Modular Home Layouts

Hi Don,

I am just getting around to catching up on back issues and I read your column mentioning modular home layouts. I have been an N-Scale modeler since '83 and I belong to an N-Scale Club (BANTRAK) here in the Baltimore area all that time. This is a modular club and I started building modules for our Club layout.. I decided to build my home layout in modular form as well. and I have never regretted it. Not only is it an easy way to build in sections as you point out, but I have completely reconfigured my original design from a rectangle with a duck-under (UGH!) to a double loop walk-in simply by adding a few new modules and redesigning the "old" ones; all individually in my basement and away from the layout room. When I was ready to make the module switch, I just replaced the existing module with a new one in about 15 minutes! Additionally, I have used some of my  extra modules in our Club layout. or gave them to new members so that they could rehab them into their own design.

The last thing I should mention is that should you move to another house, packing up the modules in neat groupings beats having to disassemble a permanent layout with likely damage and repair work to be done..