Track to use

[Anonymous]

I'm just getting into model railroading. I'm not a newbe at this, I used to have a O scale layout when I was a kid. However, I would like to start on a new layout in HO scale. My benchwork size is 4x8. I have read about code 83&100 and true-track by Atlas. Since I'm somewhat new to HO I would like my first exprience to enjoyable. Does anyboy have any ideas of plans?
Thanks
seafire

[pcarrell]

Why not create your own plan?

I'd recommend you pick up a copy of "Track Planning For Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong. I'd get this whether you plan on making your own plan or not. You'll learn tons from it.

When it comes to planning you need to define a few things first before you can really make a plan or even find the perfect ready-made plan. Things like minimum radius, which can sometimes be affected by the choice of steam or diesel, switching or railfanning, or something in between, multi level or not, and several other factors. Let me give you a link to a site that should help you quite a bit. It's;

http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/BFSpages/LDSIGprimer/TOC.html

Look through those links and do some reading and that should help narrow the field some.

As far as track goes I model in N scale but most of the people that I talk to who do HO like the code 83 for it's good looks and ruggedness.

[Anonymous]

I use Atlas Code 100 Flex Track. It is rugged and forgiving. Code 83 is a little more realistic looking but from what everyone tells me is that your track work needs to be more exact. A 4 by 8 does not necessarily need to be an oval with spurs. There are plenty of creative 4 by 8's out there that are conducive to interesting operations. Check out the Turtle Creek Central that Model Railroader published a couple of years ago. There are also a number of other interesting plans out there.

[selector]

If, as you say, you'd like your first experience to be enjoyable, you would go a long way toward that by reading up on DCC (Digital Command and Control) and making a conscious decision to control your locomotives that way. It is so much more realistic, and the sound adds that much more. Pcarrell's advice is spot-on, too. The more time you invest in drawing up a concret list of activities and structures that your trains must deal with, the happier you will be with your re-introduction to toy trains.

So many of us jumped in with a half-baked plan and some preliminary reading that was just enough to allow us to make only one or two major mistakes instead of all of them. Later, when you are up and running, those two mistakes will wink at you every time.

[tomikawaTT]

Track to use:

If you are brand new to tracklaying, Atlas Code 100 is probably the easiest and most forgiving to use. Avoid sectional track, with or without built-in roadbed - getting it perfectly aligned and kink-free is a hassle.

I would recommend that you start simple. Modeling the approach to a major terminal can wait until you have developed the skills and acquired the space.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

[#welcome] seafire. Here are some other helpful links.

First:
http://www.nmra.org/. Half way down the page is a link to starting a layout and what all should be considered. This will help answer a lot of the basic questions. The NMRA web site has a lot of good information.

Second:
http://ldsig.org/. This is the Layout Design Special interest group. Look at the primer link on the left of that page. Again, a lot of good information on the design part.

Third:
Once you have an idea, track planning s/w will help you. There are a few for free such as Atlas RTS (Right Track Software) @ http://www.atlasrr.com/ and XtrkCad @ http://www.sillub.com/ (be sure to read about the free registration part)

Fourth:
4 by 8 layouts are common to start with. Some who've done more than a few layouts may not agree with a 4 x 8, but it is a valid choice. You can get some ideas on what can be done with a 4 x 8 other than just round and round running @ http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html

Fifth:
Once you have a design in mind, post it here on the forum and the members will help you fine tune it and/or answer specific questions.