"With my 23'x23' laqyout, six locos, and 240 yds of track, I went for Digitrax SuperChief (which can handle 8 amps.)
I currently have one full electrical circuit to the space set aside just for trains. Will I need more? I do plan to go DCC though. Should I run another?
"If you have been out of the hobby a while, maybe start with a small shelf RR or switching layout to build on some skills, then incorporate that into a larger layout."
Great idea. Might do that.
Have a couple of hobby shops locally but best I have seen within reasonable distance is Credit Valley in Mississauga Ontario.
Graph paper sits beside me and gets amended daily!!
Have the ModelRaidlroader subscription and view pics very carefully for ideas.
Thanks - I viewed the Space Mouse site. Very informative.
I also have downloaded the RTS7.0 and XTC401 just haven'yt got into using them yet.
Hi Newbie,
Welcome aboard! This is the place where you will find many of us who love nothing better than to "guide and critique". Especially, if you are a Newbie, get into DCC. Initial cost is a little steep, but this is the way to future model railroading. Standards have been established by the NMRA, and the quality and prices are good, regardless of which brand you choose. But, even though all brands are usually compatable, it's a good idea to stick to one brand. With my 23'x23' laqyout, six locos, and 240 yds of track, I went for Digitrax SuperChief (which can handle 8 amps.) But, as they say, "Dream-Plan-then Build" I knew that since I had ian inside stairway to my unobstructed garage loft area, I would would plan for an around the room layout, with maximum switching to local and (imagined), distant industries, to service. From the beginning, I planned on having two harbors,two 7 track yards (one stub ended and one pass through),three ravines , and two towns (connected by a modified HO slot-car roadway) The layout is divided into 4 Power Districts, where each tethered operator is in control of 25 electric probe switches. If you have the cash, and desire a "walk-around" layout, I suggest that you go for RC (Radio Control), from the beginning. The amount of wiring is vastly reduced. With 100 switches on my railroad, RC of the switches was much slower than using a probe on the four numbered Power District diagrams, that are so placed that each operator has direct visual control, of the switches in his district. By all means, go to the Space Mouse suggestions for beginners, and get all the Kalmbach books that apply to your situation. To Post pictures, you must first place the Titled picture in My Album in our Host, which is: Photobucket.com/Flock (or some other.) Then, you click on the IMG option at the bottom. Momentarily, "Copied" will appear. The picture "Code", has been transferred ,temporarily, to the computer "Clip Board". You then, click on the little Icon with the "W" (on the Tool bar) Immediately, a box will appear, with "Insert",. at the left bottom. When you click on Ctrl V , the lengthy "code" will appear in the box. You can then write the Text (to accompany the picture), in this box, or in the Post box. (In the beginning, use your Cursor to establish where the picture "code" will be placed, in the Post Thread or Reply box)) You, now click on "Enter". Your Text and picture code will be transferred to the "Post, or Reply" box. After correcting any "typos", you click on Post, and your Thread (with picture and Text),will be established (or as part of the Reply, if you are adding a "Reply" to someone else's Thread. There are other ways to do this, but I find that this method works best for me. Post a diagram of the room (doors,windows, obstructions, etc.),with the proposed benchwork and layout on it. Explain or sketch in what industries,towns, ravines, railroad yards, etc. This will give us a better way to critique you, and maybe eliminate any errors. (which can be time consuming and costly) If you are unsure of DCC wiring, get help from an electronics career person. Get the Kalmbach book on DCC Wiring and DCC Projects. Last, but not least, Post any question on this Forum, and you will be surprised at the number of responses you will get from knowledgeable modelers. With the size of your room, I would go for an around the room layout, with "drop down,or lift out access". Keep us "Posted". Bob hahn
RoadCopper wrote:How does one decide on era, railroad, activity or industry etc?? Too many things are wanted but I know I am limited once I begin to build.
A set of things should start emerging that will add wieght toward one choice or another. You will have to drop off items that end up standing alone (because they contradict a majority of things). Hopefully a process like this will help direct your thinking too, and come up with just a few "major" groupings that you will have to choose from.
