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Im curious to see who here prefer to model on, Modules OR Layouts? Maybe a little of both? Tell us what you currently do.....
After you vote, tell us what you voted for and why you choose to model that way....Maybe limitations or something? Tell us about it
Right now, i model on mostly Modules.
I had a shelf layout that i had started a little while back, but i recently tore it down to make room for more modules. Ive gone through 3 layouts in the past 4 years lol.
My current plans are to model a section in La Mirada California along the BNSF mainline for a switching project.
I also have 2 other modules already built, one with trains (my photo diorama) and one without trains (CAT Rental Module).
Future plans include:
1. Modeling the M&ET in Free-Mo Module Style.
2. Steel Mill Layout somewhere in the future when i get myself a nice big house with a large room for it lol
I doubt if many of us prefer modules over a layout, it may be that circumstances dictate one or the other. For me its no question, I do my stuff on HO scale modules, had two pairs, one pair has been dismantled after about 23 years of service. I just don't have the room, as our house is a split level design with both the upstairs and downstairs having finished rooms; there is no wide open basement. Probably wouldn't make much difference if I had the space anyway, as I'm mostly a model builder and photographer and operating a layout isn't one of my interests other than it having photo locations.
I was originally going to make my layout a series of interconnected modules. But I soon discovered that, since a major part of what I wanted to model is a steel mill - with complex structures and a large spaghetti bowl of tracks crossing at many different angles - modules just wouldn't give me the flexibility I needed in order to fit what I wanted into the limited available space.
In the future, I might try to make part of the layout 'permanent' and the rest of it modular. That would certainly make moving the layout less of a trauma if I have to relocate.
Layouts since I have room for it, the complexity of having a layout built of modules adds no benefits for me personally. When I lived in an apartment and commuted Houston-San Antonio on weekends, I had a module in the apt to work on evenings; we had a club at work. After we moved into a house, I had the module as well as the layout at home, but when the club died, the module was given to someone who wanted it (and others).
I don't have either right now. I have the start of a shelf layout built, but I may build some modules to Freemo that can also tie into the self.
I voted modular.
I started and never finished three different layouts in my garage. It took me this long to realize that I just don't have the room. Modules were the only way that I was going to be able to get my model railroading fix. Once I decided that module was the way that I needed to go it was a no brainer that Free-mo was the standard that I was going to use. Problem was is that there wasn't much if any thing going on in Dallas with Free-mo. So, I had to start a Free-mo group along with my module. So far both are going great!
I have no need for building modules, but I believe it an excellent way to build interconnecting scenes for the future when you may have the space for a layout. Also, as Bob does, building detailed proto scenes just for the modeling or photography would give a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction.
I guess I am doing a little of both. I have a 4x8 layout and plan to expand by installing a module between another 4x8 layout. Of course that could all change down the road.
My layout is built from modules. I designed it as modules so that one day if I have to move I can take it with me.
I am planning on a layout but it wont be built to any modular standards as it will be a modular layout so it will only be able to go together one way VS modules that can be arranged anyway. I am only doing it that way so when I move it will make it a lot easier to transport the layout.
I started a layout in my garage, which is complete functionally, and most structures are complete, but just setting in place...........and then an NTRAK club formed and my focus shifted to modules. I found the modules to be great for "practice" on scenery techniques....if you screw up, you replace a 2'X4' piece of plywood and start over. Fortunately my techniques were better than I thought and I never had to start over.....but you can see a definite improvement from the first module to the one I'm just wrapping up, a 3 piece corner that can be assembled as either an inside or outside corner. Now I've run out of storage for additional modules, so I guess I'll go back and start working on the layout again.
Been Nothin' Since Frisco
I've built a couple layouts over the years but I have never been satisfied with them. I've built dioramas since, and I've found much more enjoyment. Now that macjet has me hooked up with the Dallas/Fort Worth Free-mo group, I'm concentrating my efforts on building a module to connect to the other members.
I don't know if there's a consensus building in this thread, but it sure seems folks are more inclined to build a layout of modules today than in years past. I know I'd hate to have to destroy a layout because I had to move, so even though I aspire to build another layout one day, I am going with modules.
To run with this subject a bit, I think I've come up with a way to incorporate modules in my plans for a layout. My favorite model railroad was always the Z scale Model Railroader project layout Feather River Canyon. The shadowbox approach taken with each scene has stuck in my mind these past 23(!) years. I intend to apply removable shadowboxes to the modules I build, enabling the modules to be transported, displayed and operated according to Free-mo standards. But when the modules are installed at home, the shadowboxes will direct the viewer, light the scene and provide breaks between different scenes allowing for distant places to be located right next to one another.
Once upon a time I had a 900sqft basement all to my self. I used a small forest worth of lumber on benchwork and had something like 1200' of track including a 4 track main line. When I decided to go back to uni we had to sell the house. Nearly broke my heart having to dismantle the whole thing.
Since then its been a series of smaller but portable layouts. While they can be dismantled into units they aren't what you would strictly call modules, as they can only assemble into one unit. The project I'm working on now will be truly modular as it is being built to set standards that will allow it to be incorporated into the local(ish) NMRA group's modular layout.
I don't have room for a layout -- no spare room, no basement (I live in Florida) and the garage is no place for a layout down here. Modules are the only way that I can model.
It's modular for me, for now. Hopefully I can start work on that "Permanent" layout someday, but til then I'll keep doing the modules.
At least this way, when I do go to a full layout, I will have a 32 ft head start on the project by including the modules!
I think we need to make a distinction here between standards based modules (NTrak and Freemo) versus non standards based. My layout's modules are built according to my own standards so they wont work with any other modules except the modules on the layout. In fact, they cant really be rearranged either and need to be arranged in the exact order as on the track plan.
This is different from standards based modules that can be arranged in just about any order.
I think we need to make a distinction here between standards based modules (NTrak and Freemo) versus non standards based. My layout's modules are built according to my own standards so they wont work with any other modules except the modules on the layout. In fact, they cant really be rearranged either and need to be arranged in the exact order as on the track plan.
This is different from standards based modules that can be arranged in just about any order.
Technically, modules are interchangable, the term not used yet is sectional. No matter whose standard is used (NMRA,Fremo,Ntrak,FCSME or even your own spec) a true module can be set up and connected to ANY module built to the same standard. A lot of us (me included) have built modules that, because of track or scenery) can only be mated to certain other modules. By definition, these are not modules, but parts of a sectional layout!
Now this doesn't mean the two cannot co-exist. The club I belong to has a large 60 x 100 (sometimes bigger!) modular layout. There are many true modules, but also quite a few sections of non standard units that can only be installed in groups. They range from 8 ft to as many as 32 feet long. They are, at the extreme ends, still able to attach to any other module. This takes a little planning to make it work, but it does. The just have to be treated as an 8,12,24 or 32 ft module!
Genericly, we all refer to them as modules. (Yes, I'm guilty too!
) There is where we create our own confusion to some degree. In most situations, the generic usage wont cause any issues, so the difference rarely comes up.
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to do a couple of modules based on the LA area industries that I can switch on at home and build some of my SP based & LA style structures that would not fit the club's midwestern theme.