skippygp,
Hope to have you and your grandson with us for the fun. My husband and I used our dining room table until we got our track up and running. We still have that track in a box.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
I do not suffer from insanity...I enjoy every minute of it!!! Over 60 and still playing with toys!
LadyT, Have not heard from you in a few days. How are you coming on your layout design?
--Zak Gardner
My Layout Blog: http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com
http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net
VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW
ajelms wrote: I would like to do a mock-up on the computer first. Any good sites out there for that sort of thing?
I would like to do a mock-up on the computer first. Any good sites out there for that sort of thing?
We used 3rd PlanIt. You can do practice runs with you loco. The track was right on.
Welcome to you, Lady Trains
Great to know that you work for the prototype in a challenging career position.
Can you tell us which state you're in and the road you work for? This can be helpful if you're looking for hobbyshops or modelrailroad clubs you'd consider visiting. I'm in the Tampa Bay area.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I have quite a bit of room (unfinished family room in basement) so I can kind of go crazy.
And I have a pretty well equipped woodworking room. So like I was saying I hope to do as much from scratch as I can.
I would like to do a late fall country scene that moves into a small town set up. Hills and a sky backdrop, frosty early morning type of thing.
Albert, Have you completed your design? How large is your train room? The planning stage is half the fun.
Hi,
I am also new to model trains.
I got a couple of the President's Choice sets over Christmas(http://www.theweebsite.com/trains/pctrain_s.html ), and have been down to the local hobby shop adding on pieces. (http://www.maritimehobbies.com/ )
My engines are:
4-6-4 Class K-5-A Hudson Steam Engine & Vanderbilt Tender CN 5702
2-10-2 "Big 10", T-2-A Santa-Fe Steam Engine & Vanderbilt Tender CN 4100
They both are 1930-1940 era, so I am trying to keep to appropriate add on-ons.
I hope to start my layout soon. I would like to do something fairly large, perhaps using a couple of 4' by 8' sheets of plywood so I can have a countryside setting that eases into a town. I would like to have it fairly hilly, so I can perhaps do a tressel or bridge.
I am reasonably good with tools, so I hope to do as much of the work from scratch
I have some books and magazines and the hobby shop loaned me some videos on getting my scenery started. I bought a compressor and airbrush. Now I am just have to bide my time until my week off in early February. I can't wait to get started !
Albert
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
LadyT, Did I miss your scanned layout design?
amsr wrote:I live in Ann Arbor and I have found the hobby shop "Michigan Model Trains" to be very helpful. They have lots of HO and O scale stuff and they are very knowledgable. They are near Portage lake. Not sure how far that is from you, its about 20 minutes from me in Ann Arbor.
ft-fan wrote: Lady Trains wrote:The side of the basement I'm using is 11x25, I would like the intire basement but, my husband will go "nuts". Your display is beautiful. I fould a nice track layout, I'll scan it and email it to you. Let me know what you think, I need all the help I can get. Are you in Michigan?If, instead of emailing it to one person, you post it on this forum, you will get lots of helpful advice from several people. Check out the Layouts forum here http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/11/ShowForum.aspx.FT
Lady Trains wrote:The side of the basement I'm using is 11x25, I would like the intire basement but, my husband will go "nuts". Your display is beautiful. I fould a nice track layout, I'll scan it and email it to you. Let me know what you think, I need all the help I can get. Are you in Michigan?
If, instead of emailing it to one person, you post it on this forum, you will get lots of helpful advice from several people. Check out the Layouts forum here http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/11/ShowForum.aspx.
FT
LadyT, That is a great idea. One person's advice is good, but the advice of many is better. That is the great thing about this forum.
Greetings Friends,
Anyone know of any HO Train Clubs in the Metro Detroit Area?
Thanks,
Lady Trains
gear-jammer wrote: LadyT, Size and shape is entirely up to the designer. How large is you basement? Using the outside walls is always a good idea. If you only have 2-3 feet to reach it will be easy to maintain. You can also paint a backdrop if you choose. We used 2 x 4 construction with the idea that we could walk on it. There will be one area that we will not have access to when it is completed. We did 12' x 13' wrap around with a peninsula.If the LHS is going out of business, maybe they will have some hot deals.Sue
LadyT, Size and shape is entirely up to the designer. How large is you basement? Using the outside walls is always a good idea. If you only have 2-3 feet to reach it will be easy to maintain. You can also paint a backdrop if you choose.
