7 GREAT TIPS for RAILWAY MODELLERS at Chadwick Model Railway | 209.
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- Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
- Cost, System Choice, Build Location, Track Plans etc. Some Great Tips for Railway Modellers here at Chadwick Model Railway 209.
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“Turning decent timber into kindling “ Priceless Charlie! Yup, I’ve done that 🤐
All in the art of modelling! Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
I should have watched this video 8 years ago. I have made most of the mistakes you mention - plus a few of my own. I am one of those modellers who prefers nostalgia to authenticity and have designed my layout to allow a wide variety of trains to be run based broadly on the 15 years after WW2 (allowing steam and early diesels) and a west country location allowing Southern and Western region trains as well as holiday and goods trains from the Midlands and North. However, I have concluded that my main motivation is actually meeting and mastering a challenge. I suspect that I am not alone in this. Each time I get the layout working reliably well, I think of one more extension/complication/improvement that I can add. I am 20 years older than Charlie and fully expect to abandon the railway eventually with one last challenge still to be met. Each to his own.
I think you’re mistaken, Graham.
I should’ve made the video eight years ago! Regards, Charlie
What was really lovely, Charlie, was when you said "Railway Station" rather than 'Train Station'. Oh to turn the clocks back when EVERYONE said 'Railway Station'. ;-) Kite
Gosh Kite, I never really thought about that. Regards, Charlie
Forget what others are doing, DO WHAT PLEASES YOU! PLUNK IT!
Exactly. Regards, Charlie.
Lets get this pensioner to 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Thousand subs on UA-cam 🏆🏅
That’s most kind Tez, I’m with you all the way. Regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway i'd love nothing more than to see you reach it
I'm just starting planning and building my layout. This video has some extremely good advice. Thank you.
Great video, I was laughing at “it’s dcc or nothing “ then “this dcc system has given me grief” 😂
Apparently, it’s all part of the fun! Regards, Charlie
Charlie, everything you said is spot on from an engineering perspective - great video! I volunteer in a high school theater scene shop where we have 18 rules the students have to follow: 1) "Don't die. Too much paperwork." 2) "Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
and 3) "Done is Good." (for when we run out of time on the schedule before the show rehearsals have to start). Our rule number 3 is just another way of stating your "Perfect is the enemy of Good." Every modeller should have to watch this video to get a practical sense of the potential pitfalls and decisions they will have to make.
Thanks Tron, I’m so pleased that you found the video interesting. I must confess it’s one of my most treasured productions. Regards, Charlie.
Charlie- What Id like to know is when we're going to get an appearance by Margaret! If she's like my better half she's a saint because she knows how much this endeavor means to me! She shouldcom on-camera and take a bow!
Rest assured mate, that will never happen. Margaret’s choice, not mine. Regards, Charlie
Charlie, you are always practical and talk so much common sense. Yours is my favourite channel on model railways..
Thanks Mark, you’re too kind.
Hi Charlie, one time I had my daughter with me to my trainshop. When she saw what I had to pay she looked at me like: are you kidding me?! I told her: just don't mention it to mom, and we'll be fine 😂😂😂😂. Great video, thanks! Regards, Paul
You’re clearly walking a tightrope Paul. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Your story was just so recognizable, I had to laugh! Merry Christmas to you too!! Paul
A lot of wisdom here. I fell foul of (at least) one of the mistakes outed here and now I sometimes feel more of a collector than a modeller!
Hopefully, they’re not still in their boxes! Regards, Charlie
Blimey Charlie, this is you reaching out from the video and giving me a slap! Every modeler and potential modeler should watch this. Very profound.
Thanks beetle fan, however, I thought a slap would be a bit harsh. As long as you have learnt your lesson. Regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway It's okay; I deserved it! I'll buy you a cuppa next week. See you there.
I started collecting my much loved Triang Hornby collection when I was a teenager in the 1970's. Now I am 66, and retired, as you rightly said, I dare not think of the huge cost to convert to DCC. I can see the added enjoyment of controlling individual loco's on the same track, but I can honestly say I am very happy with DC. Due to the large variety of steam / diesels and coaching stock, I can run my collection as a Heritage Line, so no need for me to stick to any particular era. Thanks for your superb videos, Charlie, your layout is absolutely fantastic. I also loved your phrase " a happy wife, is a happy life".
Thanks RA, I’m so pleased that you enjoy the channel.
Absolutely spot on Charlie. We have to remember that building a model railway is a never ending learning experience. Non of us get it right first time round and even when we think it’s finished there is always that little outstanding thing to sort out.
A great comment CBW. If we can get 80% finished, the rest is luxury. Regards, Charlie
Another very honest video, I only wish I had seen this 40 years ago. Wasted way too much money and time on ridiculous setups. Have a great Xmas and a better NY, cheers Lindsay
Thanks Lindsey, but rest assured I have made these mistakes myself. Regards, Charlie.
Thanks Charlie. I’m just building my first layout in a shed (recently retired) and your advice is much appreciated as usual. I’m going DC due to some of my existing gear plus I prefer dials and levers rather than the witchcraft of (to me) electronics/DCC. Love the channel-keep it up.
I was thinking the same after my 25 year hiatus, but now that I have more modern gear than my old gear, I decided to sell off my duplicate old gear and convert them to newer couplers, and DCC control. Cheers!
Many thanks for your comments gentlemen. Good luck with your projects and have a great Christmas. Regards, Charlie
Well, I can proudly say that I have made most of those mistakes! My current problem is my fear of missing out on new Locos that get announced and have an 18 month waiting period, terrified that they’ll be awesome when they do come out, and I’ll miss out, I end up pre-ordering far more than I’ll ever need. I just try to remember that “egotism is the anaesthetic which nature gives us to deaden the pain of being a fool”.
What an excellent summary Dakdak.
Recognising our shortcomings is never easy. Regards Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Recognition is easy - admitting them is the hard part! 🙂
As someone yet to start a build this is terrific advice Charlie. Learning from mistakes that someone else has already made should save me time and money. I can use that to make some new mistakes of my own. Many thanks for sharing, it's a pleasure to watch the Chadwick Chronicles unfold.
Thanks Anthony, that’s really kind of you to say so. Regards, Charlie
Being a few years older than you, Charlie, I have made a number of those mistakes. One I didn't do was to go DCC. One thing that decided me was when a friend managed to melt his locomotive on DCC because, apparently, it stalled then overheated. The other reason is the poor quality of steam sounds so far, they are not the same quality as diesels. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate those who do and enjoy watching them. The other difficulty was that we downsized our house when I reached 61, so space became a premium and we suddenly found a grandson living with us unexpectedly.
Thanks for sharing Don. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Merry Christmas to you Charlie.
"Perfect is the enemy of good". That's probably the best comment of the lot, Charlie.
Some thoughts:
1. Money spent on track is never wasted. Go for the best you can. Code 75 is more realisic, but if one has older stock (Tri-ang, Lima, etc.), then code 100 might be a better bet.
2. Baseboards. If building a modular layout to exhibit, then think about baseboard size - it might fit in the estate car you have now, for example, but what if you get a hatchback in the future? Also think about weight; the baseboard might be light enough to handle with the track laid, but when you've constructed the scenery and buildings, it might be unmanageable.
