I’m 15 and I’m looking to build my next layout in my room…I’m taking everything out except my bed, and my room is about 12x11 i want to incorporate a 4 track ore dock I have into it and i would like as much mainline track as possible with a double main line. I am modeling 1960’s duluth and would like some sidings as well. I have a few questions…how much money am i looking at in costs of benchwork, track and scenery. what kind of track should I use? code 83 code 83 flex or code 100 I’ve only ever used bachmann e-z track before and i’d like to step it up. also i need a control system that works with my digitrax UT4D I use at my model train club.
If this is your first layout, I would first take a step back and think “Do I have the experience, time and resources for this layout?” Those criteria you would like to incorporate into your design are a little hefty for a bedroom layout unfortunately, and more realistically you should probably start with building a shelf switching layout. It looks like you have the space and time, and shelf layout are relatively cheap and easy to build. They make good practice for larger layouts in the future! You also don’t want to burdened down with the task of finishing such a big mainline layout that you lose the interest. Lance Mindheim told me personally that just building SOMETHING can enhance your skills greatly as a modeler. So here’s my advice: start with a shelf layout that you can realistically build and that will keep you interested for a few years maybe, then design the next layout you will build, and see what you could do differently from your first layout. The thing about model railroading is that everyone great modeler makes mistakes. As samall as botching up weathering on a freight car, or designing too big of a lyout than he/she can handle! The important thing is to not invest too much money too early on so that mistakes aren’t as catastrophic and demoralizing. Once you have your own place, a job, and more time, then you can start having an iron ore empire! By the way I’m fifteen too, nice to meet another young modeler out there!
My suggestion also would be an around the room shelf. You do not need to build it all at once, but have a plan for the whole project.
I would suggest using 2" foam as your base material, supported with some sort of shelf brackets. Choose one wall and get two 2’x8’ pieces. This will give you your base and some left over to use for building landforms.
You could start with your ore dock area, then you would be able to do some switching as soon as your track work was in place. As your finances allow, add track, buildings and scenic material to the original base. When another section can be put in place, do it and then add to it. You might prefer to add more shelf before adding scenic materials, so that you can do more operating. That’s up to you which you prefer to do with your additional purchases, operate or add scenic materials.
Build your layout as a modular, so you can move it when necessary. If you started with 2 2’x6’ sections on a 12’ wall a 7’ section would fit between the two long wall sections. All fairly easily moveable pieces for two people, probably possible for one, with care.
At your age, if you build your layout at a reasonable height, you should be able to duck under for a number of years, thus not needing a gate to get into the layout. Your bed and a desk (work bench) can easily go under the layout as well as shelves or other storage means. If your door swings in and cannot be made to swing out easily, think of removing it and hang a curtain. I know, not as good as a door, but it would save a lot of work and expense making a gate.
Your parents, however, may not be as happy with the arrangement. This could work to your advantage as they would avoid coming into your room. On the downside, your mother may start chucking your washed clothes under the track into your room.
Or you could always replace it with an over/under door, although that may be more work than installing a gate. It would, however, be pretty cool.
It’s good advice, but at the same time you shouldn’t be over-cautious. None of us has the time or resources to build what we really want. As for experience, well, there’s only one way to get it. We aren’t born with kitbashing or weathering skills. They are only learned through experience.
As for that door, another option is to buld the layout up to the backside of the opening door, so that the door can only open 90 degrees. Build a liftoff bridge to the other side, and put a latch on the door so that it can’t be opened while the bridge is in place.
Good thing too. When I was 15 (and that was 50 years ago) I had a layout in my room. A 4x8 table and the normal bed room furniture. There is a reason for not going too big on this project, because in just three years (I have been working on my present layout for 8 years) you will move out and go to college, or join the Army (I joined the Navy), and it stands to reason that plans may change.
In ten short years you may be married with two children and other things on your mind.
Keep it simple…
But since you are a model railroader, keeping things simple or small is NOT an option. How many windows or doors do your have in your room? Do they open in or out? LION might suggest that you build three or four modules (my father always suggested that I build modules, but of course I NEVER did)
What sort of work shop space do you have. Where are your power tools, where will you cut your lumber? The LION thinks that the train table is the important thing, and that you can build your bed OVER THE TOP of the train table. Build some clothes drawers under the table.
Then come back when you are 20 or 25 and tell us all how it worked out for you. As for my layout, when I was about 16 I sold all of the trains and bought a printing press. Now the printing press is not only long gone (and even harder than a train table to move) but the trains are back in full force.
I’m going to assume thst because you said “next layout” and are a member of a club that you have some experience and advise accordingly. First, some you may not want to hear. As a parent and Scout leader, I have a lot of experience with 15 year old boys. Make sure your parents really are OK with this before you get in too deep. I once went to a boy’s house to help him complete his Railroading merit badge, only to be met at the door by irate parents. Now, with that out of the way, I would say use those shelf brackets that hook on those tracks on the wall. Even better, do this in consultation with your parents with an eye towards future use as shelving, because it won’t be your room forever, and you don’t want to leave your parents stuck with a trashed room. I would use 2" foam board in 4’ sections, so that you can easily disassemble this layout and take it with you. Brace each piece of foam board with a 1x2 board at the front and back edges (or wherever) to lock into the braces without gouging into the foam board. You can use shorter pieces of 1x2, carraige bolts, and wing nuts to join sections. If you build it at about 48" high, you will still be able to fit a lot of furniture in your room. Finally, be realistic about the funding requirements. This ain’t gonna be a cheap layout. The foam boards will run you about $40, and shelf brackets and wood for supports around $100. A basic DCC set and some decoders $250 (and BTW, if your club uses Digitrax, I highly recommend that you get one of their systems for your home layout). Depending on how much track you put in, you could spend $500 there, too. And I would figure on about $15-20 a square foot for landscaping and scenery construction. Structures and actual trains will set you back quite a bit more. The only upside is that you don’t have to spend it all at once. Good luck!
BTW, how did this thread get created on January 16, and no one managed to reply until today? I thought for a minute someone had resurrected a dead thread.
Hey guys, Thanks for the tips. I decided to hold off on the layout until after college. I am keeping my collection and my first 8x8 layout at my moms house though. It just got to be too expensive and I wouldn’t use it enough since I’m in Highschool and everything. I will definitely build one when I get out of college and maybe get married? Thanks again guys.
I think that’s a wise decision, especially since you still have another layout and a club to tide you over (incidentally, you can buy the cabs – handheld contollers – for Digitrax separately, and that might be a good investment if you intend to stay active in the club). Keep dreaming, though, and go ahead and start planning – it’s a crearive, fun, and inexpensive passtime. Most of us have a dream or two that is on hold waiting for the time and conditions to be right. I have a new layout (my third of my adult life) all planned out for when the kids are grown and gone and I can steal their bedrooms!
Another good plan. I started buying railroad equipment again while I was in the NAVY. No room for a layout on a warship, even if it is an aircraft carrier. But by the time I gout out I did have a nice collection. I bought a lot of stuff while I was in Japan. In those days China was still the bad guy, and we could not trade with them at all. One railfan was riding a train in Hong Kong and went one stop too far. It took three embassies to get him back to the ship. The captain was not pleased. LION made sure that he got off two stops before the border. Him ate some egg foo young and then caught the next train back to the city, which by the way used absolute block control and passed the baton from train to train at the stations.
Thanks again guys.