hi,
he also stated he has a 8x4 workbench, i am pretty sure, i've never seen one like that. My family have been been building piano's for a living, grandpiano's too; all work benches were about 24" wide.
I might be wrong of course, but any time i hear talking about a 8 x 4 with no alternatives, i just heard it to many times.
BTW take a (snap) trackplan, do your home work and you'll know the costs.
Smile
Paul
Paulus Jas hi, you guys are amazing me. The OP started by asking a money question, and most responses are answering just that. May be a debate first about his idea of having an "one day stand" would be better. Building a few permanent sections that can be joined on his table, stored temporarily elsewhere when not in use, could be an idea too; a 8 x 4 table for a work-bench seems a bit large. Ten switches, track, two engines, cars etc can easily add up. Power packs and scenery are needed as well. Sebastian Coleman's 500 dollar layout was and is a prime example. Only by going cheap he was able to achieve that aim. Look e.g.at the prizes of some "craft-man's kits". You'll find his layout in 102 Realistic Track Plans published by our host. (not available ATM if i am right) Smile Paul
you guys are amazing me. The OP started by asking a money question, and most responses are answering just that. May be a debate first about his idea of having an "one day stand" would be better.
Building a few permanent sections that can be joined on his table, stored temporarily elsewhere when not in use, could be an idea too; a 8 x 4 table for a work-bench seems a bit large.
Ten switches, track, two engines, cars etc can easily add up. Power packs and scenery are needed as well. Sebastian Coleman's 500 dollar layout was and is a prime example. Only by going cheap he was able to achieve that aim. Look e.g.at the prizes of some "craft-man's kits". You'll find his layout in 102 Realistic Track Plans published by our host. (not available ATM if i am right)
Are you saying we did good or bad? I took your statement as we did bad.
We answered his money questions and that is because the OP ASKED about money needed to start a layout, and states that the table he will use is a table used for other things as well. SO, we answered his money questions....I notice that you do not offer ANY form of monetary values in YOUR answer, except to refer to someone else's figure. I even provided links to a supplier where he can easily shop around now knowing what to look for.
Second, he did not ask about a more permenant situation as you seem to allude to here. He may NOT have a place to "temporarily store elsewhere" a whole layout or even a few modules as you suggest. He didn't ask about modules. And he stated that he had a 4x8 table to work on, whether you think it "seems a bit large" or not. The work bench could very easily be 4x8, designed for another purpose entirely. He may really only have a "one day setup" that has to come down every day,or frequently, so your idea to steer him in another direction would be moot.
And lastly, as jwhitten {?} points out, when are such discussion ever practical on here? {I think he took your statement as "we did bad" too, I could be wrong}. We may tend to veer off course when we answer a question, and input our own ideas into our answers, but often that may lead to other questions the OP may want to post, OR they may learn something they didn't even ask for. They may also not heed anything we say at all.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Since when have discussions around here ever been practical !?!?!
John
CSX17 hey guy's i am wanting to get back into thsi hobby have a question how much would i have invested into doing a 4x8 layout with 22 inch radius bachman eztrack and there is areason for the eztrack it's gotta be able to be pulled up cause the table isalso a work bench for other stuff but can and will be cleared off for the train's. thank's for the advice. zach.
hey guy's i am wanting to get back into thsi hobby have a question how much would i have invested into doing a 4x8 layout with 22 inch radius bachman eztrack and there is areason for the eztrack it's gotta be able to be pulled up cause the table isalso a work bench for other stuff but can and will be cleared off for the train's. thank's for the advice. zach.
I have to agree that your run-on "sentence" in this "paragraph" makes it hard to understand. Punctuation and capital Letters go a long way in communicating your ideas clearly. BUT we are NOT here to pick on grammar or spelling.
I gather that the table you are going to use is for other things as well, and if it is, then EZ Track {the nickel silver {NS} track on the gray roadbed is a good idea.
Keep in mind that the 22" radius is center-of-track to Center-of-track, NOT the outside edges. You will need more than the 48" wide to be safe from derails causing a train to hit the floor. It will take up about 46" of the 48", leaving only about an inch on either side from the edge of the table. More if that brings the edge of the NS EZ Track is at the edges of the table. Many of us have damaged a loco or destroyed it completely by it falling off the edge of the layout.
