Do you KISS your model railroad?

[Anonymous]

How many of you started out using the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle and have now gotten way over your head in ability, knowledge level or technology?

[Fergmiester]

I'll be first in line! Nothing is as simple as it looks, Then again if one was to read the instructions this might be another story.

[nslakediv]

started out the other way, then ended up KISS. so much easier. like switching from a standard DC cab with 3 throttles and all those rotary switches to Digitrax(or any other DCC system), night and day.

[BRAKIE]

Nope..Been in the hobby to long..Therefore I use KISS..I find what works for me and stay with it regardless how many new and improved modeling ideas come along..For years I use Atlas controllers and selectors for block wiring-one wire=one block..No dang toggle switches with all that wiring for me..[:D] I used ground throws for years except in places I could not reach and I am not above using the Atlas remote switch..See KISS! [:D][:D] Kiss is even better with DCC.[:D]

[lupo]

KISS? I sure hope so and plan that way,[:D]

But, reading through some topics and answers on this forum I sometimes get discouraged, because of the problems one can encounter doing even the simplest things, like changing a ligh-bulbs or lamps, than I tell myself don't bother, just deal with problems when they occur.

[railman]

I do...so much in fact that I still run with Athearn power and shake the box kits. Don't get me wrong, I have some high detail units, too. While I admire the fine folks who spend hours poring over charts to scratchbuild a boxcar to a specific criteria, my $7.99 kit runs well. I use the same logic I use when describing the paint job on my truck when deciding how much time to put into general rolling stock- "It looks pretty good from 20 feet away."

[CP5415]

I'm trying to, but as usual, it doesn't stay that way!

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Yes i do and have more time in running my HO scale Eastern Railroad

[Anonymous]

Now I appply the KISS philosophy, but in earlier designs of my current layout and the previous layout I was going insane. On my last layout I was designing a block detection system using the block detectors in, I believe August 1984, and then customizing it so there would be directional approach signals. It was going to end up being 7 6x11" circuit boards. I also had two-block wiringand had two toggle switches per block. It was insane. On my current layout I had thought to build a modern animated coal flood loader that would pour real crushed coal into my cars and then have an animated rotary dumper at a power plant that would dump the coal. I have since abandoned the Idea because it would take too much work, time and money, all of which I don't have extra of.
Reed

[Anonymous]

About 14 years ago when my first son was born, I started a huge O scale layout in a garage, and it never got finished. Needed the garage after a while.

About 5 years ago, I was given a whole bunch of Atlas stuff. I started a complicated layout with mountains and an operating coal industry. We ended up moving to a different place before it was anywhere near done.

I used to wake up in the middle of the night and work on those layouts. And I didn't wake up to go and have fun with it. I woke up because I think I put some sub-conscious pressure on myself to fini***hese large, undone projects.

No more. Now its KISS. My kids and I are going to operate right from the start. We only have a 2' X 15' along one wall in the house. We built the wood benchwork together, it was fun. The kids put together the Atlas track and switches using a diagram from a layout book. That was fun. Now I'm ordering the DCC system and engines, and we'll be switching around cars right from the get-go. The layout has 8 stub sidings where we will spot cars, with alot of space around it, so we will build and install buildings, etc and scenery as we please.

Jim

[twhite]

I am the ultimate KISS-er. DC, 2-cab control, ground-throw switches and islolated blocks. Atlas code 100 mainline track, Bachmann wide-radius for the curves, and all on lightweight styrofoam insulated board supported by 1x2's. If that sounds weird, so be it. My trains run, and well. Where I leave the KISS philosophy is in the scenery and the locos and rolling stock. I'm an inveterate kit-basher, and I like high mountains and deep canyons. Other than that, I want it up and running. I'm a professional musician by occupation, and I have to spend a lot of time and patience honing my skills, so when it comes to my hobby, I just want something that I can relax and enjoy.

[Dbcxyz123]

No?

[Anonymous]

I will use a home-made principle,

KICK (Keep It Coplicated Kid)

[vsmith]

...You wanted the Best and you got the Best!..

...The Hottest band in the World!....

KISS!!!

Oh, sorry..having a 70's flashback there...

Yep I follow the KISS principle, but my motto is "Keep It Stupidly Simple" [D)]
In other words, the less complicated, the less likelyhood of a screw up.

So my electrical system originally consisted of a Powerpack , to Atlas Control boxs, to the track. No powered switches, Simple control blocks and isolated rail joiners. Really simple stuff, and ya'know what? IT WORKS GREAT!!! [:D]

I have since added a bit of technology just to prove I'm not a Luddite [;)],
by using an AristoCraft Train Engineer basic control system which just plugs in between the powerpack and the control boxes.

I dig this thing! I can walk around following the train to throw switches and uncouple cars. GET THIS SYSTEM if you are doing a simple layout, its worth it.[8D]

[Anonymous]

When I kissed my model railroad, I always got shocked!! So, I stopped doing it. Where do yous guys kiss yours?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Nope !!!!! I always go for the challenge. Simple gets dull too fast for me. Cutting edge computer technology, command control, with all of the bells and whistles, literally. Don't ask me when it will be done, especially if I keep sitting here on this computer.[swg]

Please don't view what I am about to say as arrogant. There is nothing in this world that I feel I CAN'T do. There are a lot of things in this world that I don't WANT to do. If I WANT to do something, I will take the time to learn how, and do it. Taking the attitude that something is too difficult to undertake gets you nowhere. Anything can be done if we put our minds to it.

