A few extra suggestions from someone who is building a layout on a very tight budget: 1. Check piles of junk, especially outside buildings being refurbished. I started building my layout when I found three gaming (as in card games) tables, metal frames and folding legs, for the base. I then took a pile of laminated flooring strips someone was throwing away to use for the skirting and backscene. I also pinched a cupful of sand and one of gravel from builders' supplies outside a property to use for scenery. 2. Reuse and repurpose items - containers can be use for industrial bits and pieces. Broken or discarded model buildings can be made into other stuff. I once used the walls of an HO hut as the walls of an N gauge factory. The sides of flat plastic containers can be used for modelling buildings, etc. Save sawdust - I'm pretty sure you used to be able to buy bags of sawdust as a useful product. Mixed with paint, it makes good scenic scatter. 3. Make a list of what you want to buy and check it off - don't just buy anything that looks good or is a bargain. Check prices of second-hand goods against the prices at your favourite store. There is often not much difference and sometimes the new version is cheaper. 4. Use thick card, thin card and cartridge paper whenever possible for models instead of styrene. It is cheaper and easier to work with - you can fold it and it won't split when cut. Cartridge paper when painted both sides with acrylic is pretty sturdy. 5. Remember that even if a scratchbuilt item does not look perfect, you can always go back and replace it later. 6. You will see every little fault on your layout, fellow modellers may see a few but your neighbour will probably think that your work is amazing so accept the compliment! 7. Budget at the outset, set how much you are prepared to spend each month and then plan how much you can buy at any given time until the layout is finished.
What’s funny about sound is I can’t bring myself to buy a loco without sound, but I end up running trains 85% of the time with the sound off lol. It’s just nice to have the option, although it would be nice if that option didn’t cost another $100…..
A really great video for folk who are yet to start their layout, or who have just started. You've covered a lot in a video that isn't too long for people to watch in one sitting, but not so short that people won't come back to it as a reference in future if they want to refresh during building. I would add an additional point on designing in the ability to expand - which is design your complete layout but with a clear section in mind to start building from. Pick a section that will be fun to operate by itself. Mine is a switching layout and I started by building the main yard/'staging area'. I had a ton of fun working the yard while completing and detailing it, before moving on to the next 'job' the railroad does and building that section of the layout. Added sections also reflected other 'jobs' the railroad serviced beyond the yard. If another section 'stalled' for some reason, going back to working the yard always kept me motivated. Someone building mainline ops might start by building two signature scenes, then completing the section between. For me at least, building out the layout and operations from a 'central' or focus point kept me engaged knowing I had already 'completed' that first section.
Thank you, most helpful. Its taking me forever to dive into my scenery, i feel im no good at it. But your words of inspiration. Is getting me motivated to just go for it.
Great advice all the way around. I have learned a lot from folks like you and many others. I am currently tearing up half my layout and starting again. Ideas change. Thanks my friend. Cheers 🍻
Excellent! Loved your upbeat and candid presentation. You said just enough without veering into the weeds. That approach keeps folks from dozing off. Your advice was spot on. Even though I'm an experienced model railroader, I still learned something. Looking forward to more videos like this. Thank You
Great video, never thought of leg levelers, now to go find some and take out my crude shims. basement floors unfinished are not 100% flat, especially in older houses- testify! lol
Two lower cost options: For sound when you want it on DC locomotives, Kato Soundbox with sound cards. Not cheap, but much less complicated or costly compared to DCC setup and locomotives. Build your own DCC system for your DCC locomotives. About to try that using the DCC-EX codes…about 10% the cost of commercial systems and looks like fun to build.
Building the layout ….that’s what I love. That, and detailing / weathering the equipment. N scale strikes a nice balance for me to accomplish my goals.
One tool you didn't mention -- a spirit level. A longer one (36"+) for your overall layout building; and a smaller one for track grades (such as a digital one that can give readings in percent as well as degrees) are essential to make sure your layout is level and grades consistent. You cannot rely on the floors or walls of your home to be perfectly level or plumb.
