I have a train store on the internet call PaPaTrains and have had it for about 15 years now. Started on ebay but it is now a free standing site. But in there somewhere I finally somewhat retired and now I play with my trains more tho I still run the "store". I'm of the mind that if it works and you are happy with it, who cares what "correct" is! Yes, it does help to know what grades the trains can and can't do, but you will find that varies depending on the engine. Some can handle steeper grades than others and some will pull more cars than others. It's our own little art work that gives us satisfaction, especially as we get older and have a bit more time for it. I'm 79 at this point and tho my main squeeze is music and always will be (made my living that way), I love messing with model trains and the layout supplies that goes with it. I model in N scale because I just don't have the room to make a very interesting layout in any bigger scale. But I wish I had room for HO because my store has a lot of "stuff" for that scale tho it has other scales as well. But My layout is about 4' by 8' so that would not accommodate much in the HO world. I'm enjoying watching you as you put this together. We can always learn from each other.
It’s been said already but I shall repeat. I checked the title of the channel. It’s called “Ken’s” HO Model……”. It’s your railroad. If the trains run and YOU are happy with it, you built it right.
Hey! I just had a garage built, and the contractor said, "For just a few dollars more, I can put a loft on top for your trains." I said yes. I'm currently drywalling the 23'X 14.5' train room.
Thanks. It's started to warm up this week, and personal things have changed to allow me all the time I want to spend out there, as long as my back lets me!@@Kens265
Sounds great (and I bet your wife will be happy to get all of your rail stuff out of the house!) lofts are the best and always nice and dry etc..Enjoy AV!
I haven't seen you done a thing wrong yet, it's a hobby, you do whatever you want. If you want to set the whole table on fire, that wouldn't be wrong either. Some people are so full of themselves, I run into it on my channel all the time too. Know it All's trying to take all the fun out of it. You do what you want Ken, we'll keep watching... I don't have the room to set one up so I like watching you do it!
Ken it always someone that needs to take a step out of the accepted norms it’s called being creative love your ambition. Enjoy your hobbies and let your mind go wild
LOL loved the blooper at the end. Not a thing wrong with being human. It's nice that you can laugh at yourself. That's very healthy, in my opinion. Hope you're not taking any criticism too serious, especially those that are disrespectful to you or offensive. Your regular viewers and subs appreciate your style and the experimental nature. It's all good to us. Just do YOU ... we love it. God bless.
My husband is long time railroad modeler. He said KENS DOING GREAT!! Do as many layouts as you want because you truly learn a lot from your successes AND failures. His one tip is consider a 1/2 inch rise every 24 inches. . Also definitely check out Boomer Diorama on UA-cam. Great details
Never mind all those "experts" out there Ken. Very few people who were building their first layouts got it perfect the first time around. Also, you may find that after you've finished your layout you'll become bored watching it just going round and round and decide that you're going to tear it all down and start a new layout from scratch. After all, building it is 90% of the fun in this hobby. Keep up the great work and great videos!!!
It’s your layout do it for you, most modeler’s build an existing town and businesses and that part is also fun, adding buildings is right up your alley
I love, love, love this layout. Very much like you, I am an outside-of-the-box thinker, and I have been searching for a track plan like this for 3 years now. I hope you don't mind if I pattern my layout around the ideas you are sharing in this series of videos. My vision is to build a mountain range with 3 peaks, featuring a tall wooden trestle bridge, with a water fall behind and running under, and eventually pooling into a pond, which will also be a skating rink in front of the ski lodge at the base of the mountain. Terraced on the mountain side adjacent to the ski resort will be an alpine village, and of course there will be trains popping in and out of tunnels all over the place. Nothing very cohesive about it, but all things that I like.
i also look for a non-traditional layout. The other day I had a visitor that wanted to see many trains running. So I made 5 loops each with a train. But your Idea is very inspiring
It is YOUR layout..do what makes YOU happy and the 'naysayers' can/should just go watch someone else...giving 'constructive criticism' is one thing but telling someone they're doing it 'wrong' is...well, wrong. I like what you've done/what you're doing...enjoy!
