Lance Mindheim new project in N scale

[Chris333]

With the new layout there might be less photo buildings as it is hard to go out and get perfect photos of 60 years ago.

[sirenwerks]

His blog post suggested that he has had an interest in the NY prototype.  I get the distinct impression Lance is done with LA for now, regardless of scale.

Yea, I wasn't suggesting a lilliputian do-over, just an observation that the LAJ is better suited as a prototype for N scale modeling. I'm looking forward to whatever he does in N too, as I very much liked his Monon. I do wish he would have completed the Monon layout and done more documentation of it.

[Scottl]

Re: finishing the layout...  He finished his two HO layouts.  Something I have yet to do!

[C855B]

Re: finishing the layout...  He finished his two HO layouts.  Something I have yet to do!

If you call what you have "unfinished", Scott, then I want what you're having.

[nuno81291]

I don't know, let's see John Allen built 3 layouts in his lifetime, John Armstrong designed many but built few and Lance Mindheim builds a new layout every 5 years? What is his real interest?
 
Well if 90% of the items were not limited run, product availability would be a little better.

My question is, does he build so many layouts as a way to advertise his layout construction business? I for one could not afford to build a new layout in a different scale every 5 years and I earn a half decent wage.

I don't buy this for a minute. I have "finished" 2 layouts, and aborted at least 5 between ho/n scales since I got into the hobby 5 years ago. The biggest loss of those projects? Some extruded foam. I reuse everything from trees, track, electrical components, switch machines, even the dimensional lumber underneath. The biggest expense being by far my time planning and getting however far into construction as I got (most were operable some without any scenery at all). He has done East rail, Monon, downtown spur, Laj and planning for another. The guy doesn't spend a lot of time talking olther than his blog and is highly productive it seems. Reminds me of Mike Confalone... he isn't building a G&D that evolves, he sets out on a mission no matter how large (downtown spur or monon) or small (east rail or laj) and gets it done. He is a serial layout builder like our very own Chris333 or DKS etc.

[unittrain]

This is great news looking forward to his N scale work

[Scottl]

If you call what you have "unfinished", Scott, then I want what you're having.

True, I did cover the last foam with paint.  We'll call it done, time for HO! 

[tehachapifan]

So....I guess he figured out how to remove the cast grabs on the S2 and drill #80 holes in the metal shell....assuming that is the Atlas model? Would love to see the how-to on that.

[tehachapifan]

So....I guess he figured out how to remove the cast grabs on the S2 and drill #80 holes in the metal shell....assuming that is the Atlas model (other possibility is the Bachmann S4 shell, I suppose)? Would love to see the how-to on that.

[wazzou]

So....I guess he figured out how to remove the cast grabs on the S2 and drill #80 holes in the metal shell....assuming that is the Atlas model? Would love to see the how-to on that.

If you're talking about the LAJ unit, it's HO Scale.

[Missaberoad]

I for one could not afford to build a new layout in a different scale every 5 years and I earn a half decent wage.

Likely book sales and article payments offset a good deal of this cost... He is a pretty prolific author...

[Missaberoad]

...gonna be tough not being able to edit 

Judging by the teaser photo I'm excited to see what becomes of this... 

[tehachapifan]

If you're talking about the LAJ unit, it's HO Scale.

OK, phew! Guess I don't need to throw my models off a pier after all! Apparently I didn't pay close enough of attention.

[Rich_S]

not get my panties in a bunch.

Joe

I'm not really getting my panties in a bunch, just noting the guy seems to build a lot of layouts. Just wondering if he is more of a builder than an operator? As for the quality of Lance's layouts, my favorite is the "The Downtown Spur", but I think all of his current layouts are museum quality. Not saying it's a negative thing, I'm just thinking he's showing his work off as a way to promote his business, there is no crime in that. John Allen was a master at photography and used his wizardry on his G&D line. John Armstrong was a master track planner and used his ideas on his  Canandaigua Southern. Lance Mindheim is a master layout builder as shown by the layouts he's built to date. Personally I could not afford to start over in another scale, but as another poster said, he probably uses the money from his book sales to help offset the cost of building a new layout. Again nothing wrong with that, if I had that ability I'd do the same. 

Cheers,
Rich S.
   

[mark dance]

I'm really looking forward to his new layout. Lance's ideas may have influenced the largest changes in layout design since Armstrong.

Md