The Last Layout

Will I ever get started on building this layout? Yes - this coming Wednesday, February 24th, is the day.  It's about four months since the day when I decided to start on it.  I've sold virtually all of my postwar stuff and now  have a better idea of my budget. I  always was a planner- planning gives me great enjoyment as try to turn my  imagination into realistic ways to develop and improve my work.  Since my last post, I've done a bunch more of it in a couple of areas as I've progressed clearing the train room to the point where can actually put up the first piece of backdrop.   Speaking of which, I had another change of mind and have bought 1/8" Masonite panels.  Home Depot cut a couple of 4x8 sheets down the middle so I have four 2x8s .I also bought a 2x4 so I have 36' in total.  I still need some more for the spur but since it's "off-stage', it won't have a printed backscene but just pale blue paint. I may just reuse some panels from the ea

 In any new project like this, there are always other stakeholders who need to be on board with what we do and can often help with great ideas. That's what's going on now!  Negotiations are well under way with my wife and she's really helped me along by stepping back and looking at the project as a whole as well as specific individual things. First item is the environment.  My dream was to have a new "room" with finished walls and ceiling where you'd be sucked into the railroad environment as soon as you walked in.  That would have needed sheetrock, electrical changes, paint and a very tall backdrop that helped you feel you wee actually "in the layout".  I did realize that the dream was under threat when I couldn't get anyone to do the sheet-rocking.  What I didn't do was step all the way away from the dream and create a railroad room rather than something that could become habitable without a lot of change if I ever stopped railroading.  Thi

I have the layout room cleared now to the point where I could start benchwork for the new layout but I'm scared to start. Why?  I've been changing the design for  the   track layout, benchwork and electronic control constantly the past two or three weeks.  I've been "drilling down" into more detail on all of them and finding  that   either I can make improvements or I need to make corrections. I do have a little more clearing to do. I have one final piece of bench work and some wall boards to take down but that'll only take me an hour or so plus another hour to clean up.  I've decided not to sheetrock the room but to use lightweight plywood and paint it - way less costly and easier.  In a month, I haven't even managed to get someone to quote on the sheetrock so I don't hold much hope I'd get it done for a reasonable price.  Besides, I don't really want to wait and I can't do the sheetrock myself. There is some framing to be done but Mik