I Need Your Help
Many years ago I was a model train beginner, just like you may be now, or may have been in the past.
I had seen the amazing layouts at a model railroad expo and I wanted to build my own model railroad.
But, when I asked the experts for some advice on where to start, I quickly became confused…
There was so much different advice, that it almost seemed too hard to start model railroading.
Eventually I started with a small ho scale model train set from the local hobby store… My decision was based on what I could afford at the time.
Over the years I bought more track, cars and accessories to expand it, and like most model railroaders that start this way, I found it became an unwieldy mess.
And I wasn’t getting any closer to have the model railroad I really wanted.
I had wasted money, time and effort and often would build something only to start again because it didn’t look good. I didn’t have the right information…
My mission is to make the “Model Trains For Beginners Insiders Club” a one stop resource for any model railroader.
I want the beginner to be able to have access to all the information they require to help them build a model railroad of their dreams… even though they may not be creative, have limited space and a limited budget.
I want the experienced model railroader to find the “Insiders Club” an amazing source of new information, ideas and techniques.
So, to achieve this I need your help…
Please could you tell me what problems or challenges you are having, or have had, with your model railroading?
You could be a complete beginner and don’t know how to build a bench, don’t know how to plan your model railroad or whether you should go with DCC.
Or, you could be a well experienced model railroader that would like to provide some tips or hints of how you got around some of your model railroading problems.
I really want to know… please scroll down and leave your comment below.
Even if you see someone else has mentioned the same problem as you, please also submit your comment. That will show me which problems are most common.
Thank you, I really appreciate your help!
Dan
P.S. I am very serious about this and I really do value your comments.
I want to do my bit in encouraging more people into this magnificent hobby. Model trains has provided me with a huge amount of skills that have benefited me throughout my life, and it has been so much fun. There are many people missing out because they don’t have the right step by step information. Your comments below will help me give it to them…
Please tell me what problems or challenges you are having, or have had, with your model railroading? Just scroll to the bottom to comment…
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Lack of space. Lack of time. Lack of money. I would love to set upa table and run trains with my four year old son but due to the economy we are stuck in a two bedroom condo and I hold down two jobs. I have thousands of dollars worth of Lionel trains up in the attic, but no space to set up a nice table. I bought my son a train for Christmas and we run it on the supper table once in a while. I look forward to the day when I can cash in my 401K and we can get out of here.
Wish I could get more ideas on layouts, I am a beginner and I am trying to figure out how to maximize my space. I am working on an area 4X8 feet. Also would love to know about DCC.
Hi, being a member of the silver hair brigade I have been interested in model railways for over 50 years. I am not a devotee of the accurate reincarnation of the original and firmly believe in the poetic licence approach. Model railwaying is about what is right for you. If you want a “train set” then have one. If you want to go a bit deeper then that is also right. The wonder of modelling is that you can bring as much or as little to the experience as you want. Developing skills in woodwork, cardboard and glue, plastic, polyfilla, scenics, track laying, electronics, etc all from the most basic to the advanced is there for you to explore.
Having moved five years ago I am lucky to have been able to build a purpose built 22ft by 10ft building in my garden dedicated to my OO railway which I am now building. Based loosly on the Southern Region in the last days of steam offers me a nostalgic look back at my youth when I used to go amd watch these masters of engineering thundering through Clapham Junction on their way to and from London. I have selected to go for DCC and have opted for the NCE system from America. Still getting used to and my head around all the facilities and multiple train running but getting better. If only my grandson was a bit older than three as I am sure he would be able to show me all the facilities after a few moments of use. I am doing some research so that I get mr railway mostly right. Using kit and scratch building to widen expertise and increasingly using electronics for control of points/signals etc. Just building a servo box so I can bring some non train movement to my model as well. Joined MERG (model electronic railway group) which gives a wealth of experience to this area as well as kits and components at very reasonable prices. I tend to start with cardboard kits to get as many buildings placed as quickly as possible, replacing them at a later date with more realistic models. For engines I use Hornby or Bachmann DCC ready and fit my own decoders. The models now days are a great improvement on the ones I had as a child, but are not toys so handle carefully. My aim is to get the railway partially computer controlled using my old desk top when I get round to replacing it. Hence the reason for going DCC as well as the many other advantages. You have to be realsitic and not rush. My railway will take me at least 5 to 10 years to complete and I am sure there will be many changes on the way. And then will need alteration and improvements. But hey that’s the fun of railway modelling.
just coming back to railroading after many years absence. atrting to build an L shaped layout approx 6×6 and5x2.i have track and 2 trains and have just finished table or base board. i am still trying various layouts to get what i envisage in my mind. what i do not do today i will do tomorrow. i truly like your letters and comments so keep them coming
Can you explain the DCC operation, and adding sound to my engines. I am new at this and would like to start small and be able to expand off of the equipment that
i purchase.
