Large Scale Central

Hi to All, new Blood in Water

General Discussion
#21

I agree with Greg. Take your time and figure out what you want to do.

Why did you choose this hobby? Do you want to build models? Does operations appeal to you? Do you just enjoy watching trains? Do you want to operate trains by switching out cars?

Are you into high tech stuff? Do you love fiddling with electronics? Or more into mechanical stuff? Or, not want to bother with either?

Do you want to sit and watch, or follow along while the train moves?

Don’t worry about reverse loops if your initial plan is just a loop.

Can you visit some other folks in the area and see what they have done? Does it appeal to you or not?

We can give you all sorts of advice, but until we find out what YOU like, it won’t mean diddly.

#22

Welcome to the forum. Lot’s of knowledgeable folks here to help ya. Later RJD

#23

welcome.

all the answers you got this far are wrong… - and right. it depends… on you. and on you alone.

i know just one rule, that is universal: it is (will be) your railway. it has to please you! (well, and the missus…)

you must ask yourself some questions. once answered, we others can help you with details.

let’s see…

are you fat? - if you are really fat, everything lower than table high won’t please you for long. even, if you’ve got just a little beer barrel to carry around, will it be fun to kneel, if you have to draw your weight up again?

so, if you are not a skinny little squirrel, maybe buying just half as much track for starters, and using the spare money for some bricks or cement blocks to build a “provisional” (normally seven years or longer) elevation, could help you to stay interested.

are you lazy? - easy chair, sixpack, straw hat, observing trains go round? then go plain old DC analogue.

are you a passionate gardener? - just wanting trains as addition to your lovely garden? seeing trains go round, while you mow the lawn, weed, plant… same: plain old DC.

do you like to play? - freight yard, fiddling up and down to build up trains, or break them down? then you need some control. either DCC or battery with RC.

do you love your soldering iron? interested to learn, how your toys look on the inside? - go battery.

what do you want to see? trains snaking between your tulips and your roses? - level zero is yours.

or do you like trains passing on or below a gigantic trestle? - grades and elevations are in your future.

track:

specially in 1:29 the standard (332) brass track will look oversized. smaller track or even 332 SS track will look better - at a price.

on the other hand, if you do not plan to become filthy rich in the near future, standard brass track looks just fine.

the cheapest way to get track is hunting down R1 curves. (those, that make a four foot diameter circle)

most of my track are re-bent R1 curves. three dollar or less per foot is a normal price for them. sometime you might even get the jackpot… a dollar per foot!

oh, and don’t copy my mistake - building an huge layout, that never gets done!

#24

oh, and don’t copy my mistake - building an huge layout, that never gets done!

Korm, that is usually my advice to anyone starting out, build small and add on later.

#25

Maynard, maybe three centuries ago when you bought your brass track it might not have been a wash, but in today’s track market the cost of track is high. As for RC, one TX, one RX, one battery in a trail car with a pigtail between will power alot of locos without robbing Fort Knox to get it done. Over time, depending on the TX purchased, RX’s and batteries can be added to individual locos as time and funding is available. Last I looked I could buy two receivers for the cost of 10 feet of track. My decision has already been made to convert all locos to battery power funds allot. Brass track has exceeded my cost threshold so aluminum rail is in my future. I will maintain the brass loop for visitors on track power.

My world, not everyone else’s.

#26

Bob, I see your point. And to add to your point I didn’t buy brass track, I bought stainless steel track. I would hate to think what it would cost to buy that much stainless track in today’s market.

But, to add to my point, streetcars do not haul boxcars. I run 2 trains at a time (usually), and automatic station stops can be done on RC/battery, but with more expense and difficulty then just running a few extra wires and hooking up 4 relays.

As in all things model railroad, its a personal decision on what people choose to run, standard gauge, narrow gauge, broad gauge, steam, diesel, DC track, DCC, Battery/RC, live steam, hampster power, or clockwork.

Edit for spell check, again. And to say I am not quite as old as all that.

#27

Take your time, as above posts suggest! There are many, many variables (mismatches) of equipment size and buildings as well. My ‘Island’ buildings range from 1:20 to 1:32, vehicles as well, people too (we are all sizes so this is a plus).

It is hard to stay with one manufacturer, undoubtably you are going to come across something that tickles your fancy and obtain–then you have to exercise caution. Some items can be used together, i.e., MTH 1:32 Challenger or Hudson with ARISTO heavyweight passenger cars; or a mismatch of hopper cars (height etc.) look at old pictures of RR consists will help.

Welcome aboard, enjoy!

#28

OK thanks for all the answers, Lets see if I can add info and whatnot. Greg, I have been to your site and think it is a wealth of information and thank you for it. As far as the proposed right of way Once I figure out how to post some pictures I will add them. I live in a normal? subdivision with a approximately 20 x 70 yard, with a pool in one half, and a side yard where a 12-15 foot loop can go. Also there is a nice 2 ft tall planter by 3-4ft wide along the back wall so I can have track up and down it and add interest with bridges and such. There is many plants and greenery for them to hide behind Track, I chose brass because of where I am planning the ROW there will be the possibility of grandkids tromping on it. so even though 332 is big I think its best.

As far as power source you all gave some good information, I am leaning toward battery but may just have the first one on track power just to get things rolling. I would like to plan sidings so I can go play by myself but like someone suggested there will be time to just let a train roll around.

I had a Lionel train growing up, so to me track power means 1 train at a time, DCC cures that problem, but how much extra stuff does it need to operate besides the actual transformer to power the tracks? I guess my first purchase should be Kevin’s books. Thanks for the help, Pete

#29

DCC needs the booster, some have a separate central station, handheld controller and decoders in each locomotive. I am adapting to DCC in the HO world, so I know just enough about DCC to be dangerous.

#30

Pete Lassen said:

Track, I chose brass because of where I am planning the ROW there will be the possibility of grandkids tromping on it. so even though 332 is big I think its best.

Yep

#31

now to figure out how to put a picture on here

#32

You will want to upload the pictures to some sort of web host. On here is the easiest as Bob provides each member a Freight Shed for just such storage. The key is you will need it to be on a web based storage area so that it will have a URL. Then you will open that picture and copy the Link location not the picture itself but the URL. Then in your posts on here open the little picture Icon and paste the URL. Sounds easy well it is but for some reason it took me forever to figure it out. It really isnt hard.

#33

Pete Lassen said:

now to figure out how to put a picture on here

If Rooster can do anybody can! Shut up rooster! ( Humor)

This should help: http://largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/20241/picture-posting-help-for-rick-marty

#34

Devon Sinsley said:

You will want to upload the pictures to some sort of web host. On here is the easiest as Bob provides each member a Freight Shed for just such storage. The key is you will need it to be on a web based storage area so that it will have a URL. Then you will open that picture and copy the Link location not the picture itself but the URL. Then in your posts on here open the little picture Icon and paste the URL. Sounds easy well it is but for some reason it took me forever to figure it out. It really isnt hard.

Devon, yea, I had a bear of a time showing a member how to post pictures on another forum. Once he got it, he posted 3 or 4, then he forgot how to do it. Its not hard, but there are a few steps involved.