Hi all this is my 1st time on this and I am fixin on building my very 1st ho scale layout there is only 1 hitch I cant have anything over a 4x8 foot layout so my 1st question is well is this enough space for an ho scale? and then the next is I need to find some kinda plans to help me get some idea what I can put in that space. any help would be great
Mike
BTW I tend to ask alot of questions so bear with me
Mike,
First off, to the forum! Good to have you aboard!
Yes, you can do quite a bit with a 4 x 8'. I'm also new to the hobby myself (<3 years) and started my first HO layout as a standard 4 x 8'. For me, this is a learning layout - with the hopes of either adding onto or completely revising as an around-the-wall layout. (If you'd like to see my track plan and pictures of my layout, click on the link at the bottom of this post. It's still a work in progress.)
Mike, just a few questions for you to mull over and contemplate:
Mike, I would encourage you to NOT try and cram as much as you can in the space that you have. Build your bench work and get even a simple track plan up and going - even if you don't use that plan ultimately. If you have an idea of the type of industries that you'd like to include on your layout, that will help you come up with a layout more quickly.
Chip Engelmann (aka spacemouse) has a nice beginner's primer on his website that might be handy for your to read:
Beginner's Guide to Layout Design
Anyway, Mike, hope that's a help in some way. Please come back and visit us often.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
First of all look down the list for another post looking for 4 x 8 help. There's a lot of work gone into that thread and it would save a lot of work not to have to duplicate it.
Are you sure you have only 4 x 8? A table layout needs room to walk around, such that the space it really takes up is 9 x 11. Could you make a 9 x 11 layout with the walkaround space in the middle--like a U.
Read my beginner's guide to get an idea of things you should be thinking about--it's in my signature line.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
thank you for the post ok so now to the questions you asked me I am going to model in present day mabey as far back to the 80's but not much further back in time. next I want both continuous and switching so I was thinking about a freight yard if I got room and I do like industry as well mostly agriculture and coal is what I was thinking. I was also thinking about a farming scene. and mabey if I can fit it in I would like to have a small town to take my goods to. I want to run DCC, now on that note I have a question If I have a DCC setup and have non dcc locos will they still work with that power pack? I will be running diesel loco's.
thanks again
tstage wrote: Mike, First off, to the forum! Good to have you aboard! Secondly, Yes, you can do quite a bit with a 4 x 8'. I'm also new to the hobby myself (<3 years) and started my first HO layout as a standard 4 x 8'. For me, this is a learning layout - with the hopes of either adding onto, or completely revising as an around-the-wall layout. Mike, just a few questions for you to mull over and contemplate: What road(s) and era do you want to model? I'm modeling the New York Central in the early 40s. Do you want continuous action? Switching? Or, both? I have both on my layout.Do you have any industries that interest you, or that you would like to include on your layout? (Ex. grain, mining, logging, etc.) My layout includes a freight stop and small steam/diesel fueling facility. Do you want to run your trains using DC (analog) or DCC (Digital Command Control)? Simply put, with DC you control your track, which controls your trains. With DCC, you control each locomotive individually - no matter what the other trains on the same track are doing. Mike, I would encourage you to NOT try and cram as much as you can in the space that you have. Build your bench work and get even a simple track plan up and going - even if you don't use that plan ultimately. If you'd like to see my track plan and pictures of my layout, click on the link at the bottom of this post. It's still a work in progress. Tom
Secondly, Yes, you can do quite a bit with a 4 x 8'. I'm also new to the hobby myself (<3 years) and started my first HO layout as a standard 4 x 8'. For me, this is a learning layout - with the hopes of either adding onto, or completely revising as an around-the-wall layout.
Hi thanks for posting I will look at the posts. yes I unfortunatley only have room for a 4x8 layout. I live in a mobile home and space is very limited
SpaceMouse wrote: First of all look down the list for another post looking for 4 x 8 help. There's a lot of work gone into that thread and it would save a lot of work not to have to duplicate it. Are you sure you have only 4 x 8? A table layout needs room to walk around, such that the space it really takes up is 9 x 11. Could you make a 9 x 11 layout with the walkaround space in the middle--like a U. Read my beginner's guide to get an idea of things you should be thinking about--it's in my signature line.
firefighter1811 wrote:thank you for the post ok so now to the questions you asked me I am going to model in present day mabey as far back to the 80's but not much further back in time. next I want both continuous and switching so I was thinking about a freight yard if I got room and I do like industry as well mostly agriculture and coal is what I was thinking. I was also thinking about a farming scene. and mabey if I can fit it in I would like to have a small town to take my goods to. I want to run DCC, now on that note I have a question If I have a DCC setup and have non dcc locos will they still work with that power pack? I will be running diesel loco's.thanks againMike
Great! So, you've already started to think about some of those things.