Only real problem is with the train controller. I have a tech 4 dual controller. My old controller was very responsive but the new one tends not to react until it is on about half power. Could this be a problem with the connections to the track, or dirty track?
I’ve been reading this forum for some time. I think it would be a good idea for a lot of people to get onto some of the model railroad forums that are available, such as Trainboard. The members seem to have been into modelling for a long time and may have multiple answers to problems.
Jim
Hi Jim, we have our own forum at http://www.homodeltrains.info/forum/
We would love to see you there.
Dan
Dear Dan:
I am a beginner model railroad enthusiast and I would love to build an industrial layout. I have to wait until I move into a larger apartment to build the layout, because I live in a studio (efficiency) apartment. I want to start out small, maybe 3 X 8 or 4 X 8 layouts, and maybe then add on to that. I want to use my blast furnace, coke ovens and quencher, two rolling mills, a nuclear power plant, a paper plant, a mining company, and an oil refinery in my layout. This is all N-Scale and I love industrial scenes. Do you think this is a good idea?
Dan, I am a new model railroader. I am 83 years young and have wanted to build a road but never had the money or time. I still donot have the money but I have started anyway. I probably made a mistake by buying pieces from Ebay. I have a GP38 Santa Fe locomotive, about 15 units of rolling stock, and many pieces of nickel silver track by BAC.
My major problem is the couplers are not uniform & will not work with each other. I have bought some KaDee couplers to get them all the same. Again the problem is there are so many different couplers I do not know which ones I need for the Locomotive or the cars. Where can I find information about them? I just ordered a U.P #1836, 2-6-2, Locomotive & will no doubt have the same problem with the couplers.
Can you help me?
i HAVE COLLECTED PRE 1960 LIONEL TRAINS AND ACC. HAVE LOTS OF TRACK ETC. THE ONLY THING I AM MISSING IS ENOUGH SPACE.
i USE TO HAVE A 4 LEVEL LAYOUT BUT AFTER BREEDING STD POODLES, THE GOT UNDER THE LAYOUT AND PULLED THE WIRING LOOSE FOR REMOTE SWITCHES, SIGNALS ETC..
SO ALL I HAVE NOW IS TRAINS AND MEMORIES
We had a Lionel O gauge trainset when I was growing up that was always out for Christmas. I really wanted that set, but Dad had bought it for my oldest sister and she inherited it. In my late teens early 20′s I was finally given my first set and I began to plan my layout……..20 years later I was still planning and had a 4×8 sheet of plywood to goof around on and a separate room to leave it out. A long the way I inherited bits and pieces from friends and relatives. I am getting ready to celebrate my 60th birthday and am finally putting a layout together. My wife(who is a visiting nurse) had a patient who had a room dedicated to his N gauge set and he convinced her I needed my own room. Hooray! We have/and are gradually emptying the 12′x15′ room and I have already started my bench.
My layout is a two decker that will go completely around the room. The lower deck is at 22″ and the upper at 44″. this gives me room to move around, lean over and wire from underneath both decks. The deck width is between 30″ to 36″ with one bottom section cut out for a duck under. The bottom deck is my yard and the top deck will be the city, coal mine on a mountain and industry setup. Both decks connected by a helix. I plan to be able to run both a passenger line and an express line on top with a city trolley line and a mine train running totally separate. The yard on the bottom deck will be totally separate and is quite extensive. I am going to run everything DC. First, because I have too much money invested in DC engines to upgrade. Second, I enjoy planning and running all of the wiring required. Third, I guess I’m just a little old fashioned that way.
YES!! I know that I have bit off more than I am supposed to be able to chew as a beginner, but I have been planning this layout for almost 40 years. I am retired now and have the time and ability to build it now. I figure it will take me at least two years to get everything operating the way I want it to. While I was a public school band director i have some learned skill I picked up along the way.
I love working with wood having built many pieces of furniture for myself and my family.
I learned electrical work on the family farm from my dad and he encouraged me when I started to build radios and electronic kits and did repair work with my best friend at an AV school repair depot. I even helped in building and designing an educational television studio for a major university’s engineering department.
My first computer was an Apple II+ with 32k ram and floppy storage only. I had to do mods on it just to see both capital and small letters. I now have an HP with 12 gig of ram and 8 terabytes of storage. Nuff said
Now, for some suggestions and a couple of questions:
Design and plan your layout. Then do it again… and again. I have used Atlas Right Track ver. 8 to design the layout and then imported it into TrainPlayer (RightTrack ver. 10 does not work well with TrainPlayer) to run it and check for problems. I have designed and discarded hundreds of layouts this way searching for my PERFECT layout. (I’m still searching). You learn valuable lessons this way about your plans and actual running the layout.
