Hi everyone!
I am interested and ready to start creating my first N scale layout. It will measure approximately 24 inches by 68 inches and the layout will be put against a wall.
I don't really know where to start because I am a complete beginner in the subject. What I know for sure is that I would like to create a layout from the 1950´s.
For now, I have plenty of time to allow on this project.
I am waiting for your advice on where to start :)
Stéphan
I would urge you to pick up Kalmbach's N Scale Primer as well as a couple other of their soft cover how to books. If not available from Kalmbach, Ebay is usually loaded with them.
These books will last for years, and spending a few bucks on them now could save you a lot in the long run. Trust me on that..........
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Another book, John Armstrong Track Planning for Realistic Operation.
It's a first layout. Somethings will not work out as planned, some will. It is far less painful or expensive as the first marriage. Both are learning experiences.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I found this on pinterest it's a HO 4x8 easily converted in N.
It would look nice as a beginner layout.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Welcme to N scale. I might also suggest on YouTube, Ron's Trains and Things, N Scale Model Railroad How To Channel ( which is an index of most N scale channels ) and a host of others found there dedicated to N scale. Also Kalmbach books has an excellent book that came out not long ago,"Build 3 Model Railroader Project Layouts" that includes their N scale Red Oak layout build from about the time period you are interested in.
Listed in one of the videos that Ron of Ron's Trains N Things, is mistakes people make when starting out. I wish I had seen that one when I was just getting started.
Also here on this very fourm is a combined "hundreds" if not more years of general modeling experence. It's a great time to be in N scale (as well as model railroading in general) because of all the great new locomotives, freight and passenger equipment that has been coming out as well as everything else to help in building a layout.
Also MR did a couple of other N scale projects called Canadian Canyons and The Salt Lake Route. Both are more modern but there is methods and techiques that you can still use.
Finally, you already are starting off down the right path by doing one of the most important things, asking questions!
Hope this helps you,
Ralph
I have just put this book on my ne t buying list; John Armstrong Track Planning for Realistic Operation.
Which other books would you suggest me to buy exactly?
And thanks angelob6660 for the suggestion of layout. I think it would be terrific but I know nothing yet. Would you think it will be ok to have a n scale layout of about 68 inches by 24 inches?
MARTIN STATION Welcme to N scale. I might also suggest on YouTube, Ron's Trains and Things, N Scale Model Railroad How To Channel ( which is an index of most N scale channels ) and a host of others found there dedicated to N scale. Also Kalmbach books has an excellent book that came out not long ago,"Build 3 Model Railroader Project Layouts" that includes their N scale Red Oak layout build from about the time period you are interested in. Listed in one of the videos that Ron of Ron's Trains N Things, is mistakes people make when starting out. I wish I had seen that one when I was just getting started. Also here on this very fourm is a combined "hundreds" if not more years of general modeling experence. It's a great time to be in N scale (as well as model railroading in general) because of all the great new locomotives, freight and passenger equipment that has been coming out as well as everything else to help in building a layout. Also MR did a couple of other N scale projects called Canadian Canyons and The Salt Lake Route. Both are more modern but there is methods and techiques that you can still use. Finally, you already are starting off down the right path by doing one of the most important things, asking questions! Hope this helps you, Ralph
Ah sorry, I don't know why but I didn't see your comment. I have just added the links you just gave me.
I will try to search the book you suggest.
Thank you very much :)
You're welcome. Also another book I forgot to mention is Model Railroader's "Getting Started in Model Railroading" which gives a great overview of everything.
xploringrailroads I have just put this book on my ne t buying list; John Armstrong Track Planning for Realistic Operation. Which other books would you suggest me to buy exactly? And thanks angelob6660 for the suggestion of layout. I think it would be terrific but I know nothing yet. Would you think it will be ok to have a n scale layout of about 68 inches by 24 inches?
Finally, I found a larger place for my layout. I have enough room to have a 78 inches by 36 inches N scale layout.
xploringrailroads Finally, I found a larger place for my layout. I have enough room to have a 78 inches by 36 inches N scale layout.
'Loads of room there'.
My Sovereign Street section is HO/00 gauge 48 inches by 18 inches.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
As a track plan, might I suggest using Google Maps and Historicaerials.com to look at the Ventura County Railroad. Yes, it would require some compression and simplification to fit on a 78" by 36" layout but it offers so much in so little space on a prototypical loop of track. A compact deep water harbor, a Navy Construction Battalion base, an interchange with a Class 1 railroad and lots of other industrial switching. A 50's era version could reflect lots of military shipping in the harbor as well as a high level of activity on the base during the Korean War. Check it out!
Hornblower
I built a 32x80 layout on a hollow core door. It is twice around over and under with a max 13.75" radius. I can easily run a heavy mountain and 6 axle diesels.
Be sure to allow for access on the far side at least during construction.
