Kalmbach Books and PDFs....

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I would like your opinion on these books by kalmbach.

  1. Modeling Narrow Gauge Railroads

  2. Steam locomotive projects & Ideas

  3. Model Railroader Cyclopedia, Volume 1: Steam Locomotives

4)Track Planning for Realistic operation, 3rd edition

  1. Realistic Model Design

  2. Realistic Model Railroad Operation

So, there, around 150 buck altogether. Any I should not get?

2

I think you got the full collection to go with there…they are all good as far as I read…still have mine too…[swg]

3

The only one I have in Track Planning for Realistic operation. It is very good, even if I already knew most of the things in it.

Also, why all the different books on track planning? It will probably be the same ideas and concepts, just said somewhat differently. Please, don’t let me force you into doing something you don’t want to, but just saying[:-^]…

Whatever you end up getting, you will almost positively be satisfied with it.[:D]

Good luck,

sfb

4

thank you, I’ve had lots of people tell me I’m unfamiliar with track planning, so i thought I should suit up! But, then again, which one is the best, and what about the PDFs? They any good?

5

Also, what about the Modeling logging railroads vol. 3: Logging projects by Jack Work? Also, I have cut the logging one from matt coleman, as I don’t really model logging, more a bit of everything, just the way I like it

6

Check your local library and see what they have. I found several of the books at my local library and then went back and bought the ones I reference often .

7

Thanks, but not thanks, I’ve taken out every train book in our local liabrary a few 100 times.

8

You can request books the library doesn’t have… like the ones on your list.

-ed

9

I would start with Byron Henderson’s blog post on track plan analysis: http://mrsvc.blogspot.com/2008/02/track-plan-analysis-indexed.html

And maybe also ponder this one: http://mrsvc.blogspot.com/2010/03/status-through-standards.html

Both are completely free - will only cost you a little of your time :slight_smile:

Grin,
Stein

10

Based on what I have seen in all your threads so far, #2 and #4 are probably the only ones worth your money at this time. Even then, I would recommend John Armstrong on Creative Layout Design instead in your situation. Why? Because you are much more interested in the off-beat and unusual than in modeling big time conventional railroading. And that’s perfectly OK. I just don’t see the point in a lot of $$ in books that don’t cater to your interests very well.

Here would be my suggested list of books for you:

  1. One of the Model Railroader project layout books. It doesn’t have to be a recent project layout.

OR

1a) Benchwork Book

1b) Trackwork Book

AND

  1. book on scenery construction. There are several good ones to choose from.

  2. Andy Sperando’s Easy Model Railroad Wiring 2nd Edition

  3. John Armstrong On Creative Layout Design. If you can afford both, Track Planning for Realistic Operation is a good complement.

  4. Steam Locomotive Projects and Ideas (your suggestion)

  5. Classic Railroads You Can Model

  6. The Model Railroaders Guide to Logging Railroads

  7. Books on specific railroads that are not too different from what you have in mind. Examples would be any books about any 42" gauge lines in Eastern Canada. Other ideas might be a book on the ET&WNC or the East Broad Top - there was a recent thread on books for the Tweestie in the Prototype Informati

11

Here’s a suggestion, buy them one a month or something, not all at once. #4,5,6 would be on my list,and unless you are going narow guage and scratch building all your locos, I would either for go those, or put them on the back burner.

Planing a layout for any size/scale if the hard part. getting the trackwork "right’ is second. Third id deciding DCC or DC and wiring. Fourth is acuiring/building your rolling stock to run over said tracks to determine flaws., or have for your operations.

Also be sure to send “santa” a DIRECT LINK to the BOOK/S you want for xmas in an email withe explicit insturctions that THIS is WHAT i WANT, and NO other substitutes!. Then SAnta jsut has to bring it up, click on it to order and * prestobingo bongo* they may show up under your tree!

My ideas and opinions, your mileage may vary.

12

I would suggest Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong. Creative Layout Design is another excellent book by Armstrong, but long out of print. Everyone building a layout should have these.

The others you should preview at your hobby store, train show, etc. to see if they have something you are interested in. As noted above, most general books tend to be very mainline, class 1 oriented. If you’re interested in logging and/or narrow gauge look at books that match that interest.

Enjoy

Paul