Need some help...

[Anonymous]

I bought a Hornby train set. I need some advise on my layout as I am new in this hobby and as I am in the office,I don't have internet access back at home to be always in the forum.Please help me with some of my difficulties:

1)Do I need to get a track-bed (like the one from woodland scenics) to support the Hornby railtrack before i nailed down the track?
2)Which should I start, nailing down the track or paint the layout board first/create all the sceneries?
3)The Hornby sets is in OO scale ,will the figures (HO) scale be realistic with my curent Hornby set?
4)Is there any other websites which gave info's for beginners in rail modelling (building layout,painting,etc) apart from www.trains.com?

Thank you for advise.

[nfmisso]

Hi;

1. DO NOT nail down your track. Use adhesive, I prefer Alleene's Tacky Glue, which I get in the craft section at Wal-Mart. If you track does not have a roadbed attached, then you should us WS's foambed, or AMI's rubber or cork.

2. A very good structure for a layout is four inches of extruded foam (may be laminated) with 3/16" luan plywood on the bottom, and up the sides. Use Liquid Nails for projects to hold this together. Let it set up a week. Legs can be attached after that, and work proceed on the layout. Use hot knife, hot wire, serated knives and rasps to shape the foam, leave at least 2" in all areas. Use additional foam to build up hills etc. Use WS's SubTerrain system.

3. OO is 4mm to a foot, HO is 3.5mm to a foot. Another way of saying it, is that HO is 7/8 the size of OO. Briti***rains are small. An OO scale Briti***rain is often smaller than an HO scale USA train.

4. Yes; Atlasrr and Bachmanntrains are two. Also spend some time searching the Walthers site.

Nigel

[dknelson]

Unfortunately it is likely that not too many of us who visit this forum are familiar with Hornby products. I have one Hornby set, a plastic 0-6-0 and two painted tin (!) passenger cars and an oval of track that I bought maybe 35 years ago for $2.99!. Now and then at Christmas I set it up under the tree to give the Lionel and Marx sets a break (I am not a tinplater but enjoy it for what it is)
The track is bulldog profile, meaning the top is slightly rounded -- as is actual British rail, at least at one time. It would not mate well with American HO track.
The scale is HO/00 a sort of generic compromise and in theory HO figures should look a bit small compared to the equipment. But the difference would be small and probably livable.
Are you in England or a former colony where Briti***rains are likely to be what you want? Now is the time to decide whether you want true HO or go the HO/00 route.
As a rule track should be fastened down and as a rule some sort of sound deadening material, cork or foam rubber (Woodland Scenics) should be underneath. Don't go overboard on nailing in the track, or glueing it for that matter. You may want to tear it up and reuse the track some day.
I'd paint the wood first, perhaps a tan color just to give it uniformity. You can paint after laying the track but it is just that much more tricky.
My advice to a beginner would be to buy some Kalmbach books, several of which should give you a good start at track laying, scenery, wiring, etc. There may be internet sites but when you are working on the layout you want the book right there with you.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dave for your kind advise.Well, I'm in Malaysia.To get a HO scale trains is kind of expensive especally online,I have to consider the postage.
I found out one local hobby shop in Malaysia but they sell more on Hornby products compared to other hobby shop.So i have to stick to Hornby for the time being. I have bought Kalmbach books online, especially those for beginners.
Anyway,thanks again for your friendly advise.Ok.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Nigel.Appreciate for your advise.I'll keep that in mind.Ok.

[dknelson]

Malaysia! Well then you are a bit removed from what most of us would encounter. Keep us all posted on your progress.
Dave

[BR60103]

Dave:
Hornby has revised their track several times in the last 35 years. They now supply something that is similar to Peco, but with sloppier flangeways.
The scale is OO - 4mm to 1 foot, about 1:76, while HO is 1:87. The track is HO gauge for obscure historical reasons. HO accessories may be a touch small, but don't look too bad if you don't mix HO and OO. People do vary and scenery is almost scale-free.
Some Hornby will not work with scale track as the flanges are too thick or the wheels are too close together.
--David

[dknelson]

thanks for the update on the track. I see Hornby engines and cars at swap meets but never their track. My set is obviously outdated but charming in its own way. the newer Hornby stuff I see looks very nicely detailed, but those flanges are a throwback -- cheese slicers.
Dave Nelson

[snowey]

try the website of the N.M.R.A. (National Model Railroad Association) at WWW.NMRA.ORG They have a special section just for begginers. Also try WWW.ATLASRR.COM (ATLAS is one of the best model railroad manufacuers) and their website is EXELENT!!