Benchwork: I built an open gridwork frame and then used 1/2″ sheet of composite wood as a table top. I ripped decent but inexpensive 3/4″ plywood into 3″ wide strips to build the framework and ripped 2″x4″s into 2″x2″s to support it. All pretty much what a lot of books instruct you to do. Here’s the difference – I used pocket joinery to put it all together. Kreg makes a special tool that makes it all possible. No more angled cuts, mortise and tenon joints, dadoes etc. You cut a simple butt joint drill two pocket holes and put in two screws and you have a solid 90 degree joint. Not only that, but I attached the table to the frame with them. I put three pocket holes in each support before I put the frame together and clamped the table to the frame and screwed away. To elevate the track and build my mountain all I have to do is lay it out cut varying pieces of 1″x3″ to the length I need them and then screw them directly to the table top. No muss, No fuss.
Saving money: Shop ebay, but do it shrewdly. I have purchased a great deal of my track, rolling stock, motive power, and structures by bidding carefully and having done my research. Along the way I have been lucky to meet and have help from several different sellers. I also have access to a local ebay seller who has a shop open to the public – Collectible Toys and Trains. I found them originally thru Model Railroader, but I know they also sell on ebay. it is real easy to drop down to their store and dig thru their latest estate sell acquisitions. It’s a lot cheaper to buy wire, connectors, switches etc. from them at a MAJOR discount then to pay full price at the local hobby store. I have spent a lot of money, but I have SAVED hundreds of dollars.
Research: Read everything! I have hunted thru books store, librarys and online to help me get every lick of advice I can. And I am not thru yet. I am just up thru planning, electrical and track designining, laying track and operations. I have still to build structures, detail and weather everything. Plus I’m sure I’ve overlooked something.
Now the questions: Maybe I’m dense, but I have not been able to find DECENT plans for building a helix. Every article I’ve read either trys to sell me something(plans or BUY MY BOOK) or seems to leave out something. My plans are for two tracks coming from the upper deck to the lower deck, a distance of 22″. I have room to do an oval helix with the outside track having a radius of 24″ and the inside track having a radius of 22″. This should allow me to have a grade of between 2% and 2.5%. I would like to be able to move 20 to 30 car composites up and down the helix. I really would like several different suggestions on designing and building this structure.
And while I’m talking helix how do I go about matching engines to pull or help push these composites up and down the helix. Ideally, I suppose, I would have two engines from the same manufactor and close serial numbers so the motors will match strength etc. However, I don’t. Is there someway to adapt engines from a different manufactor either electronically or mechanically?
Lastly, I want to eventually run my setup from my computer. Model Railroader just had an article about a man who runs his whole setup from several different computers, but he wrote his own program. What I would like is feedback from people who are using existing software and hardware systems already made for model railroading.
I know this comment is long, but I hope it can help someone and hope that I can get some help with my problems
Thank you
Chip from Dallas, Texas
I just realized I forgot to say I am working in HO gauge.
Sorry,
Chip
Chip Younkin of Dallas, in regards to your request for help with locos for double heading, you need to rate each loco for speed, current draw, and performance on various grades.
To do that, you need a test track set up that can be raised to each grade (ie:0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%). Anything over 2.5% is not recommended. The test track would have an amp meter and voltmeter for matching each loco according to the power draw.
Use an index file to create a card file for each loco where you can color code a tab related to all locos in that color group that would be compatible, as well as maintenance intervals for wheel cleaning and other services.
A word of caution; ALL rolling stock should also be tested for free rolling at each grade, rated and listed in the card index. Every car should be appropriatly weighted for it’s length, coupler height must be universal, wheel set back to back checked for proper scale, and wheels cleaned regularly.
Also note that many ‘full length’ (ie: 80 foot and longer) cars will not perform well on a radius of 24″ or less, or when transversing a #4 and even some #6 turnouts. And avoid coupling those longer cars to short ones with body mounted couplers as the longer cars will have a tendency to pull the short ones over on curves or in turnouts, causing derailments.
15 years ago i had built a 4′ x 12′ layout, moved about 11 years ago took the layout with me never had time to set it up. finally am planning to start over but having a hard time coming up with a layout. i have an area of 22′ x by 12′ that i can use. would appreciate suggestions. also thinking of going with dcc …….
Adrian
I have reading several your comments, I admire your work and mistake and acomplishment. I am having
same thing, but I have fun. I like make layout and make difficity layout. You have to watch that the train getting off the track easily. When the train runs arround the curve , you must use Newtons law. I have a gam room. I am planning to use the whole rome as railroad tracks. I will let you know the details and mistakes. My train is Lionel electric G gauge.
Dan, I am a newbie. I started building scratch built Buildings about a year ago. The type of construction I like to do is a regular 2×4 wall with studs on 16 inch centers. The problems that I have encountered:
1. Started using sheet basswood and cutting my own 2X4’s and as you know this is very difficult. I finally found Black Bear Co. in Austin and I can buy my scale lumber already cut. It makes the construction so much more fun. The project is of better quality and you feel better about it. It makes you want to do more construction. The cost of precut scale wood is within reason.
2. During the construction of walls I had trouble getting my walls, windows and doors at right angles and parallel. I have started to use graph paper with painters (blue) tape. This seems to work fairly well for me.
