I’ve just about resigned myself that if I am ever going to have any form of a layout that I can work on and enjoy year round is going to have to be a HO scale or smaller. The hard part is, 100% of my sets are O gauge so this move is going to be costly and require a new approach. Not that I have much, but the 30 cars and new DCS system I purchased last year is all but giving my closet good company while I wait for the holiday seasons to come back around.
For various reasons, I have always been a home renter. The house I live in now could be my dream home, but that’s for another day. Ultimately, anything I do, I must do so with the expiations that I will have to pick up and move. Sadly, that move day for now is quite possible by June of next year. It’s doubtful I will find ownership of anything for a while, and I’m sure the limitations of my next place to live will more than likely be the same as now. It is what it is.
Never the less, for now, I have a area behind my sofa that is about 4 ½ X 9 and a couple feet give or take on the end. This area is the only place in the house that is completely off the beaten path that could be used without being in the way of traffic or furniture. My question is: What can be done in this small of a area? Obviously that is a very subjective question. My interest includes maybe a small cityscape, farm or crop land, and maybe a coaling tower. I would very much like to put some rock formations or mountain scenery in. I don’t particularly have a large interest in prototypical rail yard operations, but it would be nice to have some switching operations around an industry or something. I’m becoming increasingly interested on coal after seeing a ton of videos.
My next question is that I was wondering since MTH is now selling HO engines, would I be able to use the MTH DCS AIU and TIU that I use for O scale to operate them? Obviously the hardest part for me is having to start over from the first rail spike. I still plan to operate my O gauge stuff during the holidays as those are my favorite, but if I’m ever going to be able to do anything year round, I gotta force myself to move beyond the large real estate needed for O gauge.
I’m open for suggestions. I should add that I do have RR track v-4, but I don’t think I have any HO scale libraries unless some free sample layouts came with it. Since the space is only easily open on the ends for operations and viewing, not sure what I could do with it. Obviously reach is not a problem since I could easily move the sofa in a time of derailment or adjustment. Never the less, I’m wondering what others may have done in a area similar to this size and location. I don’t think I would be interested in anything smaller than HO, but would still like to see what may could be possible with N scale. But honestly, I don’t know how I am going to get my ham fisted hands in the area to build HO models, much less N stuff.
Thanks much,
Kenny
For various reasons, I have always been a home renter. The house I live in now could be my dream home, but that’s for another day. Ultimately, anything I do, I must do so with the expiations that I will have to pick up and move. Sadly, that move day for now is quite possible by June of next year. It’s doubtful I will find ownership of anything for a while, and I’m sure the limitations of my next place to live will more than likely be the same as now. It is what it is.
Never the less, for now, I have a area behind my sofa that is about 4 ½ X 9 and a couple feet give or take on the end. This area is the only place in the house that is completely off the beaten path that could be used without being in the way of traffic or furniture. My question is: What can be done in this small of a area? Obviously that is a very subjective question. My interest includes maybe a small cityscape, farm or crop land, and maybe a coaling tower. I would very much like to put some rock formations or mountain scenery in. I don’t particularly have a large interest in prototypical rail yard operations, but it would be nice to have some switching operations around an industry or something. I’m becoming increasingly interested on coal after seeing a ton of videos.
My next question is that I was wondering since MTH is now selling HO engines, would I be able to use the MTH DCS AIU and TIU that I use for O scale to operate them? Obviously the hardest part for me is having to start over from the first rail spike. I still plan to operate my O gauge stuff during the holidays as those are my favorite, but if I’m ever going to be able to do anything year round, I gotta force myself to move beyond the large real estate needed for O gauge.
I’m open for suggestions. I should add that I do have RR track v-4, but I don’t think I have any HO scale libraries unless some free sample layouts came with it. Since the space is only easily open on the ends for operations and viewing, not sure what I could do with it. Obviously reach is not a problem since I could easily move the sofa in a time of derailment or adjustment. Never the less, I’m wondering what others may have done in a area similar to this size and location. I don’t think I would be interested in anything smaller than HO, but would still like to see what may could be possible with N scale. But honestly, I don’t know how I am going to get my ham fisted hands in the area to build HO models, much less N stuff.
Thanks much,
Kenny