When OK but where?
Hello,
You should check out John Pryke's Union Freight. It starts in Model Railroader Sept 2000 (three parts). It and other info on east coast/mid-west city modelling are covered in MR's
Building City Scenery. You should also do some searches re ports and containers at
The Model Train Magazine Index. I think I saw one on an N scale container port.
I also have to draw attention one "picky" point: modular and sectional are not the same thing. A layout can be sectional and still not modular, but
most modular layout are sectional. Modular involves interchangeable pieces like Ntrak. Freemo is typically more sectional with the only constraints being electrical and section interface standards. Check out MR Feb97 for
The Basics of Modular Layouts.
That said, be forwarned that both sectional and modular cost more to construct (benchwork). You will simply use more lumber and screws. Care must also be taken with the wiring to leave "slack" for cutting and reattaching or use terminal strips that can be unscrewed. Modular layout usually use standardised plugs like cinch-jones or DIN (like old keyboard plugs).
You might want to consider building something small to keep you excitement/interest up and trains moving. The Acardia Terminal in MR Mar95 is a small layout built to be removed and used as part of an larger layout (eventually). That issue also has info about Bill Darnaby's Maumee Route and his use of extruded foam as part of his benchwork. The
Pennsylvania RR in a Modest Space in MR Mar97 and
Welcome to Port Kelsey MR Aug97 would also make good reading. They are not set in your era (80's) but scenery, structures and rolling stock set location and time. The other guys are right--start
planning and building for the future. If you think you might want to do a muti-level or "mushroom" down the road you REALLY have to plan for it in what you build now.
Hopefully you have access to a library of MR and RMC (yours or a friends). Reprints should be available.
Hope this is the kind of info you wanted.
Jim