Most* DCC systems will allow you to run one (1) DC or non decoder-equipped locomotive on your layout. (*NCE and MRC are the two exceptions.) However, when you run a DC locomotive on a DCC layout, your DC locomotive will emit a very annoying "squeal" or buzz. It's not harmful to your motor but the noise does get old after a while. Ideally, it's best to operate locomotives on a DCC system that have decoders installed into them.
Mike, if you are thinking about DCC and still want to run DC locomotives on a occasion, you may want to consider the Digitrax Zephyr. It's a terrific starter set and has some very nice features to it. It's also very expandible, just in case your 4 x 8 happens to go through a "growth spurt". I have the NCE Power Cab and like it very much. The lack of ability to run DC locomotives with the Power Cab is not that big of a deal for me.
Every DCC system has it's pros and cons; it's pluses and minuses. Look around and study all the systems to see which one is going to have the features that will be meet YOUR needs.
You've gotten some good advice already. I'd just add that maybe you ought to reconcider what can be done in the space that a 4x8 REALLY occupies. See this link: http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html
Did you read this thread - http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/990474/ShowPost.aspx?
Do you realize that a 4x8 in HO scales out to 348 ft by 696 ft in real life?
Do you realize that modern container stack cars or auto carrier cars or passenger cars are commonly 80-90 ft long? How many of those will fit in the long dimension of a 4x8, without even allowing room for the turn back curves for a continuous run? That's right, about 8. Take out the turnback curve areas and you have room for 4 or less in a train.
Do you realize that a modern mainline diesel is also about 80 ft long? And that while some of the models of these locomotives will go around 18" radius curves, very few can stay coupled to another 80-90 ft car, and have everything stay on the track on those curves.
Given your stated givens and druthers, I honestly believe you would achieve a lot more of your vision, and be happier, in N scale. And this is from a guy who prefers the larger scales, and would never consider anything smaller than HO. HO, a 4x8, and modeling modern bigtime railroading are pretty incompatible.
just my thought, it's your layout and your choices
Fred W
hey mike !
welcome
yes, to your first question aslong as you can walk around it. i would go to the atlas website. they have plans for very basic model railroads. my personnel opion would be to use dc (mrc powerpack) on somthing so small. my first railroad was a 4x8 with a passing siding and a couple spurs to switch cars on. if you have not bought anything, since space is limited maybe you should think N gauge. i would think you could besomething quite nice ona 4x8, or even a hollow interior door.
hope this helps
ray
Here is my 4 x 8
fwright wrote:MikeDid you read this thread - http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/990474/ShowPost.aspx?Do you realize that a 4x8 in HO scales out to 348 ft by 696 ft in real life?Do you realize that modern container stack cars or auto carrier cars or passenger cars are commonly 80-90 ft long? How many of those will fit in the long dimension of a 4x8, without even allowing room for the turn back curves for a continuous run? That's right, about 8. Take out the turnback curve areas and you have room for 4 or less in a train. Do you realize that a modern mainline diesel is also about 80 ft long? And that while some of the models of these locomotives will go around 18" radius curves, very few can stay coupled to another 80-90 ft car, and have everything stay on the track on those curves.Given your stated givens and druthers, I honestly believe you would achieve a lot more of your vision, and be happier, in N scale. And this is from a guy who prefers the larger scales, and would never consider anything smaller than HO. HO, a 4x8, and modeling modern bigtime railroading are pretty incompatible.just my thought, it's your layout and your choicesFred W
I think I was a little harsh. I was trying to point out the reality that full HO scale models of the big long cars and engines don't work very well on a 4x8 layout. What I failed to do was present a positive alternative.
There are many fine 4x8s in HO; I've never had anything bigger myself. But the limitations need to be recognized for the layout to be satisfying for you for more than a couple of months.
If you can live with shorter and older locomotives - 8 wheel diesels that would be found even today on branch and short lines - and the shorter cars (50ft and less), you can do a nice layout in 4x8. The current project layout that started in the January 2007 Model Railroader is but one example. The NMRA Gateway layouts referred into another post are also good layouts. Finally, Atlas (http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/index.htm) has several simpler designs that will also fit a 4x8. One of my favorites is the Atlas Plywood Summit Lines - number HO-10033.
The whole point is to have fun; welcome to the World's Greatest Hobby!
Place the layout on casters and you can shove it against a wall. This saves a great deal of space for other uses. When you need to work on the far side you can easily move it away from the wall. A backdrop can be attached to the wall for the appearance of depth.
Jim
cool thanks tom for the info