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I almost did not post this was a little embarrassed of the way that it looked but it is my first time.
This is my first large ho train layout. I did run an engine around a couple times it worked okay..... I know it needs work.
Probably going to add some track to the turnouts, but not real sure where just yet.
And of course things might change,
Anyways as you can tell it needs a lot of work..... Try not to laugh too much..
Right now I'm using that large power source for my turnouts .....I do have smaller transformers that I can use.... But they put out more than 16 volts.
The turnouts call for about 16 volts.
That big power unit is adjustable so for now I can adjust it to where I need to.
The people on this forum range from complete newbie's to professional modelers (don't know if that's actually true, but some of them should be). No need to be embarrassed or shy. We're here for comradery, support, to learn and enjoy.
As the others have said, you've got a great start. Keep having fun with it!
The people on this forum range from complete newbie's to professional modelers (don't know if that's actually true, but some of them should be). No need to be embarrassed or shy. We're here for comradery, support, to learn and enjoy.
As the others have said, you've got a great start. Keep having fun with it!
Thanks..... I just ordered some more track so I may change the layout a little bit more..... It's hard I'm trying to think ahead of what it might look like when it's finished with scenery and building structures
Actually, as I look at all the different (everyone else's), layouts...structures...buildings...scenery...track plans, and such, that's
where I get most of my inspiration from.
There's so many amazing train setups here, I spend a lot of time looking at all the different forum categories,
to get ideas from. I could spend hours looking at all of it (sometimes I do).
I just wish I could tell everyone what great and amazing work they do.
Also, all the knowledge...education...support...advice, that I get from everyone here is second to none.
Anyways, as I continue to slowly work on my project, I'll try to give updates of where I'm at.
And again, "thanks" for everyone's help and support.
This is my third layout since the 1970's, which included fiber-tie brass track maybe from even earlier. My main lines are nickel silver, with the old brass filling out sidings. How much corrosion brass will get depends on the humidity. You can limit it by painting the sides with clear lacquer or paint simulating rust. The top surface of the rails can be kept clear using very fine sandpaper now and then. Don't worry about it. Have fun!
I think this is closer to the layout that I am looking for. I may do some changes, probably not much though.
Anyway I did hook all the track together and ran a few laps with the engine and cars. Some of the cars did okay some did not..... Although I did put some steel wheels on some cars, and better couplings, on some cars also.
The turnouts that I have hooked up and working are the Bachmann E-Z track turnouts. The older LifeLock turnouts are not wired up yet.
As I ran the locomotive with the cars hooked up,.... And operated the electronic turnouts, things started getting complicated.
It was not as easy as I thought it would be to run the trains and to work the turnouts at the same time....WOW....
It's a good thing these were not real trains or I would have been on the 6:00 evening news......
Like I said it's a little more complicated than I realized... I need practice.
I believe I now have to lay out that I'm going to run.
I connected all my electronic turnouts, some are Bachmann E-Z, and some are the older life like.
So I run the trains on the track with the turnouts and everything seemed to work out okay.
So now I have taken everything apart, so I can start ballasting . Wow what a job
I believe as "santafewillie" once said when you're laying out your track it may take up to 3 months before you should start ballasting....... He was so correct.
After reading many articles and watching lots of YouTube videos, I am now ballasting my track.
I actually come up with my own way of doing it and it's working out okay
I'm very slow at getting things done since I don't have fine dexterity of my dominant hand.
I'll try to give an update when I get further along.
Also hoping to order some more stuff for the track soon.
I believe I now have to lay out that I'm going to run.
I connected all my electronic turnouts, some are Bachmann E-Z, and some are the older life like.
So I run the trains on the track with the turnouts and everything seemed to work out okay.
So now I have taken everything apart, so I can start ballasting . Wow what a job
I believe as "santafewillie" once said when you're laying out your track it may take up to 3 months before you should start ballasting....... He was so correct.
After reading many articles and watching lots of YouTube videos, I am now ballasting my track.
I actually come up with my own way of doing it and it's working out okay
I ballasted my ez track in my first layout. I remember having a really hard time with the sloped areas. I ended up using silicone caulk to stick the ballast to the plastic. In my case, the silicone adhered it the plywood 4 x 8 sheet so it was permanent. This was quite by accident but turned out good.
Nice thing about that, it stuck so well I could turn it sideways and also transported easy in back of my pickup truck. I actually was able to sell it for $200 back in 2013, which I thought was pretty good. Recouped a lot of my expense.
Seems like I've been working on this forever, anyways I think all of my track pieces are ballast.
.... Also I painted the side of the rails rust color and then added some rust color to the ballast on the track near the rails.
... I hope it turns out the way I have it pictured in my mind but I'm not there yet
Also I have started a lot of the back wall scenery which will be a rocky wall look, I hope that makes sense
.... I still have a lot of detailing to do yet on the rock wall finishing.
Here are some pictures of my progress. I know it doesn't look like much but it seems like it took forever.
Sorry.....For some reason the pictures will not load I keep getting a blank black picture
I'll work on it some more and try to get them to work.
As you can tell I am using the easy track system.... I still have detailing to work on when the track is put together..... Such as finishing the seams where the track joins together.
The process of ballasting this track seem to take an extremely long time of course I tried to be as precise and detailed as I could.
I saw a video where somebody added rust to their track system which made it look more natural...... That's what I tried to do hopefully it'll look decent once it's all put together.
And of course it will not let my pictures load........ again .......