We used 2 x 4 construction with the idea that we could walk on it. There will be one area that we will not have access to when it is completed. We did 12' x 13' wrap around with a peninsula.
If the LHS is going out of business, maybe they will have some hot deals.
tcf511 wrote:Welcome to the forum! I would recommend trying to find a local train club especially if they have their own layout or do modules. Reading and research are very important but I'm on hands on kind of guy and see things done up close and personal (or assisting) is important to me. Most clubs welcome new members with open arms.
Tim Fahey
Musconetcong Branch of the Lehigh Valley RR
Hello railroad friends,
Does anyone live in the Metro Detroit area, know of a REAL GOOD Hobbie shop? just found out TODAY Riders Hobby shop (in Madison Heights are going out of business) This is a real tragedy.
ramoutandabout wrote: welcome !! maybe you acan find someone off the site that lives close and woould be willing to give you a hand building bench work. ray
welcome !! maybe you acan find someone off the site that lives close and woould be willing to give you a hand building bench work.
ray
MisterBeasley wrote: Welcome aboard. Maybe your passenger interest would allow you to be drawn to the Dark Side, the underground of MR, subways? I wuz born in Brooklyn, New Yawk, and I growed up on Long Gisland, so that's what's I growed up with.
Welcome aboard. Maybe your passenger interest would allow you to be drawn to the Dark Side, the underground of MR, subways? I wuz born in Brooklyn, New Yawk, and I growed up on Long Gisland, so that's what's I growed up with.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
andrechapelon wrote: gear-jammer wrote: LadyT, 6 X 10 is a great size but remember that access in the center could be difficult. If you won't need to access the center, finish it first. We cut holes from the bottom in case of derailments in tunnels.I like the geodesic foam hardshell and rocks/ molds from http://www.bragdonent.com/ because it is light and realistic. If it sets up on you too fast, just heat it with a hairdryer to reshape it. It may seem spendy, but I have found it to be about the same as foam/plaster cloth.Use cardboard strips to shape.Do hard shell then cover with rocksAlso a digital camera is great to share.SueExtending what Sue has said, you also might want to consider doing an around the walls layout. The problem with island (i.e. table) type layouts is that so much of the room space is occupied with an access aisle. A 6x10 layout with one 6 foot end against a wall and 2 foot wide access aisles needs a 10x12 room minimum. Furthermore, the room is unuseable for anything else. If, instead, we use those two foot aisles for for the bench layout and leave the center open, you can build what is essentially a 10x12 foot layout, leaving a 6x8 open area in the center. Built high enough as a shelf layout, most of the room could be useable (i.e. it could be used as a spare bedroom as well as a layout room.Building an around the walls layout has another advantage in that you are standin INSIDE the curves. Looking at a train going around a curve from the inside makes the curve look like it's a larger radius than it actually is. Although the site I'm about to link talks about 4x8 layouts, any layout that's essentially big table occupies a lot of room space. I also has a lot of area in the middle that's hard to reach. Link: http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.htmlCheck out Lance Mindheim's site for some more ideas. I'm not shilling for his layout design business, but the photo galleries might help you get some ideas. Lance's site: http://www.shelflayouts.com/And then there's Blair Kooistra's site. http://www.wwvrailway.com/. Kooistra's layout is a shelf type switching layout with no provision for continuous running. Kooistra's old WWV layout plan: http://www.wwvrailway.com/images/WWV%20plan%20with%20labels.JPG . He's building a new one. Hope some of this helps.ANdre
gear-jammer wrote: LadyT, 6 X 10 is a great size but remember that access in the center could be difficult. If you won't need to access the center, finish it first. We cut holes from the bottom in case of derailments in tunnels.I like the geodesic foam hardshell and rocks/ molds from http://www.bragdonent.com/ because it is light and realistic. If it sets up on you too fast, just heat it with a hairdryer to reshape it. It may seem spendy, but I have found it to be about the same as foam/plaster cloth.Use cardboard strips to shape.Do hard shell then cover with rocksAlso a digital camera is great to share.Sue
LadyT, 6 X 10 is a great size but remember that access in the center could be difficult. If you won't need to access the center, finish it first. We cut holes from the bottom in case of derailments in tunnels.
