(Bed exists) SMT: It’s free real estate

I rebuilding my layout right now. This helps a little.

Scrump you just did this video,,,,,dont forget one very important thing is tools and more tools,,,,,great video for beginers scrump

Keep an eye out for railroading books from the 1950s. They are really cool because they tell you haw to make a lot of details for your layout from things found around your house. That was the early days of small scale modeling and there were not a lot in the selections of what was being made. Those little bread tabs, free plastic for small projects. Saves on the sheets that you would cut up instead. But the funny one I read in the book I had, how to make a street light with a stick of wood for the pole and an old button for the lamp part. The funny part.... Ask for your mom's permission to get into her old button box before you take the buttons, you do not want to take the ones she has a sewing project in line for. Keep up the good videos, I am enjoying them and started model Railroading back in 1985. Now on the topic of timelines to build on. If you build modern but still like steam, set up an area on the layout for the local train museum. A great place to park the Vintage locomotives and rolling stock. Run some special steam days on your layout. Fan trips and such. Also you can put some old Street Cars in there as well. Happy model railroading!

There is a set of hangers on Amazon. They are used for grow lights to raise them up and down where they lock in place. So with the lack of space you can raise your layout to the ceiling. where it is out of the way.

SMT - In designing a layout to store under the bed, you may want to plan the benchwork design for castor wheels.

Hi Harrison, just watched this video and wanted to say you are so right about the timeline and prototypical “rules” some folks in the hobby have. This is supposed to be fun. Lol

Thanks for the advice SMT. I'm planning to put a large layout in the garage but...….months of work to build multiple sheds where I can put everything that is already in the garage.

Very helpful information, I am building my first ever layout as we talk! I am currently on the track-gluing stage of the project. I can't wait to see how it turns out! P.S: We need a video on Nerf Cat, it will be your most viewed video by a huge amount.

When Model Railroading Love your Layouts.Always Remember to Say God Blessed model Railroading! Best thing to Spend your money on Better than going to a Bar and getting into trouble. Model Railroading Rocks!

Much appreciated and I like your “have fun” approach Here, Here!!

Awesome. I'm a newbie and I love your videos. You explain things calmly and smooth, making it easy to understand. Thanks!

Nice video! I have had my trains running on EZ track on a dining table for a while and I'm finally gonna build a real legit layout, encouraged by you. Thanks bro!

Having fun is always great advice. Your a good young man.

An under-the-bed layout? LOL. Great video. Great tips. I agree with all of them. You forgot #6, record every step with a video camera and post your progress on KZfaq.

Thank you for posting this. Good advice for thos new to the hobby.I began while in high school.My early teachers were men such as John Armstrong, or Frank Ellison.No Internet then.. How fortunate for today's hobbiest,good advice is always needed, keep it up.

Very good information and instructions. Thanks, Mike Espo .

Another great tip is making a rough sketch of what you want. I made a sketch of a realistic fiction place called, “SteamVille”

Thank You for explaining the track plan.

Im still not sleeping when you uploaded lets go, also the video is amazing.

Flavor your layout Take Pride in your layout.Be happy in what your doing.

Awesome! I will remember your advice even though my O gauge layout is still very slow due to priorities. Also, my future HO layout (European themed) is going to be just on paper since there’s currently no space for that. I used to draw a ton of layout track plans, but I now can’t do that unless I know how much space a room has and that’s something I learned over time.

Points well taken. Thank you!

Those are some great tips! 👏👏👏👏 Thank you.

My problems with this hobby are flextrack & wiring. I belong to a model train forum & a member told me to "bulletproof" my track then deal with electrical issues. I bought some used trains in Calgary recently & I couldn't get any power to my layout or the test track I used. I'm taking apart my current layout & I'll replace it with a simple oval. I like your videos as it helps me work on motors I haven't seen before.

We made a layout with wheels on it to be kept under our young son’s bed. It is his first layout and it’s been fantastic!

Big big tip i learn and highly recommend is the different sized track accessories pack. They usually have 1,2, and 3 inch long track sections. Perfect example a turn out. Yes they are 9 inches from end to end. But thats the length of the turn not the part that goes straight. The straight part is only 6 inches. So you will need to get a 3 inch track piece or your layout will be off by 3 inches when you go to connect the final track to complete loop.

Great advice make it fun.

