Keep an eye out for railroading books from the 1950s. They are really cool because they tell you haw to make a lot of details for your layout from things found around your house. That was the early days of small scale modeling and there were not a lot in the selections of what was being made. Those little bread tabs, free plastic for small projects. Saves on the sheets that you would cut up instead. But the funny one I read in the book I had, how to make a street light with a stick of wood for the pole and an old button for the lamp part. The funny part.... Ask for your mom's permission to get into her old button box before you take the buttons, you do not want to take the ones she has a sewing project in line for. Keep up the good videos, I am enjoying them and started model Railroading back in 1985. Now on the topic of timelines to build on. If you build modern but still like steam, set up an area on the layout for the local train museum. A great place to park the Vintage locomotives and rolling stock. Run some special steam days on your layout. Fan trips and such. Also you can put some old Street Cars in there as well. Happy model railroading!
Very helpful information, I am building my first ever layout as we talk! I am currently on the track-gluing stage of the project. I can't wait to see how it turns out! P.S: We need a video on Nerf Cat, it will be your most viewed video by a huge amount.
There is a set of hangers on Amazon. They are used for grow lights to raise them up and down where they lock in place. So with the lack of space you can raise your layout to the ceiling. where it is out of the way.
Hi Harrison, just watched this video and wanted to say you are so right about the timeline and prototypical “rules” some folks in the hobby have. This is supposed to be fun. Lol
Thanks for the advice SMT. I'm planning to put a large layout in the garage but...….months of work to build multiple sheds where I can put everything that is already in the garage.
An under-the-bed layout? LOL. Great video. Great tips. I agree with all of them. You forgot #6, record every step with a video camera and post your progress on UA-cam.
When Model Railroading Love your Layouts.Always Remember to Say God Blessed model Railroading! Best thing to Spend your money on Better than going to a Bar and getting into trouble. Model Railroading Rocks!
Nice video! I have had my trains running on EZ track on a dining table for a while and I'm finally gonna build a real legit layout, encouraged by you. Thanks bro!
Thank you for posting this. Good advice for thos new to the hobby.I began while in high school.My early teachers were men such as John Armstrong, or Frank Ellison.No Internet then.. How fortunate for today's hobbiest,good advice is always needed, keep it up.
Awesome! I will remember your advice even though my O gauge layout is still very slow due to priorities. Also, my future HO layout (European themed) is going to be just on paper since there’s currently no space for that. I used to draw a ton of layout track plans, but I now can’t do that unless I know how much space a room has and that’s something I learned over time.
My problems with this hobby are flextrack & wiring. I belong to a model train forum & a member told me to "bulletproof" my track then deal with electrical issues. I bought some used trains in Calgary recently & I couldn't get any power to my layout or the test track I used. I'm taking apart my current layout & I'll replace it with a simple oval. I like your videos as it helps me work on motors I haven't seen before.
I am planning my layout. I am also finding a good time to get the materials to build the new table it’ll go on. The tips you listed made it a lot better. Someone told me I needed a theme, like wintertime or 1900s theme. Now that I look at what I have, I will do my own theme.
Big big tip i learn and highly recommend is the different sized track accessories pack. They usually have 1,2, and 3 inch long track sections. Perfect example a turn out. Yes they are 9 inches from end to end. But thats the length of the turn not the part that goes straight. The straight part is only 6 inches. So you will need to get a 3 inch track piece or your layout will be off by 3 inches when you go to connect the final track to complete loop.
I make stop motion videos using a large diorama for my 1/64 scale diecast car collection and adding a train layout for my city will be my next project. I will make sure I take my time planning the zoning, installing the railroads and not going crazy on the budget! A few years back I bought 2 giant boxes fulled of ho scale rails, locomotives, train cars, buildings and city scene props at a local toy store for 200$ cad. I think it was almost a steal for all the stock I got vs the price I paid, lol. Like your channel and just subscribed.
