Good afternoon, I’m new here.

[CarlP]

Good morning. I’m new here, signed up yesterday.

I have a long story. Are you sitting comfortably, then I shall begin.

I’m not a modeller, but I like the idea, I like looking at train models from time to time, but I have never owned a train set, which thinking about it now, is odd ‘cos I’m in my sixties.

Anyway, back in 2009 my FIL died, and his wife was going to chuck his train stuff in the skip. Well, I could see that although it wasn’t a top notch display, he’d spent a lot of time and money on it.

It was, still is, a Hornby Flying Scotsman set, with the photo track display that you lay on a base board, which he had built and it had quit a bit of real estate and rolling stock and other locomotives.

I had nowhere to put it, but I couldn’t let get thrown in the skip, so I borrowed a van, collected base board and all the bits took it home and propped the board up against the garage wall covered up, boxed up all the bits and that’s where it stayed for 5 years. Until we moved house. Then the removal men packed everything up, put it all to the new garage, where it stayed for another 10 years!

A few weeks ago, I finally gotten round to getting the board and bits out of the garage and set up in the house.

And so it begins and so do some challenges.

TBC…

I’ll add photos at some point.

[glencairn]

Welcome on board, Carl

Glencairn

[Lancastrian]

Welcome CarlP and many happy hours of modelling.

A little starters advice, if you don't already know, don't fasten your track down until you have decided on your layout and even then not too securely.

So, get stuck in.

[Dad-1]

Welcome Carl, So you're a youngster then.

Although I had 3 rail Hornby Dublo back in the 1950's I left it
all behind, well sold it, as I got interested in other things.
Then at about the age of 65 after decades of sport and other
modelling I turned back to railways.

More than just absorbing, but not physically testing !!

Geoff T

[CarlP]

Thanks for the welcome.
Here’s what I have so far, but there’s more to the story which I will type later.

What you can’t see in this photo is originally, my FIL had extra track on the far left making the big loop bigger and the at the top left where the end of the platform is an extra rail point. I removed the track and put the siding on as per the plan.

[Phred]

Welcome, CarlP.
Loads of good advice to be found on here, but the number one rule is: Have fun!

[Bigmet]

And likewise welcome, hopefully you will find the hobby fun and enjoy the company here.

...so it begins and so do some challenges.

You have had a 'soft start' in the way of expenditure. There may be a little 'wincing' when you see something that's in current production (which might be from any of the circa 20 brands other than Hornby now offering RTR OO) that would look really good on your layout. Just saying...

[CarlP]

And likewise welcome, hopefully you will find the hobby fun and enjoy the company here.

...so it begins and so do some challenges.

You have had a 'soft start' in the way of expenditure. There may be a little 'wincing' when you see something that's in current production (which might be from any of the circa 20 brands other than Hornby now offering RTR OO) that would look really good on your layout. Just saying...

Get thee behind me you dark and naughty tempter.

Indeed, you are not wrong as I have discovered in my research so far.

I was wondering whether I should continue my stories and meanderings of this project on this thread or start a new one. Is anyone interested?

[Dad-1]

Perhaps a "Layout Under Construction" thread ?
Always interesting to see what other do and offer help if
required.
A Layout Under Construction can be an endless thread, either of continued progress,
or just new stuff running on the almost finished layout. 'Tis said a layout is Never
fully finished !!

Geoff T.

[Bigmet]

...I was wondering whether I should continue my stories and meanderings of this project on this thread or start a new one. Is anyone interested?

Quite simply, it is the inputs from people posting on forums that is the continuing life and breath of such online activity. Post on aspects that interest you and see what response results, ask any questions as they arise and respond to answers, etc..

[CarlP]

Good point.

[Phred]

CarlP wrote:
I was wondering whether I should continue my stories and meanderings of this project on this thread or start a new one. Is anyone interested?

'Layouts under construction' is the section where most people will see it. I'd be very interested to see how it progresses.

[CarlP]

Thanks folks, I’ll start a new thread about my progress.

[Mountain]

New adventures await!

[SRman]

Thanks folks, I’ll start a new thread about my progress.

Yes, that would be the best idea, so others can actually find it later.

Welcome to Railway Modelling. As others have said, first and foremost, it is important that you enjoy it. How you enjoy it is up to you, whether you decide to try to model a real setting or just run whatever takes your fancy. It's your railway and you choose the way you want to run it.