3. Don't make a model of a model. Sure, get inspiration from layouts you see, but do look at the real thing.
4. Try to achieve a sense of "place" on your model without having any rolling stock on the layout. Unless you are just modelling some generic location, think of the landscape where you've set the model - limestone country, sandstone, etc. Same with buildings - often regional differences in their style
5. Electrics. Don't discount DC out of hand. If you're modelling a small branch terminus or shunting yard, you might only have "one engine in steam", so no need for complex electronics just for the sake of it.
6. Ignore those grumpy old so-and-so's who might point out that a Warship would'n't be seen passing an HST in normal everyday service; just enjoy your modelling.
7. Have fun; it's only a hobby...
What an excellent comment, Peter. You’re so right, the diverse aspects of this wonderful hobby are endless. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Excellent as always charlie.
For my second layout I settled on an O gauge branchline loop layout in my loft (only space i have) with a terminus implementing the lessons I learnt from my first layout.
Main lessons were
1. Build modular. It broke my heart to rip the last one up. At least it can be moved/sold etc if circumstances change
2. Less can be more. I fond too much rolling stock can get overwhelming so a GWR branchline with limited but high quality rolling stock suits my mindset.
Many thanks, Ed, for looking into your world. Regards, Charlie
Another fantastic video! If I might also add - invest in the RIGHT kind of lighting. Nothing will make a model railroad look worse - washing out colors, being uncomfortable - than putting in cheap lighting that ruins the appearance of all the work you put into your layout. Get the right temperature and also I highly recommend dimmers! It helps create lots of different moods and gives the appearance of dusk/dawn and night. The proper lights will add so much value and pleasure to your layout.
That’s an excellent suggestion M8581.
I would recommend 4000 K. Regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Absolutely, the 4000K is the best and readily available - you can put them in recessed can light fixtures, puck style lights, exposed strip lights, and many, many more.
Great timing & great tip, as my next move is lighting. I was also considering dimmer switch but not all lights work with dimmer switch nowdays@@ChadwickModelRailway
I prefer a Warmer/incandescent type temperature it kind of mimics actual sunlight,
@@cotochris most LED are able to dim, just get a decent switch. The investment is worth it, they are only about $20
I think my journey into model railways is similar to many others. In my early years I had the train set, sometimes in the lounge but often in the bedroom. System 4 track and I even had a catenary. Other track was the series 3 and the old grey track from Tri-Ang on a temporary base board, nothing fixed down. Move on many years and I finally had space, I put together a series of modules marked with black paint, purchased track but never laid anything. Moving cities and getting married I negotiated the use of the second lounge as a railway room, I designed a layout based on a real location, laid track, tested it all, point motors all looking good until junior arrived and the railway room soon became the main lounge. The layout was cast into the garage for storage. In the meantime I joined the local MR club.
Junior grows up and I conceive the idea of building a simple layout with him in a weekend. Two problems hit me, one he was not that interested in helping, two, one of the beams had a bend in it I didn’t see until all the rolling stock rolled into one corner.
It was at this time I purchased a DCC train set, more on this later.
Moving house again, I got the layout working but kept changing my mind how to link across boards.
Moving again it all went into storage on its end, occasionally getting it out to try and get it finished. I even rebased it on thicker boards to solve some issues. Purchasing locos, rolling stock and buildings.
So far all these layouts were DC, but it was clear DCC was the way to go.
An option came up to buy some 2nd hand Australian outline, which I thought was only some locos but ended up a full 8’x4’ DCC layout. I got 7 locos and rolling stock, DCC system and a layout for less than the price of one of the locos, I couldn’t say no.
I now had 2 unfinished layouts, 1 finished but limited layout and a still boxed set to which I had started purchasing track mat accessories.
Too much you say, moving house again most was shifted to my parents old house where it waits and I purchased a TT120 layout for Christmas. This has made me choose going with DCC and sound and maybe the HM7000 system the way to go.
I stalled over space, I stalled over DC or DCC and I stalled over era/nationality.
What are my plans, finished the first layout, add DCC, make it interchangeable nationality wise.
Finish the weekend build, but add some extra functionality and consider a way to join it to the first layout, could exhibit it.
Take the unopened trainset and make up the full track mat and take this to exhibitions.
Develop a TT120 set up using geodetic modelling basing elements on standard sized boards.
Time, space, indecision, nationality and moving houses all have been a problem, its been over 20 years since I got the first layout working.
Add to this conundrum purchasing a R001 train set with grey track And I still have my stuff from the 60s and 70s.
Many thanks Ashley, for your interesting backstory. Regards, Charlie
Very good charlie good teacher
That’s most kind, Cliff. Regards, Charlie.
Very thought provoking! Your one new loco a year policy shows admirable discipline, Charlie! I must confess that in spite of having several examples of most of the loco classes I’m interested in, new loco announcements still fill me with the same excitement I felt as a boy pouring over that year’s Hornby catalogue 😊
I know exactly what you mean Pete. You can’t help but find that urge to buy the latest and greatest! We need therapy mate. Regards, Charlie
One new loco a year policy works fine I'm going to live to be over a hundred honest.
Does this include “buy it forward”? I’m going to live to more than a hundred, then!
I built my “final” layout from a track plan published by Atlas. It’s free standing which is a good thing because after getting it well under way we decided to move house. When the movers agent came to estimate the price for their services a concerned look crossed his face when he saw the trains. I ended up splitting the layout into two and thankfully it went back together in the present house. It’s turned out to be somewhat at variance from the published plan for several reasons. Not the least of which is that Peco switches are a different radius from Atlas and they don’t always play well together. However I have a unique railway now that doesn’t slavishly adhere to someone else’s concept and that’s fine. There are things that I would have done differently but I’m happy to putter around creating a world and learning new things as I go.
It’s reassuring to know that your layout is in satisfactory condition. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Hi, Charlie. I made the biggest mistake of all mistakes nearly 40 years ago. Recalling the electric trains of my childhood, I built a model railway with exactly one scale mile of double track and extensive marshalling yards and stations in the loft of my house which I had had converted for that purpose. I bought 9 , mostly new locos and quite a lot of rolling stock. All was suspended on baseboards which I built my self and attached to the walls. It took a year. Soon after, my wife got a plum job in another City 100 miles away. We had to move and so the railway came down and never went back up. Until 2018. I never had anywhere to put it or even a decent part of it. But I have now on condition that it comes down for 6 months of the year. Converting old locos to DCC cost a lot of money but they all work perfectly having hardly been used when new. So now I have only a 10x4 ft board but well over 100 feet of complex track but with every problem from DCC shorts to derailing pretty well sorted, it works very well indeed. Once it's in the blood, I think model railways stay there forever.
Thanks Nigel,
What a heartwarming comment to read on Christmas morning.
Good luck with your project, and best wishes for 2024.
Regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Many thanks Charlie and a Merry Christmas to you. I really think that it's beyond the call of duty to be taking the time to read and reply to posts on Christmas day, particularly since I see you have nearly 900 comments in total. You are a hero..
Hi Charlie great video:
I can share a personal story which I hope will help anyone who feels they have done something stupid while building a model railway.
I am 25 now and I was 15 when I started volunteering with the model railway I am involved with.
One winter I was helping to lay some track and install the ballast. We put the track down and applied the ballast and glue. As we work in an old GWR goods shed (at Bishops Lydeard station on the WSR). The glue does not dry quickly takes a week to dry. I decided to put a fan heater on the base board aimed at the freshly laid ballast. I went to do something else and forgot about it. When I realised it was overheating it to the point where the sleepers were melting it was way to late. Safe to say I had to completely re do the whole thing. Lesson learnt. I think there is a element of learning as you go along with model railways. Hopefully not as extreme as my example.
