Hi I am new to this hobby as I inherited a bunch of rolling stock, track, and buildings.(but no layout). I want to build a layout my son can enjoy. He loves the N scale display set up at a local mall(especially the tunnels). I have lots of experience building scale model cars but none with trains. Has anyone built a layout from a Noch Pre painted board? If so would you recommend these products?
First of all, welcome to TrainBoard and welcome to this great hobby. I'm sure you'll find someone on here who will be able to answer your question. I am not familiar with the product, so I'm afraid I cannot be of assistance.
The Noch prefabricated layout boards are very expensive for what you get and are more the European concept of a train layout with a large passenger station dominating than the more balanced approach of US modelers. Unless you are located in a small apartment or somewhere else where you have little room to work, would suggest you go to your hobby shop and look for books by Atlas and Kalmbach on constructing N scale layouts for beginners. It's not that hard, and it's fun! There's also a similar product to the Noch, but made here that is 30 inches by 48 inches called Terrain for Trains. I know there's a fellow from Henderson, NV, that's on here or Railwire that will be glad to share his experiences with that layout with you. Welcome to the hobby!
Hi, The Blues, I'll second what others have said here. Some alternatives: 1) The terrain For Trains setup is more American in style. There is a guy called Jesse Helmick who has done one of these, see if you can find him here. 2) The Woodland Scenics Scenic Ridge layout kit would be my suggestion. Much more value for the money. You can also buy a separate ready-to-go Atlas Track pack and a separate set of Buildings. Go to Brooklyn Locomotive Works (www.blwnscale.com) and he's got great price on these three components, the least expensive I've seen. I'm sure you can also find it elsewhere so pls look around. You can find out more about the Woodland Scenics Scenic Ridge layout kit at Woodland Scenic's web site. Hope this helps.
GREAT LOOKING LAYOUT NOCH BUT HOW MUCH MONEY This I think is a great set up. Are they available in the US? Are they very costly? Here is a video of a great running layout I would be interested in. Any other brand in the US comparable? Thanks Ron http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teDT55-O30g&feature=related
they are available, start arround $400, and can be over $2000...I have never used one, but they do look too European for my taste
The one I'm interested in is the NOCH 84830 Baden Baden. Most info is in german, I think. I Have the track plan and wondered if it could somehow be changed into english or something I can understand. I have some track plans but they are made for german tracks and I don't understand how they are drawn. SEE track plans at bottom. Can this be done with atlas track in N scale. How could I go about this like the plan. Ron
Hi Darticus, I'm new to the forums as of recently.But for the past couple of months i've been toying around with building the same layout for my 3yr old.He's totally into the Thomas and friends sets I buy him from Walmart but want to get back into MRR myself.I have been teaching myself how to use 3rd Planit software to build layouts.Currently I have the lower half designed with all the sidings using Atlas code 55 #4 turnouts.Am currently trying to finish the rest of the design using sectional track but I may only be able to use flex track.Unfortunately I haven't figured out how to bend the flex track within the software yet.But once I do finish it i'll be more than happy to post the finished plans as well as the material list.
I built one of the Noch layouts about fifteen years back when I worked at a hobby shop. They wanted something quick that they could throw in the front window for display. They're expensive, have a european feel, but look good for little work. If you want something up and running and sceniced, I'd go for it.
Well i've had a few moments to myself from famliy-time but I have a rough design done on the Baden-Baden layout using Atlas Track.Here are the required parts.. Atlas 11.25° 10" 2011 2 Atlas 11.25° 11.25" 2013 2 Atlas 11.25° 12.5" 2015 2 Atlas 11.25° 17.5" 2023 1 Atlas 11.25° 18.75" 2025 1 Atlas 22.5° 10" 2010 48 Atlas 22.5° 11.25" 2012 14 Atlas 22.5° 12.5" 2014 19 Atlas 22.5° 13.75" 2016 4 Atlas 3" track 2004 6 Atlas 3/4" track 2008 1 Atlas 30" flextrack 2000 3 Atlas 4 1/4" track 2003 4 Atlas 6" track 2002 85 Now I know for the longer sections you'll need more than the 3 flextrack pieces as stated.I'll be more than happy to share the 3rd plan it file if anyone wants to clean it up abit.
Hi, funny that these Noch layouts look "european" in your eyes, We may have less space over here, but not that much less ;-) OK I admit, typical for a european layout is a passenger train station. But these kind of "Fertiggelände" layouts are not very popular among german model railroaders. The layout design always reminds me of layouts you find at big passenger stations over here: Every square inch crowed with tracks, the more the better. Not very prototypical, steamers next to too short high speed trains. You throw some money in them and let your kits race the trains over the tracks. Nice for spending a few minutes, but that's it. This may sound hard, but apart from their high price, these layouts have some major issues: - way too much track for the size - too short sidings that prevent protoypical operations - no hidden stagings to store some extra trains - tight radii The last point is very important: The layout Baden-Baden has curves with 7.5" (192mm) radius. European rolling stock is mostly designed for this radius, although it does not look good and is not recommended. Nice for a mini layout like Micro/Small Layouts for Model Railroads but definitely nothing for standard US rolling stock. I don't think you can fit US tracks on this layout... If you are looking for something quick, easy and fun for your kids, what about a starter kid with Kato unitrack? Regards, jpd
Hi, does that really fit for Noch Baden-Baden? The prefabricated layout is only 39"x69"... If you really want to use a Noch Fertiggelände, it might be better to use one for H0 and build the Original H0 track plan in N scale... Regards, jpd
It's not that i'm trying to fit it within the design size that Noch has.Thought it would be something to keep me occupied for awhile as i'm learning the software that i'm using....don't get me wrong I like the layout...just expanding it a bit to try and get a bigger radius on the curved sections to incorporate that plan for use with "american" rolling stock when I take my turn to "play" from my 3yr old wanting Thomas and Gordon.I just like the design due to it's vast over/under action so he can see them go in and out of tunnels and across bridges.
Hi I also love the layout and I even tried to create it with Kato N scale track with much larger radiuses. I was unsuccessful and finally gave up. One thing I can share through my learning curve was that the inclines were very steep. Enjoy the fun in designing a similar layout just expand the radius and watch the inclines and sidings I wound up designing a two level layout that can run at least five locos, three on the top level and two or three on the bottom level. I have tunnels, bridges over and unders. I'm testing the layout for a few weeks before I do the scenary. Good luck and enjoy
Thats what I would like ! Running a group of trains sounds great. What type of track? Can you share the plan? I guess its N scale atlas 80 track? Thanks Ron
I used Atlas code 55 track for this layout.But I can probably manage to do the layout in Kato Unitrack in 3rd Planit, although the elevations still elude me to do a 3d concept of the design.
