Pretty New but this is what I have...

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M

Magma

New Member
So im new to model railroads, kinda obvious thats for sure...I had 2 train sets as a kid nothing special just little kid sets.

So last night I went to the local Hobby shop and started looking, I spent probably 2 hours in the store just looking at everything from the BIG sets to the little tiny cant even tell its a train scale sets.

I ended up looking through all the HO scale sets to find one in a nice price range I could start with.

I picked up a HO scale set with 12pcs of 18" radius EZ track, then I bought 2 bumpers, 1pk of 4 straight pcs, left and right switch and 1 more pack of curve track.

My design was from the back of the box and pretty simple. I got it all setup in about an hour, few tweaks with some track and it was good to go. Love it.

No from here I really want to start to design a larger track with more routes and possibly an extra train, or at least more than the 4 cars I have already. (well 3 cars and on engine).

So what I was wondering is there a place or software I can buy to help me design a layout for the train so I can at least slowly work on expanding the area for the train.

Space is not to big of an issue as I have about 10ft by 20ft area to work in. (yah the wife gave me the whole basement :D)

Also what are things I should be looking for when im building?
 
Welcome to the forum - and to The Hobby!:)

Are the walls of your basement unobstructed? If so, you can fit a lot more by doing an around-the-walls shelf layout. If there's any possible way to avoid it, do NOT go with a 4x8 - might be super-fast to build, but also super-limited as to the types of trains you can operate!

As for software, there is a really great shareware tool called XtrkCAD that many forum members use, myself included. It's downloadable from online (give me a few minutes to find the link), and very easy to learn IF you do the tutorial exercises first.

One of our members, SpaceMouse, has published an interesting document on his web site called the "Beginner's Guide to Layout Design". Very informative, as well as entertaining - I've read and re-read it a few times even though my layout is already built (notice I didn't say "finished" ;) ). The link is clickable from his signature.
 
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Ok here is a picture of our basement...well kinda anyways

Orange area is what I have to build in for sure.

The 3 Squares are Washer/Dryer and the cat box

big black circle is the hot water tank.

The stairs kinda divide the rooms a bit but there are also 2 other rooms which connect at the top through open support beams.

the long beam down the middle of the room is kinda a support wall thats not finish..its just open beams of 2x4's
 


Welcome aboard Magma, i'd try to get the walls done first if they want anything doing structural or decrotive, blue is good for a basic sky background colour, go for a light blue though,,, then whatever you do at least the background makes it look great.
 
I love mountain layouts so I want to work something like that, and I always loved yards of trains just waiting to leave.

Thinking maybe a moutain track with some areas I can stop and add cars etc.

I dont know if anyone here knows alot about the CPR here in Canada but I love some of the grain cars/oil cars we have here. So I kinda want to go with that route.
 
I can figure out the program but I cant for the life of me figure out the scale...so I have this so far...

Small yard kinda thing at the bottom,

In the middle I can put a Grain or Loggin Area, I have a Tower and some buildings at the yard..rest I dunno
 
Magma said:
I can figure out the program but I cant for the life of me figure out the scale...
Click to expand...

To select the scale, go to the top menu bar and choose Options -> Layout:

XtrkCAD_scale_01.gif


...a small Layout Options dialog box will appear, at the bottom-left corner is a listbox where you choose your scale:

XtrkCAD_scale_02.gif


BTW - the room dimensions are specified in inches, not feet
 
OK, I managed to find a couple of 10 x 20 feet layouts, maybe these will give you an Idea, here's the first one, this is a very mountainous area.

Plan_87.jpg


And this is a very heavy layout with mountainous area

Plan_86.jpg


If you like any and would need a bigger plan, send me your contact and I will be able to send it to U.
 
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wow lol thats huge! I dunno if I would start off that big though...I mean yes I have the space but I think maybe I would go something smaller..maybe something longer rather than wider.

Like few feet by 10 feet I dunno if that is possible...like 3ft x 10ft
 
LOL, U said U had 10 x 20 foot space to use and I found U what would fit in there :P. but as CSX_road_slug suggested don't go for 4 x 8 feet or under, U will regret it later. I have a 4 x 8 layout, I don't regret I made it, but I wish I started a bigger layout. I will try to find U some other layouts approx the size U want, something like a 6 x 12 would be good I think.
 
Yah I mean I hate to say it but yes I do have a limited income so to gather enough track alone would take a few pay checks. But Smaller that I can expand on is what I want.

And were are you getting those layouts from?
 
And were are you getting those layouts from?
Click to expand...

Actually I have a book which I bought years ago when I planned to start my layout, and I bought it to use only one plan from it :P

I hate to say it but yes I do have a limited income
Click to expand...

This is a hobby and not work, it doesn't have a deadline, U can start by putting up the mainline, check that its connected well and while time passes and U buy more things for it, you could also be able to run your trains on it, then by time as U get more cash for it, U can add the other lines and sidings. Not even people who have good cashflow won't finish it quickly. If I remember correctly Rod Stewart took 8 yrs to finish his :P even though he has a HUGE layout, he also took his time, he could have hired many people to work on it and finish it quickly :)
 
yah it was 50$ for the whole thing.

I really like the design of the Loco though and I want to keep that and just add 2 more as the main unit if possible.
 
Maxitrains said:
This is a hobby and not work, it doesn't have a deadline, U can start by putting up the mainline, check that its connected well and while time passes and U buy more things for it, you could also be able to run your trains on it, then by time as U get more cash for it, U can add the other lines and sidings. Not even people who have good cashflow won't finish it quickly. If I remember correctly Rod Stewart took 8 yrs to finish his :P even though he has a HUGE layout, he also took his time, he could have hired many people to work on it and finish it quickly :)
Click to expand...


I agree with Max completely this is a hobby. Design the layout you want and just go at it slow. It doesn't have to be completed in a months time. Just get some track up and play with your engine as you go to enjoy it and test at the same time, but mainly to enjoy it. I finally have all of my track wired up for the most part and I started last May. My layout is only 8'x10' but it's still fun to run the engine and setup trains in the yard even if I don't have a lick of scenery done.
 
HI,

I'm jumping in late, I know. Use the EZ track as test and break in track for new locos. EZ track is good to get started, but not so good for a larger project. Think in terns of flex track.

I built a nice layout using EZ track which I destroyed because I got tired of compensating for EZ tracks short-comings.

Run the XtrkCAD tutorial. It will save you hours of grief trying to figure things out. The main thing is you have to orientate yourself to how to think about your design.
 


I finally have all of my track wired up for the most part and I started last May
Click to expand...

LOL I still haven't wired it as it should and I started it 8 yrs ago :P

LOL ( had to put it aside for other urgent reasons for at least 5 years )
 
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