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Well I guess this is one of those "stupid" questions if ya wanna call it that. Anyways being the new guy to the hobby, Im really puzzled when it comes to oval track layouts. Have read numerous times that one of the joys of having a model railroad layout is to make it as realistic as possible. But what I dont get is how can a small layout such as those that fit on a 4x8 (like the one I'd like to start with) be realistic when an oval track of some sort is used? It seems that every track plan I see for layouts of this size all have some kind of an oval, sometimes more than one. Some of these track plans I see seem very crowded. What is realistic about that? I guess what Im getting at is if you were in that toy locomotive on your oval track, you would be going around in circles seeing the same places over and over. One minute your seeing the front of the building and the next your seeing the back of it. Is there some kind of trickery that you have to play with your mind when model railroading with an oval layout? Do you imagine the whole track as just one long mainline and going around the track numerous times depicts mileage/ distance? The more times you go around without stopping the longer the trip. And to get back to your origional destination(home), you have to go back that number of rounds? Imaging the buildings, etc are not even there until your home? I guess this is the most confusing part of model railroading that I have encountered so far. The whole oval track and realistic issue is swelling my brain with confusion. lol Maybe the John Armstrong book that I just ordered would help me clear this issue up. Anyone understand where Im getting at? Thanks for your help. Steve
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