Tom Pilling
You are so right, Tom, speed matching really is a "loathsome task." I've got to believe that someone will eventually come up with an easy way to do it. Since you posted your comment, the channel has surpassed 2000 subscribers. That has given me the awesome responsibility of living up to my subscribers' expectations. Fortunately, making videos about model railroading is a lot of fun. ...Roy
Fun video. Several of the topics here I don't mind. My layout is DC and one of the things I enjoy is making control panels. Call me nutty but I thinks it fun. I also enjoy scenery because for me it usually goes quickly and its always satisfying to to fill in more unfinished areas of the layout. One thing I am not to fond of is using plaster for roads or mountains. I don't like the mess but I like the results. I went through a 25 pound bag of plaster and then some to create the big mountain on my layout. I discovered using an edge painter pad makes ballasting much easier. Before I knew about this ballasting was a very tedious and unsatisfying affair. Edge painter pads are great for spreading ballast with much better results.
Thanks for sharing your likes and dislikes, Collin. Sometimes, the best way to approach something you dislike is to change your technique for doing it, as you suggest. Using a different technique can make an unpleasant task more fun. I hope to add up everyone's likes and dislikes and announce the totals on Sunday (April 1). ...Roy
I use Marklin c tracks which avoid many of the pain points related to ballasting, reverse looping etc.etc. What I'm hating the most is my inability to come up with a satisfactory plan for my yard area. I'm still struggling. Designing main line has not been tough. I read "track planning for realistic operation" and got decent insights on design aspects related to layout planning . Still deep within me, I'm not that happy with the yard design I have done currently..
I agree, Madhu, it is difficult to design a satisfying yard plan. Certain things seem to be essential, such as one or more arrival/departure tracks, a yard lead, and of course, various classification tracks. I hope to do a video about my yard at Green River in the near future. ...Roy
Hi Roy, my least favourite task has to be ballasting. I just find it so fiddly but it does make the track look so much better. My favourite task is running my trains - it is so therapeutic! My layout is small so I use DC rather than DCC so speed matching is not an issue for me.
Thanks for your "vote" on ballasting, Michael. It's certainly at or near the top of least favorite activities in model railroading. It's almost time for me to start counting up the "votes." ...Roy
Hello Roy , I really enjoy 😊 your videos. You do an excellent job in every aspect of the information that you are trying to convey. Since I work with electric all day , I don’t like to do it with my hobby since my hobby is my favorite relaxing 😎 time . Basically all other aspects of the hobby l enjoy 😊. Again great 👍 job !!! And thanks !!!!
Thank you for your very kind words, Kraig. I really appreciate it. Doing videos about model railroading is almost as much fun as the hobby itself. Thanks for watching and commenting. ...Roy
Ballasting --- I find soothing as I have found a way of doing it without all of the tedious work. Wiring --- I don't have to do much of this as I use battery power in my engines and the only wiring I have to do in the switch machines and most all of that can be done sitting on a stool. With this mode I have no problems with dirty track, electrical problems like shorts, and there is no problem with "y's" or reverse loops... Bench work was easy as I am a reformed wood worker... Track work is easier with longer pieces of flex track. The problems I have is deciding on where I need to put the track...Scenery is fun and cheep. I have made almost 30 molds of rocks, walls, and tunnel portals and really like to put them together. All of my castings have cost maybe 75 dollars and I have made many wall sections and portals. I find that you can buy one of most anything and make a mold from it and cast many parts. You just can not sell them, use them on your layout or give them away, just don't sell them...When friends want a lot of wall or portal, I have them buy a pail of plaster for me to use...Operations -- Don't like to have formal ops...Love industrial switching...Don't do any speed matching as I have dummy engines when I want to have a lash up with several engines. Battery power is just so simple...
Thanks for watching and commenting, David. I really appreciate it. It sounds like you are enjoying every aspect of the hobby. That's great, because sooner or later, most of us run into a task that is challenging or disagreeable in some way. Sometimes we encounter things we don't necessarily enjoy doing, but overall, we love the hobby. ...Roy
One task not mentioned is maintenance on the locomotives. I have no clue about the components once I get the shell off. As to the tasks he mentioned, I don't have a problem with them as they are all necessary
Thanks for mentioning the task of locomotive maintenance, Ted. That can be pretty daunting. I have installed decoders. I have even replaced broken drive shafts. But, except for cleaning the wheels, locomotive maintenance is something I'd rather not even try to do. ...Roy
Mine is coming up with the layout plan I will build. I take forever to settle on what I will build and then once I start I change my mine. Everything else is relaxing fun.
