As former hobby shop model RR guy, before you get going on your layout, PLEASE read the best book for model railroad layout designs. Track Planning for realistic operation by John Armstrong. your oval will be boring and forgotten in months. I suggest a twice around or switching layout. You still get the scenery and structures aspect, but more fun than just watching one train go in circles. With a switching layout you can limit your cars and engines. Also look up "Switch track time saver" for how the switching layout works.Just started an HO model layout on a 4 x 8 plywood table. In the world of model trains 4 x 8 is not much to work with but it is all the room I can muster up. I am finding that it is not the electric train that is the heart of a layout. It is the diarama. Mine will probably be at least a 2 year project.
View attachment 842648 View attachment 842649
Sorry to hear about your eyesight and hands. I was thinking about the attic but my legs, because of my spinal injury, are too weak to climb a ladder.Getting out of model RR'ing as my eyesight and hands ain't what they used to be. Selling off HO scale brass steam of the Norfolk & Western, cars, structures, scenery materials and the benchwork.
Looking good already. If you have a tiny camera sitting on a flat bed car, pushed by the loco, you can view it as if you've made the miniature world full size! It's also a good way of checking how realistic it looks.Just started an HO model layout on a 4 x 8 plywood table. In the world of model trains 4 x 8 is not much to work with but it is all the room I can muster up. I am finding that it is not the electric train that is the heart of a layout. It is the diarama. Mine will probably be at least a 2 year project.
View attachment 842648 View attachment 842649
Thanks. I'm glad you've got great memories of your dad to enjoy.My 1st journey into model trains was in the 60’s as a youngster and my fathers’ 1st train. No permanent set up other than what I pieced together on the floor. My fathers’ model train passion flourished with a permanent set up started in 1970. Helped move it 10 years later and a final time 6 years later.
His collection would grow to include enough power/tender units and cars to start each of his 7 grandsons with a setup while he was alive. They really enjoyed sharing his passion for his hobby. Early on, I spent some of my free time serving as the one small enough to get to the middle of his layouts and do some minor maintenance. It was his passion but I lived it through him and the time we enjoyed together.
I hope you get as much enjoyment from it as our family did!
Great, thanks. That'll be better than trying to figure it out by watching videos. Although I intend to set up as large a layout as 10 feet by 9 feet can get me, it's good to get ideas from all angles. I watched a great video on you tube about layouts in small spaces. N gauge. One guy had a layout inside a file box!As former hobby shop model RR guy, before you get going on your layout, PLEASE read the best book for model railroad layout designs. Track Planning for realistic operation by John Armstrong. your oval will be boring and forgotten in months. I suggest a twice around or switching layout. You still get the scenery and structures aspect, but more fun than just watching one train go in circles. With a switching layout you can limit your cars and engines. Also look up "Switch track time saver" for how the switching layout works.
As I said. The train is the least of it. The Diorama is main thing.As former hobby shop model RR guy, before you get going on your layout, PLEASE read the best book for model railroad layout designs. Track Planning for realistic operation by John Armstrong. your oval will be boring and forgotten in months. I suggest a twice around or switching layout. You still get the scenery and structures aspect, but more fun than just watching one train go in circles. With a switching layout you can limit your cars and engines. Also look up "Switch track time saver" for how the switching layout works.