Your budget strategy is good. My take on this: Know what you want. I built my collection of junky, old stuff that doesn't work well or good stuff that doesn't fit my needs. I've now had to go about selling most of my collection. It's rather unfortunate because I don't get as much money back as I put it. I made bad choices with my roster, and I don't even have a layout yet. I now have an accurate wish list, but no money to use to get anywhere. I also have a lot of EZ track but have decided to go with regular track instead. Rash decisions screwed me over financially. When buying something make sure its at least semi-appropriate for your era and locale, because I guarantee you someday you will regret it if you don't. I did.
With all due respect, I disagree. When you look for things from a certain era and setting they're less easy to find so you wind up having to look harder and in most cases cough up a ton more money.
If you do not use eBay I would recommend it to sell the stock you do not want. Train items go real well on eBay - that’s where I have purchased 95% of all my train inventory and trust me I have the mother load collecting for many years. If you have items you no longer want or can not use. You could sell them on eBay to free up some cash to obtain what you do need and want.
My layout is N scale. Bachmann and Atlas tracks. Code 80. Used nails for fixed the tracks. Where are you 🐱 ? Scooby Doo is my dog. Barked to you 🐱. Scared 🐱 for see a big dog brawn with black spots, your name is Scooby Doo.
I enjoyed this video, I like when people like you go back to the basics. I think the model train company's have gotten away from that. It's all about the money now for them and not investing in the next generation of model railroaders. Like the youth and even adults new to the hobby. They need to not push the latest and greatest things available all the time. Because I think that pushes people away, thinking that wow I have spend like 500.00 to 1,000.00 just to get started. And of error half of that is a controller and one engine, if it's DCC. Sorry for the vent, I'm just tired of these companies wanting a big large sale instead of looking at the long term sales. Anyway sorry for the long text. Have a wonderful week and I'm looking forward to more videos, I can't catch all of your videos because of the random live streaming that you do, but I do try to keep up with what you are doing. Thanks, from Jeff.
Well, Scrump, incorrect. See kids, this is what you do. Take your parents credit card, (its a little plastic thing), take it to the train store, buy a lot of track and rolling stock. Now take it home, find some good spot, uuhhhh, yeah the kitchen floor works great, and start gluing the track. Now the goal is to get so much built that your parents feel bad to destroy and have to abandon the kitchen for you and your trains to play. Oh don't forget, the oven makes a great rolling stock storage. That is, if your modeling the freaking sun and want proper weathering.
Been wanting tondo something with my test track. I want to turn it into an n scale track. Have the engines to do it need more tracks and some buildings oh some rail cars. Have ho scale bridge i can turn into a double n scale. Which would be cool. Have blue foam board to make my hills and valleys. Im gonna build it. Thanks Harrison! Do videos when i start.
I am currently planning to build my very first HO scale layout and some of tips would be great 👍 BTW how big is your layout and what was the approximate cost per foot?
My dad loves trains he’s main type is Lionel me and him are gonna re try Ho because I had no experience with it all I had was a passenger car so we will try again he is a very good layout builder so I don’t think I will need this but It will help me a lot when I get older
Just my 2-cents, but a couple tidbits from 10 years in the hobby. (1) GET A DIRECTION!!!! You don't have to pick a specific day at a specific time, etc... At least get a general direction. (2) Don't skimp on quality stuff, especially when it comes to locomotives and track. Search E-bay and train shows for the good quality stuff from Athrean RTR, newer blue box, Atlas, and Kato. You pay for what you get, and when you want to just run trains or do some switching, it's very disenchanting to have engines that constantly need attention or don't run smooth. (3) Stick to the NMRA standards with coupler height along with good quality metal wheels and Kadee. The better your equipment tracks, the more enjoyment you'll get out of the hobby. Well, there's my two cents, hope that helps!!!!
