My first layout - build/progress/update thread

Let me dig out the box tomorrow and see what I have. i am sure I even have complete buildings I havent used...still in kit form .

 

My local shop has a scrap heap by the front window of buildings. Some complete, some not. It seemed like N until I got it home lol.

I'm gonna make a diorama of Black Forest Industries out of it, and give it to them as a gift.

 

Making some progress on it. I see Walthers has a nice little roof kit for $8.95 I'm gonna pick up to detail it.

 

Appreciated, if it's something close, I'll def buy it from you. I'm googling my fingers off :-/

 

I'm looking at this as if I was doing this and was in the same shoes I am in today. I went DCC Digitrax right away... BUT this was years after taking a break and coming back into the hobby.

If I didn't plan on expanding any time soon I would run DC. But still leave some sort of feeders for DCC connection on/or under the layout. That way IF you decide to change over it will already be set up and IF not you still have another access point on the layout you can connect to. Its weird and pointless but so am I haha

Another weird Idea I thought of reading this post was Expansion. This is of course is opinion but you could leave some sort of switch track with a lead on it going off the table. Just cut it off like a spur at the end of the layout. Then, in the future if you want to expand you can just tie into that piece of track that is at the edge. Look into modular layouts. I think you mentioned it earlier but I forget haha Pretty cool how they work.

Cheers Looking forward to the progress !! Have fun !!

 

I’d vote for fall colors - my layout is themed that way

 

looks good. that's my plan. no reason to change it now

 

Then you'll have to have a pizza place then too!

 

Those fall colors are great. Makes me want to get read for the deer & pheasant hunt. A walk in the woods.

 

Thanks! Feedback is good.

I'm leaning Power Cab, but the I need to look more into digitrax and how it works.

I'm going right into dcc since it's the new way of doing things. I might as well jump in head first. And I'm an IT guy so I kinda get this stuff.

My main needs will be:
-Lighting for night running
-Sound on the loco
-Single train running

I know 2 of those can be done with DC. But again I just want to have the fullest experience possible.

This really will be a one off, I plan on doing another layout, probably HO since the detail and availability is so high. Like a 3x5 or 4x8.

 

God I wish they made this in N scale, would make a great European car shop.

 

If you're an IT guy, you might also like JMRI (Java Model Railroad Interface), which is a free software suite of applications and tools for model railroad operation. It makes programming the various decoders much easier than any of the DCC system. It's what hooked me on DCC. If your DCC system does not include a computer interface (serial or USB), the manufacturer likely makes one. The Digitrax Zephyr now includes a USB interface built in, and NCE sells a USB interface for their Power Cab systems.

TCS has recently announced their new PowerCab-like DCC system in a throttle, as well as a conventional DCC conmmand station and WiFi throttles.

You might also be interested in the Pi SPROG 3 series of expansion hats for Raspberry Pi computers, that are complete DCC command stations, for which the Pi runs JMRI to control them. I have a Pi SPROG 3 setup, and am very happy with it.

The WiFi interface on the Pi (or whatever computer you run JMRI on) can serve WiFi throttles or throttle apps for smart phones. It can also connect to your household WiFi network, to serve WiFi throttles/apps from there (something most DCC systems' WiFi interfaces cannot do). Instead of dedicating a keyboard, mouse and monitor to the Raspberry Pi, I VNC (remote desktop) into the R-Pi from my laptop when needed (programming locomotives, configuring things, etc.) If I just want to run trains, the Pi powers up and starts JMRI, serving WiFi throttles/apps automatically without needing any user interface.

There is also an Arduino based DCC system called DCC++EX that is discussed here on Trainboard quite a bit. With a WiFi interface, it can serve WiFi throttle/apps, or it can connect to a computer running JMRI.

 

@BigJake I was watching how Jimmy used the JMRI in his build video for MMR ONE (DIY and Digital Railroad YouTube channel) and it's interesting, he kept it simple which is what I'm trying to do with this project. Sort of make it simple stupid, and then get more into the weeds once I start running. Whatever system I use will probably be what I use on any layout.

 

Baby steps

 

Christopher...

If you still need those walls...here is what I have:

The 2 up top left are 2 7/8 " W x 2 3/4" H
The bottom left one is 3" W x 2 3/4" H
The long one is 7 3/4" W x 2 7/8" H


.

 

Thanks Mtn! I think I'm going to just use it as weathering practice project - The building being one story and all - I think I'd have to cut these down and maybe it's easiest to just punt on trying to finish this structure - that stuff you have there looks like the same brand as my building based on the molding of the windows and doors tho.

 

Time to test out @CSX Robert track plan and run trains!

 

It's beyond my budget at $57.00, but this N Scale kit at http://www.nscalelaser.com/shop/n-scale/132/ has a somewhat European look to it.

 

I was looking at this - I like the bays a lot I am not sure about the showroom.

 

Getting there.