Hello all!
I really want to get into N Gauge and either build a layout or buy one. If i were to go down the buying route is ebay the best place to look to pruchase a layout!?
I just dont think i have the time, or skill to build the layout i want :/
Cheers,
Phil
Quote from: philnotts on February 10, 2015, 09:49:51 AM
Hello all!
I really want to get into N Gauge and either build a layout or buy one. If i were to go down the buying route is ebay the best place to look to pruchase a layout!?
I just dont think i have the time, or skill to build the layout i want :/
Cheers,
Phil
Phil
You could try building a small layout to see how you get on. This would allow you to get new skills in layout building without having to spend too much time. If you are happy with what you have achieved you can move on to bigger things with more confidence.
I wish I'd taken my own advice a couple of years back as I have embarked on a layout which is a lot of work. Still worth the effort for me though.
:NGaugersRule:
Hi Phill,
While there
are layouts on fleaBay, they tend to be best avoided ! While you do get photos, you can bet any flaws will be obscured or down-right hidden ...
Frankly, a layout isn't that difficult to make ! Really ! I'm in the (slow) process of making my first one. I never thought I would be able to make a decent job, but I am quite happy with the way things are progressing (apart from the lack of time I have :'(). I suggest you start small (a 4x2, or 6x4).
Some questions :
- Do you have some basic woodworking tools, eg saw, drill, etc ?
- Do you have a reasonable DIY store nearby that sells wood (ply and battens) ?
- Do you have a reasonable model rail shop nearby that sells scenic materials ?
If 'yes' to the first one, you can make the base area without a problem :) It's just sawing & screwing ;)
If 'yes' to the second one, you can easily get the materials (and they may either have them in suitable sizes or be willing to cut to your requirements)
If 'yes' to the third one, you have a local resource to ask questions to on how to use particular scenic items. If 'no' to it, well you'll need to buy on-line (plenty of suppliers) and you can ask all your questions here :)
Once you have a reasonable track plan (ask here for suggestions, post your design, & we'll help you refine), you can make the hard infrastructure (the board), and then start the basic track & hard scenery (maybe the other way around ::)).
You'll enjoy a layout much more if you make it yourself - trust me :P
Mike
PS - it's also a lot cheaper than buying a layout new, and a lot less frustrating than buying a poor one second-hand because it was cheap !!!
Phil
Or you could commission somebody to build one for you to your specs
Cheers
Jonny
Phil,
If you're really, really sure you want to buy a layout then Ollie3440 of this forum makes and sells layouts. See.............
http://thefiddleyard.webs.com/ (http://thefiddleyard.webs.com/)
I agree with others, though. It's far more satisfying to know you've made your own, especially with all the advice to be gained via the NGF collective.
Hi Phil,
I totally agree with Mike and Bob. Build your own - it needn't be too complicated - just keep it simple. You'll be surprised how your skills increase and improve. One major advantage is of course the satisfaction of "building it yourself".
For any current and future problems there will be always be someone on this Forum who will be able to help. Remember we've all been there and were all in your position once.
Best of luck and enjoy your N gauge.
Bill
Hello.
Thank you for your replies.
I think the time, landscape and scenery parts is my main concern. I may look into buying one or maybe looking to build.
Thanks,
Phil
I'll second the suggestions above. Build your own is preferable to keep costs lower, you'll also have a better idea what is going on when something inevitably decides to have a hissy fit later. Its easier to fault find in your own work ;) Alternatively, if you'd rather buy, do so from a reputable builder rather than something on ebay with who knows how many undisclosed issues. You'll pay considerably more for a professionally built layout, but you get what you pay for. The other alternative is to go to one of the baseboard producers with your specification and have the baseboards laser cut for you to assemble.
Time, landscape and scenery can go hand in hand. I built a 1m long photographic diorama in 24 hours, which included building the boards, scratch building and painting a bridge, laying the track and doing the scenery.
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o240/ZunnanDeclawed/Railway%20Modelling/IMG_4351.jpg)
(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o240/ZunnanDeclawed/Railway%20Modelling/IMG_4345.jpg)
When time is a constraint, there is always a way to do things to a reasonable standard in next to no time! And at the end of the day you'll get the layout you want, by trial and error. ;)
As another first timer in "N", I would say "Go for IT!"
Build one for yourself, put YOUR heart into it, YOUR ideas etc.
Take your time! Make mistakes, sometimes BIG ones, I have!
Landscape, scenery and all that stuff will take time and effort but it WILL be YOUR layout!
In your initial post you summed it up perfectly, I quote:- "I really want to get into N Gauge "
Welcome to the obsession, Peter.
I'd definitely go for building your own.
Maybe start small to get the feel of building things. I'm on my second layout having learned the hard way with my first one. You will be surprised just how quickly your skills/confidence develop.
And...as Peter says, it WILL become an obsession !