I am happy to say I learnt that lesson well.
Would you consider doing a video where you read out the comments left by others as I am sure there will be plenty of helpful comments which people may find helpful.
Thanks
Matt
Thanks Matt, for revealing your well learned lesson. You make an excellent point about reading the comments, perhaps I should start to store some of the more interesting ones. Regards, Charlie
Matt, I've done pretty much the same thing but it was trying to help some Sculptamold to dry using a hot air gun. Had to replace two points and rebalast.
Fantastic vid, Charlie, but you've shown up pretty much all the mistakes I've made! 😪😀 Decided on N gauge as the loft would afford realistic train lengths and curves. BUT, as you quite rightly said, working on the loco's, rolling stock, track and pointwork has meant that the hobby has not been enjoyable for a good portion of the time since I made the decision to go in 2019. Soldering droppers onto track and points has been a steep learning curve, which is still not complete yet. And what the hell is it with Peco insulated rail joiners?! They give me an aneurysm every single time I have to use them! Also, have done the whole "buying stock before having anything to run it on" thing. Mitigation, the N gauge selection can be very limited, ie, don't get it when available, heaven knows when it will be available again. Digitrax DT602 control, as you said in your review, the instructions are........clunky! I've learnt a hell of a lot from you and your vids, Charlie, and I'm very grateful for that. All the best.
Thanks Nig, for such a heartwarming comment. It’s comments such as yours make the whole thing worthwhile. Take care mate, regards, Charlie
Charlie, any modeller who tells you they have never made these mistakes is not to be trusted. For myself I have found the biggest issue is COMPROMISE. I run 3 coach sets with a Pacific as that reduces the size of the station, that is one compromise I'm happy about. I chose 1948 to set all the 20+ railways I have built as the trade were not producing Southern when I started and the date has stuck. My own abilities show me that DCC is not for me and when I have tried to interlock points and signals it has been a disaster. So I do what I'm comfortable doing and accept my limitations because that way I can still enjoy my hobby of 40+ years. And my Triang P5 Power Controller bought for £5 in 1954 is still working !
Thanks Martin, for a great backstory. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Dear Sire,
This is, probably, the most useful and important video you ever made. Not that it applies to me, though. Far from that!
Cheers from Brazil!
I almost believed you, Eugene. Regards, Charlie.
I started watching your early videos about the same time as I started building my layout . Still nowhere near finished but I would have given up years ago if I hadn't got your tips to fall back on. The main thing I've learnt is that it was wrong to glue track down at an early stage in my learning journey because it has been very difficult to put right my early mistakes. I have now become a excellent bodger but as I look round the boards, it's easy to spot my modelling skills getting better with time. However, what is only now occurring to me is that knowing what to do does not necessarily mean I can actually do it, so be prepared to accept that some parts of your model may never be perfect because you are not always capable of doing what others can, if that makes sense? Just don't expect too much.
I couldn’t agree more Peter. But as I said in the video, good enough is good enough. Regards, Charlie
Some great advice as usual, Charlie, some that I wished I had heard before I started my journey with model railways. I’ve had three misfires owing to those mistakes you mention and I am know having much greater success with my fourth layout, a O gauge Inglenook shunting puzzle. One piece of advice I would give to beginners is plan out your layout down to the last detail before buying a thing, because having a clear path set out before you will make you life a lot easier in the future and will prevent your progress from stalling. Also I’d like to add that your first layout won’t necessarily be your last, don’t be afraid of making mistakes, that’s how we learn after all.
Excellent advice Nelly. If only we could stop making mistakes, have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Very interesting charlie a good teacher
That’s most kind, Cliff. Regards, Charlie.
I am, metaphorically speaking, right at ground zero with respect to model railroading. I haven't had a train set of my own since I was about five years of age back in the mid 1960's, and that amounted to a round track with an old steam engine that puffed smoke as it went around the track (I can't recall if it required water being put into the engine or if it used some sort of pellet, or tablet -my dad would have looked after that end of it at that point). We did a lot of moving back then, and somewhere along the way the train set was one of the things that didn't move with us.
There wouldn't be another train set in the house until my brother got a Tyco train set for Christmas in 1971. He then added to the train set himself over the next couple of years. While we still have some if not all of my brother's old set, it hasn't seen use in almost forty years. I almost had it up and running back in 2018 which interested my brother and my dad, but one key thing I wasn't able to find was the transformer and so the idea of reviving the old set got shunted aside. While our dad passed away in October 2019, my brother is still around, so a few months ago after a friend across the pond got back into the hobby, it prompted me to dust off the idea of setting up the old Tyco set once more.
While it's still possible that my brother's old transformer is still around the Clutter Cave in the basement, or in the Closet of No Return in our old room, I decided to look at getting a replacement transformer, but in doing so I was finding that for a few dollars more I'd be as well off getting another set. And so, that got me unexpectedly back into the hobby. That start amounted to me trying to do a temporary layout in our living room around the Christmas tree. Since then it's largely been a static layout due to other commitments and due to some of the old Tyco engines needing cleaning after so many years in storage. Luckily I bought a small secondary set that was fully operational (a DeWitt Clinton locomotive and set of carriage cars) so we did have something to be able to run over the Christmas (as well as a Jupiter steam engine and two HO scale streetcars that I've had for a few years (a detailed Witt, and not at all detailed PCC streetcar).
All that being said, I've been trying to work out a more permanent home for the track layout, with the potential for a bit of expansion and it looks like my old work room the basement where I used to do illustration work (The Shirley Temple of Doom) would provide the best space available in the house. It's the second largest room in the house and doesn't see much use these days. It looks like a cross between a toy shop and a small scale version of the warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark), so it comes down to organizing the space before I can start looking at a layout.
From watching this video it has given me a lot of common sense things to consider and some good food for thought before I get too deep into the hobby. The comment about the danger or committing to something that may require more time than one has allotted to oneself on this mortal coil made a lot of sense, and its something that I already am having to think about. I just turned 62 in October 2023 so, I have to consider matters of health as you mentioned. I think, based upon my finances and age and the space available to me (and the time available to me (I'm already heavily committed into doing historical research, illustrating and finding time to work on a stockpile of kits and other things) so I likely will go into model railroading in a very modest way. That could change, but your video has given me a lot to think about. I probably will also have a gander at some of your other videos.
Thanks Martin, for your very interesting comment. You clearly have taken my video to heart, and realise that it’s all in the planning. Good luck with your project build in 2024, Best wishes, regards, Charlie
A great guide for those embarking on a layout build. My observations tell me many people rush through the basics and then at some point start again or leave the hobby, there are no short cuts to reliable running. All the best for Xmas Charlie.
Never a truer word mate. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
An excellent think piece, Charlie. We should all point our youngsters to it as the perfect point of reference when they’ve been bitten by the model railway bug and are keen to get going. Hopefully your wisdom will help assuage at least some of their youthful exuberance and natural impatience to get it done before they make the very mistakes that you’ve highlighted and that we’ve all indeed made. But at the very least you’ve laid out all the factors that newbies must take account of; the rest is up to them (with a little help and encouragement from us oldies!).
