I wanted to get everyone's opinoin on a few books. Which of these do you have and if you have read both which one, in your opinion, is better? http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12148.html http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12250.html http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12231.html http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12405.html I want to purchase one of these and maybe another one. I just don't want to buy two books that say pretty much the same thing. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. I realize I ask a lot of questions on here, but I always get great prompt replies. I have several questions but I'll save them for later and spread them out so folks want get tired of me asking them.
The first one, Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong, is very good. I haven't read the others.
I agree with MisterBeasley, the Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong is very good. I consider it a must read for layout planning. I have not read the other books and am also interesting on opinions about them. Another great layout planning resource is the Layout Design Special Interest Group.
"Track Planning For Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong is an excellent source of information. The other books also provide good info.
Let me be the fourth to say that the Armstrong book is good stuff. I haven't read the others so I can't comment on them for sure, but I've read enough Koester articles in MR over the years to say that they are bound to be solid resources. However, I'd say the Armstrong book is kind of foundational stuff for contemporary MRRing. Jeff
I will join the chorus on the Armstrong book. That one and Linn Westcott's 101 Track Plans are the main two layout planning books I have been using, with frequent reference also to the NTRAK standards. I would be interested to know anything about the other three.
Second everyone. Armstrong's book is good, with some qualifications (biased toward HO or larger and toward steam era). Koester's books - I've only read "Design". It's not a substitute for Armstrong's book at all, but an interesting supplement. It's not so much about track planning, but about how to put everything together to create a believable impression. Lots of advice focused on freelancers and protolancers, and some ideas that'll really make you think about what you're trying to do.
My THIRD copy of Track Planning for Realistic Operation is worn. I keep going back to it time and time again. I have not read the others, but I think they sound valuable. I wish in your original post you had given the name of the books in plain text, along with the link, rather than forcing readers to call up the internet link... like so: Track Planning for Realistic Operation, Armstrong. http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12148.html
Thanks for all of the replies. I'm going to buy Armstrong's book and probably one of the others. That would have been easier wouldn't it?
I bought the Armstrong book. It is a little hard to understand for a newbie like me but I'll take Mister Beasley's advice and read it a second time.
Chubb's is another valuable book. My copy is ancient, still refer to it often. You can read the same section for 10 years and suddenly you get this flash of inspiration on how you can do something different on your layout. :thumbs_up:
Chubb's is one of my favorites. Of course, it's old, so it doesn't describe modern operations. It focuses on the timetable-and-train-order method. And yes, it merits re-reading. It took me many years to understand the simplified car-card system. The book has also inspired my track planning. Be warned that Chubb favors crowded layouts.
My opinion on any train/model book: buy as many as you can afford because even if the information is not immediately important to you it will be eventually. Besides, books are always great to have in the train room Seriously, I even have books written in the 30s and 40s that still apply in a basic way today.
