8X4 may seem to be a good starting point. Many of us have begun this way. As an adult may soon get bored with the limitations of the 8X4. Have look at the Beer Line Project. You can start with 2 8x2s joined together . This could be an 8X4, a 16x2 or 10X8 L shape and expand by adding further modules as your skills and confidence develops. In years to come, you may wish to either dispose or upgrade you earlier efforts. Also 8x2 are a lot easier to move about.
snjroyThe idea of a 4X8 is to get things running fast and learn things. A round-the-rooom shelf layout is a big investment in time, and requires quite a bit of effort to take down if you end up not liking the hobby.
The 4 by 8 is the perfect introduction. Easy to build, can be fun to run, does not require a lot of equipment, and you can learn the hobby.
Plus... it can be completed... less likely to stall out.
I like the idea of 4 by 8 "chainsaw" layouts to get going.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 The 4 by 8 is the perfect introduction. Easy to build, can be fun to run, does not require a lot of equipment, and you can learn the hobby.
Fer sher. Four axle loco's and max 60' long rolling stock will work the best in the 4x8 format.
Even the famous John Allen started with a small format layout and it grew into a much larger master piece. Hey, you never know!
yeah, I hear you. I haven't stalled out due to lack of interest but more like stalled due to honey do projects. Honey, lets tear down the big deck to the frame and rebuild it with mostly new wood! Honey, lets remodel the kitchen again and DIY build a new kitchen island where there wan't one before.
It's taken 15 months to get to this point so far:
I like the idea of 4 by 8 "chainsaw" layouts to get going. -Kevin
Dang, what if I don't own a chain saw? Not to worry, I broke my last layout down with just a drive driver to back-out all the screws and it just came apart!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 richhotrain As I said before earlier in this thread. If I was elected or appointed as the HO Scale Czar, I would ban 4' x 8' layouts altogether. Rich Lol Rich! Not even a special dispensation for noobs as long as they swear after their training period with the 4x8 they swear fealty to a larger format when trained?
richhotrain As I said before earlier in this thread. If I was elected or appointed as the HO Scale Czar, I would ban 4' x 8' layouts altogether. Rich
As I said before earlier in this thread.
If I was elected or appointed as the HO Scale Czar, I would ban 4' x 8' layouts altogether.
Rich
Lol Rich! Not even a special dispensation for noobs as long as they swear after their training period with the 4x8 they swear fealty to a larger format when trained?
Alton Junction
richhotrainLol Rich! Not even a special dispensation for noobs as long as they swear after their training period with the 4x8 they swear fealty to a larger format when trained? Well...in that case, I guess.
Uncle!
Snjroy you said:
The idea of a 4X8 is to get things running fast and learn things.
A 4X8 is easy - there are tons of plans out there that one can modify on the fly.
Good advice after sitting and trying to see about inclines and bridges and ..... on my 1st HO 4x8!
What do you recommend? Pick a layout and get some models and just build it and get it up and running?
Thanks