I have a long wishlist for my model railroad 1) a movie scene where Optimus Prime and Godzilla are fighting each other, throwing freight cars and stuff at each other 2) a double track mainline 3) the ability to run articulated steam locomotives 4) 1 or 2 good sized freight yards (4 or 5 sidings each yard) 5) 3 or 4 industries (a shipping, grain and oil industry) 6) A U-shaped layout or an L shaped layout w/ a peninsula equipped with a round house, diesel and steam service facilities, repair shop 7) DCC? 8) have it set from 1940- 1980 or 1990( because I love steam locomotives and diesels from the 1970s & 1980s and Amtrak phase 1) 9) A long bridge scene with boats being overrun by plastic mini dinosaurs 10) have a somewhat balanced mix of steam and modern era rolling stock but try not to mix it too much) 11) 1 or 2 tunnels 12) A major passenger terminal with a coach yard 13) have a small z scale set up around a park like a little 12 inch gauge railroad like a tourist railroad of sorts Theirs probably more I’m thinking of but that’s basically it. Probably won’t see this comment but if you do that’d be dope Cheers and keep up the good work -Michael Chairman of the East Coast and Southern Railroad
I am just looking at purchasing my first HO model train set, engine well I am not sure what to do actually. I want to start the project to build so my future grandchildren can enjoy it and help build it as well. I am having trouble deciding if I should go HO or N scale I do have lots of space but like to have lots of scenery as well as small towns and villages ect. Another thing I am looking at is if I buy a train kit with like an ez track does that limit the expansion of the rail system. I live in Manitoba Canada and am looking for some advice.
Outside of straight track I have tons of track I got off Kijiji... struggling to get more than a loop for a smaller spaced layout. Tried train groups for help and ouch for those willing to help
What's funny you made me think of how I'm deciding my layout. Its out the station its I'm deciding between a country town style or history of the earth think pre dinosaurs then dinosaurs all the way to now then futuristic
Working On a N Scale have 2 lines. Line1 is pretty Big working on line 2.gonna go check in on my Ho As well. Love Both Layouts. Then help get some Track For the N Scale Track For my wife She wants to Go Bachman, And Lifelike when it’s gets Done It is gonna Be Beyond Trophy Haranteed.
Using the room of my house before joining Model Ho scale was move my house in 2017 was the dinner room my dad turn to layout on Christmas morning now day still using a layout with popular 2020.
Hey smt what editing software do you use, I finally started my channel and uploaded my first vid and noticed it needed better editing. Ps if you get the chance please watch my vids if you could and give your opinion
No matter how many times they say "don't do something" the prototype railroads will do it. So do what you want. Anything can be real. If you find a train doesn't work this way or that way, it's OK. The real railroads have the same issues. The real railroads have lots of things that can't do or HAVE to do.
Well I am using e-z track and I am looking into switching my curves to 22 and the reason is because I am looking to get a DMIR Yellowstone that is a 2-8-8-4
"5 TIPS for building your first train layout" . Tips 1 to 5 :Join your local Model Railway Club to avoid making all the mistakes and wasting a fortune like everyone else has done. Clubs know all the tricks to avoid the traps, and save you a fortune. And can show you a lot of things you might otherwise never even realise exist, like how to reduce wiring by 45%. It's called "Common Return" !!!!
Clubs usually have knowledgeable members but with beginners you don't want to overwhelm them with information. Your first layout will never be your best no matter how much advice you get.
Simple: Step 1: buy a big table Step 2: shove table into basement Step 3: spend all your money on starter sets Step 4: assemble your starter sets Step 5: realize you spent to much money on starter sets Step 6 play the lottery Step 7: lose the lottery Step 8: go to casino's Step 9: spend all your money on a gambling addiction Step 10: realize you are screwed and sell 1/2 your layout Step 11: move into a crappy neighbor hood Step 12: buy a gun to defend yourself Step 13: fear for your life every day and hate model trains for the rest of your life because now you have to deal with gunshots every night Now that I look at it got very dark very fast
