-
offtherails's bio
Semi-retired with a background in IT, electronics and sound engineering. Enjoy creating things and innovation, model railways and woodcraft. -
offtherails's latest comments
ViewDate:
7th Feb 2020offtherails commented on:
How to Build Model Railways: Design & LayoutI would agree with Frank about the quality of the above article. It lacks any practical advice but I guess it at least gets some surfers talking and giving their own advice. Yes there is a lot of info on the net and in the mags but, for the most part, it is fragmented leaving enquirers more confused than when they started. A lot has changed in model railways, well over more than half a century since I was a kid. Back then it was easy with Hornby train kits & instructions, and the like, but that just won't do for our 'grown up' perspective and experience. Yeh, I'd like to relive some of my youthful hobbies but I also want a challenge at creating and using something to be proud of and I don't want to spend my last days on earth working out HOW to do it and not actually doing it. Questions like, "Should I go DC or DCC, How do I wire-up a track & controller, etc. can be confusing when you really don't know where to start. Rachel was absolutely correct stating it takes planning but this was understated. Planning, planning and more planning is more like it. But even then it is easy to miss something out when you've never done it before. I reckon the best place to start is to get an overview of the whole project so that you end up being able to 'see the forest from the trees'. There are step by step books available like C.J. Freezer's The Model Railway Manual and Brian Lambert's Newcomer's Guide to Model Railways. The later even gives you 125 railway plans to choose from. If reading books isn't you bag or you just want an extremely helpful, inspiring, quality video to watch, there likely isn't anything matching 'Building a Model Railway' 1&2 (new on Metcalfe Models's site). Fortunate for me, creating, building & electronics is my background so I take to the latest model railway tech like ducks to water but it's not that way for most. If it were me, I would set a budget and create a small railway/railroad with modest engine, rolling stock, buildings, scenery to start with and then see what I could add to make it more interesting. In other words, walk before I can run. -
Chat
Strike up a conversation with offtherails. Click the following button to start chatting!
Chat with offtherails