I am planning my layout. I am also finding a good time to get the materials to build the new table it’ll go on. The tips you listed made it a lot better. Someone told me I needed a theme, like wintertime or 1900s theme. Now that I look at what I have, I will do my own theme.

Thank you for posting. This helped a lot!

Thanks for the information SMT. Very helpful for this Model trains fan

I make stop motion videos using a large diorama for my 1/64 scale diecast car collection and adding a train layout for my city will be my next project. I will make sure I take my time planning the zoning, installing the railroads and not going crazy on the budget! A few years back I bought 2 giant boxes fulled of ho scale rails, locomotives, train cars, buildings and city scene props at a local toy store for 200$ cad. I think it was almost a steal for all the stock I got vs the price I paid, lol. Like your channel and just subscribed.

My layout is N scale. Bachmann and Atlas tracks. Code 80. Used nails for fixed the tracks. Where are you 🐱 ? Scooby Doo is my dog. Barked to you 🐱. Scared 🐱 for see a big dog brawn with black spots, your name is Scooby Doo.

I recommend looking at areas like cajon pass if you're making a large layout

Thank u smt, you do have really good advice

"If you happen to know anyone in the community" - OK, time to get the Ouija board. I got some calls to make.

Thank you man this was very helpful for me

Your budget strategy is good. My take on this: Know what you want. I built my collection of junky, old stuff that doesn't work well or good stuff that doesn't fit my needs. I've now had to go about selling most of my collection. It's rather unfortunate because I don't get as much money back as I put it. I made bad choices with my roster, and I don't even have a layout yet. I now have an accurate wish list, but no money to use to get anywhere. I also have a lot of EZ track but have decided to go with regular track instead. Rash decisions screwed me over financially. When buying something make sure its at least semi-appropriate for your era and locale, because I guarantee you someday you will regret it if you don't. I did.

This is good for me because i'm building a HO scale Train layout from October to early 2020!

some good pointers

Thanks, thats good because I'm building a new layout

Well, Scrump, incorrect. See kids, this is what you do. Take your parents credit card, (its a little plastic thing), take it to the train store, buy a lot of track and rolling stock. Now take it home, find some good spot, uuhhhh, yeah the kitchen floor works great, and start gluing the track. Now the goal is to get so much built that your parents feel bad to destroy and have to abandon the kitchen for you and your trains to play. Oh don't forget, the oven makes a great rolling stock storage. That is, if your modeling the freaking sun and want proper weathering.

I enjoyed this video, I like when people like you go back to the basics. I think the model train company's have gotten away from that. It's all about the money now for them and not investing in the next generation of model railroaders. Like the youth and even adults new to the hobby. They need to not push the latest and greatest things available all the time. Because I think that pushes people away, thinking that wow I have spend like 500.00 to 1,000.00 just to get started. And of error half of that is a controller and one engine, if it's DCC. Sorry for the vent, I'm just tired of these companies wanting a big large sale instead of looking at the long term sales. Anyway sorry for the long text. Have a wonderful week and I'm looking forward to more videos, I can't catch all of your videos because of the random live streaming that you do, but I do try to keep up with what you are doing. Thanks, from Jeff.

This will help!

I'm considering getting into making an outdoor train set.

I have a long wishlist for my model railroad 1) a movie scene where Optimus Prime and Godzilla are fighting each other, throwing freight cars and stuff at each other 2) a double track mainline 3) the ability to run articulated steam locomotives 4) 1 or 2 good sized freight yards (4 or 5 sidings each yard) 5) 3 or 4 industries (a shipping, grain and oil industry) 6) A U-shaped layout or an L shaped layout w/ a peninsula equipped with a round house, diesel and steam service facilities, repair shop 7) DCC? 8) have it set from 1940- 1980 or 1990( because I love steam locomotives and diesels from the 1970s & 1980s and Amtrak phase 1) 9) A long bridge scene with boats being overrun by plastic mini dinosaurs 10) have a somewhat balanced mix of steam and modern era rolling stock but try not to mix it too much) 11) 1 or 2 tunnels 12) A major passenger terminal with a coach yard 13) have a small z scale set up around a park like a little 12 inch gauge railroad like a tourist railroad of sorts Theirs probably more I’m thinking of but that’s basically it. Probably won’t see this comment but if you do that’d be dope Cheers and keep up the good work -Michael Chairman of the East Coast and Southern Railroad

I learned my lesson about the track

Mr layout wasn’t themed to anything particular. I just built a layout with things I thought were cool.