CN Charlie
I am with a small train club doing Flyer S-gauge and 3-rail O-gauge. We have a quasi-modular portable layout, but I have run exhibits by putting down a fabric table covering and setting up the Lionel roadbed track to run some trains, with scenery consisting of a few structures and automobile models.
I have been thinking about acquiring N-scale models of some of the modern passenger trains of the 3'6" gauge in Japan as being visually interesting and unique in their styling, but these models are hard to come by in the US. Were I to exhibit such models, I would might use the Kato roadbed track.
Take a look at the Kato modular track-based T-Track modular system.
A Brief Survey of N-Scale Modular Model Railroading - Model Buildings
You could set up your T-Track modules on a table in that space, and you could take your modules and exhibit at a local train show (when we we are past the virus situation)? Or you might meet up with other T-Track N-gaugers and exhibit a larger layout?
An idea to get to the point of running trains without committing to a set track plan until you figure out what you like or don't like?
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Paul
I use the Kato Unitrack for my layout and it works great. It's made to insure a solid electrical connection when snapping each section together and when switches are closed on a siding or turnout, that section of track becomes dead unless you wire around it. This means you can pull a train into a siding close the turnouts and that train is now without power until the turnouts are reopened. If you are running DC and not DCC like me, this is great. I can pull a train into a siding and close the turnouts and then bring another from the yard by openning another turnout.
This makes things simple on a small layout when it comes to running two trains at once without any extra wiring or switches.
I have ridden passenger trains in Japan and it's a great experience. They are ALWAYS on time. They take great pride in their ability to stay on schedule and their rail network makes it easy to travel around the country. I purchased a ED75 locomotive while there and my daughter brought me back some subway cars from her travel there. They may look a little out of place on a midwesten layout but I enjoy them anyway.
Thanks for the info. Do you have a link for the Kato Unitrack?
Yes, just go to the Katousa.com website and click on N-scale, then Unitrack track/ Accessories and down at the bottom of the list you can even download the track list.
You will find a lot of good information on this website including track plans. I have seen elsewhere that Kato may be coming out with their own flex track.
I have used Kato Unitrack since I started in N scale and I really like it. I would suggest that you checkout "N-scale Union Pacific Evanston Subdivision" on YouTube. This is a large modern day layout built with Unitrack. One of his videos goes into detail on how he attached it to the layout and painted it to make it even more realilistic, even though I think it looks fine.
I think between the Kato website and the UP Evanston YouTube channel, you will get a lot of really good information about Unitrack.
MARTIN STATION Paul I use the Kato Unitrack for my layout and it works great. It's made to insure a solid electrical connection when snapping each section together and when switches are closed on a siding or turnout, that section of track becomes dead unless you wire around it. This means you can pull a train into a siding close the turnouts and that train is now without power until the turnouts are reopened. If you are running DC and not DCC like me, this is great. I can pull a train into a siding and close the turnouts and then bring another from the yard by openning another turnout. This makes things simple on a small layout when it comes to running two trains at once without any extra wiring or switches. I have ridden passenger trains in Japan and it's a great experience. They are ALWAYS on time. They take great pride in their ability to stay on schedule and their rail network makes it easy to travel around the country. I purchased a ED75 locomotive while there and my daughter brought me back some subway cars from her travel there. They may look a little out of place on a midwesten layout but I enjoy them anyway. Ralph
In the prototype-for-everything category, I believe the modern EMU cars on Chicago Metra's South Shore line are sourced from Japan.
Hi everyone. I finally checked again for the room I have available for my first layout.
I have enough room for a 92 inches by 36 inches layout. This layout will be against a wall.
I really need to order my paints if I want to complete one of those structures.
I have scanned some of the comments, but may have misssed this somewhere. I see you are thinking of a 36" wide layout against the wall. Most folks find 30" about all they can reach safely, remember there will be scenery elements in the middle to reach over. Your actual reach depends on your height, hight of your layout and type of scenery you are planning. Setting up a mock up at the height you are planning, will give you a good idea how far you can reach.
Just a thought to keep you from getting frustrated not being able to reach something or breaking something as you reach.
Good luck,
Richard
My 32" wide door layout is against a wall but I was able to pull it out for construction. I could not have built it otherwise. Also all turnouts can easily be reached, an important consideration.
I second the Kato track recomendation.
cowman I have scanned some of the comments, but may have misssed this somewhere. I see you are thinking of a 36" wide layout against the wall. Most folks find 30" about all they can reach safely, remember there will be scenery elements in the middle to reach over. Your actual reach depends on your height, hight of your layout and type of scenery you are planning. Setting up a mock up at the height you are planning, will give you a good idea how far you can reach.
Good point Richard. I need to lower my expectations And the size of my layout.
CNCharlie My 32" wide door layout is against a wall but I was able to pull it out for construction. I could not have built it otherwise. Also all turnouts can easily be reached, an important consideration. I second the Kato track recomendation.
Charlie what do you mean by you second the Kato track recomendation?
Right now I am just building structures kits because I don't really know what to do next.
