I Know its been asked before
 

I am looking to get into the hobby (something for the retirement 18 yrs away) so I am starting with a blank canvas, which is best OO or N DCC or DC. I was thinking of buying a complete set to start with and carry on from there probably into a 8x6 shed. I know it is the age old question but we all have to start somewhere.

Thanks

Mike

Hello mictop and a warm welcome to the forum. The way I see it there are several things to take into consideration;

How much room do you have available? An 8X6 shed will give you a reasonable size layout in 00, or a really good size one in N.

How's your eyesight? It just won't get any better as you get older. I speak from personal experience, when I was 43 I could see OK to do lining out on 00 locos, twenty years on and I won't even waste my time trying because my eyes just ain't up to it! If You start with N are you going to be able to see to do fine detail stuff around the time you retire? Some friends of mine built a N scale layout to sell to raise funds for preservation some time back, the verdict after completing it was "Never again" "Pass the Magnifying glass" "Don't call us, Please don't call us"! They were about your age and skilled at 00 modelling.

I have no personal experience with DCC, but from what I have seen at various shows, exhibitions, etc, If I was just starting I would go for it from day 1. When you have a couple of dozen locos it's not so easy to convert to it but if you buy stock ready equipped it's easier.

Take some time to visit as many exhibitions as you can before you start spending and talk to the people running the layouts, there is a wealth of experience there to be tapped into for just the admission charge, also some traders do special "Show only" discount offers.

Hope that this is helpful.

The natives are very friendly on here so feel free to throw questions at 'em.

Regards, 62440.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is DCC?

In a word.... DIGITAL

Regards, 62440

Hi Mictop, welcome to the forum.
As others have said, go for a fairly simple "OO" layout but make sure you invest in DCC - it is light years ahead of DC. The only problem I found with it is that all rail connections have to be electrically bonded (ie solder all the rail joints).
Dave; DCC is the future! Basically, you can control each locomotive from one controller without having to section the track. Imagine being able to independantly control every engine in a shed yard without any track sections!
Find someone who has a DCC layout and talk to them, they will be able to answer all your questions. The model shops will spout information from the instruction manuals but few have the practical experience of it.

Welcome to the Forum mictop. I would totally agree with the advice given by 62240 and Tony. We have a 009 layout at the model railway club I go to (4mm narrow gauge running on N gauge track and I have enough difficulty seeing that!) If I had the space I would go for 0 gauge!

Deffinately go for DCC!

Keep us up to date with progress.

Best wishes for Christmas and 2010,

John H-T.

Hello Mictop and welcome to the Railway Forum. Sorry, but some how I missed your first post. I have to agree with all the comments about DCC. I have been collecting bits for my 00 layout for nearly 3 years now and I still am not yet 100% sure as to the actual track layout.

Go OO mictop. N is okay, but I have issues regarding the couplings. Shunting is very hit and miss, although I'm sure Swisstrains would have a few words to say here! :)

Just quickly from me, if you have a model railway club near you, join it ! You have nothing to lose and you will get a lot of help from the members.

48111

Hi, I agree with the eyesight issue. I am very blessed I still have good vision.

DCC yes probably if you are reasonably well off. Most new locos turn in at three figures now and it would presume that you have no earlier stock which can be difficult to fit chips.

Be very careful if using DCC to get good reliable chips and be very careful with track laying - it does not tolerate short circuits well.

Fo me its old DC I build my own locos.

Still using my Zero One and no plans to change.
John (G)

Hi Gandalf,
Zero One? I bet you have a Sinclair C5 in your garage as well!
Seriously, I always thought the Z1 had big problems and died a death some time ago.

Sadly no C5 but the Zero One still works fine,
Seems like the digital systems still get interference problems at rail joints so soldered joints are still needed. OK by today's standards I am limited to 16 locos simultaneously and is it 99 other things such as turnouts or lights but I never went that far using the old fashioned passing contact switches for points. I do have the full set of four controllers plugged together although never got the remote ones nor the led track display which must have been tied in with the 99 other bits. Still it is fun to run a quadruple header or the game of running two locos towards each other on the same track. My biggest problem was track continuity and affording the loco modules which although large by what I assume are today's sizes can still be fitted inside the little Hornby 'Nellies' and work reliably (got two of those plastered in Apple Green and will be the theoretical station pilots if I ever get the layout up in the roof done).
At the moment 7/8 scale steam outdoors is the occupation although with 6 inches of snow on the track it is reminicent of 1947 except I cannot call out the Army to shovel the snow away.
I remember that year well.
John (G)

Thanks for the replies, I am looking at buying a 8x6 shed next year to start with and yes the eyes are getting worse (isn't age a scary thing) and think I will be looking at OO and going digital.

Thanks again

Keep in touch mictop, and keep us posted on progress.:)

Regards, 62440.:D

markpturner
 

i started out with a n gauge train set and slowly when the finances allowed i started to build it up starting with a base board and adding scenery /buildings etc now the layout is finished i happy with the end result if you have limited space n gauge is best

On a Bob The Builder sort of note, you are going to have to insulate the Floor/roof and walls of your shed to at least 2 inches thick otherwise you will only be able to use it 8 months of the year! You might also consider what materials you use for the base boards and scenery as extremes of temperature and moisture can play havoc with the shape and line! You will need a good heater and a small dehumidifier as well. But dont it feel good to be in your own space!! Enjoy the new hobby and this forum.

My layout is in a shed and I manage to get out in most weathers.

I find battened plywood is resistant to cold and damp. Have two layouts built this way and no distortion yet