New to Model Railroading

[cruzMOKS]

Hello everybody,

No real experience in model railroads except as a kid.

I have a large area that I can use up to 10' by 20' for a lay out. If I really wanted to I could make it a lot larger than that.


My plan is to start small (4x8) and add as I get more engines, cars and track. A large figure 8 in an L shape in the middle, with a larger loop going around the outside. A couple of sidings with a couple of connections between the outer loop and the figure 8. A town at both ends. Later I want to add a reverse loop.

I don't really have a theme. I am leaning to after WW2 so I can have both steam and diesel

Scale HO
Track mainly flex track

power- dcc NCS for ease of use/setup.

Start with a mid level to lower mid level engines.

I plan to lay out on plywood with maybe one layer of foam.

My questions:
What would be a mid level (quality) engine?
Are there engine motors that I should look for?
What would be a good dcc unit?
Is flex track ok? Are there different brands of flex track?

Any things to watch for in buying or setting up a dcc unit?

I want to get an engine, track and a dcc unit and build up from that.

What do you think?

 

[Selector]

Hi. Do you know what era you are interested in? In order to answer you about engines, we need to know if you like early or late diesels, early or middle or late year steamers, passenger vs. freight...

For steamers, Bachmann Spectrum "DCC-on-board" engines are generally quite good, with the odd problem child that they'll exchange. For diesels, Atlas, Athearn Genesis, Broadway Limited Imports, Kato, Intermountain, to name a few.

Peco, Atlas, Model Power, and Micro Engineering make the most popular and widely used flex track. For the switches (what we call "turnout"s), Atlas Custom Line, Peco Streamline, Micro Engineering, and Walthers/Shinohara are all good turnouts. I use Peco Streamline Code 83 rail #6 turnouts and like them a lot. All my steamers and diesels like them, too. I also make my own using the Fast Tracks system, but that might be a future undertaking for you.

DCC units are varied, and all are 'good'. Some lack some more modern features such as the older Super Empire Builder from Digitrax...it lacks CV readback capability. It's younger (and less electrically powerful) brother, the Zephyr, does allow readback so that you can see what the current value in a CV is. (CV's are configuration variables, fixtures in the internal works of decoders that make the decoder make the locomotive act different ways. The value you assign to each CV affects what the locomotive does.) Some people struggle with the Digitrax system, calling it not very intuitive. It is all I know, and I don't seem to know what all the fuss is about. But all of the systems offered are 'good' in that they are reliable and work as their specs say they should. You pretty much have to decide how much power you'd like to have at your disposal (2 amps is the minimum for a small layout, 3 about optimal). Also, some older throttles don't have all the current functions. Modern throttles allow (I believe) 28, whereas the older DT400 throttles from Digitrax that come with the Super Empire Builder only have 12...sort of. But that hand-held control is the only one, including its more modern variants, that has a dual encoder knob that are each throttles. Yes, on one hand-held unit you can operate two locomotives concurrently.

Crandell

 

[cruzMOKS]

I live in Kansas City so maybe Kansas City Southern would be a good line to model.

thanks for the info.

Scott