Attention newbees and rebuilders

lester perry · 01-13-2009, 10:18 AM

Just a thought I felt I should share. About 10 years ago I started building my dream layout after 2 years of planning. It works fantastically. N-guager has seen it and can attest to my claim. I feel it was perfect as it had everything I wanted.
there are 2 hidden yards. one east bound one westbound they are good. I just made some minor improvements to them that a friend suggested. The problem I have is the access tracks to the hidden yards are difficult to get to. you have to crawl under the layout to get to them for maintenance or rare derailments. In 07 I had a stroke. I can no longer get on my knees to crawl. there go the problem and wished foresight. No you can't plan for everything. You can plan on hopefully living to be a senior citizen. who cant crawl any more or reach as far as you used to. how about narrow Isle ways and possible walker or wheel chair in the future.
Just some food for thought. Before you say just start over, I can't and you might not be able to either. Or you may have the perfect layout (for you).
Oh yeah I was only 51 when I had a stroke.

wccrawford · 01-13-2009, 11:03 AM

Have you considered finding an apprentice? You say you can't start over, but that's only true if you do it alone.

Personally, I've always found model trains to be fascinating, but never had the space for them. (Apart from the tiny thing I had as a kid.) The opportunity to help someone with 12+ years of experience (I assume more, but you only mentioned 12) rebuild their set into something 'perfect' ... Well, I'd be willing to sacrifice a lot of my free time for that.

With so many other things to do with free time, it may not be easy to find a local apprentice for this, but I would think it's worth at least trying.

lester perry · 01-13-2009, 11:15 AM

As of now I have no desire to start again. I am very happy with what I have. I just wish I had done a few things a little different. That is what this post is about. Think of the unthinkable when planning, fully knowing there are limits as to what you can do. Isle width, access, distances to reach. ease of maintenance. that kind of stuff.

Mountain Man · 01-13-2009, 12:32 PM

Can you get onto a mechanic's crawler? Lie on your back and scoot through?

If not, can you alter a section to hinge upwards?

lester perry · 01-13-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mountain Man

Can you get onto a mechanic's crawler? Lie on your back and scoot through?

If not, can you alter a section to hinge upwards?

No and no.

bigsteel · 01-13-2009, 06:37 PM

go get one of them robots that doctors use to operate 1000's of miles away,im sure its got a gentle enough touch for freight cars and turnouts

.but seriously,like you said,you cant plan for everything,and atleast you can still enjoy your layout.and man,if i didnt have a job and stuff in ohio,id move in with you to work on your awesome layout....no joke,i really would....:

: --josh

Mountain Man · 01-13-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lester perry

No and no.

In that case, I hate to say it but you will undoubtedly have to rebuild a section to allow access.

Your options appear severely limited otherwise.

lester perry · 01-13-2009, 09:15 PM

Josh thank you for the compliment. If you ever find yourself heading my way send me an e-mail.

lester perry · 01-13-2009, 09:19 PM

Mountain man ,that's not going to happen. I can manage with it the way it is. All I am saying is If I knew then what I know now I would have done things differently. You know hind sight being 20 20. Just throwing out what I have learned.

Mountain Man · 01-14-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lester perry

Mountain man ,that's not going to happen. I can manage with it the way it is. All I am saying is If I knew then what I know now I would have done things differently. You know hind sight being 20 20. Just throwing out what I have learned.

Understood.

One of the main reasons I avoid such constructions, as problematic as it can be. Since I am "fully mature", I anticipate starting to fall apart any day.

you know, it's just an odd thought, but every year the Air Force Academy looks for unusual projects for it's Senior Engineering Class. Why not drop them a line and ask them how they would solve such a problem?

Good luck to you.

01-13-2009, 10:18 AM	#1
lester perry Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Townsend Delaware Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Attention newbees and rebuilders Just a thought I felt I should share. About 10 years ago I started building my dream layout after 2 years of planning. It works fantastically. N-guager has seen it and can attest to my claim. I feel it was perfect as it had everything I wanted. there are 2 hidden yards. one east bound one westbound they are good. I just made some minor improvements to them that a friend suggested. The problem I have is the access tracks to the hidden yards are difficult to get to. you have to crawl under the layout to get to them for maintenance or rare derailments. In 07 I had a stroke. I can no longer get on my knees to crawl. there go the problem and wished foresight. No you can't plan for everything. You can plan on hopefully living to be a senior citizen. who cant crawl any more or reach as far as you used to. how about narrow Isle ways and possible walker or wheel chair in the future. Just some food for thought. Before you say just start over, I can't and you might not be able to either. Or you may have the perfect layout (for you). Oh yeah I was only 51 when I had a stroke. __________________ Les Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 Are you ?

01-13-2009, 11:15 AM	#3
lester perry Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Townsend Delaware Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	As of now I have no desire to start again. I am very happy with what I have. I just wish I had done a few things a little different. That is what this post is about. Think of the unthinkable when planning, fully knowing there are limits as to what you can do. Isle width, access, distances to reach. ease of maintenance. that kind of stuff. __________________ Les Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 Are you ? Last edited by lester perry; 01-13-2009 at 11:19 AM..

01-13-2009, 06:37 PM	#6
bigsteel Call me Mr.Tinkertrain Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati,Ohio Posts: 1,391 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	go get one of them robots that doctors use to operate 1000's of miles away,im sure its got a gentle enough touch for freight cars and turnouts .but seriously,like you said,you cant plan for everything,and atleast you can still enjoy your layout.and man,if i didnt have a job and stuff in ohio,id move in with you to work on your awesome layout....no joke,i really would....:: --josh __________________ i am a man,but i can change,if i have to...i guess--Red Green josh waddle--Avid/insane C&O modeler... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-13-2009, 09:15 PM	#8
lester perry Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Townsend Delaware Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Josh thank you for the compliment. If you ever find yourself heading my way send me an e-mail. __________________ Les Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 Are you ?

01-13-2009, 09:19 PM	#9
lester perry Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Townsend Delaware Posts: 1,033 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Mountain man ,that's not going to happen. I can manage with it the way it is. All I am saying is If I knew then what I know now I would have done things differently. You know hind sight being 20 20. Just throwing out what I have learned. __________________ Les Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 Are you ?

01-13-2009, 11:03 AM	#2
wccrawford Novice Papercrafter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 59 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Have you considered finding an apprentice? You say you can't start over, but that's only true if you do it alone. Personally, I've always found model trains to be fascinating, but never had the space for them. (Apart from the tiny thing I had as a kid.) The opportunity to help someone with 12+ years of experience (I assume more, but you only mentioned 12) rebuild their set into something 'perfect' ... Well, I'd be willing to sacrifice a lot of my free time for that. With so many other things to do with free time, it may not be easy to find a local apprentice for this, but I would think it's worth at least trying.

01-13-2009, 12:32 PM	#4
Mountain Man Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,715 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Can you get onto a mechanic's crawler? Lie on your back and scoot through? If not, can you alter a section to hinge upwards?

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