That advice about getting started, ain't that the truth! I procrastinated for nearly a year and then life got in the way and put me back another six months... But now things are underway and moving along nicely! I hope to start landscaping within the next month or two as long as life doesn't rear its ugly head again! Lol!
I'm currently working on an N scale winter project, a small 2x4ft layout to decide if I can get along with the small size of N vs the HO stuff that I had originally started planning and collecting. I plan to eventually build a layout around the walls of my hobby room. N may fit the space I have better allowing for more to fit with decent runs between places. The first N scale project I am working on will be a loop with a siding inside to have an engine shed and fueling spot, and a branch inside that goes to a couple industries to disguise an inglenook puzzle. This will allow for a switcher in the branch and another engine making laps on the loop, and some swapping of groups of 5 cars. I also plan to use some of the HO stuff to do a small shelf switching setup that will also have an inglenook in it... between the two I can decide fully what scale to build personally. Nothing will have grades for now, and I might add grades to my permanent build, but I might not and just use elevations in the scenery to give my layout the mountain railroad feel that I am after. I think DC is great for getting started, and is definitely a legit choice for fairly simple layouts, especially anything that will only have one train running at a time, even if there will be more than one train, just not more than one running at a time. DCC is super awesome and if the budget allows should definitely be the choice for most railroads, especially with any amount of operations, it just opens so many doors to add super cool stuff. I think sound is RAD, and should be added to any setup if possible, I don't however feel the need for ALL my engines to have sound, a mix is good if you find engines you want that don't have sound, as long as some engines running on the layout do have sound. BUT, it's just so cool that I can't fault anyone who wants EVERY engine to have sound, ....or at least 1 engine in every consist? I think I will most definitely have some lighting, in buildings and such, and have some cool night running... it ads a lot of awesome options to make really cool scenes. Signs, cars and vehicles, interiors in buildings, etc... lots of awesome uses for some LEDS and lighting. My initial projects will be portable, I will have the shelf on some brackets probably, at least for storing, but I may also set it up on a table for use at times, unless I can set it up as a shelf in a spot where I can operate it. The portable N scale layout may get short legs or leveling feet, to use it on a folding table when it's in use. Soooo many options for benchwork. I initially thought 2" foam was the ticket, and that is what is on my 2x4ft setup. I think I may go with 1/5" or 1" for my permanent build. Not sure if the shelf setup will have any foam at all aside from a couple small hills to plant trees in. I'm using Kato for the N scale build, and utilizing some Bachmann HO track for the shelf experiment. For permanent builds I definitely think flex is the way to go in most cases. I really do like the Kato track, and for small-medium stuff I think it is the only sectional track that I'd use for anything permanent. Good trackwork and wiring is definitely important, a layout that runs without issues is going to be much more fun that constantly dealing with problems and derailments. Trainshows are awesome! I recently got my first stuff at a local show, and scored some Kato track, as well as a great price on my first group of rolling stock. My first N scale engine was also from this show, with sound and dcc for 100$ and it runs nicely. A handful of years ago I started the journey with some HO stuff from a show, and also found a vendor there selling NCE stuff and picked up my DCC equipment there. I have added some items from the local train stores, and also a couple online shops, but the shows is where I've bought most of my stuff. I don't have a 3D printer nor do I plan to get one anytime soon, but I do hope to get some printed stuff like buildings, and have a couple friends that might be able to print things for me... or there's the pre-printed online stuff. I like the extra variety vs just commercial kits, even if just adding extra details to the kit's that are out there. After a few years of basically just collecting some things, and getting out a loop of track from time to time, and even letting it all sit unused at all for a couple years , I am glad to be getting started this winter... Cheers and thanks for the videos!