Just my 2-cents, but a couple tidbits from 10 years in the hobby. (1) GET A DIRECTION!!!! You don't have to pick a specific day at a specific time, etc... At least get a general direction. (2) Don't skimp on quality stuff, especially when it comes to locomotives and track. Search E-bay and train shows for the good quality stuff from Athrean RTR, newer blue box, Atlas, and Kato. You pay for what you get, and when you want to just run trains or do some switching, it's very disenchanting to have engines that constantly need attention or don't run smooth. (3) Stick to the NMRA standards with coupler height along with good quality metal wheels and Kadee. The better your equipment tracks, the more enjoyment you'll get out of the hobby. Well, there's my two cents, hope that helps!!!!

I am currently planning to build my very first HO scale layout and some of tips would be great 👍 BTW how big is your layout and what was the approximate cost per foot?

Do a video on nerf cat

Im using any rail and having trouble coming up with something that both looks good and is interesting to use while not being convoluted.

Good tip video smt

Outside of straight track I have tons of track I got off Kijiji... struggling to get more than a loop for a smaller spaced layout. Tried train groups for help and ouch for those willing to help

My dad loves trains he’s main type is Lionel me and him are gonna re try Ho because I had no experience with it all I had was a passenger car so we will try again he is a very good layout builder so I don’t think I will need this but It will help me a lot when I get older

I be working on my first layout for like 2 years i have boxs of the stuff start buy brass trains now its time to get it together

I am just looking at purchasing my first HO model train set, engine well I am not sure what to do actually. I want to start the project to build so my future grandchildren can enjoy it and help build it as well. I am having trouble deciding if I should go HO or N scale I do have lots of space but like to have lots of scenery as well as small towns and villages ect. Another thing I am looking at is if I buy a train kit with like an ez track does that limit the expansion of the rail system. I live in Manitoba Canada and am looking for some advice.

Been wanting tondo something with my test track. I want to turn it into an n scale track. Have the engines to do it need more tracks and some buildings oh some rail cars. Have ho scale bridge i can turn into a double n scale. Which would be cool. Have blue foam board to make my hills and valleys. Im gonna build it. Thanks Harrison! Do videos when i start.

Hi thanks for the tips and my house is a bit messy to I try thinking about get rid of my bunk bed and If I can fit a train table

I must say, once you start out in model railroading, it's all downhill for your bank account 😂

I am moving and my mom found a box of model train things, so i hope this is helpful

Question, how do you balance out your collection so all of your locomotives get equal running time?

5 tips for building your layout. HO, N and Z scale. Flex tracks. Tracks EZ.

what track should i use

You got a Basement like yours monster size the damn thing go Both gages Ho and N scale as one.

Working On a N Scale have 2 lines. Line1 is pretty Big working on line 2.gonna go check in on my Ho As well. Love Both Layouts. Then help get some Track For the N Scale Track For my wife She wants to Go Bachman, And Lifelike when it’s gets Done It is gonna Be Beyond Trophy Haranteed.

Sweet

What's funny you made me think of how I'm deciding my layout. Its out the station its I'm deciding between a country town style or history of the earth think pre dinosaurs then dinosaurs all the way to now then futuristic

i have some track and trains some of them need fixing and some of the rolling stock needs wheels and couplers

Well it's time to add to the video

I have a GIGANTIC BASEMENT so I’m problem good

I have 2 Layouts one is Done as it can be that is Ho Next is my N scale working on the track After the track is done I need Great Buildings.

Hey smt what editing software do you use, I finally started my channel and uploaded my first vid and noticed it needed better editing. Ps if you get the chance please watch my vids if you could and give your opinion

mines going under my bed and im planning on making homemade buildings

No matter how many times they say "don't do something" the prototype railroads will do it. So do what you want. Anything can be real. If you find a train doesn't work this way or that way, it's OK. The real railroads have the same issues. The real railroads have lots of things that can't do or HAVE to do.

Have you thought of geting NCE Power Cab?

Using the room of my house before joining Model Ho scale was move my house in 2017 was the dinner room my dad turn to layout on Christmas morning now day still using a layout with popular 2020.