3. I design my own buildings or draw the plans of an existing building. I am now drawing the plans of an old Depot called a pagoda roof depot. There were about 33 depots of this design built from 1880 to 1883 in NY and PA. Very few are still left. The city of Vestal NY has one of the old depots and it is now a museum. I have recorded all of the measurements and I am going to draw the plans. I will then put the drawings on my cutting mat and cover it with thin glass so the glue does not stick and ruin the drawing. I hope that will help.
Hi.
I have started a HO layout using track, Loco’s & rolling stock that I accumulated while working part time at a local hobby shop. I have built benchwork 5′ x 12′ with 2″ foam board for the top. right now I have a double main line, a reversing loop and a yard. I have several diesel and one steam loco’s. All loco’s are DCC. I was wondering if I could send photo’s of the layout as it is and get an opinion of whether this track plan has potential or what could be done to improve it. I don’t have a theme in mind but the yard would lend it self to an industrial setting. I would like to move on and need help knowing if i am heading in the right direction. If the layout will work what structures should I be thinking about? If sending photo’s would help I will send them.
Thanks.
Sterry Vander Meer
Hi Sterry, I suggest you post in the forum and then you can post pics and all the members can comment.
Best Regards
Dan
my biggest challenge? i think the biggest challenge for me was reaserch materials being available for the rail road in which i choose to model.
when it came to it, it turned out to be more freelance than actual….. which is not all bad, fiction based on an actual rail road.. almost like “what if”.
the rail road i modeled was based on the operations of the “hawaii consolidated rail road” which was a standerd gauge rail road the served during wartime (ww11), on the big island of hawaii. the rail road was decommisioned when a tidal wave tore through the hilo side, and wiping out several bridges, leaving a good part of the rolling stock and locos stuck or stranded on various parts of the island with no way to return to hilo/ home.
Hi, You need my help ? I need yours. Iam just getting back into it. My plans are to have a John Deere Factory and a Passinger train on a 4×8. then on a oher 4×8 in a L shape a Airport. Got any ideals ???. Iam on Disability so it will take a long time to finish it due to I cannot afford alot at one time. I just thru together some track some buildings together just to have something up and running. Would you like to see pictures ??? Keep in mind that every thing on the table is stuff that was laying around the house for years.
Thanks for your help.
Rod
We looking to start model training with my wife this winter. Right now however trying to start with building a table. Is there any place out there that has designs to look at?
Hi Ken, I think that it is a wonderful thing that you and your wife is doing this together. Iam on Disability and cannot afford alot so I find alot of model railroading stuff on the internet and you would be suprised with things laying around the house that you can use. use your Imagination. If, you need more help, Email me but and I will TRY to help. Remember that I am a some what a beginner. Good luck and GOD BLESS.
Rod
Over fifty years ago, I had a Lionel figure-eight on a sheet of 4×8 shoved into the corner of a basement. Now that I’ve retired, I’m starting over. I have an empty 12 x 15 room. I have a friend – a cabinet maker – who is making the benchwork free of charge – duck-unders, peninsula, bridges, and two levels. A long-time friend and railroad fanatic two thousand miles away has designed my layout – plywood track base (on top of the benchwork), cork roadbed, and banked curves. Since I live in Montana, I’m purchasing MRL and BNSF rolling stock and locomotives. My layout will center around a sawmill and planing mill, a paper mill, a lumber yard, and a transloading facility along the MRL route. So what’s my problem?
I have read and downloaded articles on DCC and still don’t understand it. I think I want to go with it, but I don’t want sound or night-time operation. Are these mutually exclusive? Is all HO track compatible with DCC? I saw a Peco ad that said all their equipment is “DCC-friendly.” Does that mean some equipment is not?
Wiring and power supply are fifty years ahead of my old transformer, but I’m not sure where to go for info on this topic. My friend says I can walk alongside my train and plug my hand-held control into various outlets. He also sent me a sodering iron for future use. (I’ve never used a sodering iron.) I will run only one train at a time on the main line, or one switcher in the yard, or one in the sawmill yard. I don’t mind manual turnouts; in fact, so long as I can reach them easily, I prefer manual to automatic. If I go this route, won’t the wiring be simpler? What about uncoupling? Do I have a choice between automatic and manual?
Whew! That’s a bunch of questions, but since you asked…
Thanks for all your help. I’ll start checking out your links and see which of my questions you’ve already answered.
Hi jwe, that’s a lot of questions… I suggest you come over to the forum and ask them there. It will be much easier to have a conversation there, than try and answer them here.
Best Regards
Dan
ken4prez:
There many books out there for what you need. Kalmbach pub. and Model Railroading magazine have a lot of information, and they probably have a book that will target any question you have. Model railroading also has made available to subscribers many different size and kind of layouts.
Read my comment above about how I went about planning and beginning my layout. I highly reccomend going to the Atlas website and downloading their Right Track freeware. I have designed hundreds of layouts with this software. It has allowed me to learn a great deal before I even began to cut the wood for my table. I hope this helps.
