Simply stating that to have a good layout that is a believable model of a railroad you need solid bench work and reliable track is like saying to make a fast car you need a steering wheel and an engine throttle. That much is obvious. You can build a crappy model of a railroad and it could still have solid bench work and good track. I agree with Dave, you need a unifying theme to have a model of a railroad, I don’t see any other way to do it.
I know that solid benchwork and organized, color coded, labeled and accessible wiring SEEMS obvious, but not everyone knows that.
Even a Frank Lloyd Wright house cannot stand on a substandard foundation.
First things first.
True, all true and you’ll get no arguement from me about quality foundations and trackwork, but the topic is “How do you build a good layout that is a believable model of a railroad?” The point being “believable model”, this is very different from a generic solid benchwork and good track layout. I can build a great circle of track that will last the ages, but it won’t be “believable” as a model of a railroad unless it functions as a railroad.
This has been hashed around for some time and it’s a matter of “potato” “potato” Some like model trains, some like to recreate in miniature an operational rail system. I don’t believe you can ever have a believable model of a railroad without having the aforementioned purpose and operation.
Wanna bet? study his houses…[;)]
I fell you really only need one key, and that is Patience.