I can't build a benchwork because almost all the stores, except groceries stores and drugstores, are closed due to our lockdown. So I need to buy everything online.
Any suggestion on what I can do in the meanwhile? Eventually, I will need to order a few colors of paints so I can continue to build my structures but after that I don't really know where to go.
xploringrailroadsAny suggestion on what I can do in the meanwhile?
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
“Any suggestion on what I can do in the meanwhile?” OK, so what do we know about your modelling interests from what you’ve told us. “What I know for sure is that I would like to create a layout from the 1950´s.” That’s fair enough, but now, unless you already have, you need to do some homework. What is it that attracted you to the 50’s? Do you have a specific area in mind? If not, what would you like to see on your layout? Would it be there in the 50s? Do you have a specific Railroad in mind? If you have a specific railroad in mind, what is the current availability of locomotives and rolling stock for that railroad? The same question is also valid if you have no specific railroad in mind. Are the locomotives and rolling stock found on line actually correct for the 50s? You won’t be the first person that’s purchased something that takes you fancy, only to find that it’s too “Modern”!
OK, so what do we know about your modelling interests from what you’ve told us.
“What I know for sure is that I would like to create a layout from the 1950´s.”
That’s fair enough, but now, unless you already have, you need to do some homework.
What is it that attracted you to the 50’s?
Do you have a specific area in mind?
If not, what would you like to see on your layout? Would it be there in the 50s?
Do you have a specific Railroad in mind?
If you have a specific railroad in mind, what is the current availability of locomotives and rolling stock for that railroad? The same question is also valid if you have no specific railroad in mind.
Are the locomotives and rolling stock found on line actually correct for the 50s? You won’t be the first person that’s purchased something that takes you fancy, only to find that it’s too “Modern”!
Hi and thanks for your reply. So here are some of my answers.
- Why am I attracted to the fifties? I was born at the beginning of the seventees so it's not related to my childhood memories. I think I would like to model the fifties because I like old buildings with lots of weathering. I also like the architecture of those buildings, the fast food look and the cars.
- The area I have in mind is the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec where I live. I want this area to be almost flat (no mountains). Fields will predominate the landscape with a few patches of forests and a bridge crossing a very small river.
I want to build a little village so I bought the “Town and Factory Building Set” from Woodland Scenics. Here is a photo of this set.
I also want to create a freight yard with a few industries to do some operations. With my layout, I want to have fun doing operations but also landscaping and improving my structures along the way.
- The railroad I have in mind is the CN (Canadian National). I especially love the red, black and white loco (see the picture). I don't know if this loco was there in the fifties or the sixties. I don't know also about the availability of this loco and rolling stock.
Thanks again for making me think about my first layout :)
By saying I second the Kato track recommendation, I just mean I agree with it.
My layout is CN but set in the '50s so it is green and gold.
I think those locos are RS18s. True Line Trains did one about 10 years ago but rhe only source now wold be ebay as TLT is out of business. The model was made by Atlas and runs well. I have one but in green colours.
Hi Stephen,
I have a copy of a free article which may help you decide what sort of operation you might like and easily adaptable to N scale as well as allowing you to "grow" your layout... if you send me a Private Message with your email address on it, I will send it on as well as a few links that you may find helpful...
Regards from Australia
Trevor https://sites.google.com/view/stagnesrailway for your interest
Associate Editor, Rail Modeller Australia magazine www.railmodelleraustralia.com
Ok then I will focus on the sixties instead. I was searching for pictures of CN throught the years but never found whatI was searching for.
xdford I will send you a private message. I am very curious to learn more about operations.
By coincidence my N-scale DCC layout is 36" x 80" -- the door from Atlas N-11 -- Unhinged & Horizontal. Meets most of my needs with this size limitation.
Don't let anyone tell you you can't/shouldn't run long cars or engines on tight radiuses. Yeah, they'd look better on 36" radius but ya gotta use what realestate you have available. Since my area is wider than the 30" plan width I have 5 rather than 3 long tracks in the yard with the longest holding my Amtrak P42 and 8 full length passenger cars while another holds a GG1 or 4-6-4 Hudson and 7 full length passenger cars. Night running the passenger trains is just as fun to watch as they were when I was 10 years old. The other tracks have full and empty coal hoppers and mixed freight. Freight engines are 2-8-0, 2-8-4, and a couple diesel road engines. Too many engines!
The reveresing section is handled by a solid state "reverser." The reversing blocks are much longer than the plan to handle these long passenger trains.
Less than 6 months back in the hobby. Sometimes I wish I could fit a double track mainline and just watch more than one train roll. I can squeze a coal train or mixed freight in with the passenger schedule.
The reversing loop "doubles' the mainline length. Coal empties go one way, loads the other. All the passenger trains back into the "main station" (just like at Tampa FL).
SoundTraxx decoders and MRC Prodigy^2 DCC system.
Have fun!
-- Chuck