I have an HO setup that I have been troubleshooting for months. I can’t get the wiring to work. Can anyone help me live over the phone? I’ve read every set of instructions I could find. I think I need someone to walk me through it. I know it’s a lot to ask, but I can only bang my head against the wall so many times without causing damage (to me as well as to the wall)… Thanks!
Hi HelpNeededinNC, I suggest you ask in the forum. It is easier to have a conversation there.
Cheers
Dan
Merry Christmas,
Just a note telling you how much I enjoy your publications. I just spent hours and money going to your suggested link, that took me to E-Bay and all the suggestions of great buys, for us modelers. Thank you, thank you , thank you . I am 75 years old and after building a small display for my children 50 years ago, I am now starting a complete 15 X 15 room full of old Faller houses, cafe’s and three H.O. trains running all through the mountains, tunnels, and land for my 9 grandchildren. I can’t wait for the next publcations and the link to the next great buys you suggest.
PAPPY
It’s an absolute pleasure Pappy and thanks for the compliment. Have a great Christmas, Dan.
Hi, I am 80 years old, quite mobile and good eyesight. had an HO layout years ago. I have an area 32″ x 60″. I am stalled because I cannot push myself into N Gauge. I intent to have a mining scene, a couple of turnouts and a simple oval. Run at the most 3 trains, not all at the same time. My prefered era is late steam and early diesel.
Give me a push in the right direction.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Ray Qualicum Beach, BC Cda
With the space available and HO gauge I would suggest forgetting about the oval and simply operate in a point to point mode. If the track is set back any distance from the edges the oval will have a tight radius which would probably work with mine cars but not much else. More importantly, the oval cuts off a lot of valuable space at the corners. The width is great enough to provide some interesting operation and have room for some scenery.
I just need more time!!!!
I’m in my soon to be late 50′s, so this is my last layout. I’m passing along my skills and knowledge to the next generation (my son), who in return already has his son (my grandson) hooked. I could have finished my 15′ x 5′ layout within a year, but have elected to drag it out to 5 years already. The only part of my layout that I ever put down on paper was the bench work grid and the track plan, which both started on the floor of my room above my garage. I suppose that because I share work space in said room with my business and with my wifes work space, that I’m exposed to my layout everyday. You would think that I would be in a hurry to finish it so that I can fine tune and super detail it for the rest of my life. But I just keep dragging it out. Whenever I get inspiration to complete another part, I find myself short of materials and have to wait until they arrive. I use the internet for just about everything. I’ve purchased track and rolling stock from Germany, buildings and signals from Canada, trees from Hong Kong and other bulk scenery items from USA ebayer’s. Time is always on my side, as I am in field sales and can control my hours. Unless I’m on the road, I have 3/4 hours a day which I can work on my trains, but I don’t. Tomorrow my son and grandson will be making thier yearly visit and will both come running up the stairs to see what I’ve accomplished since their last visit. With that in mind, I’ve got to get cracking and pour some plaster.Talk to you later.
One problem we had with the Cedar Valley Railroad Modelers Association was to not use insolated rail joiners. It was easier to just cut stagered points in the rail to isolate blocks for the DC throdles, Cabs A, B, & C. When DCC was introduced to the layout we used rotery switches for each block there Cab D was the DCC for that block. Taking note tracks were laied in the winter months and as you would guess the gap closed at one point during the summer, which took out Cab B. 18 volts being fed backwards through a lower voltage unit tends to make a lot of smoke. Our electriction we have as a club member unwound the burnt unit and found the short in the most inner part of the windings.
Another tip for the DC users if you are using a constant power source with reostats and one goes out. Cut the power and do a cotunuity check with a 1.5 volt batery and flash light bulb. Once finding the brake in the unit scrape a small area around the brake and solder it. This will buy you some time till you can replace it. I also went to an elecrtonics shop and purchased a 3 amp braker for each reostat. This saved buying the fuses when the trains caused a direct short on the layout. (Forgive the Spelling as I am a Programer)
Would love more details on easily building these circular slopes.
Also interested in balasting using painted cork instead of real balast (with N gauge).
Experience with using DCC combined with analogue controllers. Had a couple of decoders brew up due to shortage/over current.
the problems i am having is the wiring of the points system i have in place and olso maintenance of the locos i have to keep them running smoothly
I haven’t started a layout yet for two reasons, what type of wood is best to use as the table top, I know it has to be sturdy and have thickness so it doesn’t bend and two how do you work out how much track you require and what is the best track ( such as Peco 100 )?
I have started with EZ track big mistake turnouts are junk now i have to buy regular HO track and start all over.
Dan, I want to say thank you for your help over the last few years, I do not know where I would be without your help. My set a Marklin I bought some forty five years ago was in storage then setup and put away again until I got it going about five years ago.
