My first layout HO scale

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Great pictures, thanks for sharing them and don't worry, we don't take attendance.

I'd like to see some pictures of more of your buildings when you get a chance.
 
The real work as now started.

For the last 3 days, I've been working on the roadbed and some tracks for the stock yard. The gluing for both have been done.

View attachment 46920
View attachment 46921
View attachment 46923

Also stared working on the container yard

View attachment 46922

Last night took a break to watch some videos of "how to" and I think I was a bit to meticulous in my roadbed setup

Now for some questions:

1) How do you call that thing at the end of a railroad to stop the cars? I need to buy some, but don't know what order

2) Lots of people talk about testing the tracks, I did with a freight car, but most do it with a locomotive. I presume the wiring is done to be able to do so, right?

3) What gauge of soldering flux do you use for the tracks?

That's it for now
Thanks
 
Hawkesburytrain said:
The real work as now started.

Now for some questions:

1) How do you call that thing at the end of a railroad to stop the cars? I need to buy some, but don't know what order
Click to expand...

A bumper or track bumper. Go to www.modeltrainstuff.com and look under track accessories for examples.

2) Lots of people talk about testing the tracks, I did with a freight car, but most do it with a locomotive. I presume the wiring is done to be able to do so, right?
Click to expand...

The main purpose of testing the track with a loco is to check for power continuity. Using a freight car is fine for checking joins, high low spots etc.

3) What gauge of soldering flux do you use for the tracks?

That's it for now
Thanks
Click to expand...

I use a fairly small size of solder for my track work and wiring and preferably a Rosin Core Solder. The flux I use is a paste that I dip the ends of my wires into.

Hope this helps.
 
Hawkesburytrain said:
The real work as now started.

For the last 3 days, I've been working on the roadbed and some tracks for the stock yard. The gluing for both have been done.

View attachment 46920
View attachment 46921
View attachment 46923

Also stared working on the container yard

Last night took a break to watch some videos of "how to" and I think I was a bit to meticulous in my roadbed setup

Now for some questions:

2) Lots of people talk about testing the tracks, I did with a freight car, but most do it with a locomotive.

3) What gauge of soldering flux do you use for the tracks?
Click to expand...

Too meticulous? Hard to be too meticulous. Real railroads work pretty hard to maintain high quality roadbed, at least on the main line.

Our small rolling stock is rather unforgiving of poor track work, compared to the prototype.

What you have done so far looks pretty good to me. It's important to have a smooth, even surface with no abrupt changes in elevation or slope.

Also be careful to avoid "kinks" at the joints between pieces of track.


You can buy or make something like this:

http://www.micromark.com/ho-track-inspection-car-with-metal-wheels,8025.html

Very good tool to have on hand.


Flux is the stuff used to clean the metal surfaces so the soldered joint will be of a good quality.

It comes it liquid, paste or "built-in" to the solder itself. When the flux is part of the solder itself you will usually see terms like "rosin core", "acid core", etc. The "rosin" or "acid" is the type of flux, the "core" means the flux is "built-in" to the solder.

Solder is the metal material used to solder two metal items together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder

For wiring you should always use rosin flux or rosin core solder. Kester 44 is a common type.

For other types of soldering the type of flux can depend on the materials you are trying to join.

Acid flux is another type of flux that is often used for non-wiring purposes.

Rosin flux has the advantage the it does not need to be cleaned off the surfaces after soldering. While it can be unsightly it is not corrosive. It can be cleaned off if desired.

Acid flux on the other hand should always be cleaned off because it is corrosive and if it remains on the surfaces after soldering it will continue to corrode the surfaces.
 
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Thank you both, much appreciated

Finally was able to put a few of my cars on the track in the box car yard (buildings and platforms to come much later)

View attachment 46974

I've been working on another section of my layout which is the container area. Needed to make adjustments to the plan so that the crane would fit properly with the tracks

View attachment 46975

View attachment 46976

Once I finish this section, I will start on the soldering of the tracks (need to practice first)
I will also work on the platforms from scratch

Later all
 


Thanks lasm and Tony

Tony, it's definitely my first layout and just 2 months ago, I had my first train ride. So everything that has to do with trains and modeling is pretty much all new to me. I'm very meticulous and love details and with everybody's help, I should have something descent.

Wiring (electricity, switches, DCC, etc), will be my biggest challenge.

Later
 
Hawkesburytrain said:
Thanks lasm and Tony

Tony, it's definitely my first layout and just 2 months ago, I had my first train ride. So everything that has to do with trains and modeling is pretty much all new to me. I'm very meticulous and love details and with everybody's help, I should have something descent.

Wiring (electricity, switches, DCC, etc), will be my biggest challenge.

Later
Click to expand...

You have done an outstanding job Sir.

Electricity, switches, DCC and wiring --- trust me, you are not alone in your challenge. I can tell you from experience and as someone who shares your 'fears' with a fore mentioned things; as daunting as it may appear, it isn't that difficult once you start. One member here, SuzieX, gave me some very good advice when I started doing the electrics on my layout:

"Work slowly and methodically doing one step at a time and test everything as you go"

That is possibly the best advice I got (in general terms) for doing the electronics and I am slowly succeeding, which is a huge achievement where I am concerned as anyone here will tell you.
 
Very nice job on the Crane Hawke and the over all layout is coming together most impressively. Keep up the good work and the updates.
 
Your doing very well for it being your first layout. Take your time and always look ahead from what your doing.
 
Thanks all

Lynn, those are wise words as I've already made 2 changes in the layout, but didn't have to take down anything

Wood working days ahead, so not many pictures to come
Later
 
Wood working going slow because I wanted to see if I could build a links fence which I will need later and since I need a long stretch, it doesn't make sense to buy many kits. So this is what my first try at scratch building. All comments welcome.


View attachment 47105
View attachment 47106

I also worked on my concrete slab in the container section of the layout. You can see the two single track where the crane will be sitting. As for the inside of the tracks, I don't know if I should make it concrete or just ballast. Again, any comments much appreciated.


View attachment 47107

Later
 


Your fence certainly does look good! Great job, especially when I compare it to the Sierra Scale Model fencing that I bought.
 
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