I like the geodesic foam hardshell and rocks/ molds from http://www.bragdonent.com/ because it is light and realistic. If it sets up on you too fast, just heat it with a hairdryer to reshape it. It may seem spendy, but I have found it to be about the same as foam/plaster cloth.
Use cardboard strips to shape.
Do hard shell then cover with rocks
Also a digital camera is great to share.
Extending what Sue has said, you also might want to consider doing an around the walls layout. The problem with island (i.e. table) type layouts is that so much of the room space is occupied with an access aisle. A 6x10 layout with one 6 foot end against a wall and 2 foot wide access aisles needs a 10x12 room minimum. Furthermore, the room is unuseable for anything else. If, instead, we use those two foot aisles for for the bench layout and leave the center open, you can build what is essentially a 10x12 foot layout, leaving a 6x8 open area in the center. Built high enough as a shelf layout, most of the room could be useable (i.e. it could be used as a spare bedroom as well as a layout room.
Building an around the walls layout has another advantage in that you are standin INSIDE the curves. Looking at a train going around a curve from the inside makes the curve look like it's a larger radius than it actually is.
Although the site I'm about to link talks about 4x8 layouts, any layout that's essentially big table occupies a lot of room space. I also has a lot of area in the middle that's hard to reach. Link: http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html
Check out Lance Mindheim's site for some more ideas. I'm not shilling for his layout design business, but the photo galleries might help you get some ideas. Lance's site: http://www.shelflayouts.com/
And then there's Blair Kooistra's site. http://www.wwvrailway.com/. Kooistra's layout is a shelf type switching layout with no provision for continuous running. Kooistra's old WWV layout plan: http://www.wwvrailway.com/images/WWV%20plan%20with%20labels.JPG . He's building a new one.
Hope some of this helps.
ANdre
gear-jammer wrote: LadyT, 6 X 10 is a great size but remember that access in the center could be difficult. If you won't need to access the center, finish it first. We cut holes from the bottom in case of derailments in tunnels.I like the geodesic foam hardshell and rocks/ molds from www.bragdonent.com because it is light and realistic. If it sets up on you too fast, just heat it with a hairdryer to reshape it. It may seem spendy, but I have found it to be about the same as foam/plaster cloth.Use cardboard strips to shape.Do hard shell then cover with rocksAlso a digital camera is great to share.Sue
I like the geodesic foam hardshell and rocks/ molds from www.bragdonent.com because it is light and realistic. If it sets up on you too fast, just heat it with a hairdryer to reshape it. It may seem spendy, but I have found it to be about the same as foam/plaster cloth.
andrechapelon wrote: Lady Trains wrote:I was wondering if anyone can tell me if you can purchase pre-fab benchwork? I'm not very good at working with wood and I don't have the tools and equipment to build my own.You might try here: http://www.miannebenchwork.com/ . It comes pre-cut and is screwdriver assembly.There's another place, too, but I can't recall its name.Edit:Just remembered. It's Sievers. Here's their website: http://www.sieversbenchwork.com/Andre
Lady Trains wrote:I was wondering if anyone can tell me if you can purchase pre-fab benchwork? I'm not very good at working with wood and I don't have the tools and equipment to build my own.
You might try here: http://www.miannebenchwork.com/ . It comes pre-cut and is screwdriver assembly.
There's another place, too, but I can't recall its name.
Edit:
Just remembered. It's Sievers. Here's their website: http://www.sieversbenchwork.com/
Andre
Dave Vollmer wrote: Lady Trains wrote:I was wondering if anyone can tell me if you can purchase pre-fab benchwork? I'm not very good at working with wood and I don't have the tools and equipment to build my own.There are some custom builders out there that will build your benchwork for you, but that can be pricey... A nice alternative is the Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail system. As far as I know (I haven't tried it myself), everything's pre-cut. You just need to put it together.Good luck and welcome!
There are some custom builders out there that will build your benchwork for you, but that can be pricey... A nice alternative is the Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail system. As far as I know (I haven't tried it myself), everything's pre-cut. You just need to put it together.
Good luck and welcome!