The cost for track is not going to be cheap if you go with the NS EZ T, especially if you want a switch or two in there, but you can do nicely with maybe $100 of track. Also EZ T is available here as well, for instance:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=160NSGPC and :
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=160BKNSG
Used equipment can be had for cheap, but if you don't know much about servicing them, you can buy yourself a headache and waste money. Even NEW locos need servicing.
If you go with DCC over DC for loco control, It will cost you more. A good basic DCC system is the Bachmann EZ COmmand DCC system {available here for instance:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=HO&Item=RGBVCW&ID=200401356 } It is simple to use and will operate 9 DCC locos and one DC loco if you want. Bachmann DCC OnBoard Locos are fairly priced around $50 for diesels, more for steam.
If you go with DC power packs, you can get some older ones for cheap maybe on EBay, though I won't shop there. {I prefer to buy new}. Another place to try for both DCC and DC is Train shows. Type in a google search for" train shows" for your state to get a listing. A new one will cost about $40-$60 for a Tech model halfway down the page here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=None&Item=MRCDC Others there appear to be had for cheaper. Give the 2 pages a look-over.
RR cars to be pulled by your loco can be had for about $10-20 {and more} per car for new, depending on the brand and quality. If you just want something to pull, the cheaper will do you fine. If you want more realistic details the more expensive cars go higher in price as do passenger cars.
Complete sets with EZ track in DC can be had here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=HO&Item=160Set , Though the first two sets listed are DCC sets. If you want to go DCC, I would recommend the first train set on the page as it gives you 2 DCC locos to play with. BUT keep in mind that the track needs to be GRAY NS TRACK! those with the BLACK STEEL TRACK SETS AVOID {the steel can rust causing electrical connections to go sour}. Also, Train set RR Car quality is cheap as well, but would give you a complete tain to run. The oval of track MAY NOT fit your table, but are generally made with 18"radius curves.
So there you have a few more ideas and prices.
steinjr CSX17: hey guy's i am wanting to get back into thsi hobby have a question how much would i have invested into doing a 4x8 layout with 22 inch radius bachman eztrack and there is areason for the eztrack it's gotta be able to be pulled up cause the table isalso a work bench for other stuff but can and will be cleared off for the train's. thank's for the advice. zach. Your writing makes it hard to understand your question. What does this part mean : "it's gotta be able to be pulled up cause the table is also a work bench for other stuff" ? Are you saying that you are not really planning to build a layout, but just want some sectional track that you can set up on a table temporarily, and clear away again to use the table for other things? Stein
CSX17: hey guy's i am wanting to get back into thsi hobby have a question how much would i have invested into doing a 4x8 layout with 22 inch radius bachman eztrack and there is areason for the eztrack it's gotta be able to be pulled up cause the table isalso a work bench for other stuff but can and will be cleared off for the train's. thank's for the advice. zach.
Your writing makes it hard to understand your question.
What does this part mean : "it's gotta be able to be pulled up cause the table is also a work bench for other stuff" ?
Are you saying that you are not really planning to build a layout, but just want some sectional track that you can set up on a table temporarily, and clear away again to use the table for other things?
Stein
Stein, I should let the OP speak for himself, but I believe that is exactly what he is saying. He wants to use eztrack for a temporary layout so that he can put it up and take it back down again when he is not using the work bench that it is set up on for other purposes.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain Who can say what the eventual total cost will be? When I started into HO scale 8 years ago, I began with a 12x8 layout (three 4x8 panels) and a projected budget of $2,500 max. Hahahahaha. I now have a 25' x 42' layout in DCC, and I can't tell you how much I have spent to date in case my wife reads this thread. Just get started and see where it leads. Rich
Who can say what the eventual total cost will be?
When I started into HO scale 8 years ago, I began with a 12x8 layout (three 4x8 panels) and a projected budget of $2,500 max. Hahahahaha. I now have a 25' x 42' layout in DCC, and I can't tell you how much I have spent to date in case my wife reads this thread.
Just get started and see where it leads.