Good job Lauren on keeping your Dad grammatically correct!!! 😂. The train layouts are looking good. I like the suggestion that someone made about putting a kenskarpentry garage in the layout! Maybe Chad and Dan will help you build one?😮
I am enjoying watching you build your new layout. i am amazed at how you can use your building skills to build a RR layout. Thanks for sharing your new layout.
Just an FYI: here are the correct horn signals if you want to be prototypical. One blast of the horn means stopped. Two blasts means when stopped to move forward. Three blasts means when stopped to move in reverse. Four blasts means calling for a signal, (from your crew member on the ground.)
Ken as a long time model railroader the suggestions I say is to help you on your layout. You need to keep your layout under 2% because the locomotives will not be able to pull a freight train.
I like your ideas Ken & as far as making mistakes goes that happens all the time in model making & plenty of other jobs . That is how you learn to correct any problems keep at it Ken top video show. Take care.
You must like puzzles 🧩, it will be interesting, and fun to watch, when it’s finished. Two trains, chickens, dog crates, tools, you’re gonna need an addition on your workshop.
What matters is that you’re having fun not that you’re following some standards set by other people. When did people make having a hobby so intense and so serious. Enjoy yourself. That’s what really matters.
Si ce you are building a helix style layout, have you considered using threaded rods to support the curves? It would allow you to make very small adjustments to the incline if you need to. Also, I believe you can calc the grade by the Total Rise/Length of Run = % slope. Just a thought.
" 2 percent" - Most people forget about the second line on the larger standard level. The second line on a level is suppose to be a 2 percent slope for gutters and other slightly sloped runoff areas. Problem is for this project, you probably need a smaller level that has the double lines. I am not sure they make the smaller ones with double lines. The ones I have don't have the second line. However, Could it be possible to mark a line using black ink or black nail polish?????????
There will always be rivet counters, some of them do not even have a railroad, I am 35 years in the game and enjoy what you are doing. also, If it do not work you can always change things around to make it work for You. adopt the phrase "IT IS MY RAILROAD" Cant wait for next video.
Grade Test: Ken, perhaps you should set up a test on your concrete floor by putting straight track on a long board. Then run a test to see at one point does your engine fail to climb the grade that you vary during the test with X number of cars.
Ken! You're doing a great job! I enjoy watching your videos! I am thinking about getting started on my own HO layout, and I am trying to figure out the "Grade" problem myself. I was always of the thinking that 1% Grade is "1 Unit vertical rise, for 100 (same Unit) Units horizontal distance. (In other words, 1' rise for 100' distance) 2% grade being 2" per 100' distance etc. I was told that I would need approx 4-1/2" rise in order to have room for a track underneath. That figures to approx 250" ( horizontal distance) to climb the 4-1/2" Am I wrong? (I won't be a bit offended if I find out I'm wrong! I've been wrong before!) Thanks Ken!
If the result is wnat you want for your train layout... then you did it correctly. I just advise not having any tunnel that you have to rip up scenery to get at a derailed train.
You are officially the "officiant" of railroads. (I checked. It is someone such as a priest who officiates at a religious rite.) . . . There, . . . that fits. I am pleased that "we" cleaned up this "mess". Actually, Lauren is a trustworthy person. Let her be the final judge. 😮 I sure appreciate your UA-cam channel.
Don't worry about what the so-called experts have to say about the design of your railway. It's your railway - not theirs. Build it the way you want to and enjoy it. If you make mistakes, you can correct them and learn from them as well.
If You could Have Gone to A Train Shop Find Woodland Scenery and Get those Risers and Use Them That Would Have Helped. People Build their Layouts Differently No one Layout Is The Same I May Be Wrong But the Will passion and Love will Always Tell The Tale of Your Layout no Matter What Scale your Building.
Ken: How can it be wrong? No way and no how because it is your railroad. Suggest making templates from card board and then cut your wood. However you can do it the way you are doing it.
2 is 2. 2 is 2% of 100. If you move 100 feet and the distance the rai rises is two feet you have gone up a 2% grade. Now figure out HO scale. 1 inch is eight feet. 12.5 inches is 100 feet in HO scale. so your HO track needs to rise a quarter of an inch.
