Superior & Seattle Railroad Build

[deemery]

What he said!  As I start to ponder an empty basement, design discussions are increasingly interesting to me.


dave

[ACL1504]

John,

I've been following but haven't checked your thread in a week or so. As Greg stated don't get discouraged with the lack of response.

Greg can tell you I'm not one for design and planning as he would want me to be. I have ideas in my pea head that never make it to paper.

I have an area on my layout that will be about 2X38 ft and I figure I'll need about 60 to 75 structures for that one area alone. After the 2017 NMRA, I see lots of kit bashing, scratch building and kits in my future.

Let me take a minute or two and give my opinion of interest and posting to threads. You and I are very prolific in our posting and obviously not so with others members. This forum is my quasi face book. The friends I want to know are here.

Now, I've noticed that posting and interest are cyclical in nature. I haven't seen much interest in my Delwin's thread or layout build thread. The regulars post but not many new ones. I put up some pretty good info and about 50 pictures with no comments for weeks. However, I keep going as the threads keep me focused.

I get about 1,000 views for every five posts.

Keep doing what you are doing and the interest will eventually pick up.

Tom

[jimmillho]

John, don't get discouraged by the lack of feedback to your thread. There are some of us out here who are very interested in the design process, but don't have the time to engage in a discussion on the forum. I barely have enough time keeping current with all the posts as it is.

Layout design and building the structures are my favorite areas of the hobby. I must have 20 or 25 versions of what I would like for a layout, from the bare minimum design to one which has no limits to the amount of space it requires. The space for the reproduction of post WWII St. Louis Union Station is about 18' x 24' and about the same for Grand Central Station in New York.

As to your plan for a town for all the FSM kits, the big challenge I see is the need for so many sidings for all the kits that require them. I would think that might be the biggest problem you will face, especially all those coal companies, which are pretty big space hogs.

Please keep adding the design process into your thread so we can see what you are planning.

John,
I agree with Greg.  I enjoy reading what you have accomplished an your posts.  I do not have the space or the time to build what you have.  I used to live in Michigan about 50 years ago and can relate to your adventures with Fishing and the Weather.

Don't get discouraged and keep on designing, building and showing us what you have done.

Jim

[S&S RR]

John, don't get discouraged by the lack of feedback to your thread. There are some of us out here who are very interested in the design process, but don't have the time to engage in a discussion on the forum. I barely have enough time keeping current with all the posts as it is.

Layout design and building the structures are my favorite areas of the hobby. I must have 20 or 25 versions of what I would like for a layout, from the bare minimum design to one which has no limits to the amount of space it requires. The space for the reproduction of post WWII St. Louis Union Station is about 18' x 24' and about the same for Grand Central Station in New York.

As to your plan for a town for all the FSM kits, the big challenge I see is the need for so many sidings for all the kits that require them. I would think that might be the biggest problem you will face, especially all those coal companies, which are pretty big space hogs.

Please keep adding the design process into your thread so we can see what you are planning.

Hi Greg


Thanks for stopping by the thread and sorry if my tone was a little down in my previous post.  I had expected a few answers to generate some things I need to think about as I designed these two cities.  Like the issue of sidings  .  One of the operations challenges on a local layout that I  operate on is that there are three our four businesses sharing the same siding.  You need to move cars out of the way to service the businesses on the end of the siding. I plan on using this same design in the two major cities along with the area I call Eagles Nest Yard. If you design with sidings for each business you end up with a layout that is mostly track and have very little space left for structures. In my case I like structures to much to let that happen.


On the subject of the forum, what I find of most value is quality discussions of the techniques used on structures  and design aspects of our layouts. Yes it's a nice way to show what we are up to, but I like it when the decisions lead to a better build. Sometimes I will send a PM or an email to someone when I think they my want to consider doing something different (to keep any negative comments out of the public eye and leave it up to the individual if they want to post it as part of their thread), usually because I learned a lesson the hard way. And I have also received some good advice over the years in this way.   That's why I spend all the time I do posting on the forum. It's always a balancing act on how much time to devote to the forum each day.  I limit myself to one hour, usually in the evening when I'm to tired to work on the layout anymore.

[S&S RR]

What he said!  As I start to ponder an empty basement, design discussions are increasingly interesting to me.


dave

Dave


Thanks again for following the thread - as I said in my response to Greg I guess I was expecting more of a response but it is what it is. I must have caught everyone during a busy time.