Track planning can be really challenging, David. It seems like we do and re-do our plans on paper, and then we continue to make changes in the track arrangement when we're actually building our layouts. ...Roy
For me, two onerous tasks are track cleaning, which you addressed, and wheel cleaning. Has there been a recent labor-saving invention come onto the market which I have missed? I've wanted to ask someone, such as yourself, Mr. Smith, who has a lot of rolling stock how you do all of the wheel cleaning efficiently. Thank you for your very lucid videos of your very beautiful layout.
Thank you for your very kind comment. I really appreciate it. As for the freight cars, I'm replacing all of the plastic wheels with metal wheels, in part because they help keep the track cleaner. I clean the wheels on my diesels by laying a cloth with isoprophyl alcohol on it onto the tracks and run my diesel on it, first one truck, then I flip it around and run the other truck on the cloth. Of course, the track itself needs to be kept clean. I like to use a CMX track cleaning car to do that. ...Roy
The thing I have for cleaning wheels is from Kadee. It's like 2 small wire brushes that each have an electrical connection that energizes them. You connect the wires up to the power (12 volts DC) and then hold the loco on the brushes (one wheel on each brush). The power drives the loco wheels and they rub on the wire brushes which cleans them. The product number is 236 for HOn3 to O scale and 843 for O to G scale. I don't know if they have one for N scale or smaller.
I’m glad the technique is useful. One of the best things about model railroading is the way we can share our knowledge and experience with each other. ...Roy
I Think finding the money is the hardest followed by wiring. What I find is I have spurts of doing something on the layout. The best part is the variety of different jobs that have to be done.
Good point, Ian: When one thing on the layout becomes challenging or boring, we can always turn to something else for a while. There are so many different things to do on our layouts. Thanks for watching, and thanks for your comment. ...Roy
I dred wiring my layout when I start building it . Planning the layout is harder too I can see ideas in my head but putting it on paper for the area I have to use . I don’t own a track planner program or a computer to use it on so I have to relay on my phone for a lot of things and I haven’t found a program to work on a phone . I do enjoy building structures mostly kits haven’t tried the scratch build yet but after watch vinny bnsf 6951 do it I want to try it .i also enjoy operation and switching when running trains in a circle can be relaxing but can be boring switching gives more things to do and can be hours of fun on some bigger layouts
Thanks for your comment, Bob. Yes, indeed, planning a layout can be challenging, and even more so without a track planner program. I use Railmodeller for Mac. It's a simple program, but it has served my needs. ...Roy
hi Roy... i would have to say that track cleaning is what i don't like... especially because of all the industrial spurs that are on my layout... scenery & structures are my favorite things to do... they bring life to the layout... vinny
I would put my least favorite as a toss-up between speed matching and ballasting. Maybe speed matching is a little less favored than ballasting. On the plus side I enjoy building, detailing and painting structures, rolling stock and motive power.
Thanks for your comment, Gary. Lots of people have said they dislike ballasting, but speed matching is the one thing that I personally dislike most. There has got to be a better way to do it. All we need is for someone to invent that way. ...Roy
My only issue with Kato's unitrack is that the tie spacing just doesn't look right. As well as the little bumps on the ties to hold the rails down, they look too big! Kato's trains, however, I absolutely love.. Great video! Subscribed!
Thanks for watching, commenting, and subscribing, Bill. I really appreciate it. I know what you mean about the tie spacing on Kato Unitrack. Many have commented that it doesn't look realistic, and i think that's a fair assessment. I have found that, like other brands of track, it needs to be painted and ballasted, and once I do that, it looks as good as other brands. I have used flex track in the past with all of its bending, cutting, and soldering, but at this point in my life, I need track that is reliable and convenient to use. So, for me, Kato track is ideal. ...Roy
Zane's Trains hit the nail - cleaning track and dusting the tiny "stuff". ALL the rest of the hobby floats my boat - All of it - except as noted. Thanks for providing a safe N space to let these confessions out...
I agree: cleaning the track and dusting the layout is no fun. I'm glad to hear that the channel provides a safe space in which to discuss N scale, because one of the best things about model railroading is sharing the hobby with others. ...Roy
It sounds like you enjoy doing every task on your layout, Richard. That's great, because most guys love the hobby but don't especially enjoy doing some of the things they have to do on their layouts. As you mentioned, not having enough time to work on the layout can be a challenge, along with not having enough money, space, or skill.
