Search results

Hi Bob, You are of course correct, but I truly enjoy reading the advice and Photos posted. There is such a wealth of knowledge here that I always come away with a golden nugget of information that will help me. Regards, Trent

Hi Bob M, I appreciate the guidance. I had seen your web site and module production site before in my lurking on varous RR forums. I am using your guidance plus some others to come up with a module fabrication scheme. Regretfully, I do not live in a country that will cut lumber to your specs...

Welcome Ed, To achieve more layput space I have designed a three level, modular system of benchwork. The lower level wiil be my staging area. The middle level will be my main level with all the toys and scenery to support a mining, lumber mill, turn-table/roundhouse, steam and diesel...

I don't think depth is so much of a problem as it accentuates the reason for the bridge in the first place. What you need to do now is plan out how you will meld the bridge, bridge supports and scenery to make this area look prototypical i.e. slopping river bank, dry stream, wet stream, slow...

Modular weight reduction means different things to different folks. To me, weight reduction is critical as I get older. I have taken the tact of using plywood ripped to dimensional sizes 0.25" X 3" using a circular saw. Not the prettiest of cuts but still functional. These serve as the basic...

Good evening All, I will be getting close to this same issue in a few weeks. Joining two modules and having the track align perfectly appears to be several problems. The first can be sumed up dealing with both track and module alignment. A good track plan is a must to start with. Having the...

Turntable/Roundhouse Alignment If my memory serves me correctly, both should be centered aound 10 degree radials from the turntable. It should only be a matter of adjusting the distance of the roundhouse from the turntable to have them both align correctly. Regards, Trent

Bus Wire Connection Regarding type of wire, I would recommend shielded stranded cable as it is more resilient to twisting and movement, has greater current handling capability and less voltage drop than solid wire. Regardless, recommend shielded cable which ever is used. Regards, Trent

Chicago, IL to Boston, MA October 1968. Regards, Trent Mulkern Mechanicsville, MD

Bridge Incline A 4% incline is about the maximum you should use on any layout. That equates to about a 4-inch rise per 8-feet of trackbed. You certainly have the room to accomodate the rise. Woodland scenics makes an incline lit that you could use. Place the bridge or structure in the middle...

I have tried the free Atlas Program but found it limiting in the provided library. I then tried a program called 3rd Railroad Concept and Design. It has provided libraries of differnt track, and it allows you to create your own library should it differ from those provided. If you spend the...

Getting back to your original questions....... Yes, using plywood for your layout is more than adequate. half-inch Birch/Maple plywood is used by those interested in lowering weight of the module/layout. 3/4" plywood is most common usually becasue someone saw it on another layout. If you will...

There are lots of things you can do. The first is to grab a piece of paper, a pencil and a tape measure. Measure your room dimensions and place them on that sheet of paper. Next decide how best to utilize the space you have that meets your layout design requirements. Will the layout be mounted...

My first real loco was an American Flyer 2-4-2 (I believe) circa early 50's. My grandfather and I built a 4' x 8' plywood layout in the basement. Before that there was a wooden loco set I ran around the floor. Trent

The NMRA web site discusses this with tables for each scale and track radii. I believe it is section S-7 or S-8. Trent

I do not use this system myself, but from reviews on other forums the Bachmann E-Z Command/DCC is adequate for small layouts and for folks who just want to run a couple of trains. Most folks found fault with the included Diesel w/decoder, but you get what you pay for. Programming the decoder is...

John, There is an Aussie outdoor saw mill on ebay. The seller is ON30 Downunder that may provide you some ideas or be worth your attention.announce1 Trent

Matt Before I jumped into kit-bashing I would purchase a low cost kit (wood) and try your hand at building that first one. Perhaps a couple of DVDs on the subject just to get some ideas. Only buy what you need to build that first kit. It is an excellent way to learn before you go jumping off...

I was very pleased to see this thread as I also have been working on a triple decker or three level modular layout. I don't have a lot of space (16' X 14') and my "nice to have list" far exceeds my available space. It would also allow me to have several modules in various stages of build as the...