Oh I wish those who dictate HOW you have to have YOUR layout THEIR way would listen to videos like this. 😳 I only came into the hobby last year having grown up in the shadow of an obsessed model railroader. The minute he found out that I'd started amassing all these HO scale carnival model kits... OMFG! 🤦♀️ "We'll put it all on MY existing layout and you can finance the rebuilding of my layout my way!" Uh... NO! This is a CARNIVAL layout which is MINE! Not yours! 😣😫 "Your baseboard will be MDF like mine made with mounds of newspaper and fly screens for mountains..." NO! I want the top of my plywood baseboard to have a layer of XPS Foamboard so I can make waterways and rivers easily - This is a CARNIVAL layout! I also want to use Faller's Car System to run vehicles: "You don't want that. You'll need a router for that." In foamboard??? 🙄 Foam knife can cut the ridge for the wire easily but it's a no-no. Just before Christmas last year I brought a HO scale novelty Elvis Presley IHC train. I thought it would look nice as a mounted train upon a hill as a tourist attraction as part of the carnival. He gets his hands on it when it arrived just before my birthday in February. Takes one squizz, throws it back in the box any old how with the demands to "Send it back - it's junk!" WTF? 😡 1) Not YOUR train. 2) Not brought as a 'working engine' although I've tested it and it works fine. Cosmetic damage in transit from US to Australia is easily repairable and missing trim can be reprinted with my 3D Printer. 3) My Mum loves it the way it is and so do I so I'm keeping it! Had to retrieve it out of bin later that same day - now he's banned from touching my trains and anything to do with my collections both HO and N. He can not understand why. In the end, I thought "Stuff ya. The HO carnival can wait. I'm making my own N SCALE COFFEE table layout with the Woodland Scenics subterrain stuff and the Kato Operation North Pole trainset I brought..." but NOOO. He found out about that too. 😣😔😫 "Great. Now we can have you convert everything to DCC, we'll run it using NCE's stuff. I'll build the layout for you..." NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! Pulling my hair out screaming because he's managed to completely ruin the entire experience for me. I'll add a No #6 to your tips: Don't EVER allow anyone else to butt their noses in and take over the entire thing. 😡 Any layout a model railroader constructs should be a work of art that the owner and user should be proud of. There's nothing to be proud of if some mongrel takes over your artwork even if they are experienced. There's is no right or wrong way to do this. There are plenty of different ways to build a layout but I would love to know how to get that through the thick head of a Rivet Counter.
Well well well The Tips you are giving are ok for absolute noobs but the Layout you build is not nicly made so mybe you aren't the right quy to give Tips for that. Yes you can get old trains back to running but your Layout actually Look messy and build fast and simple in my opinion when you compare it to same german layouts.
(Bed exists)
SMT: It’s free real estate
Scrump you just did this video,,,,,dont forget one very important thing is tools and more tools,,,,,great video for beginers scrump
I rebuilding my layout right now. This helps a little.
Keep an eye out for railroading books from the 1950s. They are really cool because they tell you haw to make a lot of details for your layout from things found around your house. That was the early days of small scale modeling and there were not a lot in the selections of what was being made. Those little bread tabs, free plastic for small projects. Saves on the sheets that you would cut up instead. But the funny one I read in the book I had, how to make a street light with a stick of wood for the pole and an old button for the lamp part. The funny part.... Ask for your mom's permission to get into her old button box before you take the buttons, you do not want to take the ones she has a sewing project in line for. Keep up the good videos, I am enjoying them and started model Railroading back in 1985.
Now on the topic of timelines to build on. If you build modern but still like steam, set up an area on the layout for the local train museum. A great place to park the Vintage locomotives and rolling stock. Run some special steam days on your layout. Fan trips and such. Also you can put some old Street Cars in there as well.
Happy model railroading!
Very helpful information, I am building my first ever layout as we talk! I am currently on the track-gluing stage of the project. I can't wait to see how it turns out!
P.S: We need a video on Nerf Cat, it will be your most viewed video by a huge amount.
There is a set of hangers on Amazon. They are used for grow lights to raise them up and down where they lock in place. So with the lack of space you can raise your layout to the ceiling. where it is out of the way.
Hi Harrison, just watched this video and wanted to say you are so right about the timeline and prototypical “rules” some folks in the hobby have. This is supposed to be fun. Lol
Thanks for the advice SMT. I'm planning to put a large layout in the garage but...….months of work to build multiple sheds where I can put everything that is already in the garage.
SMT - In designing a layout to store under the bed, you may want to plan the benchwork design for castor wheels.
An under-the-bed layout? LOL. Great video. Great tips. I agree with all of them. You forgot #6, record every step with a video camera and post your progress on UA-cam.
When Model Railroading Love your Layouts.Always Remember to Say God Blessed model Railroading! Best thing to Spend your money on Better than going to a Bar and getting into trouble. Model Railroading Rocks!