@@Kens265 just to simplify things, do all of your math in the same units (inches) instead of converting to feet or yards. Also remember that 100% grade is 90 degrees, straight up.
Ken when you take up a hobby (mainly dominated by clever 70 year olds) you must expect a fair amount of “compulsory” advice ha ha! ( I am one of those myself!) 😁
There are no rules, correct/incorrect ways of doing your layout. If you are making it to match something, then there's a certain way to do it. But if your making what you want, who cares how it's built or used. It's yours.
At least you're getting your feet wet into the model train hobby. You have to start somewhere. I'm sure when you started as a carpenter, you started as a novice. Keep on training 🎉
You got my wheels turning. Giving me some good ideas for my next project.
Oh cool
I have a train store on the internet call PaPaTrains and have had it for about 15 years now. Started on ebay but it is now a free standing site. But in there somewhere I finally somewhat retired and now I play with my trains more tho I still run the "store". I'm of the mind that if it works and you are happy with it, who cares what "correct" is! Yes, it does help to know what grades the trains can and can't do, but you will find that varies depending on the engine. Some can handle steeper grades than others and some will pull more cars than others. It's our own little art work that gives us satisfaction, especially as we get older and have a bit more time for it. I'm 79 at this point and tho my main squeeze is music and always will be (made my living that way), I love messing with model trains and the layout supplies that goes with it. I model in N scale because I just don't have the room to make a very interesting layout in any bigger scale. But I wish I had room for HO because my store has a lot of "stuff" for that scale tho it has other scales as well. But My layout is about 4' by 8' so that would not accommodate much in the HO world. I'm enjoying watching you as you put this together. We can always learn from each other.
Thanks I’ll take peek at your store
It’s been said already but I shall repeat. I checked the title of the channel. It’s called “Ken’s” HO Model……”. It’s your railroad. If the trains run and YOU are happy with it, you built it right.
Haha thanks
Hey! I just had a garage built, and the contractor said, "For just a few dollars more, I can put a loft on top for your trains." I said yes. I'm currently drywalling the 23'X 14.5' train room.
Wow! That’s going to be good times. Hope it goes well
Thanks. It's started to warm up this week, and personal things have changed to allow me all the time I want to spend out there, as long as my back lets me!@@Kens265
I’m in an 8x8 closet, I’m jealous
Sounds great (and I bet your wife will be happy to get all of your rail stuff out of the house!) lofts are the best and always nice and dry etc..Enjoy AV!
i see this everywhere from cars to guns to tools and anything you can imagine its yours have fun and they can piss off.
Thanks
its your railroad build it your way, ignore the trolls .. looking good!!! 😁
Thanks, will do!
Yes agree ..love how you show so much joy in what you do …keep it up
Hey Ken, did NOT know you had this channel. Absolutely LOVE model trains!! Of course, I subscribed!
Cool, thanks! I appreciate it
Digging the concept and can't wait to see all 3 tracks with trains running on them.
Thanks
I haven't seen you done a thing wrong yet, it's a hobby, you do whatever you want. If you want to set the whole table on fire, that wouldn't be wrong either. Some people are so full of themselves, I run into it on my channel all the time too. Know it All's trying to take all the fun out of it. You do what you want Ken, we'll keep watching... I don't have the room to set one up so I like watching you do it!
Thanks
You’re the Bob Ross of model railroading Ken! 👍
Love your work.
Percentage incline is Tan of the angle multiplied by 100. Tan(θ)x100
Thanks
David
Haha thanks for the angle info
Ken it always someone that needs to take a step out of the accepted norms it’s called being creative love your ambition. Enjoy your hobbies and let your mind go wild
Haha thanks. My mind is more like spinning right now
LOL loved the blooper at the end. Not a thing wrong with being human. It's nice that you can laugh at yourself. That's very healthy, in my opinion. Hope you're not taking any criticism too serious, especially those that are disrespectful to you or offensive. Your regular viewers and subs appreciate your style and the experimental nature. It's all good to us. Just do YOU ... we love it. God bless.
Thanks. I always enjoy constructive criticism
@@Kens265 You're so good at listening and considering what commenters think. I admire that.
