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I really needed to hear this, I have an unfinished HO shelf layout that I've been too chicken to commit to scenicking. Maybe I need to change my dream to suit my motivation, instead of trying to make it work the other way around. (Or maybe I need to keep enjoying my garden railway and be consciously okay with letting the HO stuff sit for another year or two.)

Dont judge me. Lol

It would be nice to see how they are on the inside as well. Dual brass flywheels? What motors? Etc.

Ok. I’m comin out with my hands up. You caught me, ok?! I’ve got a ton of OO rolling stock in the back room. Notions of a garden railway running into a new shed. Alternative notions of a shelf layout running around the living room, through the wall into the hallway through the wall across the kitchen via removable single span bridge through the wall into the extension. Previous experience from late 80’s and 90’s working on a friends attic (a.k.a. loft in some countries) using peco nickel silver track on a double deck arrangement which used a helix to drop about 0.5m (18 inches for some!). Then I went to college. End of story. Don’t shoot!!

Thanks! Awesome insights, and you hit many of my procrastination station stops. I started a "reasonable" plan a couple of months ago and, hopefully, will be moving forward this winter and spring. Thanks again for helping me to move (slowly) out of my armchair. Really great and enjoyable video.

Good video, nothing wrong with just being a collector, I love trains but when you run em, well, they just go round and round, kinda boring.

That isn't me, I've got a 2'x3' layout that isn't operable because I haven't been able to successfully put my switches together. So, there.

This is fantastic advice! It's been years since my kids and I made a 4x8 layout. I saw a video just before Christmas of a guy's micro layout using a simple circle of 6" radius track Unitrak and the Kato Christmas train. I thought, "Okay, _that's_ manageable." I had some pink foam insulation in the garage, patiently awaiting that shelf layout I've been meaning to build, and I had an N scale Thomas, Annie and Clarabel, plus some tiny British prototype stuff. Over the course of 4-5 days, I built a nice little Christmas layout, with trees, cars, figures and track from the local train shop. In the process, I learned a _lot_ about working with that pink foam board, building mountains, mounting trees, putting together a road surface, etc. I made lots of mistakes, and it's by no means perfect, but I was able to bring it to the family Christmas gathering where it was a huge hit. Best of all, I feel like it's kind of disposable, so I didn't worry about perfection. Now I feel like I can tackle a slightly larger shelf layout with the lessons I've learned.

Would tamiya connectors be used for modular sections

New rrmodeler here, wanting to start building a layout. I have some questions that I am not finding answers to. Like if I built several 4’x8’ tables with folding legs for relative ease of movement or transport how would I connect 3rail track across the joints of two tables? Also, once a larger table configuration is up and track is laid, how does one complete scenery on the furthest corners? Climb on top? I have seen some pretty big layouts and can’t figure out how the owner can reach 10’ away to add or repair scenery or correct a derailment, clean track, etc.

Im a fan of modular building especially for newer hobbyists. You’re not committed to a huge layout but can build one thing you really like and keep playing around with it until you really really like it. Then you can move on to another and another until you have a decent collection of layout- all while having the ability to run trains

I enjoyed your armchair/dream modeler video so much that l watched it 2x; inspirational for sure.😃👍....At any rate l had just actually STARTED on my S gage American Flyer Layout when l came across your aforementioned video. l'm building a TOTALLY open grid layout where ALL the track will be on risers to closely resemble the look of the track being surveyed through the land as REAL railroads are!

Don’t let perfect get in the way of good ! This statement alone was helpful. My saying from corporate best practices is “Good enough is the enemy of the best” ! That is what makes me hesitate to start until I fully understand the relationship of all technologies involved 😞

I got to the 5 min mark and felt so depressed that I almost switched this video off ! You described me quite well. Thanks. I hate doing work over and over because you didn’t do it right the first time ! I have studied hundreds of RUclips videos and how to even repair engines. I became disappointed in myself when I realized I was fine with all the mechanical and electrical stuff but the scenery is too artsy for my technical skills.

