Layouts and layout building

My family and I are going to be begin making our first layout this weekend, and we were wondering what you use for the ground. They say painting the wood but I think that will look ugly. Another question is what do you use for track bed, I want to use like really small gravel to make look real, will that work or not?
Last question(atlest for now ) Since we plan on running to loco's at once do you need a controller made for 2 trains or just 1.

boyman wrote:

My family and I are going to be begin making our first layout this weekend, and we were wondering what you use for the ground. They say painting the wood but I think that will look ugly.

Start by painting the ground a neutral tan color then add scenery on top of the paint.  Ground foam can be added on top of the wet paint so no glue is needed.  Use a variety of colors and textures to model reality. 

boyman wrote:

Another question is what do you use for track bed, I want to use like really small gravel to make look real, will that work or not?

If you can find sand that is fine enough and the right color for the ballast you can use it.  Otherwise go to the hobby shop and check out the ballast available.  Remember to bake real dirt in the oven to kill anything organic that might be growing in the gravel or dirt. 

boyman wrote:

Last question(atlest for now ) Since we plan on running to loco's at once do you need a controller made for 2 trains or just 1.

If you are planning on running two loco's at once you will need to go with DCC, a dual cab DC pack or with two powerpacks.  Also you will want to divide the layout into isolated blocks to allow the loco's to operate individually from pack A or B,depending.  You may want to invest in a book on wiring or check out the local library for one.

BlueHillsCPR wrote:

boyman wrote: Another question is what do you use for track bed, I want to use like really small gravel to make look real, will that work or not? If you can find sand that is fine enough and the right color for the ballast you can use it.  Otherwise go to the hobby shop and check out the ballast available.  Remember to bake real dirt in the oven to kill anything organic that might be growing in the gravel or dirt.

Also, if you use real dirt or sand, test with a magnet to see if there are magnetic particles.  If there are, don't use the material.

You're probably best using stuff from the hobby shop at this stage.

boyman wrote:

Last question(atlest for now ) Since we plan on running to loco's at once do you need a controller made for 2 trains or just 1.

In my experience, a two-throttle power pack is not terribly useful.  There really is not enough room for two people to run trains at the same time.  Get two single-throttle power packs, and put one at each end of the layout.

Definitely get a book that outlines simple model railroad wiring for two train control.  While it's not rocket science, it's not as simple as hooking up two power packs to a loop of track.

I'm sitting out the DCC revolution, so others will have to tell you how to start with that.  My only comment here is, that if it looks like model railroading and DCC are for you, get started in DCC now.

Ok, I guess we are going to go with DCC. Also I found some stuff for the land here's a link...HERE

Im wondering if it's any good. 

Here's a couple links for scenery you might find useful.
http://www.woodlandscenics.com/
That one has some "how to" instructions on it.
http://www.scenicexpress.com/
That one has more scenery. Check out the roadbed and ballast section. The little gravel you refer to is called ballast.

Some of the pretty basic questions your asking leads me to suggest doing some more research before jumping into things this weekend. The more pre-planning and research you do, the fewer problems you'll have to correct later.

loathar wrote:

Some of the pretty basic questions your asking leads me to suggest doing some more research before jumping into things this weekend. The more pre-planning and research you do, the fewer problems you'll have to correct later.

I have to agree with loathar...while I encourage the pioneer spirit in the hobby you might want to research a bit more before starting out this weekend.

boyman wrote:

Ok, I guess we are going to go with DCC. Also I found some stuff for the land here's a link...HERE Im wondering if it's any good.

If you are using foam you may find building supply outlets to be a better deal.  The best to use is the blue or pink extruded foam.  NOT the white beaded stuff.  It is much harder to work with, messy and not as durable IMO. 

Boyman, I'm in the same boat as you dude.... I'm just gettin started as well. I found cork roadbed is pretty good, although I have yet to lay any...

Are you moddeling off of an existing line? Or you just gonna put some track together, and run trains?

