Rookie Lesson

[Roadtrp]

I received my much-anticipated 'N' gauge model train 'starter equipment' this evening. It was not a 'set' because I couldn't find one that had exactly what I wanted. So I put together a set ala Carte that contained all the basics and told my wife that is what I wanted for Christmas.

Of course I had to get to work setting things up as soon as we had completed our Christmas package opening. I learned a Rookie Lesson in the process.

1) Take your time. It will not do you any good to rush, and may do harm.
2) Make sure the track joints are inline and smooth.
3) Make sure the track joints are inline and smooth.
4) Make sure the track joints are inline and smooth.
5) Make sure the track joints are inline and smooth.

For the first hour or so I really wondered what I had gotten myself into. I set up the track, connected the power pack, put the locomotive and passenger consist on the tracks and was ready to roll. Except the danged thing couldn't make it around the track more than once or twice without derailing.

After considerable frustration I finally got smart and sent the locomotive around the track by itself. The locomotive was heavy enough that it would not derail, and by running it slowly and watching closely I was able to tell that several of my track joints were in sorry shape. I worked to fix those joints, and took a go-slow approach.

I first went around with just the locomotive, then the loco and one car, loco and two cars, etc until I had the whole consist running smoothly. Now everything is working great, and I LOVE it. I just thought I might pass on my rookie lesson and perhaps save someone else some needless frustration.

[:)]

[IRONROOSTER]

Welcome to the most wonderful of hobbies.
You have learned the first lesson - good trackwork is essential.
A couple of things I have learned over the years for building a layout are that good benchwork is essential to good trackwork and good wiring is essential to good operation.
Enjoy
Paul

[Jacktal]

And I may add a few other tips I've discovered so far,still being quite new to this:

1)Test every item as you go
2)Keep things simple
3)Use good quality equipment
4)Don't rush planning
5)Don't install your trackwork permanently at first
6)Don't install permanent scenery right away either
7)Don't let other people's great layouts intimidate you

I'm not yet a seasoned modeler with years of learning process behind me.I started constructing my first layout last year and am already starting my third one without having installed a single element of scenery yet.Why?I'd say "seeing beyond reality" is the main reason,trying to go big too fast.Experienced modelers probably would call this "learning the trade" the hard way.

I've been purchasing MR on regular basis for three years so far,so that i've seen gigantic dream generating layouts,built by skilled people in huge areas such as a whole basement or even a specially constructed building in some cases.I don't have big space available so that I tried to design a lot of trackwork on an insufficient workbench,ending up with non realistic looking layout,with no room for interesting scenery.

I've also found out that a good looking plan may not look so good,and even be impractical,once your trackwork is in place meaning some or total dismantling may be in order.It is even more frustrating if every bit of track is permanently nailed down.It gets more complicated to remove without destroying them.So now I tape down my trackwork to allow easy modifications.It also allows me to visualize the layout,install temporary scenery,then operate trains for a while to discover what are the strong and weak points of my layout.

I still have a lot to learn but I feel I've learned a few essentials already.Now I proceed slowly,item by item,and test everything.This way,if I decide to tear down and rebuild,it's much less frustrating and expensive.