Well now I have dismantled my 8′ x 4′ and packed it away for my grandson, now four, and maybe in another ten years he may be interested. Unfortunately I don’t think I will be around then.
Hey ,thanks Dan and your team. It has given me great pleasure.
It is a wonderful hobby and time waster , but it is all fun.
Kind regards.
Jim
Hi Jim, Thanks for your kind comments. It is an absolute pleasure and I am very happy that you have got some value from what we are trying to achieve. Many people think it, but don’t actually tell us, so your comments are greatly appreciated. Have a great day. Best Regards Dan.
Well Dan, there are lots of hurdles to start up our Bachmann train sets. I am trying to help my disabled younger brother who’s almost (50) and can’t walk since they screwed something up during his thyroid removal. He also does not live near me to where I could possibly help. I need to find a way to get a 4′ x 8′ board from a lumber-yard, to his house and then someone who would be kind enough to build a base for this board. I have two brand new Bacjmann Train sets and bought extra switches for some kind of layout to fit onto a 4′ x 8′ board. I also already bought some houses for him to start building to keep him busy and he is just ready to start, be we have to get the ground work done 1st.
Thanks for all your help coming from way over in Australia. We are train setting in Florida. Have a good. day. Dan.. — Best regards from Siggi
Perhaps if I write to the lumber store and ask if some handyman could build a base for not too much money, that would help a lot. So thats my beginners story at the moment. I love your newletters and have learned a lot from them. AS far as DCC and the other .. no clue yet. Right now we have Bachmann HO scale train sets in their boxes..
Thank you, Dan, you’re doing a great job and I’m glad I made contact with you. I’ve learned a great deal from you. My biggest problem so far has been cutting track. I bought a pair of track cutters, but was getting jagged edges and could not put the connecters on. Eventually, my son-in-law showed me how to do the job. It would have helped if someone could have told me and saved me a lot of frustrating hours. Apart fom this, I’m going nicely with the available space – 1200 mm by 1300 mm – although this is a bit restricting. I’ll press on. Rayboy.
Dear Dan,
I am a relative newcomer to the hobby.
I say relative because I have started to build layouts in the past, only to become disillusioned when the layout failed to match the ambitions or, and this was more usual, I am not gifted with practical skills.
My problem at the moment is how do you build a platform.
If anyone has advice, I model in British outline N scale.
Max
Dan,
I have just started model railroading. I did a lot of planning and reading before starting. I have to admit your stuff has helped me make very few mistakes thus far. My biggest mistake (if you can call it that) is that I wanted a mountain with a tunnel and I wanted to make it from scratch, I chose foam as my material and after I put down the layout and cut my first layer of foam I realized that I didn’t just build a mountain I have the base of Mt. Everest… I have used newspaper as a “pattern” for the rest of my table, mapping out waterways, roads, other hills. I’m going to stick to my guns and keep Everest going because I think I can still pull it off and look good. (I’m thinking a few smaller mountains clumped together instead of the one big one.) As far as planning goes a close to scale picture probably would have helped me.
Sitting here I did come up with a problem that I need help with…
I just constructed my first building. What paints should I use and I’m having trouble coming up with a way to make a sign for it. I think I want to paint it onto the actual building but painting letters on brick I don’t think would be too easy.
When i retired at the age of 65 some 12 years ago,my work was Carpentry & joinery as i worked in wood for 50 years i search for hobby away from woodwork,Being the only chippy in the family it became as if i had not began my retirement ,please excuse me for i love my wook and best of all i adore trees.Now i will come to the point and it is as follows,I have built a layout 20.-00″x 10.00″ with a well in the centre 11.00″x2..00″ rather than ducking under i have hinged one end 43″x 24″ so it is paralell with well at the other end i have built 2 bridges on based on the Sydney Harbour bridge together alongside a cantalever railway bridge, I have also built a Castle complete with drawbridge.on the style of our Royal Windsor,i have 3 stations 2 through stations .Named Penny Lane ,no 2 Strawbury Fields.and no3 Abbey Road.together with a fiddle yard .i have also a timber yard .police station ,fire station.plus many more .I have quite a large solection of locomotives coaches and rolling stock.my promblem is that i have no idea how to set them out .I have just change over to digital and it is very expencive .I built a spiral but i did not like that idea so i thougth that building a stock yard underneath with a run up to the main track,, I am not a member of any club ,pehaps i should be .At the present moment only the bridges are in place, Every mounth i have 3 Model rail mags but have yet to find any layout to guide me ,I do hope that i have not board you and would welcome any suggestions [BY THE WAY LOVE YOUR COUNTRY ] and as an old timer i would love to take this opportunity of sincerely thanking you for all the help you have given to our nation over my lifetime we could never fined the time to do this .I have payed my respects at Omaha and Utah beaches in Europe it is a moving felling to be in the presence of such great men ,we hold them dear to our hearts,Sorry to go on but i like many of my countryman we hold you all very close and will foreever do so ,Thank you all once again God Bless you all GEORGE
Hello Everyone
