Large Scale Central

Thinking about leaving G gauge

General Discussion
#21

Craig,

did you think about it from different viewpoints?

to explain, what i mean.

in my case, i did some serious thinking together with the Missus.

at my working speed, my large indoors layout will need between 10 and 15 years to be completed.

my doctors think, i will be in condition to do some tinkering for about six or seven more years max. (with a lot of "but"s and "if"s thrown in)

result seemed clear at first. reduce the size of the layout or change to a modular layout, or change to a smaller scale.

at first…

but going on braining about it, we found additional factors:

  • every time, when i had finished a layout, i got bored by it.

  • selling my stuff would have to be to overseas. (postage eating about a third of any money)

  • buying new stuff would come at about 150% of its worth (postage again)

  • the general idea, of what hobbies are about: to stay mentally and bodily sane and occupied, when real life has put you out to pasture.

so, we decided, that there would be no difference, if my widow has to throw out all that stuff, or if i would do it now.

and, that the deadline of this layout will not be a tecnical one, but a biological one.

and, if i do nothing, or nearly nothing on the layout, but dreaming and planning, that’s ok too.

i’m sure, your situation will be different, but i’m also sure, it will have more than one side.

take them all in count!

#22

Although I’m winging the Prototype with some free lancing, I’ve found that I enjoy the building as much as running.

HO wow so small! Says I looking over at my Wall of Trains … OK … Have you lined up your Heritage Steamer yet?

I have a low mileage GN S2 4-8-4 by Tenshodo that could suit your needs … I’m sure she needs a new plastic sleeve from motor to worm and some oil … Oh, of course I have the original box… that’ll cost ya double! (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-money-mouth.gif)

edit: Dad imported her via the US Navy, 1968.

The bigger the Empire; the smaller the scale, it’s the Law of Averages of; how much time and devotion one has for a Hobby.

#23

I was on a shoestring budget when I first entered G scale a dozen years ago. What I had was the loft above the garage and a minor windfall (couple grand). Made a lot of mistakes (got a box of the old Bachman tinplate track around here, and another box of the old Bachman switches - which should say plenty.) Spent years screwing around with different track plans. Never really made it past the ‘tracks on plywood’ stage, though I did build a few structures. Became frustrated with track-power - fits and starts due to bad connections, dirty wheels, and short circuits.

I set it aside about six or seven years ago. The daughter moved old furniture into the train room. The tables had piles of boxes on them that reached almost to the ceiling. I thought about ripping it out and selling off everything except a couple ovals worth of track - drop down to a literal 5x10 table for a layout. Almost went that route…and still might.

Then, not quite two years ago, the daughter presented me with a bouncing baby grandson. Six months after that, she told me I wasn’t allowed to die until ‘Teddy’ got to see the model railroad in all its glory. I thought about it. Started cleaning the train room, hauling giant piles of stuff to the dump and moving box after box to another room. Picked up a dirt cheap RC holidaze set and played with it for a bit. Wow. Yes, the ‘sound system’ was Christmas music, and it had little pulling power - but there were no track power issues at all. No fussing over dirty wheels or track.

So, I sent three of my ‘best’ locomotives off to be converted to RC, and set about rebuilding the layout, step by painful step. Kept me occupied in the evenings. Made a bunch of buildings, facades, and flats. I have been running trains as of about a month ago.

#24

Tim,

Pictures or it didn’t happen is the saying around here! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

#25

Korm Kormsen said:

Craig,

did you think about it from different viewpoints?

to explain, what i mean.

in my case, i did some serious thinking together with the Missus.

at my working speed, my large indoors layout will need between 10 and 15 years to be completed.

my doctors think, i will be in condition to do some tinkering for about six or seven more years max. (with a lot of "but"s and "if"s thrown in)

result seemed clear at first. reduce the size of the layout or change to a modular layout, or change to a smaller scale.

at first…

but going on braining about it, we found additional factors:

  • every time, when i had finished a layout, i got bored by it.

  • selling my stuff would have to be to overseas. (postage eating about a third of any money)

  • buying new stuff would come at about 150% of its worth (postage again)

  • the general idea, of what hobbies are about: to stay mentally and bodily sane and occupied, when real life has put you out to pasture.

so, we decided, that there would be no difference, if my widow has to throw out all that stuff, or if i would do it now.

and, that the deadline of this layout will not be a tecnical one, but a biological one.

and, if i do nothing, or nearly nothing on the layout, but dreaming and planning, that’s ok too.

i’m sure, your situation will be different, but i’m also sure, it will have more than one side.

take them all in count!

Too cool, Korm.

I suspect that means we’ll be seeing you sane soon? (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)

#26

Bruce D. Chandler said:
…

I suspect that means we’ll be seeing you sane soon? (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)

if you refer to mentally sane - no chance!