I'd say have a go yourself it's a great de-stresser and you can always find the odd hour to make some progress, start with something simple and see how it goes. :thumbsup:
Half the fun is building it, buddy. And hey, you're not really a true railway modeller until you've burnt yerself with a soldering iron and got rail joiners under your fingernails :D :thumbsup:
Quote from: Bealman on February 10, 2015, 08:32:12 PM
Half the fun is building it, buddy. And hey, you're not really a true railway modeller until you've burnt yerself with a soldering iron and got rail joiners under your fingernails :D :thumbsup:
Or cut yourself with the modelling knife.
Oooh. Let's not put the fellow off, here! ;)
I thought that burning yourself with the soldering iron etc was all part of the learning curve + you also learn a new language that's not repeatable on this family forum but can be bleeped out with the appropriate smilie.
But you really must build it yourself just on the wiring alone lots of people use diferant methods what suits one wouldn't suit another .
If you buy ready built unless you can trace wiring when something goes wrong your up the creek without a paddle and you'd end up starting again anyway.
You made a good move in joining this forum because if you do get stuck there's some one who will help you we have some really expert Modelers only to willing to help beginners after all we all started out like you.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
Bob
From a track layout point of view I'd say build it yourself; unless you've built one before, you may not know what kind of layout suits how you want to operate it. My layout's undergone about 7 revisions as I've bought new stuff and then re-jigged the whole thing, I've adapted it to the way I play with it and currently (2 years later) it's about where I'd be happy to nail it all down (although revision 8 may be on the cards as I want more turntable sections...)
Thank you for the replies :D
So apart from the forum is there -
- any free track planning software i can use
- DCC wiring guide on the internet or youtube
- Landscape / scenery tutorial on the internet or youtube ( tunnels, bridges, hillsides etc )
Thank you
Phil
Phil, a lot of us were taught by paper media.... magazines and books which have the advantage that they can be on hand while you build.
However, there are gurus here who can help in all the fields you mention. :thumbsup:
- any free track planning software i can use
SCARM has a good list of Peco track and is free
http://www.scarm.info/index.php (http://www.scarm.info/index.php)
- DCC wiring guide on the internet or youtube
http://www.dccconcepts.com/resources/the-layout-wires-and-wiring??id=all (http://www.dccconcepts.com/resources/the-layout-wires-and-wiring??id=all)
Soo many advice pdf's for bedtime reading
Also:
http://www.dccconcepts.com/hobby-resources??id=/resources/the-track-laying-and-ballasting (http://www.dccconcepts.com/hobby-resources??id=/resources/the-track-laying-and-ballasting)
You need to click a selection in step 1, then a type, then "take me there".
- Landscape / scenery tutorial on the internet or youtube ( tunnels, bridges, hillsides etc )
Youtube is full of them. Have you considered joining a local club and getting some experience under the watchful eye of someone who has done it before?
Boris
Scarm is good as it can give you a 3D view of your plans but I use AnyRail which is in my view a lot simpler to learn.
Depends on how computer savvy you are I guess!
Here's a link: https://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html (https://www.anyrail.com/index_en.html)
Dave G
definately go for a self build small layout like i did.i am a new comer to model railways knowing nothing at all .just buy the regular monthly train mags ,looking for usefull videos and track plans.go to a good local shop as they are always enthusiats and a wealth of knowledge.they will put you on the right track.i have nearly finished my first layout and i am very pleased that everything works perfectly. just take your time and think through everything before you do anything at all. the main thing is read read everything you can get your hand on.then just enjoy the whole build, hopefully you will be hooked like me.it is a hobby so just take your time.i am in my 70s and wish i had started years ago when i was fit healthy and more mobile than i am now.
so hoping this helps and enjoy
carpy
Go into Google or Bing images and type in "small model railway layouts " or "small model railway plans"
and you will see a huge number of possibilities. The scale doesn't matter because any layout in 0 or 00
can be built in N. Also do the same in YouTube. I think building your own would be the best route.
Basic carpentry work is all that's required and the wiring for a basic layout is pretty simple.
Also DIY saves a lot of cash compared with buying a ready made layout, and steer clear
of Ebay layouts because apart from the fact they're often overpriced the condition might
be poor unless you could inspect them.
Once the board is built, the track laid , wired and ballasted, the scenery is the most important.
I think that's the hardest part of a layout, on the forum you can see layouts that look like the
real thing due to painstaking work.
Anyway enjoy, it's just for fun!
Quote from: Agrippa on February 11, 2015, 11:07:03 AM
Go into Google or Bing images and type in "small model railway layouts " or "small model railway plans"
and you will see a huge number of possibilities. The scale doesn't matter because any layout in 0 or 00
can be built in N.
Don't forget that OO plans don't scale to N by halving the dimensions; somewhere around 2/3rds of the OO size is more practical (i.e. 6'x4' in OO would be 4'x2'8" in N).