I hope you will start a build thread as you start your new layout.  I will follow along and put in my two cents worth.  It really only takes a few minutes a day and I can tell you that it has lead to many new friendships and contacts to call when questions come up. 


New space to fill - a model railroaders dream.  What type of Railroad?  Good luck with the new layout and getting through the honey-do-list so you can get started.    Been there done that - as they say.

[S&S RR]

John,

I've been following but haven't checked your thread in a week or so. As Greg stated don't get discouraged with the lack of response.

Greg can tell you I'm not one for design and planning as he would want me to be. I have ideas in my pea head that never make it to paper.

I have an area on my layout that will be about 2X38 ft and I figure I'll need about 60 to 75 structures for that one area alone. After the 2017 NMRA, I see lots of kit bashing, scratch building and kits in my future.

Let me take a minute or two and give my opinion of interest and posting to threads. You and I are very prolific in our posting and obviously not so with others members. This forum is my quasi face book. The friends I want to know are here.

Now, I've noticed that posting and interest are cyclical in nature. I haven't seen much interest in my Delwin's thread or layout build thread. The regulars post but not many new ones. I put up some pretty good info and about 50 pictures with no comments for weeks. However, I keep going as the threads keep me focused.

I get about 1,000 views for every five posts.

Keep doing what you are doing and the interest will eventually pick up.

Tom

Hi Tom


Thanks for stopping by the thread and for the encouraging words.  If you look at all the views we all get on this forum there are a lot of people interested.  I'm not sure why we don't get more posts but people are busy.  I will keep posting as long as I think it's worth my time and doesn't keep me from working on my layout.  I have to discipline myself to set a maximum time on the computer each day to keep that from happening.


It may just might take more than a year to get all those F&SM pictures posted.


Thanks again,

[S&S RR]

John, don't get discouraged by the lack of feedback to your thread. There are some of us out here who are very interested in the design process, but don't have the time to engage in a discussion on the forum. I barely have enough time keeping current with all the posts as it is.

Layout design and building the structures are my favorite areas of the hobby. I must have 20 or 25 versions of what I would like for a layout, from the bare minimum design to one which has no limits to the amount of space it requires. The space for the reproduction of post WWII St. Louis Union Station is about 18' x 24' and about the same for Grand Central Station in New York.

As to your plan for a town for all the FSM kits, the big challenge I see is the need for so many sidings for all the kits that require them. I would think that might be the biggest problem you will face, especially all those coal companies, which are pretty big space hogs.

Please keep adding the design process into your thread so we can see what you are planning.

John,
I agree with Greg.  I enjoy reading what you have accomplished an your posts.  I do not have the space or the time to build what you have.  I used to live in Michigan about 50 years ago and can relate to your adventures with Fishing and the Weather.

Don't get discouraged and keep on designing, building and showing us what you have done.

Jim

Jim


Thanks for watching the thread and taking the time to post your encouraging words.  I plan on keeping this build thread going as long as there is interest.

[PaulS]

"What FSM kits "have to be there" on the main street of a town called Sellios?"

John, I have enjoyed following along with your S&S RR build in the shadows for some time.  Since your inquiry above, I have been thinking about which FSM kits would be essential along a Main Street ....

Not knowing exactly what you intend, I would offer that the following would likely fit well within a Main Street scenario.  Roadside Delights with the gas station and the diner, Stuffy's Brewery, Jeffries Point, and of course any or all of George's street scene kits Skinners Row, Houligan's Alley, and/or Dexters Dead End.

Hope the above provides you some food for thought,
I will be following along,
Thanks,
--Paul

[EricQuebec]

John, don't get discouraged by the lack of feedback to your thread. There are some of us out here who are very interested in the design process, but don't have the time to engage in a discussion on the forum. I barely have enough time keeping current with all the posts as it is.

Layout design and building the structures are my favorite areas of the hobby. I must have 20 or 25 versions of what I would like for a layout, from the bare minimum design to one which has no limits to the amount of space it requires. The space for the reproduction of post WWII St. Louis Union Station is about 18' x 24' and about the same for Grand Central Station in New York.

As to your plan for a town for all the FSM kits, the big challenge I see is the need for so many sidings for all the kits that require them. I would think that might be the biggest problem you will face, especially all those coal companies, which are pretty big space hogs.