Don't start buying stuff toward one of the groupings until you absolutely are certain that is the way you want to go. Otherwise you will get wishy-washy and start buying for multiples of the groups. Not choosing something and sticking to it always ends up being a waste of time, effort, and money.
I agree with the books too and graph paper and a compass. YOU DON'T NEED CAD, but if you are comfortable with computers and a quick learner with new software, it does speed up the process and take a lot of guess work out of drawing turnouts.
DCC is great in my opinion and prices have stabilized and gone down a little. I use Digitrax and have no complaints. More products are out there now and easily converted if they do not have a decoder and you want DC. I too am in the design phase of the model railroad after moving almost two years ago and dismantling a 26 x 19' layout that was partially completed. My new space is 19 x 22 and I hope to model a double deck in HO Scale of the Pere Marquette RR in Michigan.
If you have been out of the hobby a while, maybe start with a small shelf RR or switching layout to build on some skills, then incorporate that into a larger layout. You can find some great deals on eBay, I sell on there too on occaision and buy as well.
Another great value is a good local hobby shop, if you have one. If they specialize in trains, all books, media, and person to person help is possible not to mention this site and other forums.
Dan
First off, welcome.
Second off, that space sounds wonderful.
Im started in one corner and working around flopping track as I go.
Hey Road
Welcome back to the hobby, I am in the middle of my 6th Layout in a nice 12 X 20 seperate shop dedicated fully to my layout, I drew my plans on graph paper and made changes to what suited me, I built the bench work with the idea of copying club Modulars I have seen at the shows, I wanted to be inside the action so to speak and I have not regreted it for one second, I also wanted the bench work to be no wider than 24" at any point so it would be easier to be able to get to any part of the layout without having to hang over it knocking over any scenery, I did have to make a few changes from the original drawing to suite the bench work and get both my 2 Mainlines in, and am now finishing off a 2' X 10' switching yard with a nice shop for the switchers and a Caboose and RIP track the ladder tracks hold about a 110 freight cars with room for about another 20 or so,,As far as what to model I went with the late 60's to late 70's as this is what I grew up around in my end of Canada,so I Model both CP and CN Rail and a bit of BC Rail as well. I have stayed with DC with walk around cabs but have it wired in case I go to DCC, DC works well for me and I see no reason to change right now,but who knows.
Mike G
Welcome to the forum and back to the hobby. There are many of us who have returned in the last couple of years.
To start, know what you want: scenery, running trains, places for structures, mountains, bridges, valleys, water falls, switching, long trains, clever track work? You can't have it all at first. I suggest you start with what you like.
I then read a bunch of magazines and found a couple of pictures that inspired me.
I then drew a track plan on squared paper that included the elements I wanted ( a mine, a lumber camp and a huge valley with a high bridge and a wood trestle.)
I then laid it out on the floor, full size, with blue masking tape.
I am now two years into the thing and find that I have a few changes to make, but if I had waited to get the plan perfect, I would only have a pile of papers, no layout.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Atlas has a free cad based software called RTS 7.0. It is on there website and is fairly simple to grasp. There is also XTRACAD (I don't have a link for you there) that is also free but is a bit more to pick up on.
Find a recent post by Space Mouse here at Trains.com. In his signature is a beginners guide, click on that and spend about 5-10 minutes to thoroughly digest what he has there. He breaks it down about as basic as it gets.
I have been blessed with an 18' x 13" but somewhat irregular rectangular open layout space in a new house. I want to begin benchwork and track planning using a DCC system.
In a manner of speaking I would be considered completely new to the hobby although did some about 15 years ago on a plywood board for my young son [or maybe that was for me...] and then work and transfers moved me away from it.
Any suggestions/recommendations for where to go for track planning software or just freehand draw it? How do I figure on track planning for purchase? Wiring kind of defeats me - what is a "bus"?? I have looked at the glossary but .......
Want to go HO scale - somewhat modern 1950s forward at least and I like to model scenics such as towns. How does one decide on era, railroad, activity or industry etc?? Too many things are wanted but I know I am limited once I begin to build.
Suggest away - it is all still in the dreamer stages....