Hello from a Newbie


P

PittBull

New Member
Good morning everyone.
I just found and joined the forum. I have just started to build an N scale layout on a 48"x72" plywood base. I bought a train collection from an estate sale listed on Craig's List. I have tested all the locos, about 25, and all but 2 run quite nicely on the test track. A couple are noisier than than the others. Several of these were purchased in 1977 and all came in their own boxes as did the plethora of cars. I also have plenty of code 80 flex track. I had to buy joiners and two turn-outs. I will be testing my soldering skills this weekend. Then deciding how complicated a layout I want to go for.

I am trying to decide if I want to lay down foam board or not. I'd like to dampen as much sound as possible. I will admit that I am a little overwhelmed in the planning process. So if you all have any opinions or suggestions, I'm all ears.

Thanks in advance.
 
Welcome to the forum. Sound like you are off to a good start. You might try lubricating, very lightly the noisy locomotives. If they are the ones from the 70's, there may be no help for them. I had a large N scale layout back then and ended up moving to HO at that time because of the poor running locomotives at the time and lack of choices for road names. The new N scale locomotives are really nice running units compared the what was available in the 70's.
 
Welcome to the forums, glad to have you onboard.

You found the best forum on the web, thanks for sharing your hobby with us!
 
Welcome to the Forums. I'm sure you'll like it here; there are plenty of experienced and friendly modelers here that are willing to help with just about anything concerning model railroading.

A couple of other sites you should check out are http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine and http://www.spookshow.net/trainstuff.html. Model Railroad Hobbyist is a monthly E-zine that is completely free and has a wealth of info for projects of all kinds. Spookshow is a compilation of info for N scale locos and rolling stock. You can find out about almost any N scale loco made and any good or bad qualities it may have.
 
Hi BitBull,
Welcome to the forums, glad to have you. There is a considerable amount of info to be had on here. I'm one of the Old Timers when it comes to MRR'ing but am in HO rather than N Scale.

First thing I like to mention is that it's 'Not a good idea to solder all rail connections', maybe solder two 3' sections together but leave the the conectors on either side of that Un-Soldered for expansion and contraction buy leaving at least a 1/16th" gap and don't solder to Switches so they can be removed easily in case you decide you want to change their location as you progress along.

Also, if your planning on having a large one piece table like you mentioned the reach over is going to become cumbersome if you have many tracks that are more than 30" from the edge. This is a well established rule for a more enjoyable layout.

So if your planning a 48" x 72" or a 4'x6' layout your going to need at least 2' on all sides for easy access or an total area of 8' x 10' or there about. Either way that is the approximate space your going to take up. Why not just build an around the wall layout that you operate from the middle area. That's what I and many others on here have and it really enjoyable to follow the trains around the layout with a hand throttle. You get a lot more running area and overall track length and it's much more enjoyable to work on as well as operate! Give it some serious thought!

Here are three very interesting examples of what you can do, but these are in HO scale so you'd be able to do just about twice as much in 'N' Scale.

Byron Henderson is a model railroad designer whose web site shows some examples that are much more interesting than an 4x8 rectangle but fit in the same space.
You might want to check out his website and see if he offers anything speifically for 'N' Scale.

http://www.layoutvision.com/id57.html
http://www.layoutvision.com/id56.html
http://www.layoutvision.com/id58.html
 
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