i am very excited to be here. i am very new to the hobby and at this time i am researching like a mad man before i make my first purchase.
i have been reading around on here for a few days and thought this would be a great place to set up and start asking questions i can not readily find answers too.
For direct information about what i have in mind.
I am looking at N-scale trains for a number of reasons (space being one of them!)
my layout will be contained to a 2 foot by 4 foot area
and since i am still trying to learn all that i can this is about as far as i have gotten right now… well that and i am planning out a creative solution to portability and storage… more on this as i get the plans figured out - but i am always willing to share and learn!!
You have come to the right place. Lots of great knowledgeable people here to get you on your way. It’s also a good spot to spend with a [D] or a morning[C].
[#welcome] To the Forums. Keep doing some research, don’t be afraid to ask questions here, many member’s will gladly help. You will be moderated for a short time,with your posts, nothing serious,Just read the Forum Policy at the top of General Discussions, keep that in mind,when you post and you will be fine and have fun![:)]
RUN AWAY QUICK BEFORE YOU GET INTO THIS HOBBY THING!
Run away or else here you will find : hours of enjoyment; thrilling moments of accomplishments; joys and “fulfillment”; Hours of pleasure untold of before; enrapturing scenes of thrilling pleasure; and SO much more!
But WAIT! there’s MORE! For a limited time only we offer:
It will consume your waking thoughts, and your wallet’s contents! It will consume all the space you can devote to it AND MORE! It will seperate you from family and friends for hours on end when they “don’t understand”!
There’s still more! for separate shipping and handling you get all this too:
There will be the excitement of: building bases for layouts; scenery installments; laying of track; wiring of trackages laid; building of kits for buildings; running of trains; Oh, and more and more!
Can your heart handle such joys and pleasures?
Can you withstand the rush of blood accompanying phases of construction?
Can your eyes handle the stress of viewing your miniature world?
CAn your trembling hands rertail train cars and locomotives?
IF you think you can:
well, then [#welcome] to the insane world of MRRing!
Welcome. You will find model railroading is a like a big buffet. It’s all wonderful, but a dose of self control is in your own best interests both in terms of money spent and in terms of satisfaction. A small N scale layout that needs to be portable and easily stored can still offer lots of opportunity to learn some new skills and have a layout that you can be very happy with. If I was in your shoes I would explore a layout base made largely of styrofoam with perhaps a simple light wood frame. If I was starting over and starting in N I would part with the money needed to go the DCC route, even if I was only going to run one train at a time. I am not sure about era but I would try to fight the strong temptation to have huge locomotives or enormous passenger trains just because they are neat. Focus on what you can actually run, and what makes sense.
Those are random thoughts of course. I hope you have access to good train shows and a good hobby shops. If you have a favorite prototype railroad consider joining its historical society and maybe even go to its conventions. NMRA divisional, regional, and national conventions and meets are always fun events, and in your case the N Scale Enthusiasts organization, which just had a wonderful convention in Milwaukee this last summer, seems like a great bunch of folks based on my contacts with them.
As to the addictive properties i have started to experience this already … i am currently into stamp collecting and have learned a lot about slowing down and thinking things out BEFORE starting up any new project.
based on my research thus far, i can see the same will hold true here in the world of trains.
I want to start off thanking you all for all the great posts above
now i would like to move on to some planning discussion if i may…
obviously any good project needs the “right” foundation. after watching the video on making a table i have a number of modifications i am considering to make this work for me. here is the idea at this stage. (if i am unclear please ask and i will attempt to clarify anything)
the main deck would be 1/4 inch ply 2 foot x 4 foot
the bottom sides and bracing across will also be 1/4 inch ply 3 inches high
here is where things sound complex so stay with me
attached to the top on all sides will be piano hinges the entire length and width attached to panels that will be folded up to make a box with a separate lid. when opened up these sides would swing down and a 2 inch x 2 inch piece of wood with mounts put in would accept a knob through the panel and act as a stand. these 2 x 2 pieces would attach to the removable lid and corresponding holes at the tops of the panel would permit the same knobs to be used to keep the box closed.
the surface would be covered in either cork or foam board depending on what is a) affordable and b) would work best…
You seem to be off to a good start, reading and planning before spending.
