Im just starting out building my O scale model railroad. I have no idea what I’m doing. I have two sheets of 4x8 plywood put together in an L shape with just an oval track laying on top of it. I have decided to use fast track since it has the track and a bed for the track together. Any other suggestions? This has been a lifetime dream of mine. I have a huge concrete and block basement with plenty of room to grow.
Tex, welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are off to a start. As long as you are having fun it is good! One small tip with respect to these forums. It seems that many of the O scalers hang out on the “classic toy trains” section. Not to say that you can’t get a lot of good info here in the Model RR forum, but the majority here are in HO and N scale. Anyway, try posting in both places and see where you get the best response.
finally someone who is honest! [
I guess you’ve realised that with O-scale you wont be watching optically full-lenght freight trains (30 cars) roar past, unless you have a 100x100ft shed for your layout? For detail, of course O-scale is, really, the “REAL” thing. Congrats! As to your question, I dont really see a question. Looks like you’ll find out for yourself what you want to do, and then design a layout to fit your needs. Keep this forum posted as to what those might be!
You are doing just fine. You will find, as the days and weeks pass, that the oval leaves something to be desired…too unidimensional. Most of us gravitate, if we started like you, to a more complex trackplan with sidings, a yard, engine servicing, passing tracks, and industrial spurs…the revenue for the railroad.
Perhaps you could do some research and enjoy a temporary oval for a while. Try the late John Armstrong’s “Track Planning for Realistic Operation”. It is a dated book, but is highly valued by those who manage to work through it at least twice. Kalmbach Publishing sells it, or a large local library may have it. Certainly, you might try your local hobby shop (LHS, we call it here).
-Crandell
If you need general help on where to stare, check out my post for some info and links. I have got some really good advice here>>>http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=61595