Morning All,

Wifey is under the weather, so date night cancelled...train day 

Patching and painting is finished, so I can begin the move back into my office/train room - to some extent. I purchased some nice Closetmaid components, so first order of business is completing the closet...not exciting, but necessary I suppose.

I'm trying to put my upcoming Swiss N scale layout out of mind while I get the HOn3 one put together first...but it's hard. So much to explore, learn and BUY  . Right now, I'm trying to figure out catenary...that's a whole new ballgame for me, but I love the look of it...hoping it's not a solder-fest...that'd be like a whole other hobby within a hobby.

We'll see. Everyone, have a good day!

Here's the latest...layout is completely demolished. As a "tribute" to my recent retirement, I'm starting completely over and I couldn't be more excited.

First, I'm redoing the layout room (also known as my 'office' to civilians as their is a tiny desk hidden in the closet  ). I'm patching all of the wall damage, repainting the room with a very neutral sky grey color and rebuilding the closet with ClosetMaid components from Home Depot and a spot for my little desk/workbench. 

Next, I'm abandoning HOn30 after decades of enjoyment. I've got a load of MiniTrains engines and rolling stock in original boxes as well as some additional stuff, including a Joe Works brass Shay that I'll look to sell or swap. I'm going to build a layout with HOn3 (instead of HOn30) simply because the two Blackstone C-19's and rolling stock I have are such great, reliable pieces. I have a ton of HO scale built and unbuilt kits that are just too good to not use...so, I'll be picking through those and choosing the ones that fit my new layout. It will be roughly 4' x 6'6" built in self-contained shadowbox modules on two sides with the other sides simply as a single track on a shelf to complete the continuous loop. There are lots of European display layouts built this way and I love the 'museum-like" appearance, the controlled viewing angles, and excellent lighting. I've already got a pretty good idea of the scenes but I won't know for sure until I get the modules built, track roughed in and structures placed. Simple track, complex scenery, and beautiful structures is the concept...with a busy waterfront, crowded with craftsman structures, on the large side and a backwoods little yard with railroad support/MOW stuff on the other. I have way too many kits in boxes and beautiful built-ups that simply won't fit, so I'll offer them here first (for sale or swap) before I go on Ebay...Historically, I'll just happily hoard everything, but I'm now looking at it as a way to fund the N scale purchases without a shred of guilt.

Once that layout infrastructure is in place, I'll break ground on the new direction - an N scale Swiss-inspired layout. A lot will be determined by space remaining in the room. I've measured everything and feel like I can build a roughly 4x7' walk-around layout with plenty of access on all 4 sides, but I want to make sure it's comfortable before I break ground. I can shrink it a little or put it in a corner (make it have just two visible sides) if I need to, but I'm hoping for the 4-sides version if it doesn't make the room 'unlivable'. After riding the beautiful trains all over Switzerland last year, I'm excited to model a grander style of scenery with minimal structures and colorful, silent modern trains silently curving up and around the foothills, under lacy catenary, with mountains behind. The engineering behind this one is still TBD because it also needs to be able to move from the room (someday) and I don't want to have to destroy it if we do decide to relocate. I plan to use Kato Unitrack (which I have years ago) for it's absolutely idiot-proof performance and quick construction - but it's not cheap...I've already started to accumulate some, but this is the primary reason I'm interested in selling off some of my excess stuff. 

Reach out to me if you have any interest in the HOn30 stuff. I'll post some HO unbuilt kits as time goes by - this list will definitely include a Sierra West Backwood Log Train and a FSM Branchline Bucket Coaling Station among others TBD. I'm heading to the NNGC in September, so I'll probably reach out to some of the vendors there if there's no "local interest".

I see it all in my head but it's time to make some sawdust fly  .

Well...take some comfort in knowing your brief flirtation with N scale may have pushed me (back) over the edge. 

Morning All,

Layout room/office overhaul starting today with patching, wall prep and a better ceiling fan..paint and then closet 'buildout' soon to follow. then...it's on!

Actually, I have no excuse as I need to build my fancy-schmancy shadowbox modules out in the Barn anyway...the materials have been there for a week. 

Good morning all...get your own breakfast

Today is my last payday as a young-ish retiree...meeting with my CPA today to find out if I'm crazy 

This afternoon or tomorrow I hope to truly break ground on my HOn3 layout start-over. I've got pretty extensive plans for European-style shadowbox benchwork for a smaller, more manageable layout. I'll try to focus on taking my time and avoiding backtracking due to shortcuts or careless work. I'm hoping to have such beautiful benchwork that I won't want to defoul it with trains 

When that gets far enough down the road, I'll break ground on the N scale Swiss-inspired layout across the room. 

Plenty to do and (theoretically so far) plenty of time to do it well.

Have a good one...John

It's cold here in FL but not expecting any sympathy 

Trains on the brain...layout is completely torn down and just hung up with painter...I'm excited for a fresh start in a beautiful room. I'll probably head to Home Depot today to get some new layout materials. I've got a very clear vision (not to the point of final track, etc) of how I want to go about this and I expect to move quickly once the room is ready.

As a freshly retired guy...this is a good time to start fresh. Going away to Vieques on Sunday for a week of RnR...probably healthy to be forced to pump the brakes before I dive in.

Hope you all have a good day!

The team with more Boston U. alumni always win...

Hope everyone has a great day and the weather isn't too unkind.

John

SBG day....my first in a long time. 

Looking forward to seeing the guys and all of the progress Tom has made...always inspiring.

Then, back to the "reno" of my home office (train room  ) for a bit before being dragged kicking and screaming to "Mardi Gras" in downtown Sanford....in fact, maybe a nap would be a better idea than reno

Quote from: ReadingBob on February 19, 2026, 06:51:39 PMOh wow!

I gotta be me 

when it's right, I'll know it.

I'm on track...I know exactly what I want to do and what I want to avoid.

See you Saturday

SOOoooooo....there's been a development 

Morning All...got a few hours set aside for trains today but it sure is nice outside.

I'm doing inventory of unbuilt kits I'd like to unload today, which I'll share with the locals first and then on here if anyone's interested. I'm getting that spring cleaning vibe...it's very liberating to 'shed' things that you just know you'll never use (and convert them into cash for new stuff I'll never use  )

Love it...I ordered the Kato 3-car Allegra set and a couple other small things...then went down the Internet rabbit hole...


...anyone want to buy some amazing HO scale built up craftsman structures?

Mike, 

I can't stop thinking about it...if you get a chance, I'd love to see a "step back" photo...where you can get a feel for the whole layout, from a viewer's perspective.

I'm juiced up about getting down to work on my larger layout...but I'm intrigued by the idea of a side project of a similar nature and size...I rode the Bernina Express last year (and the Glacier Express) and can, in my own insane way, rationalize this "tribute" on a shelf over my desk.

Thannks for sharing, 
John

so I just took a trip down 70+ pages down memory lane. Wow...all of the twists and turns and layouts built & demolished - along with a few false starts quickly aborted. I was honestly amazed at some of the stuff a knucklehead like me built - seriously. It's a tough act to follow and I'm getting excited to get back to the scenery stage. What struck me the most was the enthusiasm and joy I could feel in the first 20 or 30 pages of regular progress from over 10 years (and 3 homes) ago.

I need to get that back 

Tom and SBG gang, I'll see you on the 21st.

Thanks Bob and Jerry...hopefully more to come soon...once I get some landforms established, the vision will be much clearer.

Bob, hope to see you and the SBGs soon...it's been way too long (for me). Love to have you by soon too.