Before I watch the video so I don't get any ideas I'll tell you my personal the main one would be cleaning track another one would be dusting as far as scenery goes making a good glue solution and then applying to glue and also trying to get the correct lighting for a particular scene.
In a way, we're all just beginners, Ted, because no matter how much time we have in the hobby and no matter how much we've learned over the years, there's always more to learn. There are always new techniques and new technologies that we can apply to our layouts. Learning never stops. ...Roy
Roy, There is not much I don't like about working on my layout. My problem is time/money. To have the extra money for my train hobby I work all the time. LOL So that doesn't leave much free time to work on my layout. I also have a young son (Cale) who demand my attention. He luckily loves trains but he is way to excitable at his age to let loose around a layout. Hopefully when he gets a little bigger he can help me and keep me motivated. Also we have just moved to a new home with a unfinished basement. So now I have lots more space to build a new bigger layout. So I'm starting over and I'm hoping to do video updates on my channel ounce I start it. Keep up the videos, You motivate me to. David
I see what you mean, David. Time and money are big constraints in model railroading. Others include space and skill. It's great to know that you have the space you need to build your layout. It's also great to know that you're starting your young son off early in the hobby. He's going to have so much fun. ...Roy
I don't really mind any of the things you mentioned, i don't have a permanent area for mine, so i have to set it up and dismantle it afterwards every time i want to run it. Which is a serious and massive pain in the arse!!!!!! And it takes bloody ages to carry out. A real pain in the arse!!!!!!
Hello Roy. It's a kind of modular thing in that it's in sections and needs to be bolted together every time. The simple problem is that i just don't have much space. Which is why i watch youtube for my railway fix!
Hello Roy, well the thing I dislike the most is how the time seems to go by so quickly when working in the layout; track planning can be a bit of a nightmare for me. However, once i get to the track laying stage, well I do enjoy that. Once again thank you for another video.
You are so right, Julian. I think insufficient time is one of the biggest constraints we model railroaders face. The others would include money, space, and skill. But there is so much to do and so little time. Thanks for watching and commenting. ...Roy
I agree, Scott: trouble-shooting should be at or near the top of the list of least-favorite things to do on a layout. I know I don't like to do it, and for me, it's hard to imagine that anyone would. ...Roy
Great video Roy. Love scenery, wiring, ballasting, bench work and operations. Dislike, hate is such a strong word, wheel cleaning of rolling stock, coupler replacement and weight adjustment of rolling stock as I find them repetitive and boring. Neil W
I see what you mean, Neil. All of the things you mentioned are no fun. We'll soon see which activity turns out to be at the top of the list of least favorite activities. Thank for your comment. ...Roy
I love track planning, particularly since I found a pc track planning programme that saved me having to constantly lay down and pick up track to see what fits. I hate wiring the most! I can't wait for the day everything is controlled by long lasting usb rechargeable batteries and bluetooth! Oh I forgot to add I hate points because that's where all my derailments occur and have had to plan my layout around this!
Wiring is not my friend, that's one of the reason I'm switching to DCC. I haven't ballested my Unitrack, but I didn't hate it with other brands that I've used. I love scenery, building kits and all the other stuff!
