I follow good wiring practices and I have lots of feeders. I've got a decent-sized home layout, around 3 walls of a 24x24 foot room.
But, I'm somewhat of a heretic because my bus wires are only 18-gauge. This seems perfectly adequate and my trains run fine all the way out to the ends, from Timbuktu to Kalamazoo, to Kalamazoo and back.
12-gauge bus wires are overkill for most home layouts.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
tomikawaTT One monster myth is that benchwork has to be built like the floor of an upstairs bedroom. It has to be stiff - but that can be achieved without the use of massive timbers or 3/4 inch plywood. Our little trains weigh ounces, not tons, and the scenery they run through only weighs a few pounds per square foot. Of course, if you want to climb up and jump around on your benchwork... As for cost, it has always been possible to economize: Build benchwork with inexpensive or free materials (as in, dumpster dive.) Hand-lay specialwork - without $$$ jigs and tools. Buy rolling stock at train shows. Learn to kitbash and scratch build. Assemble structures from plans and photos, using craft store materials. Look at those fancy gizmos, then figure out how to build the equivalent with paper clips, used ball pen cartridges and fishing line. Hold off buying the latest and greatest until it gets put on the markdown and closeout table. I haven't always done these things, but I sure do now! As for the 4x8 with 15 inch radii and 3% grades, the Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo isn't a 4x8, but it does have 350mm (14 inch minus) radii and 4% grades - designed to be a challenge for teakettle 0-6-0Ts. Last, a quote from The Green Dragon: I have never done the impossible. If I did it, it was possible. Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - inexpensively)
One monster myth is that benchwork has to be built like the floor of an upstairs bedroom. It has to be stiff - but that can be achieved without the use of massive timbers or 3/4 inch plywood. Our little trains weigh ounces, not tons, and the scenery they run through only weighs a few pounds per square foot. Of course, if you want to climb up and jump around on your benchwork...
As for cost, it has always been possible to economize:
I haven't always done these things, but I sure do now!
As for the 4x8 with 15 inch radii and 3% grades, the Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo isn't a 4x8, but it does have 350mm (14 inch minus) radii and 4% grades - designed to be a challenge for teakettle 0-6-0Ts.
Last, a quote from The Green Dragon:
I have never done the impossible. If I did it, it was possible.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - inexpensively)
Chuck,
You're right on. Scrounging, waiting for deals, paperclips etc. is the smart way to build. The only things I bought for my bench work were the steel studs. All the foam was at no cost. Even toured the neighborhood and liberated some from a burn pile (we live in the country). Saved some toxic fumes from getting into the air and helped with my layout. Good trade.
Have been building a lot of stuff with all kinds of household stuff. My wife always asks "Can you use this on the railroad?". Of course I take it and sooner or later it finds its way on to the layout in some fashion.
Lots of items show up on the local on-line auctions. Bought a group of cars lately that came to about $4.00 each. They all had KD couplers on them too. Got my $ worth in just the couplers alone. Got new, stll sealed Atlas NS switches for $2.00 each. Flex track for about $1.50 a 3 foot section. Yes MRRing can be expensive unless you go by what you said.
I'm having fun!! Must be doing it right.
God's Best & Happy Rails to You!
Bing (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)
The future: Dead Rail Society
For me its:
1. Layout "experts" that complicate the simple while overstating the obvious.
2. Derailments can't be avoided -not even..A modeler's goal should be 100% derailment free operation.
3. You can't make a crossover with #4 switches..Guess again. It can be done. A crossover can be made with snap switches-not pretty but,can be done and just be sure to use 40' cars and short wheelbase engines.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Another thing that bugs me is people are always comparing model railroads to real. We try to imitate the real but what works in the read dose not work in our modeling space, espesialy when it comes to yards.
rrebell Another thing that bugs me is people are always comparing model railroads to real. We try to imitate the real but what works in the read dose not work in our modeling space, espesialy when it comes to yards.
We should look to the prototype for guide lines when designing a yard,engine service area or industrial area and then size it down to our available space and preferences.
As a example. If our roster is 100% diesel do we really need a space eating roundhouse with turntable when a two stall engine house would work?
That doesn't bug me at all - it's normal and I'm totally used to it. Model Railroading is continuum of imitating trains, which stretches from Thomas the Tank Engine all the way to proto modeling. It goes without saying that we all have our limitations, whether it be space, skills, time, money, knowledget, or that have you.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
To allow anyone to tell me what I can or can't have on ''MY'' layout, kinda takes the fun out of it.If I have but one engine,a RS3 and want 5 , 10 stall roundhouses; who has the right to tell me I shouldn,t
Had I knowen there were such strick rules, I would not have enter the hobby
BRAKIEAs a example. If our roster is 100% diesel do we really need a space eating roundhouse with turntable when a two stall engine house would work?
The CPR roundhouse in Vancouver serviced Diesels for a long time after the last steamer left town. So there is presidence.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
I think part of the reason model railways are seen as an expensive hobby is that the entrance level spend can be quite high. I'm coming back into the hobby after a 30 year absence and am planning a small switching layout. One DCC engine (2nd hand), four points and 12 feet of track - $200. The DCC controller pretty much the same again. I've picked up some 2nd hand wagon kits at around $14 apiece but still have to add in the cost of Kadee couplers (not that common in the UK) and some bogies.
End result - one 2x4 module on bare wood. Scenery still be costed.
Now I'm not going to be buying a new DCC controller for every four feet of layout, and the rolling stock can be amortised across the whole layout but this isn't cheap to get into compared to some other modelling hobbies.
BATMAN BRAKIE As a example. If our roster is 100% diesel do we really need a space eating roundhouse with turntable when a two stall engine house would work? The CPR roundhouse in Vancouver serviced Diesels for a long time after the last steamer left town. So there is presidence.
BRAKIE As a example. If our roster is 100% diesel do we really need a space eating roundhouse with turntable when a two stall engine house would work?
Brent,Many railroads use roundhouses into the 90s but,in our limited space HO world could we use that space for a better designed diesel service area? If our layout is large enough for such niceties then why not indulge?
All I am saying is a modeler should use their limited space wisely.
MalcyMalcNow I'm not going to be buying a new DCC controller for every four feet of layout, and the rolling stock can be amortised across the whole layout but this isn't cheap to get into compared to some other modelling hobbies.
This is true, but getting into a moving model hobbie is also expensive. I'm talking about a radio controlled Lorry, airplane or boat/ship.
Plus very few trains sink or fly uncontrolably away, and the hobby is not weather dependent.
Just my thoughts from Canada.
Dave