Hello to all!! I would like a opinion?? one my layout wich is a 4x8 with a 36x80 extension to make it a backwards L . I origannaly was not going to have any towns but know i figured it would be neat to have 2 towns with some roads. would this enhance my Mr experience?? Thanxs in advance[:)] Tim
Absolutely. Trains going behind and between buildings is visually very interesting. Structures are a different class of modelling from track, scenery and trains. I’m personally leaning towards DPM buildings. They are typically 2-story, and they have a small footprint so they don’t take up a lot of real estate. M.B. Klein at http://www.modeltrainstuff.com is having a sale on some of their DPM structures right now, if you’re interested.
Go for it!!!
Towns provide opportunity for freight hauling. Besides the scenic appeal, you can develop operating interest with spurs for pick up and delivery.
yes!..towns are really great on layouts…they are also fun to build and have a wide variety of products to use to build them…chuck
You need towns and roads. They add more to a model railroad then the actual loco’s and rolling stock do.
Sure. Where else are all your little people going to shop and eat? I love building and painting city structures. The DPM kits as mentioned above are a great value.
Most certainly! Where else will your railroad get the goods to haul? I like building structures and would have just one big town if I didn’t exercise some self-control. [:I]
Yes buildings are good, and once you’ve finished detailing all the locos then you can turn your attentions to detailing the buildings, adding figures, and generally creating an interesting scene for yourself and visitors to look at.
Look at any layout that’s exhibited, the buildings are given as much attention as the locos and cars.
Ian
I would definately suggest it. Having two towns also gives the opportunity for (semi) prototypical commuter train operation.
Buildings also add depth, break the “flatness” to a layout. I find building the structures fun. DPM as Mr B has pointed out are inexpensive and give the opportunity to detail them yourself.
You can also use forced perspective. One one end of my layout I have town full of HO buildings. There is a mountain behind the town, and on the mountain are N scale buildings. It makes the mountain and buildings on it look very far away even though the scene is only 3 feet deep.
tim u change ur mind like i change my underwear!
[:D] towns A? hmm
…and scenery too!! Ddon’t forget trees…maybe a lake or a stream…with a fisherman in it or perhaps a kid wading in the shallows…All those things make your layout detailed and more appealing. Course, the trains help too!!
thanxs guys heres what i decided to do- on portion of the railroad will be Vermont the other Maine. i know its not that realistic but i like both states and like rolling stock from the railroads that run in both. Tim
It’s called a dictionary, I hear there pretty popular now.