Geeky, thanks. Check it out at http://sopacincg.com The idea of the layout is to prove that someone CAN build a functional, fun layout for not a lot of cash. Everything that I have done on it has been for UNDER $500. My buildings are computer paper mock-ups, I have an unfinished Walthers ADM grain elevator. I am close to scratch building buildings....and as I said about the OP's area, N Scale might be a better option.
After switching from HO to N 18 years ago now I'm switching back to HO. I've gotten increasingly frustrated with N scales shortcomings is many areas like detail, proportions, couplers, ride height, sound, ect. And have been drooling at the new generation of HO RTR highley detailed stuff for years. I originally went to N scale like many did because I didn't have a lot of layout space and liked running long trains, well I still don't have a lot of layout space but I belong to a club with a huge HO layout. I have a ton of N scale equipment so it was a very hard decision to make but in the end I just wasn't too happy with N scale anymore, and I really enjoyed running my new HO trains with sound and all the details I dreamed of. Now the hard part has begun, selling off a huge collection of N scale.
Welcome back to HO as most know I sold my whole N scale collection earlier this year and am currently building up my new HO collection before building my layout next year. Al my new purchased locomotives are DCC with sound. I have two GP9's currently being shipped to me which takes my loco collection too 6. Look forward to seeing what layout you design, keeps us informed
im also thinking about HO. cant decide what track to use since I have none. Bachmann ez track any good? I like a bigger curve than 18 inch radius and noticed they have a decent selection. 12x12 around the walls big enough?
I am using EZ track on a medium size layout and like it. Of course, I am not into laying track, yet. The Nickel-Silver EZ is a good conductor. I am getting ~2.5 volt droop after ~17 feet with ~1.5 amp load. Most of my track was bought used in bulk, which I highly recommend. For a large layout you will want to have spares. Their quality control is suspect in my book, especially on the turnouts. But many of the turnout problems can be fixed without great difficultly. Don’t get into filling the points until you are sure a derailing problem is not due to coupler pins catching on the movable rails or trucks not moving freely. Bob
thanks bob I was surprised how big of a selection they have. looks like it can be ballasted as well to look better. wished it was code 83 though. I assume its code 100. thanks again, steve
I don’t use the EZ track re-railers. All of mine have a design/production flaw that makes the re-railing fail most of the time. Also my 4-8-4 J steam engine slows down going over several of them. Bob