Good video. Sorry this is long, but as an old modeler, my advice to a beginner is to NOT build the maximum layout he has space for. There are so many large layouts started by beginners that are abandoned. Even the masters in model railroading started out small. Some of them even built their small layout to incorporate into a larger layout later. Look at John Allen's famous layout. There is a small layout in the middle. With the small layout a beginner can "hone" their layout construction skills. Learn the best bench work construction methods. Learn track laying and wiring. Learn about scenery. The beginner will learn a lot from starting with a small layout while keeping that railroad empire in the back of their mind. There was a time we referred to the small layout as a chainsaw layout. You build it while learning the hobby. When you are ready for that larger layout, you salvage all the items, track, etc. for the next build, then take a chainsaw to it. Or give that small layout with all its mistakes to a nephew to learn on. On the next rendition of your layout it will be easier and better because of what you learned from the first layout. Some of the most detailed, eye catching layouts today are small layouts. Some of us older modelers are downsizing because that large layout is just too much to maintain. So we are building something smaller. Some of us will change scales during the years as we model. I know a lot of beginners buy what they like and buy a lot of trains. We all do it in the beginning. That can be an expensive. I recommend you keep some sort of inventory of what you have when attending model train shows. It can be a print out or a device that holds your inventory. You are going to see something at the show you think will fit right in with your layout, you will buy it, then when you get home you discover you already have four of the same car, same road number. Later on comes thinning process. Selling off all those "must haves" you thought you just had to have. Instead, go talk to other modelers. Go to model train shows. Visit clubs. Pick their brains and experience. Ask about the things they did wrong. They will tell you. Buy magazines about railroads you are interested in or operated in your area. Do your homework. Then to be budget minded, choose an era to model. The most popular era is transition era, Steam to Diesel, that allows one to have both operating on their layout. Chose a date range. For example, 1960 -1970 or 2020 to now. You can narrow it or expand it. Then when you are buying trains, keep your purchases in that build range. Resist the urge to buy anything outside your chosen date range. You will save lots of money. One of the things that can sabotage a large layout is a house move. In my experience, each move caused by a career move offered less space than the previous layout would fit in. Where we live now basements are rare due to the water table. Build your layout to be portable/moveable. Use lag bolts and wing nuts to hold the sections together. Build it so it can come apart in sections to fit through doors and stairwells. You might end up in a larger space to expand your layout or smaller space that the layout is just 10 inches too long to fit in. Before cutting any wood, one of the most critical things in model railroading is a plan. It doesn't matter if you hand draw it or create it on the computer. Make a plan. When making that plan, share it with others in the hobby for suggestions on how to make it better. Put it away for two weeks while you mull it over. You are going to think of changes to make it better. Then put it away again. Once you and your fellow modelers can't come up with improvements to the plan, then start cutting wood. Stick to the plan! You will save some money.
Great video! You listed the air compressor for painting and I have heard that they’re a pain to clean is that true? Also how about model railroad clubs? I joined one and definitely a good place to run your trains while you’re building your own layout. Thanks
Air brushes are harder to clean than paint brushes that's for sure, but its not too bad. Dump remaining paint, run water through it until 95% clean. Run IPA or Acetone through, including a back purge until no more color pigment is coming out. The trick is to not let the air brush sit and let the paint cure. There are times when a full disassembly is required to thoroughly clean, but its not too bad either. Clubs are a wonderful place run trains. Often huge layouts and good community. I can't comment on it much as I am not part of a club. I couldn't say if all clubs are equal in what to expect either.
I’ve belong to a couple of clubs over the years. Some are more quirky than others. I belong to one now which I think it’s pretty good. Thank fir the info on the air brush.
great video... I am wanting to try my hand at weathering a dummy unit I have. I don't have an air brush, but I do have powders do you have any advice on how to make it look like the locomotive has been used hard...
heavy use with just weathering powders might be tough. They are great for highlighting edges and what not. I haven't done any weathering on locomotives or rolling stock though.
"Cost effective" Yea!! There's NOTHING - And I mean NOTHING more that will kill the interest and ambition of any hobby - including the model railroad hobby than to buy expensive and overly expensive items for the hobby. But with that said, a brand new locomotive with sound could be an exception. But when it comes to items like flex track vs. Kato Unitrack, I'd definitely go flex. It's ALOT less costly and as mentioned; looks ALOT more realistic. Nothing wrong with Kato but I find it either more expensive and you're limited to the curves. Awesome video too, BTW!!