Thanks for sharing your list of least favorite and most favorite activities in model railroading, my friend. It's almost time for me to add up the "votes" to see which activities are the "winners." Thanks for watching and commenting. ...Roy
i have one to add to your list roy! trouble shooting! this means any thing that cant be explained either by visual inspection or by feel. like a clicking sound coming from an locomotive, grinding sound also coming from a locomotive. a section of track that everything seems to run ok on for the longest time then all of a sudden it becomes the worst spot. power drops such as low voltage in one particular section of track that starts all of a sudden. these are the types of things that i hate i guess some people call them GREMLINS ! on a large or medium size layout these things can be so frustrating that it almost makes you want to give up on the hobby. some day someone will invent a GREMLIN catcher and i will be the first on to buy one. that is a little comedy tension breaker right there my friend. great video with lots to think about and as always good to see you. thank jim
Jim, thanks for adding trouble shooting to the list of least favorite activities in model railroading. It certainly belongs at or near the top of the list. Whether we're talking about wiring, track, locos, or whatever have you, trouble shooting is no fun. It really can be frustrating and exasperating, trying to find the cause of some mysterious problem. Hmm, a GREMLIN catcher, that's a good idea, along with an easier way to do speed matching. I hope somebody's working on both of those ideas. I always appreciate your comments, Jim. ...Roy
My favorite part of the hobby is that I have the freedom to buy and run the trains that I really like, even though it might not be prototypical or from the "correct" era. My least favorite part would be, at least as far as N scale is concerned , are couplers . When I was a kid , like about 90% of model railroaders, I never worried about wether or not the Lionel couplers were compatible with MTH or Williams ones. ( don't be confused about the names, Roy. " James Young " is a very common name)
Thanks, James. You are so right: N-scale couplers can be a real pain. I know what you mean about common names. Roy Smith is a pretty common name, too. I've been called Ray, Ron, and Rex, and sometimes I actually get called "Roy" (haha). ...Roy
My least favorite is getting the dust off my track, scenery, figures et al., not really an operations layout guy, I love to sit back, have my coffee, watch my world go by, also like planning and engineering layout design, what I find relaxing, is kitbashing vehicles from my youth in So. Cal.
I understand what you mean about dust. That always seems to be a problem for us model railroaders. And to make things worse, I live in a tropical climate where wood-eating insects thrive. There are little piles of dust wherever they live on the layout. I've been fighting them for quite a while in one particular spot on my layout, and I'm not going to give up until they're completely eradicated. ...Roy
Thanks for your comment, Jeff. And thanks for watching. I believe wiring is leading the "votes" in least-liked tasks. I guess that's no surprise, but fortunately, using Unitrack, as you are doing, makes wiring a lot easier. ...Roy
I don't like cleaning my track, since my layout is outdoors,I need to clean the track every time I want to run, but I'm getting pretty good at it only takes about 10 minutes. I want to build a automated track cleaning car...Skol Ron//
Well, nobody said it was a cheap hobby*. After all the equipment manufactures are in business to make a profit. The same with vendors, be they brick and mortar or online. There is one way to look at it. Ask yourself just how long a scale locomotive will last. Barring of course dropping one on the floor or operating with Gomez Addams (classical reference). 25 to 30 years? Also never bite off more than you can chew. For someone just getting into MRRing it's best to start with simple continuous loop. It doesn't have to be an oval. A dog bone would work well enough as long as it has the potential to allow some switching activity. Also a doggone would allow one to expand to acc multiple level layout. Remember visitors like to see trains run. Plus a continuous run allows you let something just run while your doing something else that does not require actually leaning over the layout. While of course point to point is more prototypical even a point to poi t should have some way of allowing continuous operation. One as stated above for visitors. The second is allow testing equipment after doing any work on it. I remember an exceptionally beautiful layout inspired by the Flagler line to Key West. But it was built simply to run trains. After all, just how much operation could one really do on such a layout. *About the only really inexpensive hobby involving scale modeling is cardstock modeling. The subjects are varied. Structures to ships to air rafts to figures. Plus with digital models if you mess up, just print another sheet. Try looking at Paper Modelers.
That's why Ebay exists! i saved an absolute fortune on my viaduct station by buying it through Ebay auctions. I got two stations and all the platforms, track and points to make a full length double station for little more than the price of one single station without any platforms or track!
Definitely electrical! I’m still trying to get to my occupancy detector that I’m hooking up for my staging yard. Which is under the table. Also working on hiring my frogs off of my tortoise switch machines. Still need to work out polarity on them.
Here is one solution to make ballasting fun and easy. Just drill some small holes in the bottom of coal cars. Glue a very tiny piece of wood to the bottom of your cars. (Just One) Then, fill the coal cars with ballast and attach a locomotive of your choice to the front of you coal cars. Then run them around the layout a couple times per track until your satisfied with the amount of ballast on your tracks. Finally spray some alcohol on the ballast to bring it together and increase the chances of it not coming off. (One more thing. Make sure that that you place your locomotive on the side where the piece of wood isn't in the front of the coal car.) Try this out an tell me how it goes. Thank You and model railroader for life. FYI, I'm 13.
