hi guys, i am from india where model railroading is mostly "unknown". since i am on a project in South Africa and just happened one day to visit a site in the net, it rekindled my school day passion of trains, electronics etc., Then thought why not i start doing this. Read a lot in the internet and considering many things, i bought a starter set from Atlas (HO). Chose the Atlas two rail system because the future locomotives and cars would be less expensive when compared to Marklin, Trix etc., (you know i am from India and the currency covertion proves very expensive). At the same time, i live in an apartment in Chennai, India and the space is not large. (people suggested N scale and i was not very interested due to various reasons). SO... when i went in for a break a month ago, i started constructing this HO with a 6.5' x 3' plywood board. The starter set radius did not fit !!! luckily i had flexi tracks and i made a tight curve and with my 1 RH and 2 wye turnouts, i made provision for 3 yards. I constructed a mountain (with 2 tunnels) with paper mache and POP. Then i ballasted the track using fine Aquarium Gravel. RAN OUT OF tracks, and scenic materials.....Now i am back in South Africa and i purchased another GP-38-2 loco, 2 hoopers and and few remote turnouts and also some scenic materials for the ground cover etc., I think i will try to complete the starter layout this time with one more staging and two more yards. EXCEPT for the Loco, cars and tracks, i will make everything on my own. Now, i have made a lumber factory, coal factory, water tank, small station using Balsa Wood on my own. (yet to paint - will use acrylics) - so far the results are good in my opinion. I will make more structures before i leave to india in another 20 days. All the structures are lighted with LEDs and i will make signals also.
OK, I wanted to share it with more knowledgable persons on railroading and hence this post. I can post pictures only when i am back to india and progress with the layout.
Finally, since i am from India, i do not know either US or European rail roading. So, this is just going to be a freelance and i would probably change it to suit Indian Railway by renaming, painting, weathering the cars etc.,
I am doing this out of my passion and not to do with prototypes etc., BUT, I WILL TRY AND MAINTAIN THE SCALE as much as possible with structures and everything.
AT THIS MOMENT, if anybody has any tips or ideas, i would welcome those and thanks to you guys in advance.
Hope it is not boring for you guys.
rgds swami
OK, I wanted to share it with more knowledgable persons on railroading and hence this post. I can post pictures only when i am back to india and progress with the layout.
Finally, since i am from India, i do not know either US or European rail roading. So, this is just going to be a freelance and i would probably change it to suit Indian Railway by renaming, painting, weathering the cars etc.,
I am doing this out of my passion and not to do with prototypes etc., BUT, I WILL TRY AND MAINTAIN THE SCALE as much as possible with structures and everything.
AT THIS MOMENT, if anybody has any tips or ideas, i would welcome those and thanks to you guys in advance.
Hope it is not boring for you guys.
rgds swami