I started model railroading when i was a kid had a large collection of lionel trains and a large layout took up my parents entire basement in 1980 my parents had the misfortune of having a fire start in the furnace which completely destroyed my whole collection couldn’t even save a piece of track i was devastated after a long conversation with my wife i was surprised to find out how much she also missed the trains so we decided to get started again.. we built a train table that is 10′ 8″ long by 4′ wide. its ben so long that i am having a very hard time with the layout right now we only have one train that we picked up on craigs list a heavy hauler set rio grande from 1982. i would like to have alot more train travel on the layout instead of just an over. and like others said with the economy the way it is. its very hard to get started again i did decide to stay with 027 track. and currently have an oval that is 9’5″ x 46″. would love to see more plans for smaller layouts. in O gauge/scale. that supports more travel space for the train. anyone with any ideas that could help us Thanks again and love being back in the train world again
I would love to meet George. He truly sounds like diehard model railroader and a man that has great respect
for our country. As for model railroading, I’m fairly new and absolutly love learning new things to do with my ” Learining Layout” as I call out. Experimenting with new ideas and getting ideas for my Larger layout. ‘m planning out doing a layout of the Ore docks in Superior, Wisconsin which at one time was the worlds largest ore docks. The train ran from the Iron Ore Mines in Hibbing Minnesota thru Kelly Lake and into Superior, Wisconsin. I have my ore dock and gathering ideas for the BNSF railroad yard where the staging takes place. This site has been extremly helpful and have meet some really nice people.
One suggestion that I would tell George would be to join the NMRA. A place to get a lot of help.
Happy Railroading George!!
Harry
I have been an avid model railroader for over 50 years. I have built many layouts over these years. My last HO was 1200 square feet and I completely sceniced it with 4 main lines in 3 winters using new methods that I had developed. I would be happy to answer any questions that might help newbie modellers solve any problems that they might be having. I discovered ways to build thousands of trees quickly using mostly weeds from my back yard. I started a garden railroad 3 years ago as I loved being outdoors and wanted a new challenge. Yours truly Ross Ouderkirk
I’m nearly new getting back into this hobby, and switching to DCC. I’d like to know more about wiring the various switches to work smoothly with DCC. I have Atlas, Atlas Custom line and Shinohara. How do I tell if a switch has as electrofrog or not, and (whether or not) how it should be wired.
I’m at the very begining of possibly starting a model railway and am reading , gethering info. I was given a Walthers kit.(train & track) I find all your information and video’s very helpful and look forward to reading when I get the e-mail.
Andy Moynihan
Rookie, should let you know I am a beginner. I have made three temp.
Layouts . Each one a little better than the last. Still undecided on final
Layout. Did learn a lot though. I am rebuilding some old rolling stock,
Changing couplings and wheels, some trucks too. I did find a great way to remove
Snap in trucks. A free paint can opener works, makes it easy to snap them off.
Thanks for asking Dan , turn outs and derailing are a problem . I have a Berkshire
4-8-2. Drives me crazy can not keep front wheels on track.
Thanks again Dan talk to you soon.
Best Al The Rookie
Dan:
I placed the note that I am Retired along with my name for a specific reson. I am retired and don’t have the time to redo all those things that I have done on my train layout the 1st and 2nd etc. times.
I am building a “G” Scale layout in my basement (18 ft. x 18 ft) and I have found that the layout is somewhat complex. I have four tracks that can be all powered with the same voltage or they all can be isolated running different voltages. (Four trains running on the same layout – DCC or Analog) Needless to say there is a lot of wiring. I have complicated this by setting up a 28 electrical control panel for lighting and turning on animated settings. I have/am running a LOT of wires. It would be very brneficial to see some down to earth articles on wiring procedures and the do’s and don’ts. This could be supplemented with the electrical issues that arise with track isolation and dead/hot spots that are experienced with any layout.
Just some ramblings
Paul
Hi Dan,
First of all … thank you for this opportunity to comment … both good/bad. I have been around trains all my life. I fell in love with them the first time I saw and heard one: However I did not know it at the time.
I had American Flyer … sold them I had HO sold them … I have a “G” scale …. I have an American Flyer that is now over 60 years old. Will go to my Grandson when he gets old enough. But now my passion is N scale. I am building a 3′ X 6′ layout. Using Woodland Scenics Scenic Ridge layout. This is the only space I have available. And this is cozy but fits just right. I am happy. This is the first model railroad I have built in over 40 years. I have been very impressed with waht I have seen in the model railroad industry … so many and so much dedicated to its continuing progress. I am 68 years old and I am dedicated to this N scale … it for me and my family friends and especailly the grandchildren’s enjoyment. it is something to see and engine rumble by … and then watch the back of the caboose as it goes away down the track. I use to say there goes the cabootal
My biggest concern is the wiring … I will be using both MRC dc analog power pack and a DCC Bachmann EZ command system. Using street lights … building lights 14 buildings … and track signals (3) and 3 left hand remote switches. I am using the Atlas Code # 80 tracks the one used for the Scenic Ridge layout.
