Beginner's book recommendation

[Jim Easterbrook]

I would like to find a good (and available!) book or web-site to take me through the basics of constructing a modular layout. I'm picking up a lot of knowledge from the forum, but an overview of what to do, and in what order, would help me ask the right questions at the right time when I need more detailed information. I think I need an introductory text that covers things like constructing the frame, laying the track, building the landscape, adding buildings, trees, grass, hedges, etc.

What would you recommend?

[Bealman]

Mate, there's been literature on this stuff published for years since the ninetine forties.

It would be impossible to pinpoint a definitive source.

My Bible was the American Clinchfield Railroad project book, but there have been many such publications over the years.

The late Cyril Freezer himself published many tomes.

[Train Waiting]

For a general book on building an 'N' gauge layout, a good place to start is the Peco soft-covered publication Your Guide to Building an N Gauge Model Railway.  I can provide more details on request.

You mention a modular layout  which is a specific specialism.  I think the best starting point here is this web-site:  https://www.ntrak.org/

[...] My Bible was the American Clinchfield Railroad project book, but there have been many such publications over the years. [...]

I remember it, George!  It and the Virginia & Ohio and Midland Road got me into a 15-year diversion into American model railroading.  First in 'H0' and then in 'N'.

Best wishes.

John

[Jim Easterbrook]

Thanks both. The huge range of publications is partly why I was looking for a recommendation - some must be better than others! I'd seen the Peco book on their web site and wondered if it was any good.

[Steven B]

Peco do a range of "Shows You How" booklets:
Making a Start in N Gauge
Layout Planning & Design
Building Baseboards
Laying The Track
Wiring the Layout Part 1 - First Steps
Wiring the Layout Part 2 - for the more advanced
Wiring the Layout Part 3: Turnouts/Points and Crossings
Signalling the Layout
Operating Points & Signals
Modelling Water
Modelling the Landscape
Detailing the Landscape
Adding the Background

Most model shops should have at least some in stock, otherwise contact Peco directly.

Peco also publish "Your Guide to N Gauge Railway Modelling" which I've not seen but will probably include much of what's contained in the booklets already mentioned.

Steven B.

[Stuarted]

   
I read "Making a Start in N-Gauge Railway Modelling" which is available as a book or an e-book. I am not in a position to compare it to any other books, but I thought it was comprehensive and helpful.

[keithfre]

If you join the N Gauge Society you get a very comprehensive looseleaf handbook which is very comprehensive and updated from time to time.

[Bealman]

When it comes to modular layouts, as John says, that is a specialist branch of the hobby. The ntrak system from the US is pretty much the accepted standard, although I believe there are others.

The idea being, of course, that members of a club could each build a module, then each module could be joined together using the standardised track locations and joiners to form a large layout.

I've never been a great fan of the idea, because of different modelling abilities and styles. You might end up with a large layout, but with a mish-mash of scenes.

[Yet_Another]

I think it very much depends on what you define as modular. A layout built of universal standard modules, where each one has predefined, standard, entry & exit lines is a different beast to a layout built in a number of modules, each of which is unique, either in size or layout.

My own layout is built from six demountable modules, of two sizes, which can only be put together in one arrangement because the entrances & exits only match up A-B, B-C, etc.

[Jim Easterbrook]

I'm planning to use the "Nm9 RhB" module standard being developed elsewhere: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/143357-nm9-rhb-modules-and-standards/

This has defined entry and exit profiles but is pretty relaxed on module sizes and so on. It's unlikely I'll ever join my modules to anyone else's but I need to have a dismantleable layout and I'd quite like to start small and work up to larger layouts without having to discard what I've already built.

[Bealman]

In that case, you can develop your own protocols.

In that respect, my own layout is modular, even though it fixed to the garage wall.

It's intended to break into bits for transport. 

[AlexanderJesse]

I'm planning to use the "Nm9 RhB" module standard being developed elsewhere: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/143357-nm9-rhb-modules-and-standards/

Gonna check that out...

This has defined entry and exit profiles but is pretty relaxed on module sizes and so on. It's unlikely I'll ever join my modules to anyone else's but I need to have a dismantleable layout and I'd quite like to start small and work up to larger layouts without having to discard what I've already built.

If you just need the dimantleabilty, then you basically go for a segmented layout, you are completely free on each aspect.
The module approach defines the strict rules for the combination between different peoples bits and pieces...

[Neil of Teesside]

There's C J Freezer's the Model Railway Design Manual. It gives general advice on every aspect of model railways and includes several plans for railways in various gauges.

If you want something more specific there is Modelling the British Rail Era, which focuses on the period between 1964 and 1994. It also has a few plans in either N or OO.

If you need ideas for a layout then there are the "Layout Designs..." books. I have Layout Designs for Operations as it contains 2 layouts that I would like to have modelled, but don't have the space for one and the other was too minimalist for my needs now I'm modelling in N.

[Markthetog]

Another vote from me for "Making a start in N gauge Railway Modelling"by Richard Bardsley. I have the Kindle edition as it was my "Go to" reference while I built my first layout last year so I could have to hand on my phone or sit and read it on my Tablet. An excellent book, easy to access and fairly comprehensive. The Peco book and the NGS Owners Handbook are both also excellent.