Costs of this hobby are painful. Even if you manage to build a layout for a respectable cost, if you want to run 3 locos and just 20 cars, you need to dish out another $1000+.
Great Video/Great Channel!!! At my RR Club here in Minot ND we show RUclips channels showing layout work, wiring/scene work and locomotive/ rolling stock from other great YT Channels and it really is a hit for visitors. Would you mind if we put some of yours in the rotation to display at the club. We’ve had an uncomfortable number of visitors write down these pages or immediately looked the channel up on their phones
Hey! Love your layout and content man! Just purchased a collection of BCOL and CP locomotives/cars the new Atlas RS-2 and RS-3 locomotives are beautiful and an easy conversion to DCC.
Hi Nscaler454 , that was a very helpful video. You could have went a little more in-depth with some tips but we would still be watching L O L. I always enjoy watching your videos. They are helpful and intreating. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. 😎😎 👍
Tip zero 0: Get the room for the layout ready. Insulation, drywall, flooring (concrete is cold and hard), electrical and a 100 other things about the room I forgot.
Hey Larry, I'm 77 and just started 2 years ago. Knock on wood I have many more years to finish my layout, but every time I "think" I'm done I go and expand it. 😊
A few extra suggestions from someone who is building a layout on a very tight budget:
1. Check piles of junk, especially outside buildings being refurbished. I started building my layout when I found three gaming (as in card games) tables, metal frames and folding legs, for the base. I then took a pile of laminated flooring strips someone was throwing away to use for the skirting and backscene. I also pinched a cupful of sand and one of gravel from builders' supplies outside a property to use for scenery.
2. Reuse and repurpose items - containers can be use for industrial bits and pieces. Broken or discarded model buildings can be made into other stuff. I once used the walls of an HO hut as the walls of an N gauge factory. The sides of flat plastic containers can be used for modelling buildings, etc. Save sawdust - I'm pretty sure you used to be able to buy bags of sawdust as a useful product. Mixed with paint, it makes good scenic scatter.
3. Make a list of what you want to buy and check it off - don't just buy anything that looks good or is a bargain. Check prices of second-hand goods against the prices at your favourite store. There is often not much difference and sometimes the new version is cheaper.
4. Use thick card, thin card and cartridge paper whenever possible for models instead of styrene. It is cheaper and easier to work with - you can fold it and it won't split when cut. Cartridge paper when painted both sides with acrylic is pretty sturdy.
5. Remember that even if a scratchbuilt item does not look perfect, you can always go back and replace it later.
6. You will see every little fault on your layout, fellow modellers may see a few but your neighbour will probably think that your work is amazing so accept the compliment!
7. Budget at the outset, set how much you are prepared to spend each month and then plan how much you can buy at any given time until the layout is finished.
What’s funny about sound is I can’t bring myself to buy a loco without sound, but I end up running trains 85% of the time with the sound off lol. It’s just nice to have the option, although it would be nice if that option didn’t cost another $100…..
So true. Hard to equate how a sugar cube speaker that costs a few bucks and a little more installation labor costs $100 more.
I’m actually fine without the sounds. I just wanna hear the clicking of the wheels going over the tracks.
Great video. Even better a chance to see you in front of the camera instead of behind it!
Wow, it's good to see you in front of the camera. Great work on the layout.
A really great video for folk who are yet to start their layout, or who have just started. You've covered a lot in a video that isn't too long for people to watch in one sitting, but not so short that people won't come back to it as a reference in future if they want to refresh during building.
I would add an additional point on designing in the ability to expand - which is design your complete layout but with a clear section in mind to start building from. Pick a section that will be fun to operate by itself. Mine is a switching layout and I started by building the main yard/'staging area'. I had a ton of fun working the yard while completing and detailing it, before moving on to the next 'job' the railroad does and building that section of the layout. Added sections also reflected other 'jobs' the railroad serviced beyond the yard. If another section 'stalled' for some reason, going back to working the yard always kept me motivated. Someone building mainline ops might start by building two signature scenes, then completing the section between. For me at least, building out the layout and operations from a 'central' or focus point kept me engaged knowing I had already 'completed' that first section.
