thinking about starting a layout

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I am considering to start a lay out i have no previous experience with this. what would be the best way to do bench work. should i do a lay out around the wall or get some saw horses togther drill in supports beams and use that. I will be using an HO scale plan to start small then add on.

2

It is a broad question, and will necessarily get you broad answers. What do you want in your layout? What will you do on it, with it. Are you looking to run a modern diesel operation, or would you really just like to get your feet wet and get into learning scenery techniques and laying track?

Do you have a plan, an idea of what the track plan will look like? Do you just want to watch a train run around in a large oval, or would you like to be able to run several trains into switching and mainline operations?

I haven’t answered a single question for you on purpose…I don’t know what YOU want to be able to call a “layout.” We all have different plans and definitions about what constitutes a model train layout.

You have taken a super first step of asking for help. May I suggest you get to a hobby shop that deals with trains and buy a couple of How-To books on building layouts. Don’t pass up a chance to read up on how real railroads operate. Many of us feel strongly that an older, but truly excellent and still current book is the late John Armstrong’s “Track Planning for Realistic Operation.” That one is first on my list.

Ask away.

-Crandell

3

By not answering anything selector has helped you a ton! I agree, get a copy of that book, and you will have new questions. Have fun and don’t get overwhelmed!!!

Guy

4

Crandell and Guy nailed it. You have a lot of reading and planning to do before you get around to worrying about benchwork. While you’re waiting to go to the hobby shop to get some good introductory books, you might want to look at some of the basic information that is available on the Model Railroader Magazine home page. Here’s the link to their ABC’s of model railroading:

http://www.trains.com/story/story_list.asp?idMenuCategory=3&idMenuSubCategory=31&idMenuMinorCategory=3107

And check out the menu items down the left side of the page. Not all of this will be applicable or interesting to you. But you can pick up some info here:

http://www.trains.com/maghomepage/maghomepage.asp?idMagazine=3

Regards

Ed