(otherwise its only finishing the renovation and amplification of our general store and moving some years worth of junk/“assorted building materials” from work benches and layout before i will bore you all with my unfinished projects)

#27

Sane?

And where is the fun in that?

Its more entertaining to watch people get those pained expressions on their faces when they talk to me…

#28

[quote]Joe Zullo said:

Tim,

Pictures or it didn’t happen is the saying around here! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)[/quote]

If I knew how, I would. I’ve tried.

Hmmm…pictures of what?

Now that I think about it…

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138006591@N08/albums/72157689228777731

and

https://www.flickr.com/photos/138006591@N08/albums/72157687931388901

I’m further along now. Took more pics last week. Getting set to put the Kindle in video camera mode, strap it to a flatcar, and run it around the layout.

#29

Driving home last night from a meeting, I had an epiphany about my modeling. Short answer is stay in large scale.

Long answer. Model two towns of the subdivision I want. The backyard has room for the bigger one, then the layout can run around the house to the front where the smaller, more interesting to switch town would be. At total of 9 turnouts would be needed (exclusive of staging in the garage), so it wouldn’t be that hard to build. I could sell off some of my random equipment to pay for the specific cars I would need (50’ reefers, grain hoppers, boxcars. I could slowly build stuff not offered like a thrall all door, bulkhead flats, etc). I would only “need” 2 locomotives, so that wouldn’t be an increased cost. And if I operated the whole layout it would probably take 2-3 hours if you included the pre staging and post staging of cars. I could operate by myself, or have 2-3 guests. If I can figure out a way to use the Protothrottle, operations would get even better. Heck, there us a guy on MRH that is trying to get the throttle to work with the ride on stuff.

Thirdly, buy a small HO MOW equipment kit, and assemble to give me a break from the Snow Dozer. Or set it aside and work on the GP30… Or 3D modeling or…

Thanks for helping me think this one out. Maybe this weekend I can measure out yhe yard and see what a track plan would look like.

#30

I finally got out to the railroad yesterday; it was like a summer day. Tidied up what the winter had left behind,made a small yard layout adjustment, cut back invasive creeping plants and with just one small area of complete nuisance plant removal hopefully trains should be ready to roll. The diner (converted Bachmann J&S car) is in place ready for clients. All buildings, except the grain elevator were painted n the Fall and still look fine.

#31

Joe Zullo said:

Tim,

Pictures or it didn’t happen is the saying around here! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)

You shouldn’t challenge new people … (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)with trying to post pics…It will take some time with that… then we have video…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)

#32

What ever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

#33

Joe Zullo said:

What ever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

Except for some varieties of Muscular Dystrophy.

#34

Craig, I got the preorder price for the ProtoThrottle. I think I will buy one. I have 1 NCE system and I will eventually get my Zimo system on JMRI.

Are you getting one?

Greg

#35

Greg Elmassian said:

Craig, I got the preorder price for the ProtoThrottle. I think I will buy one. I have 1 NCE system and I will eventually get my Zimo system on JMRI.

Are you getting one?

Greg

If I had $500 cash available right now, I would pre-order one. But I don’t, so I have to save up (something about a poor teacher and young kids?). In the meantime, I want to see if there is a way to use the Protothrottle completely wireless and dead rail. Hearing and seeing the new DCC decoders in HO scale like Loksound that work well with the Protothrottle, I feel like I’m in the stone age with my Sierra Sound and RCS…

#36

I’m glad you found a way to stick around. There is a lot to be said for a modest sized layout.

I have 143’ of main line and 9 switches … keeps me occupied.

#37

Craig, I am setting up an inexpensive portable DCC system that will also have deadrail.

I don’t want to derail your thread, but the gist will be…

NCE PowerCab, with USB interface to inexpensive laptop (under $100) running JMRI with cheap ($30) wireless router… this much gets me a cheap wireless DCC system using cheap cell phones or tablets.

Add any “deadrail” transmitter and you are done… maybe another $60.

Small, portable, and expandable to many locos.

We can communicate by email, expanding and detailing these thoughts, or we could start a thread, let me know.

Greg

#38

Joe Zullo said:

What ever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger! (https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)

I don’t believe that. The auto accident didn’t kill me, but some days it sure feels like it came too close to doing so.

#39

Greg,

Let’s start another thread. We talked a month or two ago over email (that’s what got me thinking about HO again), but it would be nice to let others build upon this.

#40

If our local live steam group had a gauge 0/32mm loop to go with the 45mm gauge, I would slide over to 0 gauge coarse scale for my outdoor railway. But that isnt gonna happen, so I will remain in G scale with a side of tinplate 0 gauge indoors. I can say though, the siren call of coarse gauge 0 in the garden with live steam/clockwork engines working the line(UK style) is hard to resist. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. Mike