Nice video! I have had my trains running on EZ track on a dining table for a while and I'm finally gonna build a real legit layout, encouraged by you. Thanks bro!
Having fun is always great advice. Your a good young man.
Much appreciated and I like your “have fun” approach
Here, Here!!
Awesome. I'm a newbie and I love your videos. You explain things calmly and smooth, making it easy to understand. Thanks!
Thank you, I appreciate that.
Thank you for posting this. Good advice for thos new to the hobby.I began while in high school.My early teachers were men such as John Armstrong, or Frank Ellison.No Internet then.. How fortunate for today's hobbiest,good advice is always needed, keep it up.
Awesome! I will remember your advice even though my O gauge layout is still very slow due to priorities. Also, my future HO layout (European themed) is going to be just on paper since there’s currently no space for that. I used to draw a ton of layout track plans, but I now can’t do that unless I know how much space a room has and that’s something I learned over time.
Those are some great tips! 👏👏👏👏 Thank you.
Very good information and instructions.
Thanks, Mike Espo .
Im still not sleeping when you uploaded lets go, also the video is amazing.
Flavor your layout Take Pride in your layout.Be happy in what your doing.
Thank You for explaining the track plan.
Thank you for posting. This helped a lot!
Thanks for the information SMT. Very helpful for this Model trains fan
My problems with this hobby are flextrack & wiring. I belong to a model train forum & a member told me to "bulletproof" my track then deal with electrical issues. I bought some used trains in Calgary recently & I couldn't get any power to my layout or the test track I used. I'm taking apart my current layout & I'll replace it with a simple oval. I like your videos as it helps me work on motors I haven't seen before.
Points well taken. Thank you!
I am planning my layout. I am also finding a good time to get the materials to build the new table it’ll go on.
The tips you listed made it a lot better. Someone told me I needed a theme, like wintertime or 1900s theme. Now that I look at what I have, I will do my own theme.
You could have a 'Time Tunnel' to a different era!
Thank u smt, you do have really good advice
We made a layout with wheels on it to be kept under our young son’s bed. It is his first layout and it’s been fantastic!
Big big tip i learn and highly recommend is the different sized track accessories pack. They usually have 1,2, and 3 inch long track sections. Perfect example a turn out. Yes they are 9 inches from end to end. But thats the length of the turn not the part that goes straight. The straight part is only 6 inches. So you will need to get a 3 inch track piece or your layout will be off by 3 inches when you go to connect the final track to complete loop.
Thank you man this was very helpful for me
Another great tip is making a rough sketch of what you want. I made a sketch of a realistic fiction place called, “SteamVille”
"If you happen to know anyone in the community" - OK, time to get the Ouija board. I got some calls to make.
I make stop motion videos using a large diorama for my 1/64 scale diecast car collection and adding a train layout for my city will be my next project. I will make sure I take my time planning the zoning, installing the railroads and not going crazy on the budget! A few years back I bought 2 giant boxes fulled of ho scale rails, locomotives, train cars, buildings and city scene props at a local toy store for 200$ cad. I think it was almost a steal for all the stock I got vs the price I paid, lol. Like your channel and just subscribed.
Great advice make it fun.
I recommend looking at areas like cajon pass if you're making a large layout
This is good for me because i'm building a HO scale Train layout from October to early 2020!
I'm considering getting into making an outdoor train set.
some good pointers
Thanks, thats good because I'm building a new layout
This will help!
Your budget strategy is good. My take on this:
Know what you want. I built my collection of junky, old stuff that doesn't work well or good stuff that doesn't fit my needs. I've now had to go about selling most of my collection. It's rather unfortunate because I don't get as much money back as I put it. I made bad choices with my roster, and I don't even have a layout yet. I now have an accurate wish list, but no money to use to get anywhere. I also have a lot of EZ track but have decided to go with regular track instead. Rash decisions screwed me over financially. When buying something make sure its at least semi-appropriate for your era and locale, because I guarantee you someday you will regret it if you don't. I did.
With all due respect, I disagree. When you look for things from a certain era and setting they're less easy to find so you wind up having to look harder and in most cases cough up a ton more money.
