I have just started planning my n gauge railway which consists of 4 tracks. however, I am very new to this scale and in short i have no clue what I'm doing.
i have drawn up a track plan and chosen my controller (Morley Vortrak) but I need some help with a few things.
1. HOW DO I WIRE AN ELECTROFROG POINT! My primary concern is that I need a 57xx to run smoothly across points. If possible it needs to have little wiring and point motors which brings me on to my second subject..
2.With a point motor which would you recommend and how do i use it. I think the vortrak has an accessory output but I don't know how to wire it to a lever
3. The track plan involves tunnels at either end which I intend to custom build but how high do I need it to make sufficient clearance for most trains.
4. Code 55 or Code 80, Flexitrack or setrack (I would like as little fuss and wiring on track)
5. ...and finally I have a helix at each end so what degrees does it have to be angled at so that a standard GWR"hall" can pull 4-5 coaches.
thanx in advance :D
Sorry if i posted on the wrong topic or something this is my first post :(
Welcome in TLJC8 :wave:
Have moved this to a more general section for you as you're likely to get more replies :thumbsup:
Paul
Others will doubtless answer your questions in more detail.
But let me just suggest you look at Kato track before doing anything else. If simplicity coupled with motorised electrofrog points is important, Kato Unitrack can be extremely helpful and cost effective.
Cheers, NeMo
Thanks for the RE. I will look into the kato track but as I will need a fair amount of track won't it be quite expensive? Im trying to keep track price down to under £50 so I can have more money to spend on the trains themselves
This will probably come across the wrong way and I don't want to put you off but £50 would struggle to buy you a single oval of track and a passing loop with point motors, bearing in mind a set of points starts at around £8 or £9. Maybe put a track plan up, even if it's a drawing so we can offer assistance and price it up, maybe scale it back a bit.
As said before, Kato Unitrack is marginally more expensive than Peco code 80 but is a great place to start; http://www.traintrax.co.uk (http://www.traintrax.co.uk) have a 10% off sale on Kato Unitrack at the moment.
ok I can't show you my exact plan as I am currently on holiday but I can have a go at drawing it from memory. The scenic section is 8ft by 1ft and there are three main tracks + small shunting yard and a branch terminus. Am I looking at about £100+ or more?
Also as I am far from expert and my design is probably quite poor (I will post it later tonight) if anyone could give examples of a simple shunting yard with operating potential that would be greatly appreciated. Keep in mind that I am using a DC system. Meanwhile I will start drawing the plan
Cheers, TJLC8
Ummmmmmm newbie alert but how do i add pics to posts... ?
There's a full tutorial in the "Help and FAQ" section, here's a link to it:-
Link (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=4300.msg48938#msg48938)
:thumbsup:
Paul
Does it have to be on a computer as I am currently on my iphone
:thankyousign:
TJLC8
Not necessarily, I've uploaded and posted photos from my Blackberry many times ;)
Paul
Im so lazy haha
I really don't have the time or patience to do all that photo stuff so this is what I came up with...
________________________________
| / \ |
|-----(----------########-------)-----|
| | <=========> %% | |
|-----(--------------------------------)-----|
|-----(--------------------------------)-----|
| | <=========> |
| | ===[--------------------)-----|
|____\_____________________/____|
<====> = STATION
-----(---- = TUNNEL
---------- = TRACK
###### = GOODS YARD ( UNKNOWN DESIGN)
%%%% = SIGNAL BOX
From top track: Goods line, Mainline, Mainline, Branch line
Board dimensions: 8ft x 1ft
THE ONLY TURNOUTS / POINTS ARE IN THE YARD
Hopefully that is enough info
Cheers, TJLC8
Is the board 8x1 for the scenic section or in total? I don't know if you'll need a helix - this will add expense and take up a lot of room as well as adding a great deal of compromise when it comes to the length of train you can run. Maybe a simple loop will suffice to send the train back round? Obviously, the loop (or helix) will take the width of the layout at either end out to at least 2ft wide, as well as adding at least another 2 foot to either end. This could be a good thing as it'll keep your scenic section down to around 3 1/2 - 4 foot which is much more manageable when it comes to landscaping!
Do you see the layout as an end to end type layout or one where you can leave trains running permanently? Also, do you want three or four trains to run on it one on the goods line, one on the branch and one or two on the main line?
I intend to run one train per line but honestly by the sound of things i need to revamp my design. If anyone has a simple 4 track design incorporating a station and some sort of shunting operation with a max size of 8ft by 4ft that would be awesome. I'll look at designs on the internet and btw thanks for the kato track idea i will probably purchase some track. Oh and also if u hadn't guessed already my era is somewhere in the GWR era
I'd be tempted to run a twin track dog bone shaped layout as that would keep things relatively simple yet give you a 4 track through station to which you could add a goods yard and a fiddle yard for train storage. Sorry, I don't have an image to hand but hope you know what I mean :hmmm:
Thanks for giving the plans I'll check them
Cheers, TJLC8
Plans are forming in my head :)
How much room would I have for 4ft x 2ft scenic board + the two "bone ends" that would add 2ft on each end? I like the bone idea though :)
I'm pretty sure im all set but I would like to blog my progress. Can u do that on this website?
