My Top 5 Lessons Learnt for Model Railway/Railroad Layouts

[@Herriot7]

Honesty , open reflection and sharing for others to learn too. Thank you - and best wishes for v2!

[@AberHaltJunction]

Thanks Herriot, appreciate the nice comment, I hope so too. As for V2, let’s hope for bigger and better! Well definitely better at least!

[@AllensTrains]

Quite an interesting layout. It was December when we first moved to our current address, and I thought the roof space would make a great place for model railway! But when the summer came, it was as hot as hell up there! So I moved the layout to the room it is now in. However, the dimensions of the baseboard were dictated by the place in the loft I designed it for. Since then, I have made many revisions to the track plan. The problem is most track plans cause derailments! Have fun. Thanks for uploading.

[@AberHaltJunction]

Ah yes it is is true, there are pros and cons to all layout locations. As for track plans, yes I agree, it is very hard to pick ones that cause hassle free running! I hope you can fix on one that works for you! Thanks for your view and nice comment, appreciated.

[@dalipparmar6134]

Being a novice myself I have probably followed a few of these steps but its all part of the fun to begin a new hobby but fortunately I can follow lot of people on You tube for guidance so I can go back and forth improving my mistakes. thanks for highlighting few points I can avoid too as I go along on this hobby. Good luck to your new layout.

[@AberHaltJunction]

Cheers mate, I completely agree with your points, I do the same! Thanks for the good luck wishes for my new layout, hopefully I don’t make too many of the same mistakes again!

[@delphjunction1168]

Hi ya. You have a great layout. Found it's all part of our great hobby making mistakes. Part of the fun is fixing them. I make lots of mistakes but don't show them on camera, I cheat.😄 Great vlog thank you. ....Pete....

[@AberHaltJunction]

Haha, yeah, I try to show mine, but some don’t make the cut!! Yeah it’s a great hobby, people are always willing to help. Your layout is very impressive, nice scenics, love the pill box! Thanks for the nice comment.

[@delphjunction1168]

@@AberHaltJunction Hi again. Thank you for your lovely comment. We can watch each others progress ay. ....Pete....

[@AberHaltJunction]

@@delphjunction1168 certainly!

[@EmperorsPath]

some good tips there! im a big fan of smaller boards where possible to avoid bad back! (and im only 35!)

[@AberHaltJunction]

Bad back, bad knees, bad neck!!! 😂😂😂 only gets worse with time!!

[@mccoy79productions66]

Very neat thanks for sharing!

[@AberHaltJunction]

Hi McCoy, no problem at all, glad you enjoyed.

[@delphjunction1168]

Hi ya. You have a fantastic little layout there. Got mine in a 10ftx10ft log cabin thick wood for the roof with tiles on top. Try to keep the humidity down as much as possible. Hope you can sort your damp problem out. Great vlog buddy thank you. .... Pete....

[@AberHaltJunction]

Cheers Pete, you are a very wise man!! I should’ve spoken to you a few years back!! Glad you enjoyed.

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

Excellent points you highlight and many of us have learnt the hard way.

[@AberHaltJunction]

Cheers mate, appreciate the nice comment, hopefully the next layout will go down easier!

[@lynganddistrict]

I'm sitting here nodding away going "yup I did that ... oh god yes that flipping incline of mine was a pain, ...." I can relate to all of these points as I have suffered the same issues but that's what we do as novices. Mine is in an inherited shed, but when I decided to first go for a model railway I fortunately did do some work proofing the shed but because its in a shed the temperature as you say plays havoc Having learnt the lessons this second time around I tried to avoid all of these, and have done (mainly) successfully. Couple of points as well if I may - * plan where your turnouts can go to avoid the wood work underneath ( I had to cut some of my baseboard out even on the second layout attempt!) * run locos as often as possible before fixing track down ( I switched to using small screws for N gauge track because sods law I would nacker up a section and then fight to get it back up and laid properly) * Ballast thinly, then run the locos as often as you can before glueing to ensure no derailments (I still had to lift some track up!!) For me personally as well, being N gauge and being 65 years old my eyesight is not as good as it should be so - purchase a magnifying head set (with light) and a set of rail joiner jigs - damn those things are small and I saved my thumbs a lot of cuts! Great advice mate and thanks for sharing. Regards Steve

[@AberHaltJunction]

Hi Steve, glad it resonated, yes, as for your additional points, I couldn't agree more. The turnout one in particular! The amount of rework I had to do to get a point motor in, on the dock it took me an age as I stupidly made the dock out of solid wood!! I really like your ballasting comment, that's one I haven't done, will definitely do that for AHJ V2.0. I feel a second video coming on! There's no way I could do N gauge, hats off to you sir! I would certainly need the magnifying head set, it's hard enough doing OO joiners, I'm very impressed you can do that! Thanks for your view and considered comment, we need to make a bible of mistakes to avoid!!! Cheers.

[@AberHaltJunction]

PS. well done for doing the shed roof first, great catch.

[@_RandomPea]

Urgghhh curved points are tricky. Hey btw, I don't think you need more track personally, it's obviously down to you but I think it looks decent and not too full which some do. I've been on the same journey as you, at least you have a level board 😂🎉

[@AberHaltJunction]

Yes they are tricky!!! I think your point is fair, it would be a case of removing some to enable the space, but yes definitely a fair point. Level boards do help….. took a while to do mind!!

[@_RandomPea]

@@AberHaltJunction I didn't think my shelf layout would be as much a pain in the backside as it's turned out, but still enjoying it. Like you, lots I would probably do differently having learnt the hard way.

[@AberHaltJunction]

@@_RandomPea very true!!! I’m building a shelf layout and by complete fluke it’s level!!! But yeah you’re right, hindsight is wonderful!!! 😂 I’m sure I’ll make some of the same mistakes again! Although hopefully not the curved point one!

[@philblyth3218]

Best of luck with the demolition and the rebuild of the Mk2 version - bet you’re looking forward to that 👍

[@AberHaltJunction]

Thanks Phil, yeah, looking forward to making a bunch of new mistakes!! :) But yeah itching to get the new shed built for my wife so I can get the new layout started!

[@duncancampbell9490]

At least you've built something.... I have a pile of "stuff" and each time I move a step forwards it raises more questions - I.E. do I buy 4 pre-made inclines and two bridges at a high price or wait and just cut plywood to suit ? The later being the cheaper option.... Do I go for pre-built ABC modules or make my own ? How do I sort the Boolean Algebra to control the various routes at a double slip crossover and/or 3-way point ?

[@AberHaltJunction]

Lol, yes, you’re right, getting started is always 80% of the battle!!!! As for gradients, go for your own, it’s doable, takes a bit of time and isn’t quite as good as the bought stuff, but it’s satisfying! Yeah I’m toying with ABC, managed to get a free unit with a DCC chip, will have to experiment. As for Boolean algebra, yes you are right, it’s probably more complex!! Hope you get started, look forward to seeing how your layout comes along!

[@LyntreeTown20132]

we all make mistakes its part of life, has long as u learn from it and learn to do better thats what anything is about - look forward to the new progress

[@AberHaltJunction]

Cheers mate, couldn't agree more, next time around I won't make many of the mistakes again.... But maybe a few!!

[@1tonyboat]

Get rid of that nasty OSB and use good plywood ,don`t use cheap felt and insulate !!!!! Then enjoy building the layout ,, I`ve seen a lot of time and money wasted because of poor shed roofs ,,,,subscribed as well ...

[@AberHaltJunction]

Thanks Tony, appreciated!!! And yes I agree, nasty OSB!!! Will definitely not do that in the future!!