i am starting my new layout its going to be 7x14 and im using ho e-z track and i would lke some help in starting my first mountian with a tunnel running through it and i plan on using foam. i would like to know how is the best way to start and some tips and tricks thanks everybody
Acemani am starting my new layout its going to be 7x14 and im using ho e-z track and i would lke some help in starting my first mountian with a tunnel running through it and i plan on using foam. i would like to know how is the best way to start and some tips and tricks thanks everybody
Here is a pretty good "Getting started in the Hobby" book by respected model railroader Jeff Wilson:
http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12246.html
Smile, Stein
Assuming you have the bench work up and the track laid, your first step is to make a drawing of what the mountain (terrain) and tunnel should look like when done. Try for three views, a top view, a front view and a side view. A freehand sketch is the lowest common denominator, a scaled drawing is better. Making the drawing with a pencil will show you that the concept works, (or doesn't work).
For a tunnel in HO, to handle the tallest cars around (double stacks) you want 22 scale feet of clearance from the railhead to the tunnel roof. That's about 3 1/16". The implication is the mountain has to be about that tall or taller in order to cover the roof of the tunnel. Foam comes in two inch thick sheets, so you might plan on the mountain being made of three two inch layers. You cut the layers to shape and then glue them together with latex caulk or PLZ300 foam board adhesive. The foam cuts with ordinary wood working tools. I'd mark the shape of each layer on the foam with a Sharpie marker and cut the edges on a 45 degree angle to reduce the amount of hacking and carving needed to get a nice hill shape after the glue dries. Once you have the mountain nicely shaped, and the tunnel cut out you can paint it with some earthtone flat latex interior paint and sprinkle "grass" (ground foam or green colored sawdust) into the wet paint. That looks much much better than the pink or blue foam color. Trees are optional at extra cost. Even if you plan a good thick forest, a ground cover of natural color will improve the looks of your forest.
Give some thought to maintainance access. Sooner or later you will have a derailment underground and will need to get in to fix it. If the mountain is on the back of your layout you can leave the back open for access. Or allow the entire mountain to lift off. Putting some rerailers inside the tunnel is good. Turnouts underground are an invitation to trouble and I would avoid them.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
How is the layout configured? The general rule is that no part of the layout, particularly no track, should be more than 30 inches from somewhere you can stand to get to it. Even 30 inches, 2 1/2 feet, is on the outer edge of useable reach for most people - you may be able to grab a derailed car and pick it up, but it's pretty tough to re-rail it, or to do track installation or maintenance that far in from the edge.
I've got subways, so I have a lot of tunnels on my layout. Most are accessible, when necessary, by liftoff sections with scenery on them. There are a couple of short stretches which are awkward-to-impossible to reach, but they're simple, single-track lines and nothing has gone wrong there in the 3 years they've been in service. I use a CMX track cleaning car, pulled by an engine, so I don't need to physically put my hands on every inch of track.
But, dung occurs. You will have derailments, even with perfect trackwork, because you'll make a mistake at some point and forget to throw a turnout, or you'll send two trains down the same track at the same time. If nothing else, you will need to clean your track periodically. So, plan for maintenance. More important, though, is bulletproof trackwork. Not just "good enough," because, well, that's not good enough. If you have a troublesome section of track, eventually you either give up model railroading completely, or you'll rip it out and re-do it correctly. And, you will have a troublesome section of track. Maybe not at first, but then one day you'll get a new engine, and you'll find a problem that's been there all along, but your other engines were just more forgiving. 4-axle switchers and old GP-9s will take most anything, but a decent-sized steam engine will be a regular prima donna when it comes to finding problems with your trackwork.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I thnk the best way is to do a little reading and then jump right in. There is no way that you can get skills without doing, so the best way is to get an understanding of what you want then just do it! If this is your first there will probably be more to follow and each time you can enhance your skills.
Sam
You might look at some of the foam products that Woodland Scenics has as well as their books - its pretty easy to use for a rookie - I learned a lot using it years ago.
I watched some videos on YouTube last night including how to build mountains out of extruded foam and how to build tunnels. I am also a Newbie and I found these videos really interesting. The author makes it look easy. Here's the link to the first part of one of the series. This particular series has 8 or 9 parts to go through the whole process. The same author also has videos on ballasting and track laying. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1D4KBB_GC4
that was the best Iv seen yet ,,,thanks so much ,,really enjoyed it (once I got use to the guy ) hes got some talent ....