If you do not use eBay I would recommend it to sell the stock you do not want. Train items go real well on eBay - that’s where I have purchased 95% of all my train inventory and trust me I have the mother load collecting for many years. If you have items you no longer want or can not use. You could sell them on eBay to free up some cash to obtain what you do need and want.
My layout is N scale.
Bachmann and Atlas tracks.
Code 80.
Used nails for fixed the tracks.
Where are you 🐱 ?
Scooby Doo is my dog.
Barked to you 🐱.
Scared 🐱 for see a big dog brawn with black spots, your name is Scooby Doo.
Do a video on nerf cat
Good tip video smt
I learned my lesson about the track
I enjoyed this video, I like when people like you go back to the basics. I think the model train company's have gotten away from that. It's all about the money now for them and not investing in the next generation of model railroaders. Like the youth and even adults new to the hobby. They need to not push the latest and greatest things available all the time. Because I think that pushes people away, thinking that wow I have spend like 500.00 to 1,000.00 just to get started. And of error half of that is a controller and one engine, if it's DCC. Sorry for the vent, I'm just tired of these companies wanting a big large sale instead of looking at the long term sales. Anyway sorry for the long text. Have a wonderful week and I'm looking forward to more videos, I can't catch all of your videos because of the random live streaming that you do, but I do try to keep up with what you are doing. Thanks, from Jeff.
Well, Scrump, incorrect.
See kids, this is what you do. Take your parents credit card, (its a little plastic thing), take it to the train store, buy a lot of track and rolling stock. Now take it home, find some good spot, uuhhhh, yeah the kitchen floor works great, and start gluing the track. Now the goal is to get so much built that your parents feel bad to destroy and have to abandon the kitchen for you and your trains to play. Oh don't forget, the oven makes a great rolling stock storage. That is, if your modeling the freaking sun and want proper weathering.
Been wanting tondo something with my test track. I want to turn it into an n scale track. Have the engines to do it need more tracks and some buildings oh some rail cars. Have ho scale bridge i can turn into a double n scale. Which would be cool. Have blue foam board to make my hills and valleys. Im gonna build it. Thanks Harrison! Do videos when i start.
I am currently planning to build my very first HO scale layout and some of tips would be great 👍
BTW how big is your layout and what was the approximate cost per foot?
Im using any rail and having trouble coming up with something that both looks good and is interesting to use while not being convoluted.
Hi thanks for the tips and my house is a bit messy to I try thinking about get rid of my bunk bed and If I can fit a train table
Sweet
My dad loves trains he’s main type is Lionel me and him are gonna re try Ho because I had no experience with it all I had was a passenger car so we will try again he is a very good layout builder so I don’t think I will need this but It will help me a lot when I get older
Just my 2-cents, but a couple tidbits from 10 years in the hobby. (1) GET A DIRECTION!!!! You don't have to pick a specific day at a specific time, etc... At least get a general direction. (2) Don't skimp on quality stuff, especially when it comes to locomotives and track. Search E-bay and train shows for the good quality stuff from Athrean RTR, newer blue box, Atlas, and Kato. You pay for what you get, and when you want to just run trains or do some switching, it's very disenchanting to have engines that constantly need attention or don't run smooth. (3) Stick to the NMRA standards with coupler height along with good quality metal wheels and Kadee. The better your equipment tracks, the more enjoyment you'll get out of the hobby. Well, there's my two cents, hope that helps!!!!
I be working on my first layout for like 2 years i have boxs of the stuff start buy brass trains now its time to get it together
I have a long wishlist for my model railroad
1) a movie scene where Optimus Prime and Godzilla are fighting each other, throwing freight cars and stuff at each other
2) a double track mainline
3) the ability to run articulated steam locomotives
4) 1 or 2 good sized freight yards (4 or 5 sidings each yard)
5) 3 or 4 industries (a shipping, grain and oil industry)
6) A U-shaped layout or an L shaped layout w/ a peninsula equipped with a round house, diesel and steam service facilities, repair shop
7) DCC?
