Well...Coastal Central Florida Old/New again to the hobby......and a million things have changed since 1988. I've haunted Epay and Amazion for the last year.....I've spent a bazillion bucks....I have a cool mountain of Walthers, and Magnuson, and Atlas/Kato (80s) Kato and even some Brass. I'm working with Peco code 55 for the most part. I have constructed the benchwork for the Yard, throat, and Station .....I've constructed 26 (don't ask) stalls worth of Roundhouse. I want to start laying track,,,,and that is where the screeching halt is gonna come in. Anyway....I am Wayne, and I'm pleased to be here, and hope to share a bunch with you , while I learn everything from y'all. Thanks for having me folks
Dive in and go for it. Sometimes the intimidation factor holds us back, but even flex over cork isn't really that bad once you try a couple pieces. Maybe start small, make yourself a module/diorama or two to practice and to hold onto for photo-ops. Looking forward to what you try!
Thank you for the encouragement and welcome. I will take a bunch of pix...I have to get familiar with the site, where to do pix and stuff. I may be a bit, but I'd maybe run a build thread or blog...if there turned out to be any interest. **if it rains again tomorrow, I'm gonna cut he parts for the Helix (15in. rise). Florida has no basements......only spare bedroomshboy:
The Altoona/Juniata yards are to the left...station throat to the right PRR and Middle division....sorta Nineteenthirtyfiftyish
Hi Wayne, Welcome to the Train Board, happy to have you aboard. I like that you say "if it rains". Looks like you're catching what I got Saturday night and Sunday morning, so I expect to see great progress on your helix...LOL I sympathized with your feeling of getting overwhelmed. Just create an overall concept, no details or plans, but a rough mental sketch image of the whole mess. Then flesh out small chunks like the yard and build just that. When that's to a point where the track looks right, move to the next small chunk. Before long you'll have a loop and can run that beautiful S1 while enjoying your favorite adult beverage.
Hytec....I did get the helix cut. I pretty much went with the "Ashlin" design... double tracked...2in clearance and a 15inch (+) rise overall. Since it's unseen, I got the Kato "SuperElevated" track and Easements for ease and reliability. I don't know about tieing Peco code 55 to it though. I intend to finish the yard (rough) and work it, just as you said, 'til I satisfied with it. Cardboard footprints of the buildings will help too....I just ordered a Kalmbach "Trackwork" book and a "Wiring DCC" manual from Amazon. There is no local RR club anymore. There are no Hobby stores anymore either, so books and you guys are just gonna have to be enough hboy: jk hahaha Thank you all for the welcome
Hey Wayne, we all are here for you. I don't know squat about DCC, been a DC person since '47....OMG, that's 67 years. I love Peco C55, used it for over 20 years, with one exception. I use Kato Unitrack bridges throughout. Just pop off the Kato connectors and use standard track connectors between the two...works fine. There's about a .005" difference in railhead height. Aside from a slight click-click as each car crosses the connection, there's no problem.
We sure know about this stuff. But there's still tons of items available via the 'Net. Knowledge a-plenty here. So have no fears.
Oh.....I know my way around Epay maybe a little too well I need to take some pix of the vault.....I've accumulated quite a pile of N Scale Architect, Bar Mills, old Magnuson, new Walthers, a little Atlas and even a Bachmann or two....for the yard. There's a drawer full of motive power, and another of rolling stock. It will take 5 years to build what I've on hand now. **In that respect, you cannot beat the net....but the ease is just what has killed all the hobby stores 50-60 even %70 savings, and it comes to your door! Work time folks.....I have a Dodge truck to shoot today :frustrated: at least the weather is perfect