And Xbox is good but ps3 is better (im kidding, way more games for 360)

   Wel'givens and drutherscome,

Before you even begin to worry about ballast, you must first "Dream-Plan-Build" What are the basic  "givens and druthers".  What scale is this layout fgoing to be ? O - Ho or N scale. What total area is the room, or proposed layout size.  What is to be the trackage plan ?  What era do you propose to represent ? Are you planning a "freelance", or a "prototype" layout. If you are going to go for DCC, the initial outlay will be in the neighborhood of $500 for even the basic Digitrax Zephyr, (which will provide you with enough options).  Research your proposed  layout plans, scenery, and  DCC wiring, etc. books that are available at your local hobby shop (LHS). Your choice of benchwork and base for the track roadbed must be well planned, before you even think of buying track, turnouts (switches), wiring, blocking, etc.,etc! Get advice from the Forum dealing with DCC questions, and many excellent books on DCC.  If you buy locomotives, be sure that they are DCC Equipped 

Many modelers use  2 inch insulation on top of  sturdy framed benchwork with a plywood top. I personally use 5/8" plywood top with cutout ravines and scraps of styrofoam ceiling tile stacked to give low contour landscape, and have used reinforced plywood arcs, covered with heavy wire window screening and then applied Hydocal Sculting Plaster. Many use webs of plaster cloth or plaster covered paper strips to build up mountains, or stacked sections of insulation board, that is sculpted into the contours of hills. I suggest that you se Nickkel-Silver Flextrack, tacked to a cork roadbed. The ballasting is your last concern. The main point, is to start with a plan and start "small".  I planned my own around the room 24'x24' garage loft layout (with an inside stairway), as a simple double loop, but had a detailled plan of what eventually expanded to an around the room layout. Do a lot of research, before you buy anything.  Bob

Ground goop -Low Sassi has a fancy formula. Poeple say it works

I use a simple formula:

Pre mixed dry wall seam compound - I get mine in a bucket at Menards

some cheap latex wall paint - colored to suit you taste. I use black for Minnesota farm country, light tan for Arizona.

Saw dust - I use everything but the stuff from the plainer.

a couple drops of lysol to kill the mold in the saw dust.

Enough water to get the consistancy I want.  For flat places add a little water. for some small hills and such, no water. It will stack up some.

Put it on withan old paint bruch, no talent required.

Add Woodland scenics ground foam in a variety of colors while still wet.

You store the unused goop in any air tight container for months.

Actually, we've been planning on doing this for a about a year, but now were actually getting into it... I've done a little research, but not much and I'm going to read SpaceMouse's guide as soon as I'm doing writing this. We're doing a 4x6 HO scale layout in area probably about 7½-8 x 9-10.

Edit- One more thing I forgot to say, I think were going to be doing a more modern theme with only desiel loco's. 

Boyman,

Saturday morning go to Lowes or HD and: 

1. Get a piece of plywood big enough to hold the track you have. $25
   
2. Get a quart of umber color latex house paint at the lumber yard and paint the plywood. $8
3. Get a tube of clear latex caulk to 'glue' the track to the plywood. $3
4. Drop by the hobby shop and get a simple DCC outfit that will run a few trains. $50 - $500
   
5. Run the trains and have fun.
6. While the train is running, think about where you want some roads and buildings.
7. Get some dark gray paint to paint the roads.
8. Build a building or two and make a couple of trees.
9. When you get done, you'll have had a lot of fun and you'll know what you want to do next.

Or, you can spend the next 3 months reading forums, fiddling with xtrakcad software, arguing about whether you want to build old steam or new modern diesels. 

Just go for it.  So you waste 50 bucks, pretend it was gasoline and have a good time.  You'll learn alot, quickly and most everything you by and use can be recycled in the next layout except for the paint and the glue. Use glue (caulk) SPARINGLY.

Just my 2 cents,

Joe 

Arthill...

That sounds like some amazing goop! I have to try that if I get a chance this weekend!

Thanks!

alexP