IN School, I spent my time and money on this hobby! I spent spare money, allowance, anything I earned on it. It grew from a tiny little loop around the tree, to a large layout, (modeled above) taking over 1/2 of my parents attic.
The main train table (called benchwork) was a 5ft x 9ft (150 cm x 275cm), with an additional 4ft x 8ft (120cm x 240cm) table, a 4ft x 4ft (120cm x 120cm) plus other odds added.
There were loops, mountains, yard work, houses, lighting, trees and more. I actually spent more time modeling than actually running the trains.
Perhaps it's nostalgia and filling something missing? Maybe a sadness, who knows? I'm no Freud.
There's a certain troublesome Hivian we all know, who enjoys calling me an OLD MANSY! I won't bother you with naming HER, but let's just say, her name sounds an awful lot like @dreemsteem
True to the Nickname of Old Mansy, I've been missing my old hobby. I was recently visiting my Uncle and Aunt and found that he's set up his OLD LIONEL Train Model in the basement. Naturally, that got me to thinking of my old HO Scale Model shown above.
I've had RailModellerPro on my laptop, and play around wiht some layouts here and there. I've gone so far as earlier this spring, to print out the track parts list of one of my set layouts:
For kicks, I decided, hmmm, let me go online and see what it would cost to set up a small 4ft x 6ft layout... like this:
Above My modelling program allows me to get a little look at 3D views of the track plan. Basically, a couple of loop plans, one with an industrial spur going into a mountain top, one tunneling under another mountain, and an industrial switching yard.
I'll plan lots of scenery, a waterfall, trees, ground cover, and more. Oh, and future expansion. The layout will be on foam boards, so very light, and easily expandable.
Well, over the next week or so, the parts are coming to the house. As any good modeller knows, the final touches are less important than the foundation.A good base needs careful planning. A quick trip to the Home Improvement Hardware store, and I ended up with this mess in my office:
After a few more days, things are starting to look more like this:
You can see the base foundation for the mountains and valleys coming through.
Once the track shows up, I will set up the sample layout, mark it on the foam base, and then, make the base more structurally sound.
Bluefin Studios
Get your OWN BADGES, at HIVE BUZZ
Bluefin Studios is a photographer, specializing in wildlife, nature, landscapes, waterfalls and Lighthouses!
To the animals and birds around me
to put more plants in than I take out
And be a good steward for the world around me!