America put a man on the Moon, and model railroading ain't rocket science!!!

Courage, persistance, and a positive attitude, and one day your layout could end up in the pages of MR.[:0][;)]

[fiatfan]

I try to keep it very simple. One cab control. Power routing through the turnouts so I don't have to wire all those blocks. About the highest tech I have done is build a transistor throttle. I do like to see engines creep and coast when I cut the throttle. I built in minor switching barriers to increase running time but not so complicated that I lose interest.

I deal with technology all day long so when I come home, I want to turn on the power and watch trains run. I am also enjoying putting together structures and scenery, again very low tech stuff.

Tom

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Nope !!!!! I always go for the challenge.

He may not "KISS" it but I am sure in the dark hours of the night I have heard him whispering sweet nothings and stroking her switches , promising her that a steam loco will never darken her doorstep.[:p][:X]]

[der5997]

If less is more, then I guess I finally broke down this summer and simplified the track plan. Glad I did, even if taking up that track was traumatic. The part of the layout affected looks way better, and makes more sense.
I'm sure I'll be able to kitba***he industry I had planned to be served by that extra line into something else, if not, there's always Ebay![^]

[Catt]

I live and breathe to KISS.

[Anonymous]

My trackplan has nothing but a spur, a passing siding and 3 hand thrown switches with no signals, is that simple enough?

[Jetrock]

Simple is right!! One-cab control, no blocks (power routing switches), Code 100 Atlas track with Peco switches mounted directly to a solid MDF base. Of course, from the track up it gets more complicated--most of my track is in-street trackwork, which means lots of careful filing and adjustment to keep derailments to a minimum, and eventually (a day I'm putting off) it will be time to run trolley wire above that nice, simple track. Keeping trolley wire simple is almost a contradiction in terms...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

America put a man on the Moon, and model railroading ain't rocket science!!!

think again! check this link out

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8624

[Don Gibson]

It's K.I.S.S. all the way - Having the right STANDARDS and maintainig them.:

ENGINES that pull smoothly. (No jerky starts and stops).
CARS that ROLL.easily (Good trucks).
TRACK that looks realistic.
TURNOUTS that DON'T Derail things.
WALK ALONG throttles. (Yes!).
MODULAR BENCHWORK that can fit through doorways and be reused

(Unfortunately I've made every mistake along the way) or .
Stupid Is as Stupid does (SI/SD)
.
Engines with Jack rabbit starts.
Talgo trucks and plastic wheels.
Oversized rail.
Cheap Turnouts with oversized flangeways
Stationary throttles and control.
Benchwork that when torn down isn't usable for next layout.

Been there. Done that. (No more!).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson

It's K.I.S.S. all the way - Having the right STANDARDS and maintainig them.:

ENGINES that pull smoothly. (No jerky starts and stops).
CARS that ROLL.easily (Good trucks).
TRACK that looks realistic.
TURNOUTS that DON'T Derail things.
WALK ALONG throttles. (Yes!).
MODULAR BENCHWORK that can fit through doorways and be reused

(Unfortunately I've made every mistake along the way) or .
Stupid Is as Stupid does (SI/SD)
.
Engines with Jack rabbit starts.
Talgo trucks and plastic wheels.
Oversized rail.
Cheap Turnouts with oversized flangeways
Stationary throttles and control.
Benchwork that when torn down isn't usable for next layout.

Been there. Done that. (No more!).

I completed three layoutsand the first one tought me to do it right - their is nothing worse then having a layout that wont run trains. The wiring for all of my switch machines is color coded if you can understand the first one the second one is a piece of cake. I have an incline on my road and if a car wont roll to a marked spot I find out why and fix it. Now remember that the train room is a fun room so that car may be three weeks getting fixed but it's in the box with the others. I'm not a fanatic I just work on what I want to fix and don't worry about the rest. It took me three weeks of thinking and 4 hours of labor to wire 70' of track on one side of my layout but when I was done it is going to be simple to trouble shoot. Anyone who thinks that the layout isn't going to have problems is not in the real world so make it easy to find a problem.

Power routing turnouts are no big thing as long as you do all of them the same way with the same color wire. On my layout, green is the frog wire, black is the inside rail, red is the outside rail, orange and blue are the control wires. I use lots of terminal blocks so I can isolate a problem very quickly and easily. I souldn't say quickly because I've had some problems a while untill I felt like messing with it.

Have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY

Bob

[der5997]

Ah! flyingscot, but did you hand lay the track on hand whittled ties made from real railroad tie lumber, scratch build the turnouts for the spur and passing siding to personally reasearched prototypical proportions, design your handthrows to work exactly like those on the prototype you meticulously follow? One person's brief may not be another person's simple! [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by der5997

Ah! flyingscot, but did you hand lay the track on hand whittled ties made from real railroad tie lumber, scratch build the turnouts for the spur and passing siding to personally reasearched prototypical proportions, design your handthrows to work exactly like those on the prototype you meticulously follow? One person's brief may not be another person's simple! [:D]

No, it's all Micro Engineering codes 70 and 55 laid on AMI roadbed... although the prospect of handlaying track seems quite attractive.
(and I forgot, I don't use DCC)

[FJ and G]

Never kissed a model train but hugged some and went to bed with a few.

[Don Gibson]

QUOTE: Originally posted by FJ and G

Never kissed a model train but hugged some and went to bed with a few.

FJ&G:
I think you are putting new meaning into the word 'Ho"