Please keep adding the design process into your thread so we can see what you are planning.

John,
I agree with Greg.  I enjoy reading what you have accomplished an your posts.  I do not have the space or the time to build what you have.  I used to live in Michigan about 50 years ago and can relate to your adventures with Fishing and the Weather.

Don't get discouraged and keep on designing, building and showing us what you have done.

Jim

Jim


Thanks for watching the thread and taking the time to post your encouraging words.  I plan on keeping this build thread going as long as there is interest.

Good News, I plan to read this build thread as long as it is update
Eric Québec

[Janbouli]

I'm following your thread John, but have no experience with George's kits except for owning a few , but haven't built one yet.  However I don't think there are many FSM kits that fit main street, imho most of them are for the backstreets.

[S&S RR]

"What FSM kits "have to be there" on the main street of a town called Sellios?"

John, I have enjoyed following along with your S&S RR build in the shadows for some time.  Since your inquiry above, I have been thinking about which FSM kits would be essential along a Main Street ....

Not knowing exactly what you intend, I would offer that the following would likely fit well within a Main Street scenario.  Roadside Delights with the gas station and the diner, Stuffy's Brewery, Jeffries Point, and of course any or all of George's street scene kits Skinners Row, Houligan's Alley, and/or Dexters Dead End.

Hope the above provides you some food for thought,
I will be following along,
Thanks,
--Paul

Hi Paul


Thanks for stopping by the thread and your thoughts on FSM kits for my main street of Sellios.  The kits you listed are on my list along with Oatman's,  Avram's Baking, and the Franklin Watch Works.  The side streets will also feature some FSM kits including Butcher's Way, Barnstead Lumber, and Chester Rawlings. I sure have a lot of structures to build.

[S&S RR]

I'm following your thread John, but have no experience with George's kits except for owning a few , but haven't built one yet.  However I don't think there are many FSM kits that fit main street, imho most of them are for the backstreets.

Hi Jan


Thanks for stopping by the thread.  You are correct about the typical small town USA main street. But this town is going to be a mountain rural town with very functional small town businesses. Some of the kits I plan to use in some form are listed above in my response to Paul's post.  As I get further along with the design, I will post pictures of the kits and how I think they will fit into the scene.  I hope this works.

[S&S RR]

So here is a progress photograph from today's work.  I once asked George Sellios what it was like to cut the top of Mt. Allen on the F&SM.  He told me that once he had a change in his head he just got out the saw. So today I got out the saw.

[S&S RR]

This area is the future home of one of my cities on the layout. I had always planed to cover the base of the mountains here and build the city up to the backdrops.  Now that the return loops will be inside the city, I decided to remove the base of the mountains so it would be easier to work on them.  All that plaster is held up by 2x4's so I didn't need the base to support the weight. Now I can build the helix from bottom to top in layers - which will be much easier. Once the benchwork is complete I will add the ground forms that the city will be built on.  I have some clay mockup work to do to finalize that design.

[S&S RR]

John, don't get discouraged by the lack of feedback to your thread. There are some of us out here who are very interested in the design process, but don't have the time to engage in a discussion on the forum. I barely have enough time keeping current with all the posts as it is.

Layout design and building the structures are my favorite areas of the hobby. I must have 20 or 25 versions of what I would like for a layout, from the bare minimum design to one which has no limits to the amount of space it requires. The space for the reproduction of post WWII St. Louis Union Station is about 18' x 24' and about the same for Grand Central Station in New York.

As to your plan for a town for all the FSM kits, the big challenge I see is the need for so many sidings for all the kits that require them. I would think that might be the biggest problem you will face, especially all those coal companies, which are pretty big space hogs.

Please keep adding the design process into your thread so we can see what you are planning.

John,
I agree with Greg.  I enjoy reading what you have accomplished an your posts.  I do not have the space or the time to build what you have.  I used to live in Michigan about 50 years ago and can relate to your adventures with Fishing and the Weather.

Don't get discouraged and keep on designing, building and showing us what you have done.

Jim

Jim


Thanks for watching the thread and taking the time to post your encouraging words.  I plan on keeping this build thread going as long as there is interest.

Good News, I plan to read this build thread as long as it is update
Eric Québec

Eric


Thanks for following along.