This is great advice! Your “dream layout” design might be an impractical disaster because you just don’t know what works. Get track down and run trains. Know that you’re learning, and that you will rip it all up and reuse the pieces in another layout. And maybe all over again! But all the while your skills are improving and your ability to create a great layout is improving.

Too much COW BELL dude !

For the first time since I started watching this series I feel adequate. Wiring and soldering are what I'm good at.

Every Atlas loco I have had had serious issues. My Athearns are all solid.

I'm nearing retirement. The children are now adults, I have enough free time, I have a basement all for myself, and an understanding wife. I've been working on my dream layout for the last 2 years. Right now it's a working mainline and a 8 tracks fiddle yard, controlled from a central console. Over the next 3-4 years I plan to slowly add industries and secondary lines, with a total of about 20 or so combination of OO / OO9 locos that can be operated - some from the console, some fully automated. The original planned size was 12 x 6 feet but I expanded it to 16 x 6 feet right after I started laying track, I think I'll stop here, although I left the door open for another expansion to 16 x 8 feet. Over the years I gathered a lot of experience working on very small proof of concept layouts where I tried different solutions for wiring tracks, controlling operations, automation (sensors feeding info to microcontrollers who command relays that control points, direction, power distribution). I also enjoy very much weathering, but that will become my focus later. I still don't have as much time as I need, I'm still working part time (because I love my job), we travel, we spend time with family and friends, in Summer must of my spare time is dedicated to my other hobby: gardening. I'm making steady progress though :)

Its been about 7 years since I bought my house, and i bought a house with a basement that i could build my model railroad. It took a while to build up my train fund, and that was goal one. Now my goal is to finish the benchwork, and that will be done in the next few weeks. My next goal is to get some trains running. Im almost there!! My dream is becoming a reality and its very exciting!! the layout is 16' by 24' by 32"...with a few large peninsulas. Im also a chessie guy!

I know two things that I don't want in my dream layout: 1) I don't want a huge layout that I will never finish in my lifetime. 2) I don't want a helix. I've heard all the horror stories about them and I don't want one!

To build on what you've been saying here, the main layout I'm working on now is an N scale 3x5ish' foot layout set in the 80's that is focused on continuous runnig with some switching. That said something that I think would be awesome to try is an On30 layout from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries with urban scenery and street running.

100% Facts

I am a over the road truck driver this would be perfect going from my fridge top to the TV/work stand is about sixish feet

Thanks for sharing your very interesting and informative video presentation. You are correct on all accounts.

Great Video

I've built 20 or 30 layouts. Never completed! The one I have now I think I like for it's size I like it the best.

Ok I think that paying as much for a simple locomotive as you would for a washing machine is crazy so won't buy them but there are several alternatives. I took my roommate to a train show and she stayed in the car not feeling well. I came back to the car with 2 large shopping bags and the first words out of her mouth were how much did you spend? I spent 15 dollars and I got 9 cars, 2 rolls of plaster cloth and a few little things. Awesome shopping! 2 of the cars were selling new for $34.99! little paint and work it's all good!

With so many people buying models they just store and never use sure explains why manufacturers make such shoddy products lately: cuz nobody runs them! Great video.

turn that bell off!!!!

Great video! Even though it is actually too recognizable... ;-). I already changed the mindset to start with a small shelf-size lay-out (Era 1, Germany), where switching and shunting should be the main topic. Here's a silly question (and an excuse that was not mentioned in the video): what if I get bored? You could say: then try something different. But switching and shunting is basically the only thing you can do on a small shelf-size lay-out. On the other hand: if I don't TRY it, I'll never know at what point I will get bored... ;-)

I built my first layout when I was 16. I’m 55. I’ve started from scratch five times and I still haven’t finished. my layout runs through two rooms. I can run trains but it’ll be years if ever before I’m finished. It really is a lifelong hobby but I must say Model railroading has become very expensive lately. It would be very hard to build what I have if I had to start by buying everything new.