Thank you, most helpful. Its taking me forever to dive into my scenery, i feel im no good at it. But your words of inspiration. Is getting me motivated to just go for it.
That makes me happy. I wouldn't worry at all, I'm sure you'll be able to it.
@nscaler454 thank you, Merry Christmas
Great advice all the way around. I have learned a lot from folks like you and many others. I am currently tearing up half my layout and starting again. Ideas change. Thanks my friend. Cheers 🍻
It's part of the process and I'm sure the changes will make you happier.
Excellent! Loved your upbeat and candid presentation. You said just enough without veering into the weeds. That approach keeps folks from dozing off. Your advice was spot on. Even though I'm an experienced model railroader, I still learned something. Looking forward to more videos like this. Thank You
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Great video, never thought of leg levelers, now to go find some and take out my crude shims. basement floors unfinished are not 100% flat, especially in older houses- testify! lol
Two lower cost options:
For sound when you want it on DC locomotives, Kato Soundbox with sound cards. Not cheap, but much less complicated or costly compared to DCC setup and locomotives.
Build your own DCC system for your DCC locomotives. About to try that using the DCC-EX codes…about 10% the cost of commercial systems and looks like fun to build.
Building the layout ….that’s what I love. That, and detailing / weathering the equipment. N scale strikes a nice balance for me to accomplish my goals.
As always a fantastic video. I look forward to every one you do.
Thank you!
One tool you didn't mention -- a spirit level. A longer one (36"+) for your overall layout building; and a smaller one for track grades (such as a digital one that can give readings in percent as well as degrees) are essential to make sure your layout is level and grades consistent. You cannot rely on the floors or walls of your home to be perfectly level or plumb.
Great catch! Levels are a must
That advice about getting started, ain't that the truth! I procrastinated for nearly a year and then life got in the way and put me back another six months... But now things are underway and moving along nicely! I hope to start landscaping within the next month or two as long as life doesn't rear its ugly head again! Lol!
I'm currently working on an N scale winter project, a small 2x4ft layout to decide if I can get along with the small size of N vs the HO stuff that I had originally started planning and collecting. I plan to eventually build a layout around the walls of my hobby room. N may fit the space I have better allowing for more to fit with decent runs between places.
The first N scale project I am working on will be a loop with a siding inside to have an engine shed and fueling spot, and a branch inside that goes to a couple industries to disguise an inglenook puzzle. This will allow for a switcher in the branch and another engine making laps on the loop, and some swapping of groups of 5 cars. I also plan to use some of the HO stuff to do a small shelf switching setup that will also have an inglenook in it... between the two I can decide fully what scale to build personally. Nothing will have grades for now, and I might add grades to my permanent build, but I might not and just use elevations in the scenery to give my layout the mountain railroad feel that I am after.
I think DC is great for getting started, and is definitely a legit choice for fairly simple layouts, especially anything that will only have one train running at a time, even if there will be more than one train, just not more than one running at a time. DCC is super awesome and if the budget allows should definitely be the choice for most railroads, especially with any amount of operations, it just opens so many doors to add super cool stuff. I think sound is RAD, and should be added to any setup if possible, I don't however feel the need for ALL my engines to have sound, a mix is good if you find engines you want that don't have sound, as long as some engines running on the layout do have sound. BUT, it's just so cool that I can't fault anyone who wants EVERY engine to have sound, ....or at least 1 engine in every consist?
I think I will most definitely have some lighting, in buildings and such, and have some cool night running... it ads a lot of awesome options to make really cool scenes. Signs, cars and vehicles, interiors in buildings, etc... lots of awesome uses for some LEDS and lighting.
My initial projects will be portable, I will have the shelf on some brackets probably, at least for storing, but I may also set it up on a table for use at times, unless I can set it up as a shelf in a spot where I can operate it. The portable N scale layout may get short legs or leveling feet, to use it on a folding table when it's in use. Soooo many options for benchwork. I initially thought 2" foam was the ticket, and that is what is on my 2x4ft setup. I think I may go with 1/5" or 1" for my permanent build. Not sure if the shelf setup will have any foam at all aside from a couple small hills to plant trees in.