8) have it set from 1940- 1980 or 1990( because I love steam locomotives and diesels from the 1970s & 1980s and Amtrak phase 1)
9) A long bridge scene with boats being overrun by plastic mini dinosaurs
10) have a somewhat balanced mix of steam and modern era rolling stock but try not to mix it too much)
11) 1 or 2 tunnels
12) A major passenger terminal with a coach yard
13) have a small z scale set up around a park like a little 12 inch gauge railroad like a tourist railroad of sorts
Theirs probably more I’m thinking of but that’s basically it. Probably won’t see this comment but if you do that’d be dope
Cheers and keep up the good work
-Michael
Chairman of the East Coast and Southern Railroad
I am just looking at purchasing my first HO model train set, engine well I am not sure what to do actually. I want to start the project to build so my future grandchildren can enjoy it and help build it as well. I am having trouble deciding if I should go HO or N scale I do have lots of space but like to have lots of scenery as well as small towns and villages ect. Another thing I am looking at is if I buy a train kit with like an ez track does that limit the expansion of the rail system. I live in Manitoba Canada and am looking for some advice.
Outside of straight track I have tons of track I got off Kijiji... struggling to get more than a loop for a smaller spaced layout.
Tried train groups for help and ouch for those willing to help
Question, how do you balance out your collection so all of your locomotives get equal running time?
Can't say I do.
What's funny you made me think of how I'm deciding my layout. Its out the station its I'm deciding between a country town style or history of the earth think pre dinosaurs then dinosaurs all the way to now then futuristic
Mr layout wasn’t themed to anything particular. I just built a layout with things I thought were cool.
You got a Basement like yours monster size the damn thing go Both gages Ho and N scale as one.
Working On a N Scale have 2 lines. Line1 is pretty Big working on line 2.gonna go check in on my Ho As well. Love Both Layouts. Then help get some Track For the N Scale Track For my wife She wants to Go Bachman, And Lifelike when it’s gets Done It is gonna Be Beyond Trophy Haranteed.
i have some track and trains some of them need fixing and some of the rolling stock needs wheels and couplers
I am moving and my mom found a box of model train things, so i hope this is helpful
I must say, once you start out in model railroading, it's all downhill for your bank account 😂
what track should i use
I have 2 Layouts one is Done as it can be that is Ho Next is my N scale working on the track After the track is done I need Great Buildings.
Well it's time to add to the video
5 tips for building your layout.
HO, N and Z scale.
Flex tracks.
Tracks EZ.
Have you thought of geting NCE Power Cab?
Not much
Using the room of my house before joining Model Ho scale was move my house in 2017 was the dinner room my dad turn to layout on Christmas morning now day still using a layout with popular 2020.
mines going under my bed and im planning on making homemade buildings
I have a GIGANTIC BASEMENT so I’m problem good
Hey smt what editing software do you use, I finally started my channel and uploaded my first vid and noticed it needed better editing. Ps if you get the chance please watch my vids if you could and give your opinion
I'm half way through building my train layout
I have a Bluetooth locomotive and I was wondering if you can run a Bluetooth locomotive with a standard controller
i believe so but i would look into it more
I have clay sheds on my layout
What do you think about a layout on a ping pong table there 9x10 ?
I strongly recommend that a table should be on swiveling 4" casters so that it can be easily moved around in a room if need be.
A standard ping pong table is 5 ft. X 9 ft.
I have a small basement but I have enough room for a model railroad
No matter how many times they say "don't do something" the prototype railroads will do it. So do what you want. Anything can be real.
If you find a train doesn't work this way or that way, it's OK. The real railroads have the same issues. The real railroads have lots of things that can't do or HAVE to do.
But both reall RRs and modelers have to consider the expense of doing things that are not practical or doable...
Can you use a big boy on a 18 curves
That depends on the make of the locomotive and how well the track was put together. I'd imagine in most cases it would work.
