I’ve got an N-scale track plan I designed with RTS and a bench-work I also designed. But I have no idea what to do next or where to begin. (as a FYI - links to track-plan & Bench-work at the end) . It’s a Freelance/Fantasy, DCC, era 1945-1975, Passenger, freight, Steam and Diesel, loosely based on RR’s that serviced Alabama in this time period.
I need some guidance, heck, I’m pleading, no I’m begging for guidance . I built a smaller plan and to put it mildly it was a big snafu…
I’m all confused about where to start first. I believe there are, somewhere, articles or books on what steps to follow to build a layout. Does anyone know where to find these procedures on line? I would think (I’m sure they most likely do) MR magazine may have what I’m looking for. But I’m not sure which articles or books to buy. I would buy them all but that’s a little out of my price range :). I mentioned I’m N-scale. But I don’t think scale makes a big difference with general procedures to build a MRR…
I appreciate your patience with me and my (very small rant or frustrations) and I thank you all for your assistance in this matter…
I saw your post in the layout section. The trouble is that I could not see your plan. What I could see was that probably there were problems with a lack of runarounds. But I didn’t look at it long because it wqas hard to see and impossible to read. My sense is that you are not ready to build. Can you post a larger picture?
You need to find a good hobby shop, preferably one with knowledgeable people. I bought one of the Kalmbach books about building a layout - it came with a DVD. I really didn’t use the techniques described very much, but it was still a useful introduction to benchwork and layout building.
I started seriously planning in December of '04, but I didn’t “break ground” until March or April. Planning of the early steps is very important, because it’s much harder to correct errors later if you make them at the start. Building a railroad, either real or model, is a marathon, not a sprint. Take your time and do it right. Really, it’s supposed to take a long time.
Weather, in your opinion, I’m ready to build or not is immaterial. Your opinion on the layout does not answer my query. The question was, what steps or procedures does one follow and in what sequence do they occur to build a layout . I’m looking for general procedures and not scale specif answers.
If had downloaded the image you could have re-sized it so you could see it clearly and then make an informed opinion of bad and good points.
Thank you for your advise. There are three LHS in my area, one won’t give your the time of day. one will talk a little but prices are Walters catalog prices, The third will not talk at length, short curt answers but prices somewhat discounted. Therefore I use the Internet for 90% of my purchases. The old days of a LHS owner/employee’s in the hobby and not only answering, but willing to engage in extended questions and answers is long gone. It’s just the way it is. If you have an old fashioned LSH hang on to them and buy all from them for when they are gone, there gone.
I’m look for answers to the next steps and in what sequence to build the layout. The bench-work is done sitting there waiting for me to do something. And I don’t know what to do next.
And all I want is a list of steps or a list of books to purchase that have these detail step by step procedures. I’m sure MRRM has the articles and books if I can find them.
To start out, you have to determine if you intend to ever move the layout. Your track plan suggests that it is about 8.5 x 17.7 feet and accessable from one side. If you plan on moving it, look into the N Track standards. They are an association that ensures compatability between modules and construction standards. Wether or not you intend to participate is immaterial, the guidance for construction is time tested. For a monolithic layout, look to the model railroader magazine online articles available for a small price. There are several styles of construction to look into. Traditional, or cookie cutter. I’m a sort of traditional type, using modern materials. The top 2 corners on your layout are going to be a challenge to complete unless you have long arms and a strong back or access to all sides of the layout.
Next is to tranfer the track and scenery plan to the bench work.
Then install sub road bed, inclines, road bed and inclines.
Rough in scenery, try to finish scenery in hard to reach places.
Lay track, dropping feeders and ballast as you go.
After a section is tested and ready to run trains, fine details can be added. I like to work in sections. This helps to prevent getting burned out on any one process.
Again the MR references should cover most of you needs. They are in the information station part of their online news letter that you can sign up for.
Not all will agree with my thought process, but that’s how I would do it. The layout build is more time consuming than you might imagine. Yours is an ambitious plan that will take hundreds of hours to get looking like a layout. Good luck and have fun!
I haven’t looked at any of these offeribgs from MR, but they might put you on the right track:
This is exactly the type of info I need. And I thank you for taking the time to help me,
With the list you gave me I can then look up Articles/books to give the detail needed to do a good job. I’m retired. So I have all the time needed to work on the layout. As well as in no rush to get it done. I want to take time to do it right.
If the benchwork is done - I assume you have a flat tabletop at this point - then the usual next step is to start laying track.