My husband is long time railroad modeler. He said KENS DOING GREAT!! Do as many layouts as you want because you truly learn a lot from your successes AND failures. His one tip is consider a 1/2 inch rise every 24 inches. . Also definitely check out Boomer Diorama on UA-cam. Great details
Thanks for the tips!
It's going to be great Ken. It's your setup, do it your way. 🚂
Thanks 👍
Never mind all those "experts" out there Ken. Very few people who were building their first layouts got it perfect the first time around.
Also, you may find that after you've finished your layout you'll become bored watching it just going round and round and decide that you're going to tear it all down and start a new layout from scratch. After all, building it is 90% of the fun in this hobby.
Keep up the great work and great videos!!!
Thanks
Ok Ken, I'm not a train guy but now you have me watching a train channel because I'm a maker and enjoy seeing the build.
Cheers,
Lee
Haha thanks for watching
You go for your vision, Ken. Lead the blind. i'm behind you. Happy Easter.
Thanks
It’s your layout do it for you, most modeler’s build an existing town and businesses and that part is also fun, adding buildings is right up your alley
Thanks definitely
hello Ken & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Ken & Friends Randy & Super cool Layout Ken
Thanks 👍 glad you enjoyed it Randy
I love, love, love this layout. Very much like you, I am an outside-of-the-box thinker, and I have been searching for a track plan like this for 3 years now. I hope you don't mind if I pattern my layout around the ideas you are sharing in this series of videos. My vision is to build a mountain range with 3 peaks, featuring a tall wooden trestle bridge, with a water fall behind and running under, and eventually pooling into a pond, which will also be a skating rink in front of the ski lodge at the base of the mountain. Terraced on the mountain side adjacent to the ski resort will be an alpine village, and of course there will be trains popping in and out of tunnels all over the place. Nothing very cohesive about it, but all things that I like.
Wow that sounds great. I like your ideas
Ken, I hope you accomplish everything you set out to do. Can't wait to see all 3 trains
Running!
Thanks me too. At some point I’ll have to get a 3rd locomotive
i also look for a non-traditional layout. The other day I had a visitor that wanted to see many trains running. So I made 5 loops each with a train. But your Idea is very inspiring
Thanks I can’t wait to attach track to the bed
It is YOUR layout..do what makes YOU happy and the 'naysayers' can/should just go watch someone else...giving 'constructive criticism' is one thing but telling someone they're doing it 'wrong' is...well, wrong. I like what you've done/what you're doing...enjoy!
Thanks so much
Looks great Ken. Can’t wait to see it all complete.
Thanks
It Is Looking Good when Time comes Your Gonna Have Fun building The Mountains.
Thanks
Loving the look of this, Ken!
Thanks
Good job Lauren on keeping your Dad grammatically correct!!! 😂. The train layouts are looking good. I like the suggestion that someone made about putting a kenskarpentry garage in the layout! Maybe Chad and Dan will help you build one?😮
Haha. Make one out of a 2x4
I am enjoying watching you build your new layout. i am amazed at how you can use your building skills to build a RR layout. Thanks for sharing your new layout.
Thank you very much!
I would make the far left top loop go around 360° first to clear the following crossed tracks. Nice layout.
Thanks
i like the picasso/bob ross idea very much!
Haha thanks
Just an FYI: here are the correct horn signals if you want to be prototypical. One blast of the horn means stopped. Two blasts means when stopped to move forward. Three blasts means when stopped to move in reverse. Four blasts means calling for a signal, (from your crew member on the ground.)
Thank you so much. I did not know that.
@@Kens265 2 long toots, a short one, and 2 more long toots is approaching a grade crossing.
Don't worry about what others think. This is your Railroad. Do it your way!
Thanks
Ken as a long time model railroader the suggestions I say is to help you on your layout. You need to keep your layout under 2% because the locomotives will not be able to pull a freight train.
I really do appreciate your input. I might not have realized it without that. Thanks
I am a newbie in train building. I see no mistakes!!
Good thanks for watching
Hi Ken. I love your Picasso layout. I went on the swiss railway circular viaduct at Brusio and also the railway through the Eiger to jungfraujoch
Oh wow that sounds nice b
The randomly spaced, happy little trees, look so much better.
