I have finally settled on my layout theme. Instead of going early 60’s as I once intended I’m creating a tourist town with a railroad museum. It may be a copout but it allows me to use any train I want and right now that is important to me. Anyway, I have a few questions as I design my layout and look for scenery.
Am I better off with a turntable or using several switches for the train display area? I have considered a Railroad Museum building with several lines running in. What is the best way to separate those lines? I’m using Atlas track. Switching or turntable can be manual.
I plan to set up an antique auto show in part of the town. They are popular in my area and a few friends have auto’s they take to amateur shows. What is a good source/brand for highly detailed HO scale auto’s ranging from 50’s to early 70’s? My local dealer does not have any that I can check out before buying.
I’m trying to set up a small farm for the trains to pass through and am looking for a variety of animals. I don’t need 8 brown cows and 6 chestnut horses and 7 pink pigs. I would like to find a “farm pack” with a variety of animals but so far I’ve had no luck. Any suggestions?
You have added a great twist to the “It my railroad and I will do what I want.” My one thought if you are doing a turn table you may want to go with a Walthers turntable over and a Atlas since the Walthers is put more prototypical while the Atlas is just a turntable, but then you could kit bash the Atlas anyway you want.
But I would also do several switches in a row with just enough space for the engine to fit, that way it would be on display but you could then put in service as well.
That is hard to answer without a lot more info and quite honestly may be best answered with you playing around with some modeling of the model so to speak. I use both but in different areas.
Check this website out, they have all the links to model mfgs. Lots of good ones for those years
If you want good detail in your vehicles, why not get them with your animals. So here’s a link to Preiser who I think make the best; Animals come in various combinations.
Great ideas. When I restarted after 25 years I started with three scenes I wanted and build the rest around them. I learned that a few expensive items looked better than a lot of inexpensive items. In time (5 years) I am getting a lot of what I really want. I love theidea ofd a car show. I might add that. Collecting the cars could be part of the fun. Good luck.
Concidered something similar at one time myself. Have swung more to thinking transition era, but changes are part of the hobby.
A turntable is typical of steam era. A small museum I went to had one. They do take up quite a bit of room when a roundhouse is added, but a roundhouse gives you a place to restore locos. Others can sit on tracks radiating off the turntable. The museum I went to also had some displays on tracks set up as a typical yard. I would suggest that your “display” tracks be spaced a little further apart than normal as the rolling stock or locos on those tracks will have people walking around them.
If you have an antique car display, don’t limit it to cars from the 59"s on. There are some very nice older cars which are common at car shows.
As Ulrich said there are several manufacturers of mixed animal packs. If you can find a Walthers catalog to look at you will find quite a number. You could also go to a train show and possibly find some used odd lots of animals or vehicles.
Thanks everyone. I ordered a turntable, no motor, and will start looking for a shop building to house some of the locomotives. Found the cars mentioned online and ordered a few and also ordered a farmhouse and barn kit. I’m going to lay out track first for some quick fun and take my time building and detailing some kits. It should all be done in about 10 years. But, I got my first “simple” kits yesterday and I plan to stop by the hobby shop to get some detailing supplies today.