| Your first model railroad will be almost certainly a gift | | | | need or you will not have. |
| and therefore a test as to how the future will pan out | | | | THREE: Yon need to get to know which lengths and |
| with railroad modelling. Most first model kits are circular | | | | shapes of track you need! These are very big |
| layouts and very basic and it is difficult to imagine what | | | | decisions to be made. Actually if you can draw a |
| else can be done with other than watch it go round | | | | sketch of the layout you want to end up with and |
| and round the Christmas Tree at different speeds. | | | | measure the track required you will have the makings |
| ONE: Before you bring this set home for yourself or | | | | of the finished layout and all from your first train set. |
| for others as a present, give some thought as to | | | | It is possible to buy track sections that are already |
| where a larger model layout could properly be set up. | | | | fixed to a base board and they just snap together. |
| Your circular set, if it's an S gauge, will probably be | | | | Some of these sections can be quite complex with |
| about 40 inches in diameter once it's laid out. Plan on a | | | | points, sidings and even turntables. The curved |
| space about 50 inches square, this gives space for | | | | sections often come in 3 radius dimensions, of 15 inch, |
| scenery and the control center. | | | | 18 inch and 22 inch. The atlas brand is one of the most |
| You could place your set on the floor to start, or you | | | | versatile. You can buy 1/3, 1/2, and 2/3 lengths. You'll |
| could put a large piece of plywood on a table top to | | | | be able to buy these in small straight and curved fitting |
| get you started. There will be many places in the | | | | pieces. |
| home if you look. | | | | FOUR. Sectional track utilizes a rail joiner -- a slotted |
| Circle or oval? | | | | clip that connects the pieces of track together. This |
| Some straight track bought alongside a circular set up | | | | piece is essential. It not only keeps one piece securely |
| will allow you to build an oval and from there you only | | | | attached to the other, but it also provides the electrical |
| need some imagination and soon you could have a | | | | connectivity as well. For these reasons, the fit must be |
| very large layout. Just a couple of straight track | | | | absolutely perfect and snug. |
| lengths either side is enough to start making it | | | | FIVE. Rail joiners slip over the end of the rail. They can, |
| interesting. Your oval should now be approximately 40 | | | | however, be misaligned to the point that one rail is on |
| x 60 inches. | | | | the top of the joiner. If this were a real, "full-size" |
| You'll love this set up for a while, certainly. But "for a | | | | railroad, you'd be feeling a very large "bump" when you |
| while" only. If the hobby is getting to you, change will | | | | went over it. The "bump" would be so noticeable and |
| become a craving. | | | | unsettling, that the train might even derail. |
| Before very long, you'll be ready to progress beyond | | | | The same thing can happen with your model train as |
| the basics. After all, a simple circle or oval track isn't a | | | | well. After all your hard work, you really want to limit |
| very realistic downsize of a proper railroad is it? | | | | those nasty derailments. |
| TWO: Beyond the basics. Ready to expand? The look | | | | To conclude the. The 5 ways to selecting your first |
| and feel of working with tracks and setting up your | | | | model Railroad layout are: ONE. Select the train set |
| "railroad line" the way you, the designer want it to look. | | | | carefully. TWO. Find out which components you need |
| Shapes, lengths: What you'll need! | | | | to achieve what you want before making you |
| You can only design the expansion of your first layout | | | | purchase. THREE. Make your big decisions early by |
| if it is a standard gauge system with the matching | | | | finding out ALL that is available for your system. |
| scale locomotive and rolling stock. | | | | FOUR. Utilise special components where you can it will |
| Although you've decided on the material of your track, | | | | save you time and money in the long run. FIVE. Be as |
| you still have a few more decisions to make before | | | | accurate as required for a life-sized train because |
| you can start laying track. If you don't list what you | | | | quality of assembly is now your mantra for model |
| need you will either end up with components you don't | | | | railroading! |