MRH Theater - Layout Design Panel Discussion (LD SIG)

Very good points one and all, particularly poignant to me was the statement from Doug that you should be able to tell a story with your layout. I makes perfect sense. He like myself, is modeling WWII era railroading, keeping in mind the story being told, it causes me to really narrow down my thoughts, plans, and goals towards the overall operation and LDE's. What story does my layout want to tell? Does that aspect of my layout tell that story?  Throught provoking and cant wait for the remaining segments. Thanks...

Segments 3-5 will be MRH Theater's MOVIE MONDAY posting for next week.

Looking forward to it.
 

 Movie Monday!!!

Hello,

I've just finished watching the LDSIG videos and would like to speak on the issue of how to bring people into the hobby. 

My observation at local model railroad shows is that little kids are standing with their parents in awe as the trains go round. I know as a dad I was thinking "I wish I could build something like that." I come away wondering what a layout would cost, how big to make it, and where would my wife let me put it, only to walk away disappointed without getting the answers I wanted and thinking it's just too much work. I wasn't thinking "I want to join a train club." 

I wanted something my son and I could start quickly with a high degree of success. In the beginning I'm not interested in learning how the real railroads do it. But if I had a plan done by somebody that did know then we could grow into it. I think the LD SIG could provide a great service in offering layout plans that work with Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail systems. They already come with the materials and have stands available. 

I'm thinking LD SIG could develop a series of modular plans with stories that go along with the plans that can be developed a module at a time. Each story could focus on a different era or industries and name the cities. The plans should also list the buildings that go along with the stories. 

I have been building the Woodland Scenics River Pass layout and love it. Sure the track layout could be much improved but the fact that it was a kit with all the materials and detailed instructions out-weighed the track layout for me. The hardest part was building the benchwork. If I could leave a show with a couple of modules and a detailed plan I would. And maybe when it comes back to town the next year I'd get another module.

My goal as a parent is not to build a prototypical model, but to build a relationship and a lifetime of memories.

I think you are lookingt for the Layout Design Sig to do to much. It's not their job to promote the hobby because that is and always has been up to the individual model railroaders to do. Besides many beginners don't really know or understand exactly what itis that real railroads do anyway. Sure they move products and people but how, why and where are questions that can and do cover alot of ground that most of us have never seen to begin with. LD Sig is one group that can bring sense and reason to this part of the hobby.

I believe in the Woodland Scenics' Mod-U-Rail system and am using it myself for my layout. But it isn't for everyone nor is it a simple as the River Pass or theit other layouts because you have to make your own plan and find ways to make it work. This isn't for a beginner though it can speed up construction of benchwork and the layout itself. But it's no panacea to those who never even built a 4 x 8 layout before.

So how do we bring people into a hobby that many have never experienced even as children? WE have to show them how easy it is to build a layout by promoting it thru books, magazines, newspapers and by just letting people see what can be created in the space of 3' by 6' like in the N-Scale Railroad that Grows. If your club is doing a show, why not build a small layout and allow outsiders to watch how it's done. If you don't have the people or the time and space to do it then, make a video and give it to those at the show showing how its done. You can also pass out a DVD like the one I saw recently from The World's Greatest Hobby folks.

Just this past Sunday while at the club a family with a boy of abouty 6 or 7 was fascinated watching trains run around our layout. Several of us spoke to them and we explained what it was that they were looking at. They tooks some literature including the WGH pamphlet taht we give out. Since we are going to do a show on Columbus day weekend (Saturday thru Monday) we invited them to visit us as well.

Large layouts tend to be intimidating but not one of them was build in a day or even a year. It took years of planning and cosntruction. Mistakes most likely were made along the way but you earn from those mistakes. Even your River Pass layout can't be built in a short space of time but it is doable project that anyone can complete with a miminum of mistakes and problems. This must be shown to new people and I think it can also be a great recruiting tool if used properly.

Irv