Hello


T_BOLT

New Member
Hello. I am looking at getting back into model railroading after a 30 years absence. Thirty years ago I was into HO scale wanting to get started in N scale. look forwarding to reading post and asking a lot of questions.

Thanks.
 
I just bought the Bachman Thunder Valley. I know I will not use the track that came with it. Mainly bought it for the engine and cars. I'm searching and searching for a book or magazine that has complete plan for a good N scale layout.

When I was in it 30 years ago I did a plan from a book that showed how to cut the wood and how to do the elevation. It showed everything from start to finish with the exception of scenery. Back then it was all plaster for scenery, cork for road bed, and all track/roadbed was laid directly to the wood.

I am seeing that foam is used for scenery, roadbed (think I will still use cork), and also laid on top of the wood.
 
Welcome to these forums T_Bolt, ask the questions. Lots of knowledge within these electronic walls. Not an N scaler myself, we do have an N scale specific forum and there are many others to glean ideas and info from. We're a helpful bunch.
 
Wood or foam. When ya commit to one or the other, it should work. Just gotta know how to glue foam together without melting it.
Bench work is important so small bumps to the table won't be major earthquakes to your empire.
Keep in mind you will need access to the track from under the table to run a power buss.
 
T_BOLT, welcome to the forum, indeed, a lot of knowledge in these pages, just ask. HO myself but a lot of the principles are the same no matter what scale. Have you looked at TOMA? The One Modual Approach.......
 
Welcome to our forum T_BOLT. I am also HO, but like Jerry posted, "a lot of the principles are the same no matter what scale". Check out the various parts of the forum for ideas and questions, If you get a chance, stop by the Coffee Shop and join some of the members for some friendly banter that may not be train related.

Willie
 
Just a note. Many, if not most who use foam as the base, still put cork underlay on beneath the rails. If for nothing else because track nails don't hold into the foam very well whilst positioning track.
 
T_BOLT........I am building my first major layout. I went with the open grid bench work with 2 inch foam on top of that. The foam is very rigid but easy to drill thru, carve on and light weight. I'm using cork roadbed, attached with foam friendly adhesive. Research research research!
 
Build with an eye towards possibly tearing it down when ideas hit and plans change. I'm on my 4th iteration of layout and I'm sure I'll be changing THAT! LOL
 
Welcome.gif Welcome to the forum T BOLT. Gone from the hobby for 30 years? That's just about the time I ripped out my N scale layout and move onto HO scale. 30 years ago the locomotives for the most part were garbage, but today they run so well. Now that I am a bit older I will have to admit that HO scale is a bit easier to work on with my old eyes. Stop by the Coffee Shop and have a cup some time.
 
Just a note. Many, if not most who use foam as the base, still put cork underlay on beneath the rails. If for nothing else because track nails don't hold into the foam very well whilst positioning track.
Yes, and also the cork helps preventing the foam from becoming a great big amplifier of wheel noise. I found out this one the hard way by laying track directly onto a 4x8 sheet of foam suspended over open grid work. The foam acted like a great big drum head or speaker diaphragm, the noise was tremendous. Had to go back and add cork.
 
I don't have that problem with the foam. But most of my foam has supports 12"s apart. I even used the WS foam roadbed. I do use cork for ground throw bases. Because it holds track spikes. I glue everything.

Modeling the roaring 20's
President of the Lancaster Central Railroad
President of the Western Maryland Railway
 



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