I'm a newbie HELP

[claycts]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ARTHILL

I'm back after 25 years and this forum has been good. I second the idea of specific questions and reading. I have been going through old model railroader mags and get good ideas. In my town there are some clubs that will sell old copies for 50cents. Start with a simple track plan with a loop so you can run trains. You will need to change it anyway as you become more familiar with what you want to do so it may not matter. A big first question is shelf around walls or 4x8 sheet in the middle of a room. Have fun and we hope to hear more from you.

ART

Art, are you in Florida? Or is this a different Art Hill?

[ARTHILL]

I'm back after 25 years and this forum has been good. I second the idea of specific questions and reading. I have been going through old model railroader mags and get good ideas. In my town there are some clubs that will sell old copies for 50cents. Start with a simple track plan with a loop so you can run trains. You will need to change it anyway as you become more familiar with what you want to do so it may not matter. A big first question is shelf around walls or 4x8 sheet in the middle of a room. Have fun and we hope to hear more from you.

ART

[rogerhensley]

Also, check out the NMRA 'Introduction to Model Railroading' pages at: hrrp://www.nmra.org/beginner/ for some good advice and ideas.

[simon1966]

QUOTE: Originally posted by payner

I'm new to model rail roading as far as building a layout I have put some kits together and buildings but now wanna start getting plans to build a layout.


1) where do I find plans?

There are several plan books avaiable. What sort of space are you working with?

QUOTE:
2) what type of track should I use (I want to expand and not into the plastic junk)

You mention HO scale, well there are several choices available. The Atlas line of flextrack and turnouts are available in code 100 and 83 and they provide decent quality budget track. Not as good detail as some, but lower in price also. Other brands that are more expensive but with better detail include Peco and Micro Engineering as well as the line imported by Walthers.

QUOTE:
3) What type of power pack do I buy dcc or do it later any advantage to start
with it?

If you know that you want to go DCC, then you at least should make sure that your track plan and wiring are designed for DCC use. http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36389
This is a good thread to look at. I asked myself a similar question 2 years ago and decided to wire for DCC, but start with a DC powerpack (Used off e-Bay) as I did not want to spend the money on DCC up front. About a year ago I got my DCC system and it was an easy transition as the layout was wired for it.

QUOTE:
4) What book or video can I buy to guide me along the way? i will be going HO gauge

http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/model-railroading-books-model-railroading-for-beginners.html

Sart with some of the above books. For scenery I really like the video/DVDs produced by Dave Frary http://www.mrscenery.com/video.html These have really helped me get going on this aspect of the hobby.

QUOTE:
Sorry I know I'm getting very detailed and maybe should do multi topics

I think you will find you will get a more detailed response when you post specific individual questions. Also use the search capabilities of this forum. There are not many things that you will encounter that have not come up before and there is a wealth of information already contained in the forum. Welcome and have fun..

[Anonymous]

You should post your location. This way if you are near anyone, they might be able to give you an invite. Seeing, answer's so many questions...and generates a lot more you never thought of.

[ukguy]

Another good source for information is this forum, many questions get asked and answered, several of them many times each. A good way to get basic information is to go to the advanced search option, put in a topic ie: "trackplans" set the search date back over 2 yrs and hit go.

Also seeing what others have accomplished will set your imagination in overdrive, go to www.railimages.com for some outstanding layout pics.

Also go to the main page of this site and look around in the beginers and the how to sections, there is a mine of infomation, you just need to dig a little.

QUOTE: Later on, you will come back with more focused questions

This doesnt mean go away for now, stay right where you are and read,read,read, as your knowledge grows your questions will gain depth. There are many people here willing and able to help, and they are more than happy to do so.

Welcome to the forum, do like a sponge and most importantly have fun.

Karl.

[selector]

Don'tcha just hate those kind of answers? You finally get a strong urge to build something, and when you ask for help, it just generates more questions, or suggestions to do more research.

Well, I'm here to tell you that the previous replies were all.....right!!! The way you asked your questions, above, tells us that you are in quite some danger of getting ahead of yourself. Your questions are really quite broad, and are the tell-tale sign that you really do need some education, and reading Armstrong's book, and others, and visiting a local club, will be a big step in the right direction.

Later on, you will come back with more focused questions, such as, "If I intend to have a main line of about 20', how many power districts should I have in order to minimize voltage drop?" If......IF...you don't get the answer already from your reading, you will get lots of help with questions as precise as that one right here.

Welcome, and we WILL help, but please do yourself a huge favour and do a ton of preliminary reading. We have all gone this way, been told to do it, and it was well worth the time.

We're with ya....honest. [:)]

[claycts]

READ, READ, READ get your hands on any of the John Armstrong books and read pland then budget. You are new and getting into the hobby when everything cost and arm and a leg. Get the best you can afford and do not be afraid to ask questions. There are no bumb questions!
Don't fall into the trap of trying to duplicate a track plan you see in the Magazine, they have been it for more years than most people have been alive. Knowledge is king in this hobby, the more you understand the less money you waste and the more fun you have. Atlas has a bunch of track plans in book form also.

[Anonymous]

well go to your local hobby shop thay should have books there on every thing you asked .

i just got my grilfriend a book on n scale track plans from atlas and it covers every thing from wireing to bench buldeing and how much you will need in track and switchs to buld the layout . i would guess the same from there HO track plans book

as for dcc it depends on what you want to do with your layout but i would wire for dcc in the bulding stage its better that way insted of have to rewire the hole layout later

woodland secanes has a number of books and videos on scenery bulding you local hobby shop should have them if not i know this site dose www.internettrains.com (i have nothing to do with this site other than being a happy buyer )

[Anonymous]

I'm new to model rail roading as far as building a layout I have put some kits together and buildings but now wanna start getting plans to build a layout.


1) where do I find plans?

2) what type of track should I use (I want to expand and not into the plastic junk)

3) What type of power pack do I buy dcc or do it later any advantage to start
with it?


4) What book or video can I buy to guide me along the way? i will be going HO gauge


Sorry I know I'm getting very detailed and maybe should do multi topics