Originally Posted by L.I.TRAIN:
a couple of points:
1. About 10 months ago I submitted an article to OGR About building the TMB club layout, At the time of the article and the accompanying photos it was pretty much about the bench work and track laying. We were not close to running a train. In April, I approached Alan Miller and he remembered the submission and said it has gotten some consideration. Not sure how long the consideration period is but of course I hope it get published as it does show a different side of a layout.
2. There was a point raised earlier in the thread about articles featuring $30,00 layouts one can not relate to. Well I share this dream or envy. In joining a club, I am able to get that, in building 4,000 square foot layout where the cost and labor is shared amongst the membership. Of course you need to learn on key word in this environment "compromise", and in the end I am always surprised by the creativity talents others bring and how that helps me grow.
3. Publish your own article right here on the forum. There are other areas in particular the "Scenery" and "TMCC/DCS" where there is some of the content that is being requested is displayed with step by step development. Maybe not the end all answer someone is looking for but there is always the opportunity to respond or email a content provider with questions or to take a deeper dive into the posting. This forum gives us all the opportunity to express our selves right here. So why not start experimenting with some mini articles 200-300 words with pictures right here. If Alan does not publish my article, (so I am not crushed with the rejection, just kidding), I just might do so here.
Isn't this GREAT !!!!
Kind Regards
Steve
Your article on just the bench work and track laying sounds interesting to me. I think this would be a good idea for the magazines to show some layouts in the construction stages. As you say, not all of us can afford a $30,000 or more layout, or to hire someone to build one for us, and not all of us have completed layouts like are shown in the magazines. On the professionally built layouts, it would also be good to see some of the techniques used by the pros when building a layout. That is if they don't mind showing us some of their tricks. I think we sometimes get more from an incomplete layout than a completed one. I know they are never complete, but you get the idea, many appear to be complete in the articles.
I think we all get to different stages of layout construction where we say 'gee, I have this done, now what should I do next and how should I do it?'. We all have visions of a layout, but not all of us have the complete vision of the one that we really want to end up with. Personally I have many ideas from this forum and layout articles in magazines that I would like to duplicate on my layout, but sometimes it's hard to select from all the ideas to fit into my limited space and budget. It would be nice to hear what others have done in these situations.
Forgot to add to my above post that this forum is a great asset to both OGR and us as hobbyists. I have learned more here than I have from all the magazines I have read since I got back into the hobby a few years ago. This forum is a great substitute for any missing how-to articles in the magazines. And if you can't find a how-to on what you are looking for, just ask and someone will most likely provide one for you!
I have followed several of the build threads here and really enjoyed the builders commenting on all the things the had accomplished, had trouble with, had to re-do, etc. Many could fill an entire magazine or even a book and are way too much for just one article, but they are available right here on the forum. As an added benefit, you can actually ask questions about their techniques or materials & methods used or other items and they will actually reply back to you with a lot of good information. Another thing you can't do with a magazine article.
Not sure how to recommend this forum to anyone that isn't currently a member, but I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.