The only one of your tips that I never had to fret about was scale/gauge. Like so many before me, my father bought me a Triang OO set for Christmas back in the late 50s so OO/HO have always been the natural choice for me; and since it’s the most widely available, it’s an easy non-choice. In no time we had ‘built’ an 8x4 tail-chaser in the back room, with trains hurtling at breakneck speed around the layout before crashing to the floor. And the steam era was thereby well and truly imprinted on me. No tin cans (aka diesels) for me 😊
But I digress (Christmas nostalgia at play, no doubt). The one tip that I’d highlight, from painful experience, is rolling stock. You rightly emphasized not rushing out to buy heaps of rolling stock before even deciding roughly what you’re going to build. But since I became an ex-Pat over here in the States some 25 years ago, I’ve made this mistake in spades! Being a lover of steam I quickly fell in love with the giant American steam locos of the 50s when I saw them in museums, on heritage lines etc so I started buying them with absolutely no regard for the ‘dream’ layout I’d eventually build when I retired. Not just locos but also long rakes of coal wagons, oil tankers, passenger coaches and so much more. With the result that now that I’ve finally started my dream layout I’ve come to find out just how much ‘out of era’ stock I’ve bought over the years! All while my love of British steam (primarily GWR) remains undiminished e.g. I just had to buy a DCC-fitted Mallard, among Castles and Kings, which I’m looking forward to running alongside BIG BOYs hauling that coal drag!! Talk about lack of objectivity.
But enough of my nostalgic rambling which only proves how right you were to make this video, Charlie. Keep up the good work. Cheers, Peter.
Thank you, Peter for such an honest and enlightening comment. I think we all make these mistakes it’s just the degree to which we have overindulged ourselves. Take care mate and have a great Christmas. Regards, Charlie
I am about the same age as you Charlie, to be 65 this year. You name a mistake I have made it. Since I have been collecting since 1970 (although no layout since 1975 till 2015) there is a mountain of stuff. A lot of AC analogue, DC locos and hundreds items rolling stock. Many items that don't run or need repairs. I know as soon as I discard something I will need it, must be hoarder mentality. There is no money now to spend so things have slowed down some time ago.
Time for a planned clear out Simon?
Regards Charlie
A lot of sage advice Charlie, I can not fault any of it. Embellish it, yes I could! But, your quote "perfect is really the enemy of good" is bang on. I would like to add a little more to that by introducing the "Three Foot Rule"
Normally we view most things at a distance and in so doing we don't notice the very fine detail. I tell anyone who listens, 3 foot is a good viewing distance in our sizes, enough detail but not too much! By all means go in for a closer look but stand back to see the whole picture.
Excellent advice, Peter, and thank you very much. Regards, Charlie
That was full of so much good advice Charlie. So many people seem to think that any diorama, let alone one that incorporates moving vehicles like trains, is an easy thing to achieve. Dream, Plan, Consult and Test ! I wish I had a smart acronym but you know what I mean, hopefully yours viewers will as well. Stay safe my mate, hopefully see you soon :)
Thanks Roger, I’m so pleased that you found an interesting mate. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Merry Christmas Charlie, enjoy the well earned break from videos and I hope Santa is good to you. Thanks for entertaining us and informing us all year.
Thanks Mike, that’s really kind of you to say so. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, as a long (ish) time subscriber I am more of a lurker and very rarely comment. After your latest video I felt that I wanted to comment, to say thank you for the informative and honest video suggesting how to go about things. As I serve abroad in the same profession in which you used to, I am still in the early stages of planning - not to say that I haven't any track or rolling stock, I have plenty but mostly either old stuff from 40 years ago or so as a lad, or a set that I got a few years back, for DCC testing. All of my track, DCC controllers and most of my rolling stock are made by Horny. When I do eventually return back to the UK and have to get a real job I intend to have a small tail chaser, as agreed with my 'Family Manager', in the loft, however I may now rethink, based on your latest video. I also won't be using Hornby for either my track or DCC control. Having tested extensively I've decided both are not that good! As a final note, please do keep letting people know about their UA-cam subscription status, I found that somehow I was no longer subscribed to your Channel. Keep up the good work, have a great Christmas and New year, Tanzy.
For me it was location ( we (my wife and i )) had 1 room spare, only our pc`s where in that room.
I started in H0 because my uncle left me some realy old but nice stuff.
made a nice lovely track plan and started building.
My wife got pregnant and our little girl got born 2.6 years ago. building done and track layed.
Covid hit and did not have time with a new born to be on the hobby so the room got cleaned and its been sitting in the corner for 2.4 years now :S
thats my mistake ive mate.
looking in to changing from h0 to N gage to get back in the hobby
Keep up the vids love what you do!!!
Thanks Stefan, for an insight into your world. Regards, Charlie
Hi.
I really do like your way of presenting your videos, and this one has given me much to think about.
Being away from model railways for more years than I want to remember the information is brilliant. Keep it up
Thanks Alan, I’m so pleased that you enjoy the channel. Regards Charlie.
Don't be hung up if you make a mistake. If you screw up the wiring and getting to the point of frustration, take a step back and do something else. Go and paint some figures, or build a kit from that giant stack of things you are getting round to doing. Also, document your wiring. Can't stress this enough. Will your diagram cope with you taking an extended break, coming back and still understanding what goes where?
Please note, I haven't followed any of this advice.
Thanks for a great comment White Horse. Why must we learn from our own mistakes and not other peoples. Regards, Charlie
Nice video charlie! Thanks for all the great advice and help 👍👍 ( also the class 800 is a bmu not a dmu ) I think lots of people will find this video helpful, keep up the hard work 😊🎉
Thanks little Locos, I’m so pleased that you found it interesting. Regards, Charlie
Shout out for us collectors who like to run the older stuff so only DC, and the challenge of getting older triang, kit-built etc running slow & smooth. Also, to own for rarity in a collection. I enjoy getting non-runners to run smoothly. "Unfortunately", there are very few enthusiasts here in Peru so no market to be able to sell off items & postage overseas usually costs more than the item itself ;)
Great comment Mike, I’m so sorry you’re stricken with postage extortion. Regards, Charlie
Pick a hobby, any hobby, as the magician said..... It is going to cost more than you thought and need a lot of experience painfully acquired to get what you dreamed of.
Thank you Charlie for your very valuable insights into our world. Onwards and upwards folks! But never ignore the number 1 rule: "a happy wife is a happy life"!
Thanks Al, so pleased that you found it interesting. Regards, Charlie
Could your friend not have followed the 'logical step' & put the daughter in the garage? OK just joking, Honest!
I so hope he doesn’t read these comments. Chris! Regards, Charlie
This is by far the best video I think you have done. Nice one.
Thanks Phil, that’s very kind of you to say so. Regards, Charlie
These are all of the reasons a layout is NEVER finished! ;-)
I get where you're coming from with the DC/DCC "argument", certainly if one were starting out from scratch, but I am at the other end of the spectrum from yourself. I think my most expensive loco was £80 (because I really really wanted it!) and the hand of god operates my points. My electrical/electronic abilities are minimal, but I know that and I'm happy where I am. When I see all the gubbins (I believe that's the correct technical term) under each of your boards I just glaze over!
I have been, perhaps, boring and copied an old Cyril Freezer track plan from my youth (ever so long ago). After a few problems with old track I bit the bullet and bought all new and haven't had any (track related) problems since. I do think, whichever route you go down, you should let your layout evolve rather than spend too long planning only to change tack later. Particularly after you've bought all the stuff for the thing you're no longer going to do.
