The only commment i'd like to make is no one will find any better help that what we have at Trainboard. Secondly there is no one better that I have come across when it comes to knowledge than our own WATASH. That reply was outstanding, we certainly do appreciate our members and mods and watash reply is second to none. Thanks Wayne
BELG, That certainly was an unusual way to attract attention to your posting and I'm still not sure that I agree with your tactics.......BUT.... it appears to have worked and with WATASH on your case I'm certain that you will find the answers to all your questions. I second all of the Colonel's comments. Best wishes, John
And now for something completely different: I don't know how far along you are in construction but may I suggest the Kalmbach book N Scale Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby? It covers almost every aspect of the hobby and includes a layout construction article that looks like it is easy to follow. I don't remember if it has an over/under bridge crossing tho. I model HO so I have only flipped through this book at hobby shops. BTW I don't recommend creating your own track plan for your first layout. I say this because I planned my first layout and it was a disaster. Going with a published plan is a much better idea - particularly one that includes a construction article.
Rob The Australian influence was very prominant in your reply. As I was scrolling down through this bizzare thread I thought of only one thing, N Scale Model Railroading: Getting Started in the Hobby I purchased this for a girl friend of a friend last year, they now are creating there own Nscale empire for SP, anyway, this book has all you need, I urge you Belg to make this investment, It is a great book and can only be an asset for both you and your son. The best lecturer at UNI I had said to reead is good, to see a pic is better, but to do is the essence. The guys who offer advice here can only offer so much in this limited medium, If you then can refer to a certain procedure in a book, this may clear the way for you. Good Luck, remember, everyone was once a begineer.
Belg, may I suggest you think about how I handled this with my son? I'll tell you anyway!HA! You have a basic loop, which is easy to wire, and easy to lay. Your son is already impatient, but there is some things he can do while you are at work that will help both of you. He will learn responsibility, as well as craftsman ship, and he will gain the pride of accomplishment as he goes along. As he learns, he will become self-assured. The quicker you get something running the better it will be for both of you. You will lose interest if you try to lay all the track, turnouts, and do all the wireing before an engine can even be tried out on the layout, see? As drawn, your layout has three yard tracks and one spur track that have to be level. That is where I suggest you start. My reason is, you can lay the center yard track, and the two turnouts, the track that goes over the tunnel and another turnout and the spur track. Drill holes and solder wires as you go. Connect up the turnouts so an engine could run from the end of this center yard track all the way to the end of the spur track. Now stop and hook up your power pack and start testing by running an engine. You will be excited, and you will be able to more easily correct any oh-oh's as you go. By the time you have the bugs worked out, and the wiring hooked up on the turnouts correctly, and know where you need blocks, you will have half the layout that is somewhat hard to do; done! You will be running trains all this time too! Then start the next yard track and hook it up to its turnout you have already laid. Now you can switch a car! Then do the next yard track, and on and on, one day you will be done! Time will pass before you realize it. Your son will also learn patience as he becomes more understanding of how much work and expense is involved. By the way, what is your son's name? He may have some comments too! I will use a heavy line for lower level through tunnels, and a fine line for tracks going over tunnels, that will help keep them separate. You may wish to alter the routing, see? I will just draw whatever will fit for now. You will have to tell me what radius you will use for your curves, and how long your turnouts measure. That sort of info you can e-mail to me off line rather than take up space here, then I'll post your diagram for fellow members to see as you go along, if you wish. That way, they can help by spotting any mistakes or trouble spots before track is laid. That is if you decide to go this way, of course. wdtrains@applink.net
Wayne, I already have a suggestion by the way the plan looks great. I you were to angle the L rather than a 90 degree angle, would make the bridge less severe. What I maen is come back 18 inches on both edges and put a straight endge across those points, the bridge would most likely be straight
OK the drawing above is the latest version as of 5-30-01. Belg turns out to be quite a craftsman and a professional in electrical stuff. I am just doing some document drawings for him and his son Lil'Belg. I wont steal their thunder, but let them tell you all about their layout as they go. I think they are making decisions now about using tressles, bridges, tunnels, or viaducts where one double track crosses over another. Their mainline is all double tracked, so quite impressive. They seem to have no operating problems with grades or turn radii. They are finishing the wiring controls and are ready for finishing the scenery. NOTE: The drawing above has been up dated! [ 30 May 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
