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 Posted - December 07 2009 : 10:22:34 AM
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21 years ago, I disassembled my train layout to convert the room into a nursery for my first born. I boxed up my trains (mostly Tyco) and moved on. During that time I have enjoyed the birth of my 2 daughters, building a new home, building a business, scuba-diving all over the world, and getting remarried.
During the last 5 years I have been collecting (mostly Tyco). I have enjoyed fixing and reboxing engines (closed to 300) and cars (over 1000). This is all I could manage with limited space.
My 20 year old daughter moved out of the house during the summer, which means one thing....
The time has come to build a completely new layout.
Of course lots of things have changed in 20 years. I have plenty of chioces to make at this point.
I do know the following:
Room size is 18 FT X 22Ft. I would like to stick to DC at this point, it is my understanding DCC can be added later with major changes. I would like to incorporate a mountain in order to have a loop, higher. Also include a dock area to model ships also. Everything else is up for discussion.
Track plan: up in the air at this point. I need to find some software or start drawing.
Track... should I use the tons of track i have (all different manufactures) or go buy new track?
I enjoy hands on building, I am not a rivit counter or even care about prototypical layouts or even a certain era. The best layout is never completed.
Should I make the layout modular? I might sell out in 5-6 years and move south.
I do realize that choices made at this point could effect the future.
Any input would be helpful.
Let the fun begin.
Neil
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Posted - December 07 2009 : 10:31:49 AM
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH - you're just like me, nice big layout room and starting out!!
Personally I say make it SEMI-modular. The more modular it is, the harder it is to get the electrical connections right.
If you've got the money, longer sections of silver-nickel flex track are better. If you use proper connectors to join different kinds of track and lots of wiring, you can cobble track together just fine - I've done that for years.
You can put it together NOW and then start fixing the things that you dislike, which may be different than the things you THINK you dislike.
Post lots of pictures.
Rus
Starting my Tyco and other favorites collection over again after 37 years.
My still in progress list of inventory and wantlist: tyconut.com
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Posted - December 07 2009 : 10:48:38 AM
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Hey Rus,
I am not sure what you mean by semi-module. I do not need to move it like a club to event after event. I would like to plan it so that I take it apart and put back together. I was thinking of doing the framing in 3' X 6' sections. I used to solder the joints together.... does anyone do that anymore?
Neil
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Posted - December 07 2009 : 12:54:51 PM
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I still solder my joints AND wire each section. Probably overkill, but I tend to overbuild.
3'x6' sections is probably wise if you think you might move. Since I know I'm never moving again in my life, my layout will be permanent. I'm actually putting up some of the shelving in the train house this week for the train to run around the tops of the rooms, besides the layout room.
My framing underneath is BOLTED together. I HATE nails, and use screws whenever possible, bolts if I can do them instead of screws.
Rus
Starting my Tyco and other favorites collection over again after 37 years.
My still in progress list of inventory and wantlist: tyconut.com
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Posted - December 07 2009 : 1:02:56 PM
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Neil, I think he's saying don't build the benchwork as one huge interconnected piece. I'm planning right now so I've been making various decisions in the past month and I can relate to some of the stuff your going through (my last HO layout was when I was at least 10 years ago, its a new ballgame for me now). But getting back to the modular thing, I have roughly a 8x11 space to play with. So in that regards I'm going to try to do the whole thing in 3 large sections. Again I never plan to move it, but down the road it will be much easier to take apart if it comes apart in manage size chunks rather than on huge 8x11 mass.
I can't really say on sodlering the track, some people swear by it and others don't. Personally my plan is to run a feeder line under the length of the track and give power to as many sections as possible. This will give much better contact for the engines and will rely less on the loose track connectors. I might try solder on some of the joints though if it will let the locos run smoother over them.
I don't have much track so I'm just going with as much nickel silver as I need. As far as turnouts I'm currently looking into Peco. You can easily get away with a cheaper option like Atlas. It should work just as good if your not going to plan your track work accordingly.
I reason I'm going nuts over wiring every bit of track, using nickel silver, and more expensive turnouts is a direct result of the layout I'm on now (see post: The rental layout). My friend's layout is 20+ years old, and its amazing the differences we have in the newer track sections vs the older stuff (brass). We have a section of old brass switches are so pounded to death its amazing the smaller locos get over them at all sometimes (detrailments are common). You can actaully watch some of the locos speed up as they go come off brass track and onto a new nickel silver section. And I forget the exact length of the one mainline, but it has two power feeder wires for the whole thing. Its one of the things keeping us from trying DCC at this point since it would be a huge deal to get power to more of the sections. I don't want to come off critial of any certian techique or way of building. I just don't to have the same running issues when I build my own layout ya know?
Anywho sorry about the rant. Like I said I've been researching alot lately to keep the issues I have with the rental layout to a minimal. 18x22 is a good size space so when you get a draft of the plans drawn up please post it!
Edited by - ChrisC on December 07 2009 1:07:14 PM
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Posted - January 11 2010 : 4:11:00 PM
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Modular is often about constructiing. As in I can build this section now and operate a bit on it then add another and opearate on them both and well you get the idea, rather than endless benchwork and no operating till it's done...
The other thing is permanent is not a human characteristic; modulor is.
Just my thoughts.
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
Edited by - romcat on January 11 2010 5:42:24 PM
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Posted - January 22 2010 : 09:31:51 AM
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I have decided to go with modules. At the moment, i'm thinking 3' X 6' sections and each section will be a different season, or scene. I am thinking of having standard 2 tracks on the outside edge of each section the will connect with another section and each section will have a siding of some sort. that way if i get bored I can replaced a section or swap them around to change the layout. I would be able to run 2 trains. One that goes around the outside track and the inside track would be for the sidings.
Seams kind fo basic, but I dont belong to a club, i dont runs the trains like a real one. My interests are in building and modifying, repairing engines. If i filled the space i have with a permanant setup, then what do i do.
Any thoughts?
Neil
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Posted - January 22 2010 : 3:55:01 PM
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To me a good layout is one I can finish.
Its important to me I can make operations and switching cars.
Running the train only in circles is boring to me.  - Erich
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Posted - February 07 2010 : 12:00:35 AM
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quote:To me a good layout is one I can finish.
Originally posted by Erich-January 22 2010: 3:55:01 PM
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For me it would be one I can start 
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Posted - February 07 2010 : 11:55:36 AM
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| when you get a chance Post some pics of your layout sdiver101
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