Newby seeking advice

[jer3]

Recently retired RR employee looking to get started with an HO scale layout.  I was leaning towards Atlas code 83 track with one of their layouts.  I'm thinking DCC is the way to go today.  I have a room that I can put a 4x8 in.  Any advice, ideas, recommendations appreciated, thanks in advance.

[edwardsutorik]

DCC and Code 83 are good choices. A 4 x 8 layout is NEVER big enough, but it really is excellent for starting out.

I say you should start out kinda slow, getting stuff that interests you. You might like a specific railroad, and/or a specific location or time period. You may prefer switching, or running a train and just watching it. For a 4 x 8, I think it's a good idea to be able to have continuous running (round and round) because a point to point run is going to be VERY short. That said, there have been some pretty neat little switching layouts.

I totally recommend getting whatever "beginner books" are out there, and reading through them. No need for you to make the same mistakes everyone else made, earlier.

Generally, if it's cheap it ain't worth owning. Except when it is.

And hang out here, and on other forums. There's a lot to learn.


Welcome!!!!!

Ed

[riogrande]

I find Atlas flex the easiest to work with so good for a novice.

If you can increase the layout side by a little it will yield dividends in operational ability. A 4x8 will limit you to 22 inch radius curves and if you do a double track, 18"R inner and 22"R outer. You can run some longer rolling stock on that but some may not play well, such as longer six axle diesels or scale length passenger cars. If you can make the layout 8 inches wider, you could do 26 inch outer curves and 23 inch inner, for example.

[Gary P]

If continuous running is not a requirement, consider doing something around the walls. You could cut that 4x8 sheet into two 2x8 pieces, and place into a corner in the shape of an "L". Just something to consider.... Enjoy!

[riogrande]

Around the walls can give some different possibilities. You could even do a continuous around the wall with a lift-out bridge at the entrance or door. That would give longer run and wider curves.

[grahamline]

Be careful loading up on new, shiny equipment. In HO, contemporary auto racks and six axle locomotives -- or big steam-era locomotives -- will look a little funny and not perform well on the small radius curves possible on a 4x8. What kind of train memories do you have from years past? That's what many people end up trying to build.

[35eh]

I did 4x8 but added 3 or 4 inches to the 4 ft depth…double track circuit..trains go round and round
6 track non functional yard in the center of the double tracks…
yard in the foreground of a diagonal ridge that offers a glimpse of a foot or so of the rear track runs…so trains “disappear”
Yard displays rolling stock I weather…
The track runs along the outside edge of the layout at the rear and in the front it’s about an inch from the edge..
Autoracks run no prob on the outside track..I haven’t tried the inner track
To keep derailment disasters from happening in the front I added 6” high clear acrylic sheet.
I went with DC for a few reasons…1) Cost…2) in the limited space and trackage DCC offered nothing…3) I am not a fan of sound locomotives…to me it’s noise
This layout took 4 months to build..it’s in my avatar 

[grahamline]

One advantage of an around the walls layout is that you can't see the whole thing at one time, the way you do with a 4x8. There's the same area to be filled with track and scenery, but it is spread out.
If you are committed to a 4x8, look at BCSJ #1 at s145079212.onlinehome.us/rr/bcsj/index.html

[wjstix]

If you haven't built a layout before, I'd suggest using "click track" - track with connected roadbed that snaps ("clicks") together - rather than either flextrack or sectional track. It makes getting things up and running a lot easier. Both Atlas and Kato make code 83 click track. Kato Unitrack has more options - more curve sizes for example.

katousa.com/ho-unitrack/