I'm using Kato for the N scale build, and utilizing some Bachmann HO track for the shelf experiment. For permanent builds I definitely think flex is the way to go in most cases. I really do like the Kato track, and for small-medium stuff I think it is the only sectional track that I'd use for anything permanent. Good trackwork and wiring is definitely important, a layout that runs without issues is going to be much more fun that constantly dealing with problems and derailments.
Trainshows are awesome! I recently got my first stuff at a local show, and scored some Kato track, as well as a great price on my first group of rolling stock. My first N scale engine was also from this show, with sound and dcc for 100$ and it runs nicely. A handful of years ago I started the journey with some HO stuff from a show, and also found a vendor there selling NCE stuff and picked up my DCC equipment there. I have added some items from the local train stores, and also a couple online shops, but the shows is where I've bought most of my stuff.
I don't have a 3D printer nor do I plan to get one anytime soon, but I do hope to get some printed stuff like buildings, and have a couple friends that might be able to print things for me... or there's the pre-printed online stuff. I like the extra variety vs just commercial kits, even if just adding extra details to the kit's that are out there.
After a few years of basically just collecting some things, and getting out a loop of track from time to time, and even letting it all sit unused at all for a couple years , I am glad to be getting started this winter...
Cheers and thanks for the videos!
Good video. Sorry this is long, but as an old modeler, my advice to a beginner is to NOT build the maximum layout he has space for. There are so many large layouts started by beginners that are abandoned. Even the masters in model railroading started out small. Some of them even built their small layout to incorporate into a larger layout later. Look at John Allen's famous layout. There is a small layout in the middle. With the small layout a beginner can "hone" their layout construction skills. Learn the best bench work construction methods. Learn track laying and wiring. Learn about scenery. The beginner will learn a lot from starting with a small layout while keeping that railroad empire in the back of their mind. There was a time we referred to the small layout as a chainsaw layout. You build it while learning the hobby. When you are ready for that larger layout, you salvage all the items, track, etc. for the next build, then take a chainsaw to it. Or give that small layout with all its mistakes to a nephew to learn on. On the next rendition of your layout it will be easier and better because of what you learned from the first layout. Some of the most detailed, eye catching layouts today are small layouts. Some of us older modelers are downsizing because that large layout is just too much to maintain. So we are building something smaller. Some of us will change scales during the years as we model.
I know a lot of beginners buy what they like and buy a lot of trains. We all do it in the beginning. That can be an expensive. I recommend you keep some sort of inventory of what you have when attending model train shows. It can be a print out or a device that holds your inventory. You are going to see something at the show you think will fit right in with your layout, you will buy it, then when you get home you discover you already have four of the same car, same road number. Later on comes thinning process. Selling off all those "must haves" you thought you just had to have. Instead, go talk to other modelers. Go to model train shows. Visit clubs. Pick their brains and experience. Ask about the things they did wrong. They will tell you. Buy magazines about railroads you are interested in or operated in your area. Do your homework. Then to be budget minded, choose an era to model. The most popular era is transition era, Steam to Diesel, that allows one to have both operating on their layout. Chose a date range. For example, 1960 -1970 or 2020 to now. You can narrow it or expand it. Then when you are buying trains, keep your purchases in that build range. Resist the urge to buy anything outside your chosen date range. You will save lots of money.
One of the things that can sabotage a large layout is a house move. In my experience, each move caused by a career move offered less space than the previous layout would fit in. Where we live now basements are rare due to the water table. Build your layout to be portable/moveable. Use lag bolts and wing nuts to hold the sections together. Build it so it can come apart in sections to fit through doors and stairwells. You might end up in a larger space to expand your layout or smaller space that the layout is just 10 inches too long to fit in.
Before cutting any wood, one of the most critical things in model railroading is a plan. It doesn't matter if you hand draw it or create it on the computer. Make a plan. When making that plan, share it with others in the hobby for suggestions on how to make it better. Put it away for two weeks while you mull it over. You are going to think of changes to make it better. Then put it away again. Once you and your fellow modelers can't come up with improvements to the plan, then start cutting wood. Stick to the plan! You will save some money.
