No Time To Build A Model Railroad Layout?
Let's talk about model railroad design strategy. At almost thirty feet in length, the above design isn't small. Even so, it's an example...
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Jun 23, 20213 min read
How Long Should A Layout Last?
I only had my East Rail switching layout for about five years before selling it. Even though I didn't keep it, it provided me with a...
3,084 views6 comments
Dec 16, 20202 min read
One Room, Several Railroads
Rather than filling this spare room in my house with one medium sized layout, I built several smaller ones creating a "layout gallery"....
4,406 views6 comments
Mar 25, 20205 min read
Perspective
The above image was taken on my N scale switching layout using an iPhone and the room’s overhead Halogen track lighting. The depth of...
2,692 views4 comments
Oct 18, 20192 min read
Large Space, Small Skills
Modeler’s typically enter the hobby at two points in their lives, either during the teen years or at retirement. Those coming into model...
6,582 views0 comments
Jun 13, 20193 min read
The “Thirty Minute/Three Hour” Rule
When it comes to model railroad operations, I’ve noticed what I call the “thirty minute/three hour rule” or, as Captain Jack Sparrow...
5,692 views0 comments
Mar 24, 20192 min read
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance. Acceptance of the reality of our situation. Acceptance of constraints. Acceptance of the fact that the subject we are...
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Jan 22, 20192 min read
DIAGONALS
The man made world we model tends to be built on engineering order. In other words, ninety degree angles, perpendicular orientations, and...
1,335 views0 comments
Jul 21, 20181 min read
TURNOUT OPTIMISM
Model railroaders are an optimistic bunch, particularly when it comes to layout design! To be more specific, overly optimistic when it...
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Apr 12, 20184 min read
“TIME”
The timeless 80/20 rule, model railroad planning is not immune. All too often we have our 80/20 priorities backwards. We spend eighty...
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Feb 24, 20184 min read
PICKING A THEME, SETTING YOUR SCOPE
Before we draw the first line of a layout design, before we lay the first stick of bench work, the most important decisions present...
1,187 views0 comments
Jan 14, 20184 min read
FEAR OF MISTAKES
On a relatively frequent basis I encounter modelers that confide in me their fear of making mistakes. It’s perfectly understandable. ...
552 views1 comment
Nov 16, 20172 min read
RAIL GAPS AND RAIL JOINERS
I get lots of questions from my model railroad design clients, many new to layout construction, as to how to handle rail gaps and rail...
1,582 views0 comments
Oct 10, 20173 min read
SIX LANDMINES TO AVOID
Planning a layout for several….or many years down the road? Design, preparing, and anticipation can be a big part of the fun. In my...
1,564 views0 comments
Sep 13, 20172 min read
WHAT’S YOUR OPERATIONAL STYLE?
Trains in motion, that’s what we ultimately want. Without it we essentially have a static diorama. But what is your operational style? ...
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