To DCC or not?

[yelrow]

A Third party. Surely the way to learn, as we all have, is by trial and error. 90% of the hobby, is building the layout. You wont have the same enthusiasm, in my view, if you just take over once its built. Most of us, are far from happy with initial build, and have enormous pleasure, modifying, trying something else. We all start with little/ no knowledge. By all means take advice, but, do look to build it yourself.

[Tallpaul70]

I understand that for most modellers the interest is the building, the use is secondary, and so after a while, they get fed up, and build another layout!!
I am one of the 10%!!
I know from past experience that I do not have the skills to build anything other than a basic layout with no operational interest. My last attempt was some years ago when my fingers were more nimble, my eyesight 100%, and my woodwork was still suspect on level etc. and my soldered joints were unreliable. It never worked well!

So I know my limitations, and I just want to watch the trains go by, running to a timetable or not, as the feeling takes me, and with a little purposeful shunting if I feel like it or the Working timetable derived from a real place timetable so requires.
I will have to wait for the layout to be built but believe me I will still get it in half the time and of a superior quality to my DIY.
Also I think the thought process you have to go through for a third party build ensures that the poor outcomes that the " I'll get started and see how it turns out@ mentality is not possible!

Thanks for your interest.
Best regards
Paul

[yelrow]

Tall Paul, that’s ok,several guys have had their baseboards built for them, but I don’t recall any having the layout built, whatever you are happy with. There are many on here would help with your questions as you go along. It’s just that many get bored once layout built, Hope you don’t.

[Steve M]

Tall Paul, that’s ok,several guys have had their baseboards built for them, but I don’t recall any having the layout built, whatever you are happy with. There are many on here would help with your questions as you go along. It’s just that many get bored once layout built, Hope you don’t.

I believe there is one layout that has appeared on here that was ‘outsourced’. As the OP said his enjoyment comes from running trains and he knows his limits when it comes to building - have to say I am the exact opposite.

[yelrow]

I know my limits Steve, hence why i dont Landscape. Must say though, have learnt a lot, and made a few mistakes along the way, with my layouts. I can understand having your baseboard built, particularly, if handicapped, but do think, you are missing a trick, if you dont lay the track, etc.

[Steve M]

Couldn’t agree more John.

[Mountain Goat]

For running the trains nothing beats a large club layout. Years ago I was in a club that had a layout of around 60ft by about 25ft. I would run a loco flat out (E.g. my old maroon Lima Western which I no longer own pulling 11 borrowed Lima maroon coaches) and it still took around a minute to return on the large oval circuit of track. My dad used to take me and he enjoyed chatting.

[Tallpaul70]

A club would only be viable for me if there was one within walking distance, which there isn't, as I no longer have a car, and the evening buses in my area are no good for long distances.

Plus the layout will be my layout and I can run it as I like, without having to negotiate when I can have free run of the layout.

As running is my prime enjoyment the layout has to have good solid level baseboards on which is laid reliable running track and good electrics, which I know from past experience are not my skills!

Thanks for all the posts
Best regards
Paul

[Bandit Mick]

It's definitely each to their own and r modelling is a broad church. For me, having a go myself brings the most pleasure even though at times its very frustrating when things go wrong/don't turn out as expected. I feel that for me, sitting back and saying "I did that" is the whole point. Good luck with what you decide to do - either way I'm sure it will bring a lot of pleasure. After being ill the hobby has been a god-send to me.

[Tallpaul70]

I think I will have enough on my hands getting the scenery done in a reasonable time (say a year) as well as devising a final timetable and taking my locos to be chipped!
That's without accounting for the time taken to learn the operation of DCC.

Cheers
Paul