Excellent video as ever Charlie. Cheers
Many thanks Davie, for such a constructive comment. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie, watched Lord Al Dragon Railways today where he mentioned you and this video .
Of note were the issues of drafts, heating and cooling and the resulting issues of humidity, expansion and contraction.
I have mentioned that my layout is located in our basement and I am grateful to she who must be obeyed for affording me a 9x10’ room in which I could build my layout.
because the house is both heated and cooled as the weather changes and as a result, I don’t seem to experience negative outcomes which the guys in the UK experience in their lofts.
Big Al pointed out the line on the wall where his tables were first mounted and clearly that level has dropped. As you know the track can contract and gaps will show up at joints or rail might twist or lift.
If someone has a loft layout they might want to think about a de- humidifier for use during the warm weather.
Friends of ours had a fire in their basement, a coffee machine caught on fire for an unknown reason. If their alarm had not come on it might have been a horrible outcome. Their main floor was damaged with black smoke and it took a couple of weeks for it all to be cleaned.
Unlike the UK here in Canada we don’t have a switch on the outlet. Why this is I don’t know.
As a result we will begin to unplug everything if we are not using it. Just a safety warning.
An old friend of mine passed away and left a 40x20 ft layout he built and boxes of steam and diesel locos with accompanying coaches and rolling stock. Everything is DCC and in first class condition mostly from Hattons, Rails or shows he attended while visiting the UK.
His widow is still reluctant to sell the collection primarily because she is afraid of being ripped off.
Another lesson on cataloging and dispersement plans .
Great video and advice Charlie.
Regards
Thanks Charlie, I also saw his video. I didn’t think of humidity being an important factor but clearly it is. Regards, Charlie
I would send you a. ou old of my train art cards but don’t have your address…..
I’m sorry Charlie, but I don’t give out my home address due to a stalking incident a couple years ago.
They If you’d like to send me some, please send them to DCC TrainAutomation and they will give me a ring when they’ve arrived. Much appreciated, regards, Charlie
I recall you telling me this a year or two ago. I would be happy to send them to DCC
I started buying locos and various types of rolling stock back in 1979 when I worked as a civil servant in Holborn London. The model shop at the time was Beatties. The point is, I put the cart before the horse. I had no real layout plan and bought lengths of Hornby steel track (big mistake). I still have the locos and rolling stock in original boxes and in safe storage in my home to this day. I would love to acquire peco track and points and build modular sections of a layout.
The video has obviously brought home some home truths. He’ll be a brave man to say perhaps you should start again! Regards, Charlie
I made a station many years ago which is to be the centrepiece of my eventually completed layout, and which I am very happy with. 1. I never thought about power when I was making it, so it'll obviously now be a big faff to get it connected. Hey ho. 2. I put down the track, including many points, and yes - points in the station, next to the platforms was not such a good idea. I therefore had to cut into the platform kerb to allow free passage of the coaches. It looks fine after it's painted, but it was an error I never thought of beforehand. 3. Lastly, fitting this station into the layout as a slide-out part would be ideal, but I'm still mulling this over for pragmatic reasons. I'm actually looking forward to the continuation of fiddling, and crafting. Oh yes - My son came back from Uni, and got himself his room back... D'oh! I'm now going to suspend my new layout from the dining room ceiling, and use pulleys, like the old clothes driers my mum used. What could possibly go wrong! 😀. I really enjoy this series of videos. Simple, real, and not verbose, as many from over the pond are often wont to be. Thank you Charlie.
Thanks Harrison, I’m so pleased that you found the video interesting.
Rest assured, I’m sure that we will continue to make our own unique mistakes! Regards Charlie.
Gee Charlie I'm feeling old . Turned 70 and about to move interstate and start again. I'll be building my dream layout in N scale, this will be layout number 7.
You have sown the seed , can I complete the dream before I turn up my toes . I'm going to give it a good crack. Great video keep them coming.
That’s great news Rod, good luck with your future project. Stay safe mate and have a good Christmas. Regards Charlie
All 7 points are spot on but there is one thing I would add to point 2 and that is the problem with scale. People often confuse gauge and scale and so assume that because HO and OO use the same gauge they are the same scale and so happily put HO wagons (1:87) with OO wagons (1:76). So you have a 5.5" long 40ft HO container next to a 6.3" long OO one. Oh all right there's a difference of only 2/3 of an inch! So what? And my OO layout based on my Triang Trains and Minic Motorways stuff collected when I was a teen back in the 60's happily includes HO rolling stock - but I try to keep them apart!
The problem really became important when I decided I wanted to go digital some 20 years ago and I decided to start again in N gauge. So I started using Fleischmann track and rolling stock and built a European layout. But when I decided to build a UK 1930's layout I found that the planned distance between parallel tracks (33.6 mm) wasn't enough and my Dapol and Graham Farish rolling stock was colliding (and hitting platforms). Just because European and US N gauge is 1: 160 wheareas UK N gauge is 1:148. In other words rolling stock from Britain is just that bit bigger that that from Europe. Taking our 40ft container as an example, a British model measures 3.24 inches but a European model measures 3.00. Insignificant? Yes, but the problem wasn't the width of the containers (obviously, there weren't any in the 30's), it was with the coaches and their overhangs on the curves, enough to make me rip up all my Fleischmann track and buy Peco!
Yes Nicholas, I couldn’t agree more. I have produced a video on scale and gauge, but I didn’t want to go into that detail during this video.
Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
On budget I give myself a monthly allowance which builds up over time to allow progress to be made at a controlled pace. It ensures I don't overspend or buy things I will never use, only those items I actually need to progress the layout rather than buying that nice shiny loco that may not be needed for years or at all
Wow, what discipline Chris. You are certainly one of the few. Regards, Charlie
Great advice ......i'm two years in and have only just sorted out my derailment problem .......the next problem is working out a new layout when my daughter leaves home .........if she comes back ...its the sofa for her
You’re a braver man than I John. Regards, Charlie
Oh dear! A strategic overview is always useful - But 15 years too late! I am 76 and not in the greatest 'nick'. My hobby has been sailing which I gave up 3 years ago on account of arthritis and have been poodling around the coast on a battered old motor boat which enables me to keep the navigation book I wrote up to date. But 4 years more of that might the best I could do. So last week I brought down the model railway stuff from the attic where it was been stored for 45 years. I have been cleaning up the rolling stock and have found that my controllers are stuffed but 3 of the 8 locos just need a clean and oil while the 5 need surgery. I have been watching and enjoying the videos for years but last night I watched the strategic overview! Oh Dear. What shall I do? About the only thing resolved is the gauge! I have a loft, I have a brick built shed 15' x 10', I have 4 bedrooms just for my wife and I (but 'She' will insist the bedrooms remain bedrooms). I have ideas (oh dear) and some simple, others drastic. What shall I do? Something small but ultra detailled or something larger. Going digital could be fun; certainly 2 of the live old models could be fun to be converted to DCC. I have a smallish office - 14' x 8'. Perhaps I could trash my office and fit it out while still allowing my comfuter (sic) to live there. One week ago it was my birthday with a v. pleasant dinner with a nostalgic sense of comfort of everything sorted. One week later I am swamped by ideas for the future. What shall I do? (PS I am quite happy not in despair!).
