I can't only speak to my own limited experience

I can't answer from a hand lay perspective.. but I ran into the same conundrum on my little layout.

I had read, and agree, that you should start from complex track which can be assembled on the workbench, put it down, and radiate outward. I followed this on little started layout by assembling three switches and a short straight track.

It worked out well from a track fittting perspective.. but I wish I had put down some simpler track elsewhere first so I could get warmed up before I tackled the somewhat trickier trackwork. That section of trackwork is the trickiest, but is also my most poorly done. In contrast, the last trackwork I did on the far side of the layout is much better.

My feeling is that while it makes sense to place the complex stuff first, the reality of the learning curve dictates other choices at times. I also hope to do some handlaying on my next 10x10 N layout.. but plan to get some experience in a small diorama first, then start with one of the easier sections of the layout plan.

Hopefully some folks with more experience will answer your question. Its something I am thinking about too.

Good luck!

Regards,

Chris

Most Crucial Part First

I usually lay the part that has the least amount of error/tolerance allowable in relation to the rest of the layout first. This usually happens at either yard throats/ladders or particular radii that must align properly. Minor aligment problems add up along the way and can throw off your plan if you are tight to begin with. Set those points that must be where you planned them to be, then connect them. So, you might end up setting two turnback loops on far ends of the aisle first, then connecting what comes inbetween.

Good luck with the handlaying - it is a very atisfying experience! (At least that is what I hear...)

Riley

handlaying

With my H0 layout I used flex track. With ME or CV tracks you get better looking tracks than with spikes, I think. You see more details. But I still handlay some turnouts.

Wolfgang

Central Valley tie strips work in HO, but not in N

Central Valley tie strips are only available for HO - and of course the Central Valley turnout tie strips are excellent for handlaying your own turnouts - since you get full tie plate and spikehead detail!

I also agree that MicroEngineering track is better looking than handlaid. For this reason I don't bother handlaying track these days - the ME track, Central Valley tie strips, and the Fast Tracks jigs just give track that's better looking, goes down faster, and is more reliable than just about anything you could handlay yourself in the same amount of time.

Hand Laid

Here is my first job of Hand laid track. It really is a lot easier than what most people think. The tracks that I used was Atlas which I stripped the ties that came with it and use this ones. The turnouts are Peco which I converted also. It is very rewarding and the results looks awesome.

My first layout incarnation...

Was/is entirely hand laid.   That said I am seriously thinking about using a mix of code 83, 70 flex track for all the straight and curved sections track work on the layout.  While I really enjoy the look of the woodties all ballasted with the painted rail, I also like to run trains.  Plus from a cost perspective as I understand it, you are not really saving any money in the long run like you would be by building your t.o.'s when doing just regular track. 

My turnouts will still reused and were hand laid using the Fast Tracks system.  They look good and work like butter.    

Turn out

Shane,

You are right about not saving money, unless you built your own layout. The reason I used Peco is because they were recycled from my last layout, I have a total of about 30- 40 turnouts from the last layout.

http://www.members.tripod.com/colorado_rr/index.htm

Nick: Excellent result!

Nick:

Excellent result!

Thanks

Denny,

Thank you so much !