Btw my final plan is 3 tracks running in the dog bone shape but instead of 6 tracks shown 3 of them will be hidden by a hill with a rock cliff at the back if u see what I mean. Then at the end of the bone shape, in the middle of one end will be a track section like below:
_______
_______\_______
That means I can fit a GWR railcar and a 57xx with 2 coaches
The track then goes through to the scenic section where it will meet a branch terminus for the trains mentioned above but the station is also a double track mainline through station. Finally the top track will be the goods line which will run past the station at the top. The goods yard will be some exchange siding and a Metcalfe single track engine shed to 'home' the loco carrying the goods while the shunter sorts or exchanges the goods themselves. The dimensions are 6ft ft x 2 ft scenic section + 2x 2 ft x 1 ft at either end as the bone shape Hopefully I made sense xD i apologise if it doesn't :0. Finally i just thought i tell u my stock which will consist of:
GWR railcar for branch line terminus
A "hall" for one of the main lines
A prairie tank for one of the main lines
Two 57xx for shunting and branch line
I'm still debating why I want for the goods train loco but I think I'll go for the prairie tank again
Let me know if u think I need to alter things and if I can set up a blog
THANKS,
TJLC8
You can set up a thread in Layout Planning then when you have it all planned you can start a separate thread in Layout Construction. That way you can post your ideas and people can post suggestions and hints.
Have you ever tried one of the many free layout software programs to help you design your layout?
cheers John.
I haven't actually but I will definitely use one now that you say it is there any you would reccomend? I've heard of anyrail but is there any that are really easy and simple to use? Also make sure its free :D
There is one called SCARM that is entirely free and is very good. Once you have planned your layout it will give you a 3D view of what you have planned. You can add hills, tunnels, buildings etc.
Have a look here: http://www.scarm.info/blog/general/scarm-v-0-9-19-released/ (http://www.scarm.info/blog/general/scarm-v-0-9-19-released/)
cheers John.
Looks awesome but is it just for PC? I only have a mac
That is a hurdle I did not foresee :'(
We do have some members who use a mac, I will make contact and ask for help there ;)
cheers John.
Thanks :bounce:
TJLC8
I have sent a PM but they are offline at the moment, so I am afraid it is twiddle your thumbs time for a bit :D
cheers John.
Below is a snapshot of my small layout produced using "SCARM". The design allows me to run 3 trains at the same time as there are 3 main runaround tracks. Takes a bit of getting used to but Scarm is totally free and I am sure you would soon get the hang of it.
(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/snapshot.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/snapshot.jpg.html)
Looks great :)
I have had a reply to my PM and Pengi suggests : http://www.railmodeller.com/ (http://www.railmodeller.com/)
She says it may take a bit of getting used to but who does not like a challenge :D
cheers John.
Quote from: Tdm on August 04, 2014, 06:42:35 PM
Below is a snapshot of my small layout produced using "SCARM". The design allows me to run 3 trains at the same time as there are 3 main runaround tracks. Takes a bit of getting used to but Scarm is totally free and I am sure you would soon get the hang of it.
(http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo231/Tdmak/Model%20Railway/snapshot.jpg) (http://s379.photobucket.com/user/Tdmak/media/Model%20Railway/snapshot.jpg.html)
Only problem is he is using a mac :hmmm:
Thanks john I'll check it out. One last question before i start my new thread in layout construction (make sure you check it out) is that if anyone has a GWR name for my layout then I'll be one very happy guy.
Thanks guys,
TJLC8
Quote from: TJLC8 on August 04, 2014, 06:57:16 PM
Thanks john I'll check it out. One last question before i start my new thread in layout construction (make sure you check it out) is that if anyone has a GWR name for my layout then I'll be one very happy guy.
Thanks guys,
TJLC8
How about "Camelot" - if there ever was a Camelot it was thought to be in the South West - you could then include a Castle on your layout.
Ok :bounce:
Go check out my new thread in the layout construction forum thing to see progress on Camelot.
Thanks,
TJLC8
Quote from: Tdm on August 04, 2014, 07:38:49 PM
How about "Camelot" - if there ever was a Camelot it was thought to be in the South West - you could then include a Castle on your layout.
If Farish pull their finger out then you could have several castles on your layout...!!
I started my build with a Kato starter pack you get oval track a controller loco and coaches or wagons. Very easy to set up and points come complete with wiring. http://www.traintrax.co.uk/10006-glacier-express-starter-p-1008.html (http://www.traintrax.co.uk/10006-glacier-express-starter-p-1008.html)