Hi I am new to the hobby and am in the early stages of building the Scenic Ridge layout from Woodland Scenics. Any ideas/tips on wiring the layout? I am using the Atlas track pack for the scenic ridge layout. Any hints/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hello “pearidge,”
If you use the Atlas track you can really put your feeder connections any place that’s convenient. The Atlas turnouts are all internally insulated so you don’t need to worry about feeding power to them from the wrong end.
For running feeder wires and other wiring through the layout’s foam base you can use a length of piano wire in an electric drill in place of a long drill bit. Run the drill at medium-slow speed and the wire will melt its way through the foam. (This works in wood too if you poke a starter hole with an awl and run the drill a little faster.) Pick a size of piano wire just a little larger in diameter than the insulated wire you’re using, and you can drill holes right next to the rail that will be practically invisible later on.
Good luck with your layout,
Andy
Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
Hi -I’m sorry but I am not familiar with that track plan. However you should try to put your main feed where most points (sorry turnouts) are facing in relation to the feed and put in insulating fishplates wherever there is a likelyhood of cross feeds.