For a first layout, keep it simple and treat it as a test bed for techniques. The more you do, the more you will learn. At some point, you'll probably realize that you have improved greatly and that your earlier work no longer matches your standard. That's when you know it is time to start over.

Yes, I think you are absolutely right. I had a friend in Michigan who had a knack of creating interesting O-scale (2-rail) layouts in N-scale spaces. Sure, we were limited to 4-car trains, and the run was rather short, but they were still great fun to operate.

Actually, that's not quite right. It was more a case of being excited to present another layout design video after so long. I had several consecutive clients bail out before the detailed design phase. I'm perfectly okay with them doing that, but it unfortunately doesn't leave me with good material for a video.

Glad you like them. I know there is one in particular that you are really looking forward to.

@@mpeterll indeed - can’t wait

Awesome, thank you.

Most hilly routes follow rives as much as possible. Let nature do most of the earth-moving for you.

There's a web-site for that. It's called e-bay.

Layout height is always a compromise, and multi-deck layouts make that doubly so. This layout is being built a couple of inches lower than I would normally, simply because the owner is shorter than I am. The best operating height and the best viewing height are two different things. Where possible, I like to cluster the the main operating areas on the lower deck, with open running areas at eye-level on the upper deck. It doesn't always work that way, and the next build will have the operational areas on the upper deck with open scenic areas on what is otherwise a staging level.

Most of my layout design clients contact me because they have been unable to fit the layout of their dreams into the space they have available. I think that explains why most of them require that I squeeze a little more than perhaps I should into the space.

Check out my "layout design" play-list. It has about 50 videos in it, most in exactly this format.

We are both aware that PECO code-55 rail does not work well with other brands, but it can be made to fit with the help of a dremel tool. It's not something one would want to do a lot of, but a small of such connections in places where the visual improvement is significant can be worthwhile.

Contact me through my website (link in the description). I'm booked up for layout designs about 9-months out at the moment, so the sooner you can get in line, the better.

Did you mean "prototype knowledge" or "construction knowledge"? Prototype knowledge comes from reading and watching videos. Construction knowledge comes from a lifetime of doing it. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I've always had a aptitude for building stuff and thinking in 3D. Is that what you meant?

Yes the way the track is laid as far as a main line and the branch lines did you read a lot about railroad systems in the way they worked or did it just come over time? You cannot just be a regular homeowner and build very intricate bench work and then take it apart and reassemble it somewhere else, that you cannot just read in a book and get away with. I am also a carpenter for 40 years visualizing everything in 3D is what I see all the time as well. Those railroads will challenge any good Carpenter. I guess what I'm asking is your real road knowledge where was it obtained did you ever research a lot of it or was it all trial and error? Sorry to be so long-winded anyway keep up the good work hopefully the next build will be coming up soon

@@victordandrea8697 My knowledge came over time. I have been hooked on trains since my earliest memories (I'm 58 now). I was always a social misfit and an avid reader. I never wanted to go out with my friends (never made any friends, come to think of it), preferring to stay inside and read. I would read everything that had anything to do with trains. I was also very mechanically-minded - other than trains, the only toys I ever wanted were lego and meccano. I remember starting to hand-lay track and turnouts at age 12 because I couldn't afford to buy them on my meager allowance. At about the same time, I started building structures out of cereal boxes (the only free materials I had at the time). I also built a large truss bridge entirely from the same cereal box material, edge-gluing thin strips into I-beams. It wasn't very good as a model, but it supported the weight of my OO-gauge trains as they crossed the great chasm. I chose a degree in architecture (not sure now why I didn't choose engineering), where several of the prescribed classes were the same as those taken by the structural-engineers. I never graduated, running out of money first. I spent 18 years as a software engineer, then 14 years building houses before starting my model railroad construction business. I think it's safe to say that my entire life up to this point has been grooming me for what I do now.

Good evening show how are you it's Victor from New Jersey. Just wondering what you're working on do you remember that job you looked at in Pennsylvania the lady wanted a real locomotive inside whatever became of that if anything if you don't mind me asking? I thought that was very cool. And the last layout you shipped out I believe your customers picked it up will you be coming up there to do the finish detail work on the layout. I guess they must have to recoup a little bit. A man with your talents does not come cheap I am sure worth every penny having said that not degrading your talents in any way. Very well sir I was just picking your brain you have a good evening and I'm sure you're working on another layout now.

I'm no closer to setting it up again than I was three years ago.

Please contact me through my web-site. There's a link in the description above.

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