the MRH Forum

Should I wait until I move to get started? Getting started
Reply
New member 1 post Thomas Falater New member 1 post
Thomas Falater

I'm new to model railroading.

 

I'm going to move to Nebraska in two months, do you think I should wait until I move before I get started? I plan on setting up in the basement with a large track layout.

 

Thomas Falater
Reply 0
Douglas Meyer Prolific poster 2,064 posts
Douglas Meyer

If you know what you are

If you know what you are going to model you could start building cars, locomotives or buildings that way you can get a jump on your layout.

-Doug Meyer
Reply 0
jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,994 posts
jeffshultz

Commercial or hand-built turnouts?

If you are going with hand built turnouts using the Fast Tracks system or one of its competitors (see the last couple months "What's Neat" video in the magazine), you could definitely get a head start on building those, and have them ready to lay when you get to that point. 

If you go commercial, my only advice is to not use Atlas Snap-Switches. The quality of construction is fine, but they were designed for train sets where you would have one end of the 4x8 loop be a passing track. So instead of the turnout coming straight off the main, it curves. Makes for a tight switch for larger locomotives and rolling stock. They also have plastic frogs, which might end up being a problem for a short locomotives. All the other Atlas track is fine - I use their code 83 track all over the place. 

orange70.jpg
Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
Reply 0
joef MRH Founder 17,534 posts
joef

Use our search and look for TOMA

Use the site search box on the upper right and search for TOMA ... we're calling it "Start small, THINK BIG." It's a way to start your dream layout now instead of waiting.

Joe Fugate​
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine

[siskiyouBtn]

Read my blog
Reply 0
George Sinos gsinos Prolific poster 1,170 posts
George Sinos gsinos

Where in Nebraska?

what part of the state? There are a lot of model railroaders here. GS
Reply 0
BruceNscale Regular poster 493 posts
BruceNscale

Plan now / Build Later

Hi Thomas,

Start a planning notebook and jot down all your ideas, scenes, electronics, animations, etc.  It's better to have too many ideas and scale back than to wonder "What should I do now".  The notebook won't take up any space.

If you're going thru:

Des Moines, IA...stop at the Hobby Haven in Urbandale.

Council Bluffs, IA...stop at the Union Pacific museum.

Omaha, NE...stop at the House of Trains.

North Platte, NE...stop at the Golden Spike observation tower.

NO MATTER WHERE ELSE YOU GO, plan a trip to Deshler, NE and stop at Spring Creek Model Trains.

 

ignature.jpg 

Happy Modeling, Bruce
Reply 0
dougget New member 9 posts
dougget

Two months?  I'd wait.  With

Two months?  I'd wait.  With all of the packing and unpacking you'll have to do anyway, having fragile parts (completed or mid build) will be a pain to keep safe.

Focus on your move, get that behind you, then the trains.

Just my advice.  By the way, I just moved two weeks ago and had a couple of years worth of buildings and rolling stock to pack up.  Fortunately it was a short move and everything is fine, but...  it was indeed a pain to pack everything with proper padding even for a short trip.

Good luck with the move.

Doug
Reply 0
Reply