I hope this is the correct forum to quickly introduce myself. I’m new to the world of Model Railroading, but not to modeling in general. Since I’m not getting any younger, I figured its time to get after my life long dream of creating a train layout; preferably a fictional setting in the 1950s.
Right now, my head is spinning with all the information that’s out there, but my initial goal is to learn as much as I can and hopefully get started on my layout early next year, as I will be retiring at the end of April…at least that is the plan
Welcome Darryl! This is the place to get your questions answered. There is a wealth of information here waiting to be shared by the members of this forum. Lurk a while and when you are ready dive in and ask. There are no dumb questions here.
Joe, welcome! My advice is to read every thing you can. Get hold of copies of the latest publications on DCC, or DC if going that route, operations, yard layout, etc. Our host of this forum publish many that are highly recommended. There are many more that others will recommend.
I did this from 2005 to 2007 then started my layout. Saved me a lot of mistakes. Even then I still have learned how to make the layout better.
Welcome to the forums and welcome to the hobby![#welcome][#welcome]
You are indeed in the right place to introduce yourself!
The 50’s is a great era because you can legitimately run both steam and diesel, and there is a ton of stuff available to fit your time frame.
You didn’t mention what scale you will be working in. If you haven’t decided yet then there will be lots of people here who will gladly offer their opinions about HO vs N vs narrow gauge etc. etc. I favour HO because it is small enough to allow a reasonable amount of action in my available space (10’ x 22’) yet big enough that I can see what I am working with. The ability to see what we are doing will become more and more important as we age. Already at age 58 I seem to be wearing my Optivisor to do most of the work on my rolling stock.
Your previous modeling experience will be quite valuable to you. This hobby actually gets you involved in a whole lot of different things. You will learn about electronics, sculpting, painting both fine details and broad expanses, carpentry, possibly photography, and on and on. There is always a new challenge in model railroading.
Please fill us in on what your plans are - scale, layout size, type of operation…etc., and ask questions! You will discover a wealth of knowledge here that people are willing to share.
As others mentioned, the forum is very helpful, lots of reference resources exist (check out the MR site for available books on layout planning, benchwork, tracklaying, scenery, wiring, DCC, etc). Also the layout plans available on the MR site.
I decided to get back to HO hobby but took about 3 years to decide to plunge ahead. I found playing with track plans in various spaces (garage, attic room, office area) with track planning software, in combination reading the reference books and reviewing forum info really helped me design a layout plan I would be happy with. I started the benchwork in January and ordered the track, which is recently completed with DCC. I asked scores of particular questions and folks here were extremely helpful. Now on to the scenery, track painting, etc.
If you have a decent local hobby shop with knowledgeable folks that can help. Mine is pretty far off so I tend to mail order (mostly from Walthers or modeltrainstuff.com). When you decide on HO or N, suggest you get the related 2013 Walthers catalog (reference book) as it’s an easy way to see much of what’s available from various (not all) companies these days.
Suggest to view the videos and see the MR articles on the recent Virginian HO project that gives a helpful view of what’s entailed with the various phases of a layout to final detailing. It helped me with my slightly bigger project; e.g., benchwork approach, cookie-cutter plywood cutting to create elevations (one method), and my upcoming scenery additions.
Thanks for the warm welcome guys! That certainly goes a long way for someone like me, who is new to this. Having been involved in other hobbies, the “veterans” can sometimes be intimidating and unaccepting. I don’t get that feeling here.
Anyway, being as my eyesight began to go about a year and a half ago (age 46), and I now need readers, I plan to go with HO scale, for essentially the same reasons Dave mentioned. My initial working area for a layout is about 10X12. Being a novice at best, I think the hardest part for me right now will be learning all the lingo, grasping the laying of track and the electrical part of getting it all working in good order. I’m a stickler for detail, so I venture to say the scenery, weathering and such will be the most fun for me. I’m not afraid to ask questions, so I hope you all are ready Any recommended reading will be appreciated, as I would rather get this right from the get-go.
Second, at the very top of the page here is a gray toolbar with a “shop” button. There is also, at the top of this column a black toolbar with a “shop” button on it.
Those will provide you links to any one of the numerous publications our hosts, MR magazine publish on a variety of MRRing topics. THe books there are very informative on aobut any topic you could want regarding MRRing.
Are there particular specific issues you wish to find more info about? If so, we can perhaps direct you more concisely to publications, websites,etc that will answer your questions, or show you how to do something.
Basically it explains how real railroads operate their track systems and it can help you avoid newbie mistakes. As I just mentioned on a different thread, I had designed myself what I thought was a pretty good plan but after I read Allen’s book I realized that it simply would not work as hoped. The book was possibly the best money I have spent in the hobby (even though it doesn’t have sound or directional lighting![swg][(-D]).