Dumb

Some great advice. I’m starting my first layout at age 52 and my “space” is limited to a coffee table 32” square. This is going to dictate a lot of what I can do so I’m just starting with 2 loops one raised around the back of the layout and sufficient points to allow for either loop to be accessed from a central shunting yard. I would love a turntable and an engine shed but that’s just crazy talk at this stage.

How do you keep them protected from the cold and keep them running well in the cold or hot conditions?

This is EXCELLENT advice for all first time modellers! Particularly for procrastinators! Thank you!

Thank you Joe. A lot of very useful information and explained very well..

They always say that UK and US are two nations divided by the ocean AND A COMMON TONGUE! Yanks are so much more pushy. Okay, they may get things done but to a rigid formula. Railways in UK grew piecemeal and ultimately became linked by merger. This history caused such a diverse outcome that it is difficult to replicate by working to a master plan. My own layout, based on an imagined extension of the North Cornwall beyond Wadebridge/Padstow as a jumping off point for a long-desired extension to the GWR and thence by running rights to Truro and Falmouth on a mixed gauge track. This was actually proposed but it never happened. My layout is therefore a "might have been". It now needs wiring properly and final scenic detailing before I am satisfied. It's only taken me seven years so far!

thanks for the kick in the ass. i needed it.

Could try using a wood bit to start your pilot holes.

I'm in the process of building a shelf layout that goes around my room. I can't wait to finish it...

It's 2024. When will you make a topical video???

I wanted to add "No Trespassing - Passengers Must Use Bridge to Cross Tracks" and end up with a sign about 1/4" x 1/4". First I tried using a very tiny font in my word processor - unreadable. Next, I went to my graphics program, which promptly pixelated the heck out of everything. Finally, in the word processor, I made the sign using the fonts, layout, and style I wanted at a human size, about 6" square. Took a screen shot of it, put in my graphics program, and printed it at 15% of size. The sign came out very clear and even readable (with a glass).

Great song, and who wouldnt be down with anything involving some Chessie geeps?

Hey Joe! Where are you getting your .09mm cork? I can't find anything less than 1.5mm. . . 🤔

The manure spreader has a chain driven steel belt that pulls the load towards the rear of the machine. That's those ribs across the bottom. The paddles on the rear spin at a high speed opposite direction to each to grab the manure and fling it through the air behind the machine in a beautiful arc and roughly leaving an even layer of manure on the ground. The paddles also help to break up the manure. Both the paddles on the rear, along with the chain belt, are driven by a power takeoff (PTO) shaft that is on the front of the machine and connects to the PTO on the back of the tractor just above the drawbar that the rest of the machine is attached to with a pin dropped through the hitch and drawbar. The operator then can control the speed of the PTO for efficient spreading of the manure. Lived almost 50 years in Wisconsin's rural dairy region including on a farm and ag classes in high school. She had that out of the package for half a second and I blurted out it's a sh*t spreader 😂

💩 Everytime I see this video, I cringe.....BECAUSE, you are prolly correct. It's been six years since I bought my first four SD40-2's at a consignment shop. Then I bought a Walther's catalog. Soon after I attended several train shows. Purchased lots and lots of trains and train layout accessories. (76 diesel engines and two locomotives, 400 or so assorted freight and passenger cars, and maybe 100 structures. Both in kit form and pre-assembled). I have been renting a 14x20 foot building with electricity and heating for five years to build my not so dreamy layout in also! Worst news is my next of kin threaten to toss it all in a dumpster if I croak in the mean time! However....Just the thought, [and in my best imaginary dreams....yes dreams,] finally starting construction of a layout is prolly the only thing in my recent years is what keeps me breathing from year to year! At 73, and finally getting out and about after a year of being bedridden because of a near death experience and crippling leg injuries, I feel closer and closer to a real start. Soooon. Maybe tomorrow. Not tomorrow. Tomorrow is grocery day. Next Monday. Yup. Thanks.