Yes, that's true. Model Railroading doesn't cost anywhere near what you might think.... all those folks posting about their purchases elsewhere are just bragging... You know, as I sit here and think about it, I'm quite sure I've only spent maybe $50 or $100 bucks on *everything* (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Heck, I'd wager that Origami is probably ten times more expensive than buying those old HO scale brass locomotives....
selector If you purchase everything new and have a few structures either built-up or kit, and depending on how much rolling stock of which description you purchase, you could go upward of $600 very easily. Second hand stuff will drop that by between 30-60%. What's a sheet of decent 5/8" plywood these days...$35-45 depending on its finish? A well-used modern DC engine of any description is going to be near $20-50, depending on what it is. Cars will go for maybe $2-9 each, used. A DC power pack, used, maybe $20? If this comes via an online site, count on shipping costs. Scenic materials will have to be purchased new unless you scrounge at garage sales or train shows for partial packages. It won't be cheap new....$40 for three or four bags of different ground foam products. EZ-Track, new, runs about $8/track item that isn't a turnout. Triple that, or nearly so, for a turnout. Used will be about 50% off, often more. Shopping is worth the time...it can save you real dollars. Crandell
If you purchase everything new and have a few structures either built-up or kit, and depending on how much rolling stock of which description you purchase, you could go upward of $600 very easily. Second hand stuff will drop that by between 30-60%.
What's a sheet of decent 5/8" plywood these days...$35-45 depending on its finish?
A well-used modern DC engine of any description is going to be near $20-50, depending on what it is.
Cars will go for maybe $2-9 each, used.
A DC power pack, used, maybe $20?
If this comes via an online site, count on shipping costs.
Scenic materials will have to be purchased new unless you scrounge at garage sales or train shows for partial packages. It won't be cheap new....$40 for three or four bags of different ground foam products.
EZ-Track, new, runs about $8/track item that isn't a turnout. Triple that, or nearly so, for a turnout. Used will be about 50% off, often more.
Shopping is worth the time...it can save you real dollars.
Crandell
Crandell and the others are giving you some good information. Let me add one additional tip to what Crandell is saying about buying online...
Whenever I'm looking for stuff-- especially if its for something in particular, and I'm shopping somewhere like Ebay or Amazon, it always pays to look around a bit for your OTHER wanna-get/would-if-I-could items at the same time. If you can find a seller who is selling the main item you want at a price you think is decent *AND* he's got some other stuff you want too-- you can save a boodle on shipping by buying it all together and having him "combine" the purchases into one shipment. Most sellers will do that for you if you ask.
I'm always on the lookout for a variety of things, stuff that I know I'll need even if I'm not ready for it just yet. And I have a list of stuff I'd be willing to buy if I run across it at the right price. So if I find somebody who has some of the side items I'd like to have, I figure if I can combine the sales, that's worth another $10-20 bucks or more of "free" / "found" money that I didn't have to pay someone else for shipping or markup.
Another thing I do is I put "lowball" bids on practically anything I might want. I usually get outbid, but sometimes I get lucky-- you know, the blind squirrel theory... A couple of weeks ago *ALL* my lowball bids came in and I had to dig deep... But on the plus side, I got THREE brass locos (in great shape) two proto 2k diesels, a brand new BLI steamer and a set of brass logging cars all for around $500 bucks... so it was definitely worth it from my perspective.
I am also a big fan of "sniping" on ebay. Which is waiting until the absolute last second and then dropping the biggest amount that I'd be willing to pay all at once in one bid. When I'm sniping I'm aiming to make a purchase and I rarely lose. I think it is the absolute best strategy (apart from "Buy it Now") when you are serious about acquiring the item. On the other hand, when I do lose, I just shrug cause I gave it my best shot and tomorrow there will probably be another one.
You could start with an Atlas Trainman set if you want DC. About $200. (See Atlas site). Then there's the cost of the 4X8 table which can vary a lot depending on materials ($50 - $100+) Make a nice table is you plan to keep it for something else (sewing, crafts, etc.).
With those two things you would be ready to roll.
The sets include Blueprints for Ten True-Track® Layouts layout book.
It's a start and you can be messing around with trains while you do some serious planning.
Have fun,
Jim Murray The San Juan Southern RR
For Scenery material I use dyed sawdust that has been screened through a window screen, so I get two different grades, a fine and coarse grade. You can buy Rit dye at any grocery store or fabric shop for under two dollars. One box of dye can color about one gallon+ of sawdust. This makes good ground cover but you'd probably still want some coarse foam for shrubbery. If you can't fine the colors you want you can mix them to get different shades and different colors. It can also be used to add leafage to trees. You can apply it just like any other ground cover. Spray with alcohol/water mix then diluted white glue. Works great and saves bookoo's of money.
That all depend on what you want your layout to do. Since it sound like it's not going to be a permanent layout it's hard to suggest A dollar amount without more information. Someone recently discussed spending $500.00 on a 4'X8' layout, but I believe that entailed a lot of detail. Also are you going to be operating DC or DCC? The cost will be more with DCC.