Thanks for your suggestion about ballasting, Elijah. Your suggestion proves that even a task which so many in the hobby dislike can be converted into a task that is almost fun to do. ...Roy
I enjoy this hobby in all aspects, I have learned a lot and still a lot more to learn, but there is one thing about the hobbie, Money! Thanks for sharing
Because of cost I use a lot of second hand forty or more year old locos and stock, which I use as a basis of bashing into various prototypes... I really dislike having to re-wheel them so that they run on PECO code 100 track. May favourite task is building structures either from kits or from scratch or (more often than not) by kit-bashing, I model British OO in the Great War era so pretty well everything has to be modified! All the best, Ken ps I've hit supscribe even though I gave up modelling American outline eighteen months ago (costs rose too the point that I just couldn't afford the prices).
Buy one of the reach extenders. www.amazon.com/Grabber-FitPlus-Premium-Reacher-Warranty/dp/B06XH4ZZL9/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_121_lp_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EA8X8RJXY6SK29TF0XC3
You are so right, my friend. Trying to fix a derailment in an inaccessible place is really exasperating. And derailments seem to occur most often in difficult-to-reach places like helixes. ...Roy
There is a couple Computer Programms that can use IR sensors, hall sensors and so on the layout to measure the speed of locos, and Programm them automatically.
I don't like track work ,it seem like i always have problems ,like ,short's , hesitation's and so on. What do i like most all the rest, it's hard to put a finger on what I love the most.I just love to model.
I understand what you mean about track work, Mitch. When I built my previous layout back in the 1980s, I used flex track, with all of its bending, cutting, and soldering. Now i use Kato Unitrack, which I found found to be reliable, easy, and convenient to use. I'm sticking with it. ...Roy
Thanks for your comment on least favorite and most favorite activities on the layout, Frank. I think most likes and dislikes apply, whether we're in HO or N scale. Thanks for watching and commenting. ...Roy
I really enjoy all aspects of the hobby. that being said my dislikes come and go depending on what I am working on, for instance right now I am working on the scenery and dislike the task of developing the the land formations. And making it look good. and I dislike track cleaning whenever I want to run a train. I am in the process of getting a couple track cleaning cars
Hi Roy. I actually love all of it but one thing I would change...my age!!! If only to have the 50 years of knowledge and 'skills' I have accumulated, and then re-fit them in my body when it was 16. Just think...good eyesight, no arthritis, the ability to remember where things are and a memory to not forget what the hell I'm supposed to be doing. My love : All of it My hate : My age. Cheers from the UK, Bob
I know what you mean about age from personal experience, Bob. The older I get, the more challenging certain aspects of the hobby become. For me, the best example of that is building benchwork. ...Roy
I actually enjoy all the tasks, even those that are intimidating at first. It seems that no matter what we do to make things run smoothly, there is always a gremlin somewhere. On the other hand, this is why the hobby is so much fun. Getting it right or not, it is a tinker's hobby. If you don't like screwing around with things, then this is not the hobby for you.
Good point, Gary: even tasks that seem challenging or intimidating at first can turn out to be satisfying once we've done them successfully. I think wiring might be a good example of this. Thanks for your comment. ...Roy
I know what you mean about track planning, Jeff. It seems like we draw up our track plans, then we do them again and again before we actually begin to build our layouts. And even after we begin to lay actual track, we often make changes in the track work along the way. Maybe that's one reason why layouts are never really finished. Thanks for watching and commenting. ...Roy
So true, clean up chores are no fun. And the clutter seems to pile up on top of existing clutter, making it even harder to get things done on our layouts. ...Roy
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
I honestly don't like doing the super small details around my junction, details like debris, vegetation and signals/signs really frustrate me. Sadly i'm a picky guy, so if something isn't done to precise realism I never like the outcome.
I know what you mean. Adding those kinds of details takes time and can be pain-staking. I guess that's why I haven't really added many details to my layout so far. I do plan to add them, but that will have to be later on. ...Roy
I'm the same. I just don't have the creativity to know how to add debris and vegetation and stuff. I always claim my layout is based on a brand new station so the weeds haven't had time to get a foothold yet!
I think that's a safe bet, Jonathon. I absolutely hate it. I have to believe there's a better way to do speed match than the methods we currently use. Now, if someone would just invent that better way. ...Roy
Don't like (okay, hate): Cleaning Track. Debugging Track & trouble shooting derailments. Making turnouts behave. Most other aspects are enjoyable. Even wiring when done correctly!!
I hear you, Kade. I just had to wire a Digitrax AR1, and the darn thing doesn't come with very adequate instructions. I had to turn to the Internet to find out where to put the isolating rail joiners and where to connect the AR1 wires to the track. ...Roy