It’s time for you to decide on your New Year’s resolution Roger. I do hope it includes a model railway. Regards, Charlie
'She' has banned the idea for changing my office - it's nice as it is! 'She' says the garden workshop (brick built) would be much better. Could be nice with 15' x 10'. Designs in progress, 5 of the 8 locos work (need some oil and a clean) and the other 3 probably will with some surgery. Resolution has been decided! @@ChadwickModelRailway
I'd agree with the comment about passing on DC locos to replace with DCC/DCC ready if that's where you want to go. My lad can't be the only young train enthusiast that needs to "cut his teeth" on old DC stock, learning how to look after stuff, assemble and operate trains without parental fear of the inevitable crash causing damage to new £200+ items. If the hobby is to survive it needs to be accessible to the young, and that means older kit sold off by the (relatively) more affluent as they upgrade.
Thanks Steve, for such an excellent comment. Regards, Charlie
Im only just starting out in model rail but one thing i have learned is to invest in yourself. For example, I spent alot on a point control system but had problems with hardware failures. Consequently I did some research and found a way to control points for a fraction of the cost and have the satisfaction of knowing how to expand or fix any issues with it. Similarly I tought myself to solder which has been really useful outside of model rail too.
That’s great news Andy, the skills are coming along. Regards, Charlie
It really is such a joy to share in the wonder and enjoyment of your layout. Being 67 now, "I can relate". Happy Holidays to you and yours.
Thanks Kevin I’m so pleased that you found the video interesting. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
So many important subjects here.
Perfection is the biggest enemy of progress, and that has lead me to decision inertia, and decision avoidance... I dread putting down track, because I fear I'll make a wrong decision.
Buy cheap and buy twice, that's a been there, done that. Bought cheap rolling road on eBay, ended up getting a new one now at Warley.
Under-engineered boards - I have had to redesign and re-do my supports for my baseboards... Takes time and energy...
Many thanks for looking to your world. Good luck with the project, regards, Charlie
I'm sure there are a lot of people that would enjoy your channel, Charlie. Whether you are an OAP or not, I have been following you for some years now. I just hope that my subscribers will eventually grow one day when I can consertrait on my model railway.
Thanks Gaz, have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Coming up on 70 years old, and the SABLE system certainly bears upon my hopes to build a large model railroad. I've been in the hobby for many years, and have a lot of experience so basic mistakes are not as likely for me as someone new to the hobby. The challenge lies in designing what I hope to be a rather large layout that I can share with other model railroaders, but kept simple enough that it doesn't cost the Crown Jewels to build, or 20 years to build. (Since I'll be lucky to have 20 active years left in me...) 'Simple' for me is that passing loops are limited in number. Stations, cities, and industries are limited in size, number, and complexity. Good portions of the railroad are just long stretches of a single track main line run through scenery. (scenery is inexpensive compared to track, electrics, etc.) The only area with a good number of switches (turnouts) and lots of track would be one main (marshalling) yard where shunting could be done while trains are running through the rest of the railroad. Finally, as you mention, the layout has all of the rolling stock I own on the layout, and running. There is not going to be a big heap of rolling stock (assembled or not) that is heaped up under the railroad or on shelves that never runs on the railroad...
Many thanks RR, for such an interesting comment. Happy modelling, regards, Charlie
You asked for feedback. Regarding track planning I use Anyrail and I’ve spent almost a year (a few minutes to an hour at a time) tweaking a track plan. Almost every time I look it. I find a way to improve it. Charlie all 7 of your points are wisdom all modelers should remember.
Thanks Rick, that’s very kind of you to say so. Regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie. I'm Pete.
I am a complete novice when it comes to railway modelling but certainly not a novice model maker. I grew up with Airfix glue and Humbrol paint in my hair and on the walls (to my mums disgust) that was back in the 70's Then after joining the Andrew in 78 my interest turned to grey warriors... I'm now 61 and have just this week gone and lost the plot... bought a second hand Hornby DCC mixed freight set, made a makeshift 6x4 base board and started playing.... I fear I may of had a cranial worm climb into my brain... I'm hooked and also addicted to binge watching your channel.
I must be mad, Oh well there goes the next few years planning, upgrading, more baseboards, more track, the list goes on.
I find your channel inspiring, informative and very addictive.
Keep up the good work shipwreck.
Thanks Peter, I’m so pleased that you find the channel interesting. It’s great to have you onboard, regards, Charlie
I have to admit, I have way too much stuff, and buy rolling stock because I like it. Tends to mean the budget isn’t there when you need it. Current pricing however has put a stop to that. My tip would be don’t run too many projects at once, all sorts of things can happen, and stop you for weeks, then you wonder what you were doing and where to restart.
An excellent tip, John that we should all adhere to. Have a great Christmas mate. Regards, Charlie
Hello Charlie, at 80, I can put my hand up and admit to most of these model railway mistakes. My “train shed” is the old internal garage of our house at 26 ft x 12 ft. My layout is built on 13 odd size boards, it is removable but not transportable. My track plan is copied from a BR (SR) Barnham station plan.
I would add just two comments to your excellent advice. One, do not plan to build a layout that is so big, that you could be disappointed as you will never finish it, and second if there is any possibility of moving house, try to avoid using the walls to support your layout, keep your layout as a stand alone unit.
Many thanks for such excellent advice Bazza. Regards, Charlie
Got me thinking. Lots to consider. Must have made a layout , pulled it all up , re-did it again , pulled it up again. At least 3 times !!!!! Biggest mistake was to ballast it and then changed my mind. Could not rescue very much. 😢. The thing I take away from this great video is clear old rolling stock and buy the best I can afford and ballast is the very last thing to do. Great video sadly a bit late to save my wallet 😂😂. But clean slate and we start again. Keep up the great work and many thanks for your great channel.
Thanks Neil, for the insight into your world. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
I spent 35 years planning my NG branchline. I collected or built many of the items of rolling stock I would need. I eventually built a new home and included a double garage attached to the house specifically for my layout. I decided early on to model as strictly as possible to the prototype in a narrow timespan. Having a strict plan meant I knew exactly which rollingstock I could have and no more. Many modellers see this as a hinderance. I see it as a bonus. I am not tempted to buy everything that 'could' run on my track. I only want what 'did' run on it. I can spend more on scenery items and electronics, like DCC. My approach does not work for all, but it works for me.
I will agree with building benchwork strong. I built mine to house framing standards. Nothing moves, except the trains.
It’s reassuring, to find someone who sings from the same song sheet. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Charlie, super video as ever, and probably one of your most important especially for newbies. You asked for comments, so here goes.
The single most important point you made in my view was about amassing huge amounts of stock and items for that 'layout of a lifetime'. I'm not referring to the avid collector who has display cases and only acquires models to look at, but the train fan who ends up with boxes and boxes of stock stored away. I'm sorry to say that for most, this is a complete waste of time and money (fine if you are happy with that).
In the last three months in our club, we have had two families contact us to sort/dispose of/help with their vast assortment of equipment. Catalogueing it was even a huge task, and sadly many of the items are neither 'collectable' or to modern standards.
When pushed on why a layout was never started or completed, the answer is always the same.......the plans were too grandiose and beyond the owners time/ability etc.
So, common sense suggests to start with a small layout and limited stock EVEN if that's not your ultimate goal. Then see what you can manage thereafter, and dispose of older stock fot the latest editions. Otherwise, you are just leaving a headache for your relatives, who don't want to disrespect your memory.
I'm practicing what I preach, my current small exhib layout is just 7 foot long, and my next is just 11 feet. I have 10 locos, but they are all finescale DCC sound, finished to the highest standard. A railway 'empire' is beyond my realistic timescale left on the planet!
