06-29-2014, 01:34 PM
I'm wondering if someone can help me through some questions here. First, it seems like the layout linked in the OP doesn't necessarily model the real thing so much as it models Lance Mindheim's version of the real thing -- in other words, it's a model of a model. Does anyone know if the guy goes out and looks at the real world, or does he just read books and mags where someone tells him what to do? And if that's the case, why is this good?
Second, I don't feel comfortable with anyone telling me what size layout is better. It used to be that the likes of John Armstrong would say look at the space you have and what you want to do, and design a layout that accomplishes what you want in that space. A corollary might be that if you're young and starting out, maybe you won't have all the space you might eventually want, but (as MR might say), you can dream and plan.
Mindheim, who seems to be a subject of this post, doesn't seem to think the same way: when I go to his blog, he keeps saying you should just build a shelf layout, you should have no more than 12 switches, so on and so forth.
I can see that some guys might want to do this -- they may have other commitments for their space, time, and money, for instance, or hobby interests that are stronger than model railroading. But why say that their view is the best one?
I sometimes wonder if there's a Lance Mindheim cult out there, and if you get right down to it, those who like some of the hobby's guiding lights in the past -- John Allen, John Armstrong, Allen McClelland, for instance -- might not be well regarded by this new Lance cult.
Maybe someone can clarify what's going on here. I like good layouts of any size. I especially like layouts that show individual creativity, not something where some guy is building a layout exactly like someone else's.
Second, I don't feel comfortable with anyone telling me what size layout is better. It used to be that the likes of John Armstrong would say look at the space you have and what you want to do, and design a layout that accomplishes what you want in that space. A corollary might be that if you're young and starting out, maybe you won't have all the space you might eventually want, but (as MR might say), you can dream and plan.
Mindheim, who seems to be a subject of this post, doesn't seem to think the same way: when I go to his blog, he keeps saying you should just build a shelf layout, you should have no more than 12 switches, so on and so forth.
I can see that some guys might want to do this -- they may have other commitments for their space, time, and money, for instance, or hobby interests that are stronger than model railroading. But why say that their view is the best one?
I sometimes wonder if there's a Lance Mindheim cult out there, and if you get right down to it, those who like some of the hobby's guiding lights in the past -- John Allen, John Armstrong, Allen McClelland, for instance -- might not be well regarded by this new Lance cult.
Maybe someone can clarify what's going on here. I like good layouts of any size. I especially like layouts that show individual creativity, not something where some guy is building a layout exactly like someone else's.