I'm half way through building my train layout

I have a Bluetooth locomotive and I was wondering if you can run a Bluetooth locomotive with a standard controller

Canada 🇨🇦

I have a small basement but I have enough room for a model railroad

What do you think about a layout on a ping pong table there 9x10 ?

I have clay sheds on my layout

i have 3 trains and a lot of cars

average budget for ho starter single piece of plywood 4' x 12' 455.78-689.78 low and 1,200-1,400 high

In o scale

"5 TIPS for building your first train layout" . Tips 1 to 5 :Join your local Model Railway Club to avoid making all the mistakes and wasting a fortune like everyone else has done. Clubs know all the tricks to avoid the traps, and save you a fortune. And can show you a lot of things you might otherwise never even realise exist, like how to reduce wiring by 45%. It's called "Common Return" !!!!

Can you use a big boy on a 18 curves

Bradley Dale Hamrick Decatur Indiana

Smt your to late i am already on my 2 layout so any tips for your 3th

Simple: Step 1: buy a big table Step 2: shove table into basement Step 3: spend all your money on starter sets Step 4: assemble your starter sets Step 5: realize you spent to much money on starter sets Step 6 play the lottery Step 7: lose the lottery Step 8: go to casino's Step 9: spend all your money on a gambling addiction Step 10: realize you are screwed and sell 1/2 your layout Step 11: move into a crappy neighbor hood Step 12: buy a gun to defend yourself Step 13: fear for your life every day and hate model trains for the rest of your life because now you have to deal with gunshots every night Now that I look at it got very dark very fast

Wait is this the same guy that ended up on that asmr cringe comp?

Are you still in the hobby

Train station

Oh I wish those who dictate HOW you have to have YOUR layout THEIR way would listen to videos like this. 😳 I only came into the hobby last year having grown up in the shadow of an obsessed model railroader. The minute he found out that I'd started amassing all these HO scale carnival model kits... OMFG! 🤦‍♀️ "We'll put it all on MY existing layout and you can finance the rebuilding of my layout my way!" Uh... NO! This is a CARNIVAL layout which is MINE! Not yours! 😣😫 "Your baseboard will be MDF like mine made with mounds of newspaper and fly screens for mountains..." NO! I want the top of my plywood baseboard to have a layer of XPS Foamboard so I can make waterways and rivers easily - This is a CARNIVAL layout! I also want to use Faller's Car System to run vehicles: "You don't want that. You'll need a router for that." In foamboard??? 🙄 Foam knife can cut the ridge for the wire easily but it's a no-no. Just before Christmas last year I brought a HO scale novelty Elvis Presley IHC train. I thought it would look nice as a mounted train upon a hill as a tourist attraction as part of the carnival. He gets his hands on it when it arrived just before my birthday in February. Takes one squizz, throws it back in the box any old how with the demands to "Send it back - it's junk!" WTF? 😡 1) Not YOUR train. 2) Not brought as a 'working engine' although I've tested it and it works fine. Cosmetic damage in transit from US to Australia is easily repairable and missing trim can be reprinted with my 3D Printer. 3) My Mum loves it the way it is and so do I so I'm keeping it! Had to retrieve it out of bin later that same day - now he's banned from touching my trains and anything to do with my collections both HO and N. He can not understand why. In the end, I thought "Stuff ya. The HO carnival can wait. I'm making my own N SCALE COFFEE table layout with the Woodland Scenics subterrain stuff and the Kato Operation North Pole trainset I brought..." but NOOO. He found out about that too. 😣😔😫 "Great. Now we can have you convert everything to DCC, we'll run it using NCE's stuff. I'll build the layout for you..." NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! Pulling my hair out screaming because he's managed to completely ruin the entire experience for me. I'll add a No #6 to your tips: Don't EVER allow anyone else to butt their noses in and take over the entire thing. 😡 Any layout a model railroader constructs should be a work of art that the owner and user should be proud of. There's nothing to be proud of if some mongrel takes over your artwork even if they are experienced. There's is no right or wrong way to do this. There are plenty of different ways to build a layout but I would love to know how to get that through the thick head of a Rivet Counter.

Well well well The Tips you are giving are ok for absolute noobs but the Layout you build is not nicly made so mybe you aren't the right quy to give Tips for that. Yes you can get old trains back to running but your Layout actually Look messy and build fast and simple in my opinion when you compare it to same german layouts.