Keep up the great work.
Rob
Many thanks, Rob, for a brilliant comment. You clearly are a fine example to us all. Take care mate, have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Hi Charlie; oh dear I’m one of those people who collect trains they like and love…opps. Far to much rolling stock to have on a layout all time; need a bigger space; doesn’t everyone. A great and thought provoking video; love the story of cash buying. Look forward to next video and maybe a mistakes special)) All best Marc from Leighton Buzzard
Thanks Marc, I’m so pleased that you found it entertaining. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Great advice. I'm not going to spend money any more except for the one loco a year.
Be strong UM, it’s not easy.
Regards, Charlie
As a prospective modeler, I am drawn to N-gauge. However, this made me think about the extent of my ambition. Space is the main issue, so an N-gauge "shunting puzzle" is where my mind is going. I already have some N-gauge wagons (from my childhood), so only a few more and a new loco are what I need. I have a potential trick to make this a "module" for something for the future should space become available and I can extend it further ......
A sound strategy Kim. Regards Charlie.
Really great video Charlie, you have covered a large topic and very sound advice for anyone starting up in this great hobby covering a multitude of skills. Cheers
Thanks, Ian, it’s very kind of you to say so. Regards, Charlie.
Great video, Charley! Lots of really useful advice! - Ryan
Thanks Ryan, so pleased that you enjoyed it. Charlie.
Great vlog Charlie 😬....I’m lucky enough to have a three roomed cellar,in my Edwardian house,Central heating included.when I retired I was going to build a layout from scratch.As a retirement present,I bought a Porsche for myself....alas no railway...lol 😂I just watch others building there’s on utube lol
An interesting choice David. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Or, if you live by yourself..retired with an empty bedroom at the front of the house that lets in a lot of natural light then thats half the battle. I have steam and diesel, no particular period just loco's that I like. Its all a bit naff to be honest but I can run 6 trains. Excellent video Charlie, very enjoyable. All the best.
As long as our wonderful hobby brings you happiness, that’s all that really matters. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
My mystake was to put my power supply sockets on the wall under the base board, thinking that when an item was plugged in, I would never have to move it. That may be true when my layout is finished (it never will be, there is always something else) but it is a night mare. Second mistake, not making sure the track was level across the rails, not only along them. That has cost me 2 ruined points & a few sections of track and ballasting ruined. Great video Charlie. Mistakes are education.
Barry.Devon
Many thanks for the insight into your world Barry. Regards, Charlie
Charlie I had a waist level garden railway in OO that covered the back garden. It should have been at ground level because it stuck out like a new tooth in an old lady's mouth and didn't blend in with the garden at all. I bought NCE DCC 5 amp radio control with two radio throttles for the command station was in the house and the radio throttles had no trouble sending or receiving commands sometimes at a distance of over 30m. I regret that decision now as the local wildlife namely parrot birds constantly chewed at the wooden boards rendering them useless. Because of our higher temperatures I made hinged wooden covers to cover the railway to repel the heat in summer. I should have built an outbuilding at the outset of about 60 square meters as it would have been far cheaper and I could have run trains when it poured with rain and yes it never "rains" here it just pours with rain.
The delight with the garden railway was seeing 14 coach trains and sixty wagon coal trains for a slow coal train took about 20 minutes to do a full circuit of the railway. But it was just a railway to run trains with no shunting which is something I do love. All my locos are DCC sound with ESU Loksound version 3 sound decoders. Sure they don't have all the "bells and whistles" of modern V5 decoders but in a few years time V5 decoders will be outdated as people salivate over V10 decoders.
Thanks Aussie Pom for an excellent comment. Sadly we learn from our own mistakes, or do we? Regards, Charlie
Great video Charlie!
I’m a long tome subscriber but first time commenter.
You’ve done some great videos over the years but this is a real gem, well done.
I started my first layout at the start of Covid, went gung-ho into it for about a year, then lost my mojo to keep it going.
Some of the mistakes you mentioned I certainly made, perhaps that is part of the reason I lost some interest.
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your video, I think it has given me the impetus I needed to finally get back modeling.
Keep up the good work, and fingers crossed you hit the subscriber target!!
That’s very kind of you to say so mate. It’s comments such as yours and make the whole thing worthwhile. Regards Charlie
I had DC years ago. I have come back to the hobby and bought a book on DCC. I now have DCC controlled layout.
And what a great advance too.
Regards Charlie.
Then there is EBay. The place where someone else’s one can buy another’s trains. Several years ago I acquired diesel locos to have several passenger trains. All DC (in N scale). After many years Kato Unitrack had come along and some of my issues with track have disappeared. Several moves later I decided to have a double track double dog bone modular layout. The reality is this will allow being able to see trains run. Of course I plan on building a scale single train refinery. My wife remains me to put the worth of my train stuff so I I go to the big train layout in the sky that she and my son can dispose of my trains. I have some Bachman equipment but that is probably the stuff that I should sell. Great video and timely.
DCC is very expensive and installing them on existing locos can be done but again it is cost and availability. When I got into the hobby DCC was not available for N Scale. As is I can run 3 trains together on a layout. If I am clever on my layout design the 3 trains can be on 3 separate layouts that looks as one.
Thanks your honesty, Ken. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
8.....don't get started. It's up there with classic cars and hifi. It's an endless attack on the bank.😊
Still enjoyable.
Your advice is spot on I have a room for a cinema which is great for cab ride videos.
…… and no stress either Chuck.
Have a great Christmas.
Regards Charlie
@ChadwickModelRailway You also have a great Christmas and New Year.
Looks like it will be a warm 35 c on Christmas day late January, February is usually the hot time over 40c.
Top video mr B I’m a tad old than you started in the roof space now in big spare bedroom after bit of a health blip
Also as far as I know I am the only modeller of BR era in the place they make Merc and VW
also have very challenging conversations with local modellers about OO and
HO
Watch your stuff is a breath of fresh air to what feels like Robinson Cruso in a foreign land
Happy bus pass next birthday
Thanks John, and good luck holding your own over there. Regards Charlie
This presentation will get a lot of little grey cells moving, I moved house last year and have been converting the loft with a view to building a model railway in it. Luckily I am still waiting for the electrician to finish so I will make sure there are enough sockets. The loft has been insulated and heating will be electric (solar system has also been installed) access is the other issue at present it is a good loft ladder but we will be putting in a staircase.
Mistakes already made, rolling stock bought for sentimental reasons rather than choosing a specific era, I have already sold some on ebay and will be reviewing the rest after watching these 7 tips! Thanks for your informative knowledge.
Thanks WB, for the insight into your world. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
Dear Oracle Uncle Charlie, thank you for stating the obvious that we all overlook in our misconception that we know that little thing that trips us up. Do we ever learn from our mistakes - sometimes. However, when I started out I happened to come across a video that that talked about safety and the need for a fire extinguisher and other such things. Thanks Charlie, I can throw a switch and the whole layout will be without power. Safety first, enjoyment second and we must remember that it is a hobby for our enjoyment. My mistake was to invest in a manufacturer who has been hit by the chip shortage so I have been waiting for some kit for over twelve months. Hopefully next year that piece of kit will be released, do I purchase or continue with the work around?
I’m so pleased that you enjoy the channel Grump.
Hopefully your decoder supply issue will ease.