Haha thanks
I like your ideas Ken & as far as making mistakes goes that happens all the time in model making & plenty of other jobs .
That is how you learn to correct any problems keep at it Ken top video show. Take care.
Thanks 👍
Happy Easter Ken & Family!
He has Risen!
Amen. Thanks
Your passenger cars are 1890 era during the steam locomotives of 4-4-0, 4-6-0, 2-4-2.
I didn’t know that. Thanks
I did notice one thing though. Maybe you ought to put a lid on Kia's (sp) kennel for when she develops hops. :)
That would be bad. :)
Another learning opportunity for me. Thank-you
Glad to hear it!
An aficionado...maybe. A regular guy...definitely. I love your enthusiasm. It's your RR do what ever makes you happy.
Haha thanks
Love the creative nature of your build Ken. Keep on keeping on I'm looking forward to see it progress...........
Thanks 👍
Absolutely love it! Can't wait to see more.
Yay! Thank you!
You must like puzzles 🧩, it will be interesting, and fun to watch, when it’s finished. Two trains, chickens, dog crates, tools, you’re gonna need an addition on your workshop.
Haha something’s gotta go
What matters is that you’re having fun not that you’re following some standards set by other people. When did people make having a hobby so intense and so serious. Enjoy yourself. That’s what really matters.
Thanks. I do appreciate constructive criticism
Ok people you are watching a big kid have fun, lighten up, laugh and have fun.
Haha thanks. I know they’re trying to help me learn so I appreciate it
You kill me. I just subscribed. Keep up the good work officiado, lol.
Hahahaha. Thanks
Si ce you are building a helix style layout, have you considered using threaded rods to support the curves? It would allow you to make very small adjustments to the incline if you need to. Also, I believe you can calc the grade by the Total Rise/Length of Run = % slope. Just a thought.
I looked at the threaded rid setup but money was a concern for doing that
Ken if you buy a GG1 or any double stack rolling stock. The tunnel height is 4 inches high.
I don’t know that I’ll ever do double stack. (For now)
" 2 percent" - Most people forget about the second line on the larger standard level. The second line on a level is suppose to be a 2 percent slope for gutters and other slightly sloped runoff areas. Problem is for this project, you probably need a smaller level that has the double lines. I am not sure they make the smaller ones with double lines. The ones I have don't have the second line. However, Could it be possible to mark a line using black ink or black nail polish?????????
Hmm I don’t know
There will always be rivet counters, some of them do not even have a railroad, I am 35 years in the game and enjoy what you are doing. also, If it do not work you can always change things around to make it work for You. adopt the phrase "IT IS MY RAILROAD" Cant wait for next video.
Thanks
Wow! I’ve got to see this. Crazy stuff
Haha thanks
all i know is Picasso and Bob Ross are shaken there heads right now but we know are art when we see it nice job Ken
Hahahaha I bet they are!
Grade Test:
Ken, perhaps you should set up a test on your concrete floor by putting straight track on a long board. Then run a test to see at one point does your engine fail to climb the grade that you vary during the test with X number of cars.
That would be fun
Don’t worry about what other people think does it work and are you happy with it forget what other people think
Ken! You're doing a great job! I enjoy watching your videos! I am thinking about getting started on my own HO layout, and I am trying to figure out the "Grade" problem myself. I was always of the thinking that 1% Grade is "1 Unit vertical rise, for 100 (same Unit) Units horizontal distance. (In other words, 1' rise for 100' distance) 2% grade being 2" per 100' distance etc. I was told that I would need approx 4-1/2" rise in order to have room for a track underneath. That figures to approx 250" ( horizontal distance) to climb the 4-1/2" Am I wrong? (I won't be a bit offended if I find out I'm wrong! I've been wrong before!) Thanks Ken!
I think you’re right
nice job !!!
If the result is wnat you want for your train layout... then you did it correctly.
I just advise not having any tunnel that you have to rip up scenery to get at a derailed train.
Thanks I agree especially about tunnels
You are officially the "officiant" of railroads. (I checked. It is someone such as a priest who officiates at a religious rite.) . . . There, . . . that fits. I am pleased that "we" cleaned up this "mess". Actually, Lauren is a trustworthy person. Let her be the final judge. 😮 I sure appreciate your UA-cam channel.