I am not sure how to wire everything together. If someone can help will be appreciated. One thing Should I incorporate terminal blocks … and switches in order to operate each source independitly. I am just not too sure how to go about doing this. Just a note … I heard that Woodland Scenics had a major fire … wonder if they wil be going out of business I sure hope not.
Thank again Dan for this opportunity … much appreciated.
best regards.
Happy tracks to you,
Tom
Dan
Tom
As you may have heard we have experienced a fire here at Woodland Scenics and there is good news and bad news. The good news is that no one was hurt during the fire or evacuation process. The bad news is that it took out a couple of our manufacturing buildings. However, and fortunately, there is more good news than bad. We encompass multiple buildings that are spread out all over the town of Linn Creek.
We only lost two of those buildings and those two contained just a small portion of our manufacturing facilities. Our shipping department, warehouse and corporate offices were spared any damage, as were most of our manufacturing buildings, so it is business as usual.
Marv,
First and foremost I sure am glad everyone got out safely. That is the best news of all. Fire is devastating no matter what size it is.
I am using your products most extensively on my N scale layout. So it is nice to know things are continuing as well as can be expected at this time. Lookinng forward to working with your products. Keep up the good work and great products from Woodland Scenics.
Best regards,
Tom
PS Thanks Marv for sharing this information.
was a good read
All the best Jerry
i am starting my oo gauge layout and dont know wat sort of plan or scenery too use. I have alot of diesel locos so ill probely do a layout with industrial buildings and modren houses. But i dont know where to start laying the track. My layout is 12ft by 3ft so ill need alot of track. I made alot of buildings out of cardbord and very reilistic.I will soon get the hang of it.
Many thanks
Danni
Hi Dan. Like a whole lot of the people who have responded to you, I am new to the art of model railroading. I have wanted to have a layout since I was a kid and got re-inspired when I went to the Canberra Rail Road Show on the weekend. I have actually designed my layout, built my table, purchased my track and now wondering how to proceed. I want to go DCC and am reading madly but I need assistance, one on how to wire it properly and two on how to electrify my points and signals. Regards.
Bob, the best way to help you is if you ask your question in the forum. Cheers Dan
I started in the early 1950′s with an HO set up. In those days not too much help was available,but I managed to figure out how to set up blocks and wire things and it seemed to work well. AFter years of no modeling I have started back into it with Nscale dcc and a new 4X8 layout. I haven’t finished my layout yet the way I want it but it is coming. I have set up a test track and am going to run two trains together. I have
designed my layout with a passing track etc. I have tried to get as much track as possible in my limited 4X8 sheet of plywood and I think I might have to add something somehow. I will contact you again in the future after I have progressed a little bit more.
Thanks
Bud Congdon
I am struggling with space. I have 0 gauge which takes a lot of room. I am struggling with trying to build two or three levels to display four to six trains. Not sure this is possible especially with my accessories.
I could have a board space of 5′ x 9′ at most. Now what would a layout look like to run at least four trains? My delimma.
I’ve yet to start my first layout, but it sure is fun reading about how others went about it.
I value everyone’s input and just like to thank everyone that contibutes.
With all the input there’s really no reason why I can’t have my dream layout first time around, or at least in the ballpark.
I got hooked on trains whenever I visited the Science and Industry museum in Chicago, forty years ago. Now there’s a layout!
Thanks to all.
I have not reached the point of frustration yet. I am new to model railroading. Started in March and am working with HO scale. I have had a lot of fun creating the track setup in my mind, on the computer with free software, etc and then in making the track layout a reality. Due to my mobile job (move every 5 or so years), I have built a module foundation for the setup. I am running with a 5′ x 8′ base right now with a double oval track design which requires bridge piers. I am presently designing the city main street and small residential, and then I am on to the scenery. Lots of work ahead, but this is a hobby and I am in for the long haul.
My main challenge is finding ways to do this on a limited budget. I am doing everything I can to create out of discarded materials, low costs products and such. I Cannot afford to buy pre-built scenery, structures, etc. So the hunt is on to do much with little. These forums and posted comments are much appreciated. Thanks.
First up I would like to reply to what Carl who wrote about DCC, there is a company here in Australia with a web site http://www.dccconcepts.com.au they have all you need to know about DCC, if you are just starting off use DCC, the most importment thig is to make sure you wire it up as they state to do so, if you do not have enough current going to each peice of track (the train may be running fine) but if there is a short it may not shup down quick enough.
I am still building my first layout it is 10 x 4, I feal the bigest mistake I made was not going N scale, or then mat be I was trying to cram in to much, on the one end it is 3 tracks wide i am having problems with the SD70ACe on the inside track it is a bit tight. Other than that I am happy with my layout so far.
And Dan you are so right “it is the best hobby in the world” . You may notice it lef the “or is it ” bit off.