I really need some help. I’m trying to build my first layout and I need some tips.
Its a 4x7 L shaped shelf layout in HO. I’m only 13 years old so I’m just geting started.
Any other tips like painting and weathering are surley welcome.
[:)][:)][:)][:)]
Ok I need some info on railroading in the Southern and Midwest states and more info on painting and weathering. [?][?][?]
Go visit lots of people’s websites and get ideas from there. Then take the ideas you like and tweek them to what you want.
A mistake I almost made when I first got back into model trains was to listen to a local hobby shop owner that tried to tell ME what WAS interesting and my designel was boring. I when as far as to map out a layout ‘to make him happy’, they I siad to myself, “what am I doing?” Scrapped the new design and went back to what I wanted! And that’s what you see if you visit my layout page.
Bryan,
When you first start out it is all so intimidating, so many skills required that you may not have and so many decisions to be made.
My first recommendation is to suggest you be more specific in your questions. For example, you don’t say what scale you are in, or are you just starting and want a recommendation on scale? You don’t say what space you have, so it is difficult to recommend a track plan for you.
So why not start over and say something like this (of course modified to your situtation):
“Hi I’m Bryan. I’m modelling in HO and I think I’m going to be doing a 4 by 8 layout. Does anyone know of any good sites that have some good 4 by 8 plans?”
Then after you decide on the track plan, you might say: “Hi remember me, I’m Bryan and I have decided on a track plan for a 4 by 8 HO layout, is there a good place on the web where I can go to see what kind of a table I should build for my 4 by 8?”
Then latter: “hi I’m Byran, I have my benchwork up for my 4 by 8 HO layout, what is a good track to use?”
Then latter: “I have decided on Atlas flex track and Atlas turnouts for my layout. How do I lay flextrack? Any recommendations on road bed?”
Have your questions reflect where you are in the planning and building phase of your layout.
Good luck, have fun, you’ll learn lots![:D]
Brian,
I recommend you read the book “Track Planning for Realistic Operation” by John Armstrong. Not only will it help you with your immediate problem of planning a layout, it is a nice book to read in its own right.
You say you are planning a 4 x 7 shelf layout. There is a track plan for something similar but requires more space. It is one of the track plans published by Atlas for their HO Scale sectional track. Is this going to be set up on two walls of your bedroom? If it matters any, we could help you design a bridge for both your doorway and your closet that would possibly permit continuous running later on. You could start with a plan for two walls and expand around the whole room later if your parents think it is OK. Model railroaders have a keen eye for utilizing space.
Good luck - Ed
Byran,
I must plead asleep at the switch. Somehow I missed your statement about a 4 by 7 Shelf (?) layout. But I must confess I’m still not sure what you mean by a “shelf” layout. Usually a shelf layout is around the walls and will be narrower in width than many layouts. I have a shelf layout sort with two decks and reversing loops over and under on each deck.
kentsoftware.com, cablebridge, rsn48 you have been a big help in planing my railroad.
Thank You
It seems I need some help on my scenery,and bacdrop painting.
Kalmbach has some excellent books on both topics, Bryan.
Hey Bryan, I must agree with Cablebridge on the reading material!
While I’m sure you have limited funds, the book he mentioned is worth it’s weight in diamonds.
I’m just getting back into the hobby after a (very) long hiatus myself.
Layout Planning for Realistic Operations should be everyone’s bible for building a model railroad of any size…
As for a backdrop, start with a can of blue paint, and go from there.
Good Luck!
Tim
With my soon to be 4x7 layout should I do two yards and a siding or two, or should I start out small and work my way up.
Bryan,
In the modest space you have to start I think one yard and a small number of industries is all you can expect. Atlas has some free layout planning software called Atlas RTS 5.0 (I think). I designed a starter 4x8 for my son using it. It has one yard, some engine facilities and three industries. Of course, it has the formulaic loop of track you normally expect to see on a 4x8. If you get the software (free at the Atlas website), I will send you a copy of the file showing my son’s layout.
Good Luck - Ed
bryan:
cablebridge didn’t mention the Atlas website. It’s at WWW.ATLASRR.COM They also have an EXELLENT forum there. Post a question(s) on it, and you’re almost GUARANTEED ttto have 2 or more answers by that night, or the next day. Once, I posted a question on it at 9 in the morning, and by 1 that afternoon, I had 6 answers to it!
However, the forum is down this week and won’t be back up until monday (the 14th). But, also go to the website of the N.M.R.A. (National Model Railroad Association) at WWW.NMRA.ORG They also have an exellent sitte (but no forum) with a section just for beginers.