1:20; "ZEE" and here I thought you were Canadian!
Geoff
Oh, great video by the way.
Great video! Tons of useful information and advice. I am so glad i watched this before I started building my layout!
Great tips here!
Great video! You listed the air compressor for painting and I have heard that they’re a pain to clean is that true? Also how about model railroad clubs? I joined one and definitely a good place to run your trains while you’re building your own layout. Thanks
Air brushes are harder to clean than paint brushes that's for sure, but its not too bad. Dump remaining paint, run water through it until 95% clean. Run IPA or Acetone through, including a back purge until no more color pigment is coming out. The trick is to not let the air brush sit and let the paint cure. There are times when a full disassembly is required to thoroughly clean, but its not too bad either.
Clubs are a wonderful place run trains. Often huge layouts and good community. I can't comment on it much as I am not part of a club. I couldn't say if all clubs are equal in what to expect either.
I’ve belong to a couple of clubs over the years. Some are more quirky than others.
I belong to one now which I think it’s pretty good. Thank fir the info on the air brush.
great video... I am wanting to try my hand at weathering a dummy unit I have. I don't have an air brush, but I do have powders do you have any advice on how to make it look like the locomotive has been used hard...
heavy use with just weathering powders might be tough. They are great for highlighting edges and what not. I haven't done any weathering on locomotives or rolling stock though.
kato does make a small adapter track that allows easy flex track to add on. Im building a new layout and plan on using both.
"Cost effective" Yea!! There's NOTHING - And I mean NOTHING more that will kill the interest and ambition of any hobby - including the model railroad hobby than to buy expensive and overly expensive items for the hobby.
But with that said, a brand new locomotive with sound could be an exception.
But when it comes to items like flex track vs. Kato Unitrack, I'd definitely go flex. It's ALOT less costly and as mentioned; looks ALOT more realistic. Nothing wrong with Kato but I find it either more expensive and you're limited to the curves.
Awesome video too, BTW!!
Costs of this hobby are painful. Even if you manage to build a layout for a respectable cost, if you want to run 3 locos and just 20 cars, you need to dish out another $1000+.
Great Video/Great Channel!!! At my RR Club here in Minot ND we show RUclips channels showing layout work, wiring/scene work and locomotive/ rolling stock from other great YT Channels and it really is a hit for visitors. Would you mind if we put some of yours in the rotation to display at the club. We’ve had an uncomfortable number of visitors write down these pages or immediately looked the channel up on their phones
If you want to play the videos at your club, that'd be great.
Hey! Love your layout and content man! Just purchased a collection of BCOL and CP locomotives/cars the new Atlas RS-2 and RS-3 locomotives are beautiful and an easy conversion to DCC.
Your layout is actually my inspiration
Thanks!
HI Nscaler454 & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Nscaler454 & Friends Randy
Hi Nscaler454 , that was a very helpful video. You could have went a little more in-depth with some tips but we would still be watching L O L. I always enjoy watching your videos. They are helpful and intreating. Thanks for sharing. Have a good week. 😎😎 👍
Tip zero 0: Get the room for the layout ready. Insulation, drywall, flooring (concrete is cold and hard), electrical and a 100 other things about the room I forgot.
agreed.
But isn't the planning stage the most fun?
I've yet to even decide what continent to set mine in. 😂
#10 - using all one brand isn't always possible. For example, not all brands have curved turnouts, or slip switches.
The continued price increases on model railroading has made this a fools hobby.
Your never a fool if you invest in your passion.🇺🇸
Great video I’d like to add. Find that neighbor that’s a carpenter. They have all tools. 😂
Thank you.I have learned so much from you and everyone else.
I turned sixty two this year🤠👋🚂🗯
Hey Larry, I'm 77 and just started 2 years ago. Knock on wood I have many more years to finish my layout, but every time I "think" I'm done I go and expand it. 😊
@cbirailroad I just started a year ago and i'm having fun🚂