In a small space you will be limited on what you can do, but there are track plans available for 2’x4’ N layouts available. You might want to think if you could go a little bigger. A hollow core door makes a good N scale base. There are various widths available and you can shorten them. A recycle store often has them at a fraction of the original cost. A little damage can easily be covered by scenery.
I expect you are planning a continuous loop design. May I suggest a scenic divider to make it so your trains go somewhere out of sight. I did not center mine or have it parallel to the sides. Some folks build mountains or have taller city buildings for the divider. For mine I chose to have foam hills in front and a sky only removable divider, just high enough to make it so that I cannot see the other side. I could have painted a distant scene on the divider. There are a number of articles on how to hide where the tracks pass through or around a divider. Mine go around the ends of the divider, one goes through a deep rock cut, the other through thick trees. Tunnels, bridges and buildings are also used as disguises.
I’m also modeling on a 2 x 4 due to space constraints, I’m only about a year and half into the hobby but I’ll try to the best of my ability to help. The forum is full of HO scalers, some answers may be based off of HO so be wary, other than that most stuff is universal.
attached to the top on all sides will be piano hinges the entire length and width attached to panels that will be folded up to make a box with a separate lid. when opened up these sides would swing down and a 2 inch x 2 inch piece of wood with mounts put in would accept a knob through the panel and act as a stand. these 2 x 2 pieces would attach to the removable lid and corresponding holes at the tops of the panel would permit the same knobs to be used to keep the box closed.
StampBear,
The above,would be my concern, as to how,you are going to have the track,fold up and still function,when it is unfolded.? Also the wiring,that will be involved. Is it possible for you to have, a cocktail table layout, that you could have a removable, clear Lexan Plastic top,you can take off and on?
I’m with Frank on this issue. Unless you are a master craftsman, you are just asking for trouble with this folding box idea.
Your contemplated layout is only 2’ x 4’. That is small enough to put under a bed, store in a closet, whatever. Build a frame, install a plywood surface, and be done with it.
The track work and wiring is too delicate for all of the folding and unfolding that you are thinking about. You are going to wind up with a large diorama with trains that stall and derail, in my opinion.
the 2x4 surface will always remain flat and untouched. the sides will fold up to enclose the scene or fold down to become a skirt for the set up. Wiring will be drilled through the floor and contained in the 3 inch space made by the frame work. the rails, buildings, landscaping etc would not be disturbed in anyway…
if you picture a regular box folded up and closed, then slice down the corners to the flat bottom of the box and fold the sides out and down so it looks like you turned the box inside out - that is the basis for this structure… the bottom is never disturbed…
i hope that is more clear other wise i may have to find a program to try and draw a rough sketch out in the various stages.
I did gather,that was your intent,about your proposed idea, so maybe others may like a sketch, I for one don’t need it. Actually, my intent is to try and talk you out of it. Basically,for the reason of all the moving,pieces,that will be involved. I’ve worked with various Piano hinges,Brass and Aluminum. My three control panels have Brass Piano hinges, I choose Brass,for appearance. Is it possible,for you to think, your 2x4 base, being solid,no swinging parts and a 3/4 inch border around it, so that your top cover,fits over the layout and side clamps,on the sides,holding it on? The kind you would find,on a Attache,case? It seem’s to me that would entail less fabrication,also less moving parts. Set it up,on a cheap folding card table,that way they both,can be stored on the sides. Just a Thought![:)]
yeah yeah i think i see what you are talking about…
once i get to understanding more about the ins and outs of the scene (mountain height etc…) i can either do away with the cover idea or make it tall enough to act as the table when not enclosing the model…
thanks for that!
this all aside now (for the moment) i have been looking at track types… i would like to have the flexibility to change things mid stream if needed so i am considering flex track as my track type.
i am not a giant fan of pre-fabricated anything for the most part and i dont want to be overly limited by pre-fab rail beds…
as ia m still in research mode are there any good resources out there on putting track down? kind of a idiots guide if you would… videos are super helpful and i found a few but they leave a few key points out,
what are the pros and cons of glue, nails, or caulk for holding tracks in place? do you need cork or can you use foam, or even do with out either?
i know i know a lot of questions… but i did mention i am hear to learn LOL
… i am currently into stamp collecting and have learned a lot about slowing down and thinking things out BEFORE starting up any new project.