Thanks so much
I didn’t realise that Pablo Picasso was such a model railway fan but lots of rich celebrities (eg Rod Stewart) are also keen fans …
I’ve seen a video of Rod Stewart’s layout. Pretty cool.
@@Kens265 yes Ken, (I must say I’m having trouble getting much info on any of Picasso’s train layouts) it all seems a little abstract….😁
(But I’ll keep my ear to the ground) 😁
Don't worry about what the so-called experts have to say about the design of your railway. It's your railway - not theirs. Build it the way you want to and enjoy it. If you make mistakes, you can correct them and learn from them as well.
Thanks
If You could Have Gone to A Train Shop Find Woodland Scenery and Get those Risers and Use Them That Would Have Helped. People Build their Layouts Differently No one Layout Is The Same I May Be Wrong But the Will passion and Love will Always Tell The Tale of Your Layout no Matter What Scale your Building.
Thanks so much
Have you or the guys ever thought of building a tiny house?
Sometimes
Ken, before you know it you will have a railroad with a small shop, enjoy the hobby.
Thanks
Now this is an interesting layout Ken, are all tracks going to be linked or is it just a different track per level,
Separate tracks. Both are DC
Boston would be “across” for us (in the U.K.) 😁
Haha true
Fun build! Love the creativity.
Is there a ° to % converter?
There’s some online
Remember your trig class! (Tanθ)*100 gives the percentage grade.
hey Ken you need a Bob Ross hair do great video Ken
Ha ha ha. It would be a week.
Ken: How can it be wrong? No way and no how because it is your railroad. Suggest making templates from card board and then cut your wood. However you can do it the way you are doing it.
Good idea. Thanks
Screw 'em. Enjoy your retirement. Everyone wants to impose their beliefs on others. I'm enjoying you being you.
Haha thanks
Sorry everyone but this is fun. Thumbs up 👍
Haha thanks
A 2% grade on a railroad means that if you go 100 feet the track will rise two feet.
Need to rethink that math because 100% grade is straight up. (90 degrees) I think that 2% works out to 4.5 feet of rise in 100 feet.
2 is 2. 2 is 2% of 100. If you move 100 feet and the distance the rai rises is two feet you have gone up a 2% grade. Now figure out HO scale. 1 inch is eight feet. 12.5 inches is 100 feet in HO scale. so your HO track needs to rise a quarter of an inch.
Thanks
What's gonna be in the round holes?
Just access once the mountains are built
I believe that’s more than 2%. At 2% it should be 2 inch rise in a 10 foot span. This is what I was told.
I think you’re right
@@Kens265 just to simplify things, do all of your math in the same units (inches) instead of converting to feet or yards. Also remember that 100% grade is 90 degrees, straight up.
Rules? There are no rules!
Haha
It looks like you're setting up in one place for a grade of 3 inches in 3 feet of track run, which would be 8%. I hope I am seeing it wrongly.
Thanks I’ll be rechecking grades before I actually put down the track
dont worry what those, a, others say, do what you want, they can just look the other way
Haha I believe they’re trying to help
Ken when you take up a hobby (mainly dominated by clever 70 year olds) you must expect a fair amount of “compulsory” advice ha ha! ( I am one of those myself!) 😁
Haha I appreciate constructive criticism
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
🌴😎
🤠🚂👍
There are no rules, correct/incorrect ways of doing your layout. If you are making it to match something, then there's a certain way to do it. But if your making what you want, who cares how it's built or used. It's yours.
Thanks
It's, " afic.. aficide... aficinata".... It's "Like it a lot".
Haha
2% grade = 1" rise over a 2' run
I model streetcars and interurbans in HO.
Thanks good to know
it's your railroad do what you want it's not a judging contest
Thanks. I really do enjoy constructive criticism
👍🪻💜🇺🇸👍
At least you're getting your feet wet into the model train hobby. You have to start somewhere.
I'm sure when you started as a carpenter, you started as a novice. Keep on training 🎉
Very true! Thanks for watching
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