I assume you are using Atlas track because you used the RTS software. I can’t tell whether it’s flex or sectional track from what you have provided. If it was designed with sectional track, on a layout this size I would recommend flex track to replace the straights and the small fitter pieces (both curved and straight).
You didn’t say whether you had a foam or plywood table top. What kind of roadbed are you planning to use?
In any case, buy some of the track you will need, and start laying it out full size on your benchwork. It is highly UNLIKELY that it will fit exactly as the software plan shows. That’s OK. Start at the lower levels and the more complicated sections (where are several turnouts close together). When you have a section laid out the way you would like, and where you want it, mark the track centerline with a marking pen. Take up the track section, and prepare to place your raodbed.
Assuming cork roadbed, you split it, and lay each half to the centerline you marked. Use a very thin layer of latex caulk to glue the cork down. Use thin nails (for plywood) or pins (for foam) and some weights to hold the cork in place while the caulk dries. Remove the nails, pins, and weights. Sand any rough spots smooth.
Put another thin layer of caulk on the cork and glue the track to it, again holding in place with nails, pins, or weights.
The above is just a very brief description of one version of how to lay track. I strongly recomend you get one of the beginner or project books (mostly just magazine-size booklets) with illustrations. Go to the LHS you like best, and look over the book selection, and pick one that appeals to you. The books will show you some other methods, and you will probably eventually develop your own.
Any more details than that depend on your personal tastes and your strengths and weaknesses as a hobbiest. Your benchwork can be L-girter or box-frame, your risers can be foam or cookie cutter. Your mountains can be foam or hard shell. Your rocks can be ceiling tile or plaster cast. There are so many variations that I’m afraid you just going to have to do a little research and make a few choices.
Some good basic references are:
Lou Sassi, A Realistic HO Layout for Beginners and
Dave Frary, The Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale.
The best trackplannning book is still John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation.
For more advanced wiring issues check out Any Sperandeo’s Easy Model Railroad Wiring.
And for everything scenery:
Dave Frary, How to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery
Lou Sassi, Basic Scenery for Model Railroaders
John Pryke, Building City Scenery For Your Model Railroad.
I use the following sequence for construction:
Benchwork
Trackplan layout
Roadbed/track
Wiring and operational testing
Rough scenery - creating the contours, plastering, basic paint and some fine blended ground foam, adding and coloring rock castings.
More operational testing
Structures and finish scenery - trees, ballast, bushes, water, etc.
I don’t work sequencely around the layout though. All the track and wiring is in and tested, but I skip around doing the scenery. Some areas have no scenery, some rough, and some are finished.
Hi Ron and anyone else reading: with all due respect I’ve got to take exception with part of what you said about the LHS. One of the reasons I wanted to join this forum is because at times I read opinions (justified or not) about local model train shops and I saw a lot of negativity. With a lot of new folks reading comments on this forum, it is a concern to me that they see that not all train shops are dying or extinct.
All 3 of the shops here in central Arkansas are owned by people who have been in the model train hobby basically all of our lives. The passion for trains displayed not only by me but by my two closest competitors is undeniable. Please don’t paint all model train shop or hobby shop guys with a broad brush.
And we don’t think we are going anywhere. All of us are 50 or under, and all of our shops are doing pretty good despite the best efforts of circumstances we can’t control.
There are decent hobby shops all over this country. I understand those that don’t have one need to do your shopping where you can.
I’m not trying to start any internet vs. LHS arguments here, but I will stick up for my, uh, profession. Keep enjoying the model railroad hobby!
When I started my current (and soon-to-be-mothballed) HO scale layout, I started with a small 2x6-foot module, and added to it. However, before I built any additional sections, I laid track and wired up the first one. That way, I could still run trains, although not very far. I also could get most of the bugs worked out before moving on.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to look at plans made for N scale. Many trackplans in other scales (HO, O, etc.) can be adapted for N.
Hello to fwright, nbrodar, One Track Mind, SpaceMouse, and others
Wow!! Great information gentlemen this is what I need to know. A high level sequence of steps to follow. And you all are on the same page with the same steps listed. I really do appreciate your time and the data.
I knew I was lost in the land of confusion. I’m back on-track (pun?) and can now flesh out each category with detail “how to” information from various PDF articles and books.
Since I’m a newbie, I need a plan of action to follow before I can proceed. Even though I may take an occasional shortcut, I’ll always revert to my plan. It’s like having a map, if you see an interesting cutoff, before you venture off , you make sure you can get back on the main road.
I’ve printed off this post and will make my plan of attack from it.
