tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post8818558347703637619..comments2023-04-12T10:44:28.339+10:00Comments on Bogong & Geehi Railway: Less is more?Murray Scholzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02276637174343450669noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-33433376379958721382014-06-12T17:26:36.020+10:002014-06-12T17:26:36.020+10:00Less is always more but why not start with a grass...Less is always more but why not start with a grass field around a station - enjoy the scene and have the town grow around the RR as it would have in real life - GaryTucanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07958655520829249740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-29361403855539172662014-06-08T09:54:47.033+10:002014-06-08T09:54:47.033+10:00The exact same thoughts haunted me for the last ye...The exact same thoughts haunted me for the last year. When I designed the new layout version, I reduced things to the minimum. As you said, most of the time, tracks are running through nothingness. Most stations are always lost in the middle of nowhere. Yes, they are in towns, but when you look around, with a model scale in mind, you quickly find out where trains are travelling isn't very build up, expect if you are doing an urban layout.<br /><br />Having reduced my ambition, I feel less pressure and more fun to do a good job on the significant things I have to do. Recently, I started to model a bridge scene. On paper, I drawn a lot of stuff, but when things started to take shape on the layout, I found out most of that wasn't needed. In fact, leaving thing more "empty" gave the impression the layout was in fact larger.<br /><br />You're definitely on the right track!Matthieu Lachancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06812873374306516493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-11755365492524220602014-05-29T20:02:11.613+10:002014-05-29T20:02:11.613+10:00Thanks for your kind words, John. I have had the p...Thanks for your kind words, John. I have had the pleasure of visiting Beech Forrest and your Grandfather would have had a big job looking after the track through that beautiful but rugged country Murray Scholzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02276637174343450669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-29215124129039991752014-05-28T19:08:28.448+10:002014-05-28T19:08:28.448+10:00I did the same thing, I didn't want a complica...I did the same thing, I didn't want a complicated layout but a simple as it would appear in the real world. My grandfather was the track gang foreman at Beech Forrest in the 50's so I like to keep an eye on the narrow gauge Aussie stuff and your layout is something for us all to aspire too.jognhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332280529862195599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-6380980313182631792014-05-28T01:56:42.523+10:002014-05-28T01:56:42.523+10:00That's one of the reasons I'm building the...That's one of the reasons I'm building the layout that I am. I have a busy life outside of the layout room - and I'm not willing to give up those other things that keep me busy in order to spend more time working on the trains. So, a simple layout was the answer for me. (And it was immensely gratifying to build two turnouts in one evening, and realize I was 25% of the way to finishing turnouts.)<br />Rather than adding complexity to my layout in the form of additional trackage or structures, I've been looking to the prototype to adopt operating practices that will extend an operating session - from an estimated 15 minutes if operated as a "train set" to 75-90 minutes if operated as a miniature of the real thing. So far, it's working for me.<br />Keep posting - I'm enjoying your layout from the other side of the planet.<br />Cheers!<br />- Trevor in CanadaTrevorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09860331796911162859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-42038591777518243782014-05-27T10:51:27.688+10:002014-05-27T10:51:27.688+10:00Hi Trevor,
thanks so much for your thoughtful com...Hi Trevor, <br />thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. I have enjoyed watching your layout build via your blog and it has proved to me that a simple layout can achieve a lot of what I want. You are right that I don't want to compromise on the build quality of either my structures or the layout on a whole. At my current stage of life the only way I can achieve that is to make things simpler. <br /><br />Cheers <br />MurrayMurray Scholzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02276637174343450669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5139923349116002491.post-35176392271563862392014-05-27T01:24:22.138+10:002014-05-27T01:24:22.138+10:00Hi Murray:
This is a great example of smart thinki...Hi Murray:<br />This is a great example of smart thinking. I love the idea of taking an existing layout - with 60-70 structures planned - and knocking that number back to 20. I think you will be much, much happier with the result for several reasons:<br />1 - You've just removed 67% of the pressure on you to get things done. It's a hobby, so it should be relaxing. And as you note, grass goes down really quickly.<br />2 - Instead of building what will look like a model railway when it's done, you will instead end up with a model of a railway. Each scene will look much more realistic.<br />3 - The structures you DO build will be better appreciated by your visitors, because they will not be placed in visually cluttered scenes. (And by doing fewer structures, you can focus more effort on making each one a masterpiece).<br />I've thought about my own layout, and about what I would do if I had more space - and I realize I would resist temptation to fill it with busy scenes. Instead, I'd use the extra space to lengthen the mainline run between stations, broaden curves, and generally make the layout look more realistic. So I think you're on the right track - so to speak.<br />Thanks too for the shout-out for my blog: Much appreciated. I have yours on my RSS reader and it's always great to see a post from you.<br />Cheers!<br />- Trevor @ The Model Railway ShowTrevorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09860331796911162859noreply@blogger.com