Also, get some of the EXELLENT model railroading books from Kalmbach. They’re availible either at your LHS (Local Hobby Shop), from a number of dealers, or from their own website at WWW.KALMBACH.COM/BOOKS
I flog this product so much you’d think I work for woodland scenics, but once again I am going to recommend - the “Mountain Valley Scenery” kit. The picture on the front of the box leaves something to be desired - about the only negative thing with this kit.
This is a kit designed for a 4 by 8 layout and it has everything - everything - everything you need to add scenery. It comes with a 45 page manual on how to do it all and you won’t need to buy anything else except track and structures, your trains, and vehicles.
It has material for a large hill (mountain), plans and patterns, lightweight hydrocal, plaster cloth, liquid pigments (3), rock mold, earth under coat, Buff talus, earth turf, soil turf, green blend turf, burnt grass turf, yellow turf, Lt.green clump-foliage, med green clump-foliage, med green coarse turf, green poly fiber, harvest gold grass, 6 trees, scenic cement, hobby tac adhesive, stirring sticks, measuring cup, paint applicator, spray head, and buyers guide.
Whew!! Quite the list. The nice thing is that by buying this kit, all the worries and decisions have been made for you. When you put it in, you will gain invaluable experience and be more knowledgeable about scenery than many in the forums. If you can afford it, the woodland scenic video would be a very nice supplement to this kit as visually you will get to see how to apply it all.
And of course, the price is cheaper than if you bought the items all separately. I’m not going to say the price as I know what it retails for in Canada, which is a much higher price than in the states.
Thats a very good idea but I think I’ll read Basic Scenery for your Layout by MR to learn the Basics and then buy a kit later on. I’m kind of on a Budget.
Bryan: dragon1963 said “As for a backdrop, start with a can of blue paint, and go from there.” You’ll also need white paint to do the sky. The blue goes at the top of the backdrop, and the white is used at the bottom. In between the white is gradually blended with the blue so that the darker blue (overhead, as it were) washes out to a nearly white at the horizon. (A misty look you’ve seen many times in real life, but may not have noticed) If you do this first before even thinking about hills and plains in the distance, those features will blend in well, and you won’t be trying to paint sky around the edge of a hill, which, trust me on this, is not convincing! The paint I’m thinking of is Latex Interior. It stays wet long enough to work in the way I’ve mentioned, but cleans up with water, which is a HUGE asset. If you use latex or acrylic paints for the rest of your layout needs, they are more or less compatible, and so can be blended more often than not.
You’ll come across all this and more in the books and web sites mentioned , so have a look. Remember you don’t HAVE to do anything someone else says. However, like trying to paint sky along a line of hills, some things work better than others, and the wheel doesn’t need to be invented in each generation!
Have fun with this.
I posted this for another reply but it seem appropriate here.
A suggestion on your layout design. If you might have a layout larger than 4 X 8, consider using more aisles say like the letter E. This will give you much better access than one large surface. The ends can be constructed larger to accomodate curves. I was more concerned with using space than access and wish I built with a narrower base and more aisles.
Have fun!
Rick thats a good idea. Maybe I can work with my budget and see what I can do.
Thanks Rick.
Bryan,
I am just getting started also, but already I feel qualified to make two points.
If you haven’t already bought a train kit, think a minute before you do. I bought one, thinking it would be a good way to get started, since it has an engine, rolling stock, track, and two building kits. For the price it’s not bad, but I already knew that I was going to model the foothills area of east Tennessee. I ended up buying an L&N engine because it fits the theme better than the generic engine in the kit. If you know the area you like, this can help prevent paying twice. Besides track is cheap.
Before I started building a complex layout, I put together a loop with some turnouts just to see how it all comes together and to understand wiring. This doesn’t take long and it might help you to realize what you want out of your track plan.
That’s my two cents. I think it’s great that you can get so much help out of this forum.
On idea I have rnever seen in print is planning for expansion, after your main layout is built. When I built my 4X8 layour, I added a turnout going into a mountain. It looked like the train could continue through the mountain, but it dead-ended in the mountain. When I decided to expand, it was an easy operation to add track, rather than tear up track and add a turnout.
Larry23 suggested an E shape unless you are modelining in N most of your layout would be curves. Also, each yaer MR prints a series of articles on building a layout, evenif you don’t want to build that particular layout the techniques presented are invaluable to a beginer. good luck on your layout