Regard Charlie
My additional tip would be to accept you've got something wrong with good heart, rip it out and start afresh, think how you've added to your wealth of experience. To my mind, thinking you can work around a bodge is a recipe for misery. On sound, don't go mad. One loco is fine, two locos emitting sound can be irritating and several locos can just make for a cacophony of noise. I sometimes run without sound and think how pleasant it is.
Thank you for some excellent advice. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
and the same to you and all your family Charlie 😂😂😂😂❤️❤️
Thanks Robert, that’s most kind.
We had a local enthusiast buy unsliced bread, come to a swapmeet, cut off the crust and pull out the inside of the bread. Then stuff a loco in the bread and put the crust back (sneaking in locos with the groceries so to speak).
Clearly, not a brave individual! Regards, Charlie
If you have young children or grandchildren who want to play trains with you on occasion, I would suggest DC control as a simple layout control system is easier for them to handle and learn. If the layout allows maybe make it switchable between DC and DCC ... DCC for you and Dc for the kids. You have to swap the locos of course.
Yes, that is sound advice. Regards, Charlie
Best train video I've seen in ages. 👍 I've made every mistake that you mentioned ☹️ and a lot more that you didn't ☹️ I wish I could wave a magic wand and turn all my HO gauge into N gauge, but I can't get all the rolling stock in N gauge that I have in HO ☹️.. But I think the best advice I could give is to not wait too long before you build your railway, for you may leave it too long and health issues might not let you have your railway.after all.
An excellent suggestion, John. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
I’ve always wanted to build a model railway, but I’ve never had the opportunity or space to do so. I work for a company that does Garden buildings and one of them 18 months ago was going to be for a model railway I was was pushed forward by my work colleagues, to help build it with him. I said yes, but I’m old school and I only know analog not the DCC. I will be learning with him. He is very Gan Ho on spending money. I’ve done my best to try to rain in back. He is mainly diesel because he used to drive the warships in the late 70s. Been hard work but fun
What a great comment Paul. You’ve clearly found an inspirational guide. Regards, Charlie.
@@ChadwickModelRailway when we was building the building and I was putting in the power cables for the lights and sockets. I’ve put in a circuit using the five amp round pin light plugs now when you turn the main lights on and the layout lights on the main switch as you walk in the room. The train control system uses is the Z 21 system, that was an interesting learning, curve not knowing anything about DCC. One thing he has given me to sell is his engine drivers information bag, the manuals and books. I’ve always been interested in railways from an early age. There was someone I knew at the age of six and I used to go and watch his garden railway going round the front of his house now I drive his 5 inch and 7 1/4 live stream. I went to his house for an open day, he has a 1/4 railway, his garden, my six-year-old son by the end of the day I was driving the engine with passengers,, while I was keeping an eye on the Fire and Water
I’m attic based and I’ve probably addressed some aspects out of order. Primarily I’ve tried to maximise the space so my base boards have been made to accommodate this. My tracking planning is still to be finalised as I have developed the concept to address a west coast mainline near Leighton Buzzard but secondary is to run a historical line on a lower level. Many iterations of hand drawn plans and sketches so I probably should try rail planner. Locos wagons and coaches have been purchased but limited to eras typical of the period. Time is a major factor as not having enough does not help progress. Roll on retirement😜
Thanks Tim, for an insight into your world. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
I am a huge fan of Anyrail, and I like Fruit Based technology, LOL.
I’ll put that down to good taste. Regards, Charlie
Thanks, Merry Christmas, and a Happy Year to you and your Family. Regards Mike Humphrey from Australia
Thanks Mike, that’s most kind. And the same to you and yours. Regards, Charlie
A wise man once said that the best DCC system for you is the second one you buy! Very true and don’t ask me how I know…….. in short this is an area that needs vast amounts of research but help is there on the interwebby thing. I personally ended up with a Roco Z21 and iTrain because it fits my particular bill. Take your time………
Wise words, indeed. Regards, Charlie
You covered some ground, certainly will get folk thinking, well done. Some of my critical inputs are - min track radius (stock limitations and does it look right considerations), reach distance (build and maintenance) and will that be reduced in next 10 years as you age. Max gradient (consider locos and trains being hauled). From where will you view and operate the layout (determines height) - do some experiments with some mock ups if in doubt. Space for controls and how will you control - phone/ tablet/ control panel or manual operation - will this work for wife, grand children, guests?
Point control - manual, solenoid or servo (of any type) and control method - a massive impact on cost if you have lots of points. Reliability - insulfrog, electrofrog or unifrog? How will you annunciate point selection none, mimic, via software/ screens? Implications on wiring if adopt wrong method and get lots of cable runs. Signalling, static or integrate into point selection, will it be independently controlled - also implications with wiring.
Do you understand how to wire and distribute the power around the layout? On DCC if getting to a medium sized layout you may exceed the 2 to 3.5A supply of a base unit, make sure you can add booster(s) and the necessary distribution circuit breakers ( cable rating, power up capacitor inrush currents, zoning and fault finding considerations).
Biggest to review against all of this is how will you operate, ENJOY plus maintain and fault find on the layout - what will give you pleasure or be a headache - all afore mentioned should support this.
These are just some of the issues I have been through as I design and build mine. Hope helps. Cheers Stephen
Thank you Stephen, for such an excellent comment. I do hope you have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway You are welcome, a happy Christmas to you too. Best regards Stephen
Another good video Charlie and am guilty of about 50% of the errors you mention. I had a legacy of Hornby, Bachmann ViTrains Heljan et al from the 90s onwards as I mix modelling and collecting. I didnt want the expense of retrofitting all my DC loco with decoders so have one layout running DC, using the Hornby HM2000 from the Orient Express set, using Peco 75 track. I then built a DCC layout with EOS 50200 controller and Fleischmann track, all screwed down with their own screws as I learnt that running reliability is key. The DC runs mainly British outline and the DCC runs Continental (DE, FR, CD, OBB, AT etc) as I lived in Munich for 6 years and got totally hooked on all the mix of liveries and loco hauled trains. The bottom line is each to their own, if it gives you pleasure, enjoy it. In conclusion, my weak area is construction and as I need to cut an access section now as I can no longer crawl through, I need to look at the idea of a pre-cut kit. Cheers
Many thanks for your honesty mate, we have all made some of these mistakes that’s for sure. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie
@@ChadwickModelRailway Small addendum. I don't sell much stuff as alot has personal reasons for buying but do not repeat locos ie only buying new prototypes ie all those new Bachmann V2s and Peaks just passed me buy with their ludicrous pricing. It's good to see though that my MIB stuff is now worth 2-3x what I paid for it so wife will be happy one day 🙂
I could have sworn I left a comment when I watched this yesterday, but I didn't, and now look at all the comments!
My small layout began with DC because I didnt' know much about DCC at the time and I definitely didn't have the money to drop on a DCC system without regretting my choice. I ended up getting the 210+ with the DT602, otherwise I might have gotten something like the NCE Powercab or the Digitrax Zephyr. I definitley wanted something I could hold in my hand and I wanted Digitrax since it's popular around where I am and the club I'm a part of. I confess that I don't mess around too much with complicated programming for sound chips. I have a couple of sound locos, but only one of them is really good with radio signals and lumber mill sounds, but I'm not going to be programming anything to automatically sound and won't bother going through the functions besides the bell and the horn.
Thanks for the video Charlie!
Many thanks for looking to your world Andrew. Have a great Christmas, regards, Charlie