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I am going to make a shot at making a military motor pool for my layout. I wanted to find an L-shaped building, Fence, and about 10-30 1/87 military vehicles (Tanks, trucks, jeeps and the like) and turn it into a motor pool. I need some suggestions on what to buy and where to buy it at. I also need to get some help with building it. I'll keep this running until I get it built. I will let you all know when it is finished and possibly post some pictures.
Unless you are going to do a complete military installation, you'll find the motor pools take up a LARGE amount of space. I recommend doing something like a national guard/reserve armory. Drill halls where I've been usually have a large center structure (with tall doors) and two wings of offices and other rooms. Most of the ones across the South were designed or built by the same people.
Which era are you looking for? Walthers has some military stuff.
Well actually, I was going for a complete military installation. That's why I wanted to do the motor pool. I am actually looking for an early 1990's to 2000's era, so pretty modern. I was going to have a military base and then run two lines between a military base and a small town just outside of the base. What do I search for to find military stuff on Walthers?
Army, or military.
Not to be rude but you seem to be all over the place as ideas come to you. Why don't you start by reading Chip's guide
http://www.chipengelmann.com/trains/Beginner/BeginnersGuide01.html getting a trackplan down and then start to worry about structures and such. To start off, what do you currently have, as far as track, engines, and controls (dcc, power pack) If you are strapped for cash you may want to work with what you already got. What space do you have to work with?
Well yes, I am strapped for cash so that is a good idea. Okay so here is what I have. I have a 36" X 36" board and a 36" circle of track. I am hopefully going to be coming into some more track, via my parents, to expand with. I have a Model Power train set with nothing extra but about 4-5 cars and a small santa fe locomotive. It came with a single transformer that says "Model Power" on it. I have been looking for some cost-effective locomotives and rolling stock on their website. But that is all that I already have. I already read all of Chip's guide. I will have no idea of track plans until after christmas, but until then I just have that 36" circle of track. Btw, I have a very crappy terminal track, do you know where I could get a better one as well as about 50 sets of knuckle couplers?
Most of us don't use terminal tracks, we just solder the power wires to the rail. What exactly is "crappy' abut your terminal track? For a 3 foot circle of track, just about anything will work.
Again, no offense, but Model Power train sets are about the lowest quality engines and cars you can get. At this point, just be happy running the train on the circle until you come up with a solid layout theme and solid track plan. Get the book I suggested and start reading. You need to slow down until you have both money and a plan. For example, why do you need 50 sets of knuckle couplers? The cheapest price you'll pay for 50 Kadee #5 couplers is about $60 including shipping. This is without coupler boxes, just the couplers and the centering springs. You don't even have a decent locomotive yet. What possible need could you have for 50 couplers?
BTW, how old are you? Are you completely dependent on your parents for funding or do you have or can your get a job on your own?
Kadee knuckle couplers are pretty much the standard and work great but there are more economical options such as these
http://wondertrail.com/hobbies-coll...er-shank-medium-bachmann-model-tra/p_342.html but they can be tricky to install. If you have couplers that are mounted to the trucks it is a real pain to install them. Why do you need so many? Model Power isn't the best of brands. I usually will search ebay for used better brand locos. Getting a trackplan or atleast solid ideas of what you want are the first step. You can't make scenery, and build buildings if you don't know how much space you have. Don't know if you have seen these but here are some trackplans for a 4x8 sheet of plywood.
http://www.chipengelmann.com/Trains/4x8Contest.html Just trust me, I've been there, you will get bored with a circle, it may take a months, it may take a year, but it WILL happen.
edit: yes i repeated what jim said alot, Im a slow typer and he beat me to it
Well to start with, your right. Model Power is kinda crappy. I talked to another model railroader and he said to get a different terminal track because mine is basiclly a piece of poop. If I could I would use solder but can't for two reasons. Reason 1: I don't have a soldering gun. Reason 2. I don't know how to use a soldering gun anyways. I am working on the book, but my mom won't frieking stop playing her "westward II" and she has to pay for it because of my empty pockets. I wanted knuckle couplers so that I can change over my E-Z Couplers and put the knuckle couplers on so that they are compatible with more than just Model Power trains. I was estimated when I said about
50, that was just a figure so that I can make a half-decent attempt at figuring this out. Ugh. I think that I bit off more than I could chew. My parents were looking at price when they bought me my train set, not quality. Dang it. I wish I had been there with them so I could help them pick one out, but normally you aren't supposed to be there when parents are buying you a gift.
