GETTING STARTED

Making my small mini set up but would like suggestions as I want another train line. I would like to run two trains on this 48 by 19 inch board. The current Marklin set uses 46 by 16 inches of the board. Any thoughts on what I can add? Also need some some scenery suggestions. What I'm trying is a little far out. Thanks Ron

I love track, so more the better, but others prefer to have more scenery. So, its always your call. I would add a siding with a business. There should be a reason why a train is in the layout.

Ron,
I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the lighting......but if you just want to light the houses, then you need to turn down the kilowatts about 500%.

Seriously, looks like you may be going for a haunted house effect or is the lighting just in the beginning stages?

Assuming for a moment you want to actually light the structures realistically, then you would get much smaller lamps and make sure the inside of the structures are painted black or in other words, make them light proof so no light leaks out of the bottom, sides, or the roofs.

I won't say any more because I don't want to assume on what effect you are after.
Loren

Ron,
I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the lighting......but if you just want to light the houses, then you need to turn down the kilowatts about 500%.

Seriously, looks like you may be going for a haunted house effect or is the lighting just in the beginning stages?

Assuming for a moment you want to actually light the structures realistically, then you would get much smaller lamps and make sure the inside of the structures are painted black or in other words, make them light proof so no light leaks out of the bottom, sides, or the roofs.

I won't say any more because I don't want to assume on what effect you are after.
Loren

Let me add my 2 cents. It is nice that the train is out of view for a period of time, it gives the illusion it has gone somewhere. Next extend the length of track by 1 or 2 straights and as John suggested put in at least one siding and split it into 2 tracks. One thing I like is that the track is not dead straight, but a little curve in the front. You could also put two switches that lead off the layout so if you build another unit, they can be connected.

How are you doing with all the downloads I filled your email box....

Regards,

Robert

I thought I sent you an email and thanked you. The downloads are great and I started building some. Fantastic!
Really don't know what to do with this track. I'm working on a back drop and everything else all at once. I think this is gonna be a fantasy train track on a budget as I'm out of money track and just about everything else. I change things everyday and look at it but can't get it right. Ron

loadmaster wrote:

Let me add my 2 cents. It is nice that the train is out of view for a period of time, it gives the illusion it has gone somewhere. Next extend the length of track by 1 or 2 straights and as John suggested put in at least one siding and split it into 2 tracks. One thing I like is that the track is not dead straight, but a little curve in the front. You could also put two switches that lead off the layout so if you build another unit, they can be connected.

How are you doing with all the downloads I filled your email box....

Regards,

Robert

From here I can't tell if you can add any track to make a run longer? You could run a stub track to the edge that may link to a future expansion.

The next step may be to draw in some roads or use some black paper to make a design till you get something you like. Adding some color breaks up all the white. You may get some cheap brown paint to make it look more like dirt.

Since you have no money, the best thing to do is run some trains & make sure everything works with no derailments.

Running a 2nd train in a DC world would require a second loop. Then one train can run EB while the other works west. You may not want to run anything closer than 1 inch from any edge in case it goes bump. You may end up running 1 train while the other sits in the station.

Thanks for your help!
Is there a way to make a forest of pine trees without buying 4000 trees. I do have some greenery and brownery for making some trees. I also have 18 premade pine trees. I think I have some brown paints. Just thinking on what to do. Thanks again Ron

GWoodle wrote:

From here I can't tell if you can add any track to make a run longer? You could run a stub track to the edge that may link to a future expansion.

The next step may be to draw in some roads or use some black paper to make a design till you get something you like. Adding some color breaks up all the white. You may get some cheap brown paint to make it look more like dirt.

Since you have no money, the best thing to do is run some trains & make sure everything works with no derailments.

Running a 2nd train in a DC world would require a second loop. Then one train can run EB while the other works west. You may not want to run anything closer than 1 inch from any edge in case it goes bump. You may end up running 1 train while the other sits in the station.