Are you aware of the track plan database available on this site? If not, click on the ‘How To’ button in the black bar near the top of the page and then select ‘Track Plan Database’. You can filter the designs by layout size. You might get some good ideas there.
Sorry - my bad! I’ll go and correct my other post too.
I have already said that there is precious little left on the top of my head, so I should refrain from taking anything else off the top of my head![D)][(-D]
Wow, you guys are full of great suggestions. While I am far from placing the first piece of track down, I think I have a vague idea where I want to head with this; at least with what little knowledge I have at this time. Hopefully, the fog will clear a bit as I learn more. It’s going to be tough, as I can be rather impatient when I get excited about something like this, but I think I can keep that in check simply out of fear of doing something wrong initially.
Since the research is part of the fun, I think I’m being realistic in my approach…I’m already collecting photos of buildings (kits) and vehicles that I would like to consider for the layout. I’ll add other details as the planning goes on…I want to “build” my layout - nothing straight from a box if I can help it. I love scratch building, kit bashing and using natural materials as much as practically possible - using the tiny root sections of actual trees comes to mind - inverting them on the layout makes for a realistic tree and they can be left bare or made into leaved trees by adding various “leaf” material. Basically, I love the creative process and I want it to be evident throughout, down to the smallest detail…I love realism!
Anyway, I want to do something way beyond having two pieces of 4X8 plywood on some saw horses and an oval track with a couple turnouts (is that the right word?) and some randomly placed buildings and such. I’d like to have a small town feel to the layout - think “Mayberry” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I also chose a name years ago for my fictional town, which I won’t divulge just yet [:#]
I’m not sure what you would call the type of layout (footprint) I envision, but without having a clue what is feasible, I want to be able to walk into the “train room” and have the layout “around” me for the most part…
DC is as in “DC electrical current” meaning DC current is used to the track to control a loco’s movement. Power on way will make the loco move one way, reverse the current and the loco goes the other way. If there is power to the track the loco WILL move one way or another. If NO power is to the track the loco will not do anything. IF 2 locos are on the same stretch of wired track, they will both move only in the direction the current directs them to move.
DCC allows you control the locos INDIVIDUALLY via a computerized message to the DCC decoder onboard the loco. It can move independent of what the current does.
I choose DCC to individually control locos on a simple “two wire to track” small layout. I like the idea of controlling the locos individally, no matter which loco {I can use up to 3 on my system without a booster} does what on the same track electrical connection…
There are two staunch suppiorting sides: the PRO DC and the PRO DCC.
ONLY the few “transitioners” from DC to DCC are not in the two camps. They can. however, extoll the virtues of life with DCC after DC.
Hello, Darryl, and welcome. Please poke around and read a lot of the posts. You will find a lot of useful information. And you will find that there is seldom only one right way to do things in this hobby (although, if you’re a long-time modeler, you probably know that).
And, speaking of Walthers, go out and get yourself one of their catalogs (they call it the “Sourcebook”). It’s available from their website or at most hobby stores. While not all inclusive, they are the largest distributor of model railroad merchandise in North America, and their catalog can give you lots of great ideas.
I vote for DCC because it gives you more precise control of your trains. You can have two or more engines operating on your layout with ease. That is also possible with DC but it takes a lot more work to keep track of how the track power control switches are set so the trains operate smoothly.
With DCC you can have sound coming right out of your locomotives. You can have engine noises, bells, horns or whistles, coupler clank, brake squeal, blow down…and more. You can also have very realistic lighting from simple constant brightness in your headlights (with DC the headlights get very dim at low speeds unless you install special circuitry) to automatic directional lighting control, flashing or constant ditch lights, MARS light simulation, rotating beacon simulation, firebox glow… and again other options.
As you read about DCC you may become a little intimidated by what may seem to be a very complex system. Don’t get hung up on things like changing decoder programming. DCC is very easy to use right out of the box and it is simpler to wire into your layout. Once you have some experience with it you may choose to get into adjusting the settings in your locomotives but that is not necessary to start running trains.
DCC will cost you more, particularly if you want sound. Before you decide it might help to visit a train store with an operating layout or at least a demonstration track, or find yourself a train show with operating layouts. In either case, the people will be happy to explain what is going on and you can decide which system you want and whether or not you want sound.
Since I live in a small town that relied on the railroads for the sake of the local economy until the gas industry came in, I can probably help.
What you can do is have a small yard or interchange area between a short line and a branch line of a Class 1 railroad (large companies, the Pennsy, NYC, UP, SP, WP, etc. etc.) A small station and freight shed will help reinforce the idea that the railroads were at one time America’s super highways and almost every town had some connection in one way or another. A small RIP track, servicing facility, and yard will also help with reinforcing the fact that the town isn’t a city. It doesn’t see enough traffic for a North Platte type operation.
