Hello, I'm new, and some newbie questions

[toolman]

Hi there,

I thought I would say hi as I'm new.

I joined this forum as I now have some time to build my train set I received as a child. It is a Hornby set with a starter track, so I will be investing in more track. I will also be building on a board, but as I am new and a bit rusty, I have a few questions.

- I guess it depends on preference, but can anyone recommend a good base size of wood to start building and laying the track on? I know I will need underlay for track, but just getting the basics in place first.

- Can anyone recommend some good magazines aswell as the Hornby one that offer subscriptions to get started with (ones with freebies is a plus - I'm a sucker for freebies!). 

Thank you and I look froward to learning lots about model railways here

[Chrissaf]

If the space is available a common size for a medium domestic layout is a sheet of 8 x 4 foot 16mm plywood on a 3" x 1" timber frame. Underlay is optional, but many prefer 3/16" thick cork.

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I subscribe to BRM Magazine which includes a free DVD which is not included on the versions sold in Newsagents. But strangely, this months edition did not include the DVD [maybe due to the lockdown limiting venues to visit to film].

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I have a downloadable 'Getting Started' PDF that you might find useful to review. You can download it from the 'sticky post' (2nd one down) at the top of the 'General Discussion' forum. Note that the PDF downloads silently in the background, so if nothing appears to happen, check your nominated browser download folder.

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TIP: As a newbie poster on the forum, just be aware that the 'Blue Button with the White Arrow' is not a 'Reply to this post' button. If you want to reply to any of the posts, scroll down and write your reply in the reply text box at the bottom of the page and click the Green 'Reply' button.

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See also – further TIPs on how to get the best user experience from this forum.

https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/forum/tips-on-using-the-forum/

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[JJ73]

Hello Toolman & Welcome to the Hornby Forum!!!

 

All new track is made from Niclke Silver which is better & last longer (Chris will agree) but old track is made from Steel & some times depending on how it has been looked after - may or may not be as good!!!

Some folk start of just using the track mat & expand from that - if you want some idea for a Layout - get your hands on the Hornby Track Plans Edition 14 - Here is a link of my review of it!!!

 

When ever I'm in S'burys - I have a look at either Hornby Magazine (Gives away a free Calender @ Xmas!!!) &  @ Railway Modeller is a good read. Also If you join Hornby Collector Club - You get a free Loco once a year. Not sure if they are still doing it  - a few yrs ago now I got a Part-works Mag called "Great British Locomotives Collection" it came out once a fortnight - 41 issues & came with a Static Model (00 gauge) with each issue!!!

 

A few more vids to look @ - This 1 I made about What type of controller(s) to get :-

How to Model A Railway Track :-

[Jimbo1707820979]

Yes, Hornby are still giving away a free loco each year to members of the Club. I got mine yesterday, a 0-4-0 red liveried "100th Anniversary" steam loco. An excellent runner and a nice addition to most peoples' collection.

[Ruffnut Thorston]

Are you sure.

 

The last issues of BRM I have seen in the shops, WH Smith, Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco, etc. Usually have the DVD.

 

I don't usually buy BRM, as it is more expensive, mainly due, I believe, to the "free" DVD...

 

The only magazine that I buy regularly is Railway Modeller.

 

It seems to have more content than the other magazines to me.

 

I subscribe to BRM Magazine which includes a free DVD which is not included on the versions sold in Newsagents. But strangely, this months edition did not include the DVD [maybe due to the lockdown limiting venues to visit to film].

 

[Chrissaf]

I can only comment on what I have observed. There have been times in the past where I have seen the same mag that has come through the letterbox with a DVD attached, on 'newsagents' shelves without the DVD. Magazine DVD inclusion policy may have changed since the last time I noticed BRM on the shelves, as I don't particularly go looking for them in newsagents. I agree that they are not free as such, but promoted that way by the publishers.

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I used to subscribe to Railway Modeller, but cancelled it because the 'steam era biased' content did not interest me. Each to their own. Like many, I am old enough to remember 'Railway Modeller' back in the late 50's early 60's when it was a 'black and white' magazine.

[JJ73]

@ Chris :- 

I am old enough to remember 'Railway Modeller' back in the late 50's early 60's when it was a 'black and white' magazine.

I have a few old Copies of the R. M. Mag - Nov '82 (60P!!! - with only 1 colour advert from Mainline!!!)

Then 5 other copies from (mostly in colour) Aug '98, Feb '00, June 01, Sept 01 & Nov 01

[96RAF]

My opinion . . . .

Hornby Magazine - typical gloss over reporting i.e. an everything in the garden is rosy type of comic.

BRM - better content but plagued with copy and paste errors that old style editing and proff reading would have spotted.

RM - a better comic in general terms but tends to get stuck on a theme now and then.

Digital versions - personally I cannpt get on with reading comics on screen. I much prefer paper even though the digi-versions have a load more 

Mag Pros - handy for picking out vendors‘ adverts and looking at their stuff on-line. Often there are articles of interest connected to a launch product about the real ‘product’ as it was then.

Mag Cons - a lot of the stuff published is out of date before we see it given a normal 6-week lead time gauged on reporting and reaction to current events.

[Ruffnut Thorston]

I have heard that some of the smaller newsagents have a policy of removing cover mounted "gifts" to prevent them going missing, and having them behind the counter...

 

As with everything, every person has their own preferences. 😀

[81F]

 I think there are a lot of plans out there for layouts on 6' x 4' baseboards although I've always preferred an end to end layout when space is tight. in this case 2' by as long as you can get is goos as it is not too far to reach over. Howevewr I would say 6' or 7' is the minimum for a basic branch terminus with a 2' to 3' hidden siding. However most real branch termini would require a lot longer than 7' though I could name two prototypes that could be adapted to fit as i had considered modelling them myself until I got more room.

[81F]

 As to baseboard construction I liked Sundala mounted on a frame made up of 2" x 1" planed timber each strut spaced around 1' centres. However as I couldn't get Sundeale my last boards were made up using several 1200x600mm  MDF boards (10mm I think) using a frame with 600x600mm spacing as the MDF I got was much denser and stronger than sundela but a bit noisier.