Generall rule of thumb: There is no good train set. You are better off to spend a little more, get some atlas track, a used athearn engine, and a used mrc power pack. I'm all for free so heres a ton of info that will help you get a much better understanding (4 free!)
http://www.nmra.com/beginner/consist.html
Brian, don't be discouraged. It takes time and we learn as we go along. The advice to take it slow is very good and solid. Make a plan in general only as to what you want to accomplish, figure out the cost, and start small. As time goes on, you will be able to add items when you can purchase them. I don't know anyone that just goes out and buys it all at once; no one can afford that. Meantime, study all you can by reading books, forum posts, and try to keep up with the latest developments.
How am I supposed to get a USED Athearn engine, and what for atlas track? I can't navigate Atlasrr.com so I gave up on their website a while ago. I have the NMRA website you posted bookmarked already. I am only happy with my Model Power train set because it was a present. But if I had been with them, they would have been a little broker than what they probably were when they got my train set. What is an mrc? Is it a transformer? I am hopefully gonna get more track, I think I said that already though. If I get more track, i'll be able to come up with a solid track plan. I really only want an oval with a small track siding. If I get what I need and/or want, I will need a lot of help from you people. Just keep that in mind.
Wow, this topic has gone way off, well, topic! I'm not discouraged, just a little confused because I can't do half of the stuff that I want to be able to do with my layout because of the track that I have. What I want to accomplish is a small passneger/ shipping industry between a small military base and a little village. Then slowly build up my base and my village as I get more money. I didn't plan on getting everything at once. I was going to start with structures. The only reason for me making this thread was so I could get some ideas as to how I could make a military motor pool for my base. I wanted to try some kitbashing too. But, now i'm getting worked up because I can't afford diddly-squat for my layout.
Can't you do work around the house or neighborhood to earn some money? When I was a young boy, I cut yards and bought all my fishing gear, model kits, etc. It's all a matter of how bad you want to enjoy this hobby.
Just a suggestion: you have several threads going and keep switching your direction in each one. Stay with one thread and we may be able to help you better.
Why are you starting with the structures? How do you know how big to make them or if they will even fit. You wouldn't want to spend alot of time and money on something that doesn't fit. Also plan on spending anywhere from 5 to 30 dollars per military vehicle.
Okay. That's a good idea. How did you know about all of my threads though? Anyways.
Mike: I found a really nice locomotive that I like. It is a BNSF locomotive by Athearn. Not a bad price either. It was like $8.00 or something. Not a bad price at all. Here is the web address if you want to see it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/H-O-Scale-Athea...0|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50
If you can't just click it, copy and paste it into your address bar. Oh. Please, if you check it out, let me know how much time is on it.
When you click on your name you can find all posts and threads started by someone. It has like 6 days left and one bid so it could go higher. It is listed as very usable and very good condition but it is sold as is. I will let someone else chime in with there opinion about it. Personally I would stay away from something that doesnt straight up say it works.
I checked it out. All-in-all, a very nice locomotive. I tried to talk my mom into getting it for me, because I looked at how much time was left, and she said "Well I have to talk to your stepdad about it first." He's sleeping so I won't see it happening until tomorrow. I tried asking her to take it out of whatever she is putting towards my christmas presents and she said maybe. So I may be getting a locomotive from Ebay for Christmas!
Before you bid on it let someone else chime in with there opinion. It looks nice to me but i would hate for you to get that ocasional bad loco and it be my fault =)
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