I began my sophmore year in November of 2006. I think most would still classify me as a newbie. That is fine with me, just don’t call me late for supper.
If I were to be able to start all over, from scratch, I would have not gone Atlas code 83 flex w/Peco switches, but would have gone with code 100 Atlas Flex and Peco switches. I have seen a number of code 100 layouts where they painted the rails and did a good job ballasting the track and I think it looks great. Code 100 is also more durable.
That’s mine, what’s your woulda, coulda, shoulda?
Joe
PS, I have recorded this and other lessons learned for newbies on my blog.
Although it looks and works fine, it makes it more difficult to build additions on to. If given the chance to do it over, I would have laid the foam on top of some 1/4 or 3/8" plywood instead. I’d also paint the foam BEFORE laying down the track.
Well … you could notch out the edge of the table where necessary to extend and “connect” the foam of an addition to the foam of the existing (reinforce that edge from below if really necessary).
have not have switched to N-scale. It made switching back to HO much more painful and wasted about 12 years.
have developed one, two, or three projects fully and finsihed them before starting to buy stuff for the next, reguardless of how good a deal the stuff is.
have done much more short range stuff rather than constantly planning for the long range “ultimate” goal.
choose exactly one road name, era, and location to model and stuck with it.
have joined the “operational” groups in the area earlier and participated more often.
have joined the NMRA when I was a teen, and gotten a lifetime membership ASAP.
Spend more money on the railroad history / information books, and more time reading them.
Had I done these things I probably wouldn’t have so much stuff that I have to rent a storage unit to keep it all. I would probably be enjoying the fewer things I would have more.
Or do you just mean things related to layout construction???
I don’t think I would have done much differently. I started with sound in 1983 and command control in 1984. I switched to code 83 track as early as it was available. I’ve built bunches of turnouts from scratch, which is an experience everyone should have. I’ve always planned for signalling but never had a layout that was totally signalled.
Being a newbie, I got frustrated with layout design and design software, so I chose to buy a predisgned Atlas layout. It’s fine for a first layout and I am still learning lessons from this effort, but I would have been more patient, designed a layout more specific to my space and my own needs/preferences, and used flex track.
On my new layout, #4, it takes place in Eastern Missouri, will connect the CB&Q near hiway 79, then west to Hawk Point then south along hiway 47 across the Wabash RR near Warrenton thru Missouri Wine Country to connect with MKT near hiway 94. Since this is “my” railroad most places will have the “flavor” of this area but maynot be perfect to the prototype. Time will be pre Burlington Northern (1970).
I’m now working out the final track plan and will dry-run on paper before any track goes down!
The things that will be different:
#1 This will be a point to point RR built on Hollow-core doors along two walls, so it will be in sections.
#2 It’s going to be less track, no yard, no switch machines, open staging, & simple engine service area.
#3 Just a few small towns with one or two sidings.
#4 More open scenery between towns.
#5 Interchange with RR on each end.
#6 Keep everything simple so I can spend more time running then repairing!
I’m always open to comments and/or sugestions as I’m looking to learn anything that I can that could help make this hobby more fun!
Here are some photographs of what’s left of my old layout #3.
Hi Joe, As allway a great topic and your blog site is great. Put on my favorites. Mine was at one time, putting the hobbie ahead of other things, now more active in Church and my real love now is mixing and blending on the sound board, love it. Now H.O. still a very enjoyable hobbie mind you, I just dont let it consume me. Joe keep up the great work. take care…John