Well I am using e-z track and I am looking into switching my curves to 22 and the reason is because I am looking to get a DMIR Yellowstone that is a 2-8-8-4
i have 3 trains and a lot of cars
Smt your to late i am already on my 2 layout so any tips for your 3th
Canada 🇨🇦
In o scale
average budget for ho starter single piece of plywood 4' x 12' 455.78-689.78 low and 1,200-1,400 high
Bradley Dale Hamrick Decatur Indiana
"5 TIPS for building your first train layout" . Tips 1 to 5 :Join your local Model Railway Club to avoid making all the mistakes and wasting a fortune like everyone else has done. Clubs know all the tricks to avoid the traps, and save you a fortune. And can show you a lot of things you might otherwise never even realise exist, like how to reduce wiring by 45%. It's called "Common Return" !!!!
Clubs usually have knowledgeable members but with beginners you don't want to overwhelm them with information. Your first layout will never be your best no matter how much advice you get.
Wait is this the same guy that ended up on that asmr cringe comp?
Are you still in the hobby
I have a few more questions
Simple:
Step 1: buy a big table
Step 2: shove table into basement
Step 3: spend all your money on starter sets
Step 4: assemble your starter sets
Step 5: realize you spent to much money on starter sets
Step 6 play the lottery
Step 7: lose the lottery
Step 8: go to casino's
Step 9: spend all your money on a gambling addiction
Step 10: realize you are screwed and sell 1/2 your layout
Step 11: move into a crappy neighbor hood
Step 12: buy a gun to defend yourself
Step 13: fear for your life every day and hate model trains for the rest of your life because now you have to deal with gunshots every night
Now that I look at it got very dark very fast
Train station
Oh I wish those who dictate HOW you have to have YOUR layout THEIR way would listen to videos like this. 😳
I only came into the hobby last year having grown up in the shadow of an obsessed model railroader.
The minute he found out that I'd started amassing all these HO scale carnival model kits... OMFG! 🤦♀️ "We'll put it all on MY existing layout and you can finance the rebuilding of my layout my way!" Uh... NO! This is a CARNIVAL layout which is MINE! Not yours! 😣😫 "Your baseboard will be MDF like mine made with mounds of newspaper and fly screens for mountains..." NO! I want the top of my plywood baseboard to have a layer of XPS Foamboard so I can make waterways and rivers easily - This is a CARNIVAL layout! I also want to use Faller's Car System to run vehicles: "You don't want that. You'll need a router for that." In foamboard??? 🙄 Foam knife can cut the ridge for the wire easily but it's a no-no.
Just before Christmas last year I brought a HO scale novelty Elvis Presley IHC train. I thought it would look nice as a mounted train upon a hill as a tourist attraction as part of the carnival. He gets his hands on it when it arrived just before my birthday in February. Takes one squizz, throws it back in the box any old how with the demands to "Send it back - it's junk!" WTF? 😡 1) Not YOUR train. 2) Not brought as a 'working engine' although I've tested it and it works fine. Cosmetic damage in transit from US to Australia is easily repairable and missing trim can be reprinted with my 3D Printer. 3) My Mum loves it the way it is and so do I so I'm keeping it! Had to retrieve it out of bin later that same day - now he's banned from touching my trains and anything to do with my collections both HO and N. He can not understand why.
In the end, I thought "Stuff ya. The HO carnival can wait. I'm making my own N SCALE COFFEE table layout with the Woodland Scenics subterrain stuff and the Kato Operation North Pole trainset I brought..." but NOOO. He found out about that too. 😣😔😫 "Great. Now we can have you convert everything to DCC, we'll run it using NCE's stuff. I'll build the layout for you..." NO!
STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! Pulling my hair out screaming because he's managed to completely ruin the entire experience for me.
I'll add a No #6 to your tips: Don't EVER allow anyone else to butt their noses in and take over the entire thing. 😡 Any layout a model railroader constructs should be a work of art that the owner and user should be proud of. There's nothing to be proud of if some mongrel takes over your artwork even if they are experienced.
There's is no right or wrong way to do this. There are plenty of different ways to build a layout but I would love to know how to get that through the thick head of a Rivet Counter.
That sounds accurate. I’ve been told I need a theme for my layout, but NO. I won’t listen to that.
Well well well
The Tips you are giving are ok for absolute noobs but the Layout you build is not nicly made so mybe you aren't the right quy to give Tips for that. Yes you can get old trains back to running but your Layout actually Look messy and build fast and simple in my opinion when you compare it to same german layouts.