Brand new to the hobby-need some guidance

Well from my experience, I just gather what track I already have and throw it all on the table to make a crude design in my mind. I stay away from SCARM and other track programs simply because it takes to much time for me. Also when building layouts I try to be as cheap as possible which works most of the time. This helps as I have a lionel postwar layout and I'm able to slap a green carpet down and call that scenery. I also buy cheap but great looking plasticville buildings which fit in greatly with the theme. Wiring the layout is simple as I can't solder and wouldn't waste the money and time to buy a soldering gun. Thus I just wrap bare wire around more bare wire and wrap that with electrical tape which I extend to other areas of the layout that require more power. 

Now aside from that mess, I also have an HO layout. I don't have a buss wire system for that but I would say when ballasting you have to make a certain mixture of glue and water.. It's like 40% water and 60% glue... I'm probably wrong on that but oh well. 

Keep in mind that S scale locomotives typically require wider radius curves than AF/High Rail.

I should add that I bought two very good books. The Essentials of Track Building and the Essentials of Benchwork. 

David

My sentiments are similar to Joe's.  Take whatever you may already have and play with it a bit before actually building a serious layout.  Go slow.  There is way too much information and products out there to dive too deeply into any one option.  But most of all, have fun doing it.

Before you commit to a scale, I suggest you take a look at what is available.

HO probably has the widest variety of product, followed by "N" gauge.
Then I think it would be "O", followed by "S".

That written, the popularity of "S" scale certainly does appear to be growing.
Have fun!

Thanks for your comments so far. Actually, I don't have anything yet. Except the table.

David

First, I am in O gauge and don't know a lot about S gauge other than I have always thought it is just about the perfect scale for the reasons you describe in your original post, size, looks, 2 rails, etc. I just about went into S scale when I got back in the hobby a few years ago, but the lack of product sent me back to O gauge which I was already familiar with from my youth. Anyway here are a few comments for whatever they are worth, but probably not a lot.

RR-Track has several S gauge track libraries, but it's a pay program and not free like SCARM. I use RR-Track, I had it before SCARM came out. RR-track was once the best available, I don't know if that is still true or no though, but I believe it still has the best selection of libraries of anything available. I have no personal experience with SCARM.

Gargraves makes S gauge track. It is quite similar to Ross with wood ties and has been a favorite with many O gaugers. It's also made in the USA and they have been around for years. I would also think it should be readily available. Ballast should be no problem, I am not sure about the cork, but I don't imagine that would be a problem either. I believe that Lionel and MTH have both been making S gauge track, but I sometimes see folks here that are waiting on certain pieces to be made so I don't know about the supply availability of those tracks? Some of the posts above about experimenting with different track layouts is also good advice, it will give you some ideas about what works and what might not. Also will probably help you with your final plan.

I have both Lionel Legacy and MTH DCS systems with my O gauge, but I also really like DCC, I find it very interesting. The NEC system, also made here in the USA, would be my choice. It's my favorite out of all the ones I have read about. I hope to add an NCE system to my layout someday to go along with my other systems. One additional thing to fiddle with (and I like to fiddle with the electronics parts of the hobby). Both Lionel and MTH are also now making S gauge products so you could use those systems as well, if you ever wanted to. 

As for engines and rolling stock, the selections in S scale are somewhat limited. If you have a small layout this could be an advantage as you wouldn't have so many things to be tempted to purchase. I like the selections we have in O gauge, but I have a lot more than will fit on my layout so I am not sure that is the best thing to have. Sounded good at first, but a more limited selection could definitely be an advantage and a lot less tempting.

Good luck with your layout and please keep us posted on your progress. Pictures always welcome.

I just got into the hobby earlier this year and did a lot of research.  I too recommend RR-Track CAD software.  Libraries of available products are excellent.  I created 2 track plans with 2 different brands to see which I liked better. I had a great deal of fun designing my layout with it, and it allowed me to buy exact quantities of my supplies. I ultimately chose Fastrack because I wanted easily set up turnouts that could be controlled with the wireless remote control.

Repeat to your self; "Do not spend any money on RR stuff for at least 6 months".  If you do not listen to your self please listen to me.  You will regret most everything purchased at the outset of being new into model trains.

Visit lots of model RRs, all scales.  Ask advice of those who have actually built something.  Many forums feature phantom experts.  My favorite signature:  "I'm not an expert, I just play one on the forum".

Good advice, all.

I'd also suggest subscribing to Model Railroader magazine in that it addresses many different scales, has a lot of 'how to' articles and generally is written with the new hobbyist in mind.

I agree with Tom Tee to a point. buy a inexpensive O gauge layout and a A.F. ( if you can find one that works , that is inexpensive ) and put both around your tree this year and see which you like better. Sell the other after christmas. Don't go overboard till you have time to make sure what you want. Also ( yes they make kits to do it for you but ) remember that you can't do a reverse loop with S Scale with out special wiring. ( I'm not that up on electronics so it would be a challenge for me probably even with the kit lol ) 

Dave,

I admit it, I am partial to S Gauge.  It's a good time for us now, lots of manufacturer's in this scale today.

Below is a link to the ACSG club I belong to, you can spend some time checking out peoples layouts, supplier links, show photo's and videos etc:

http://sgaugers.org/index.html

Keep asking questions, that's how I learn.

Welcome to S,

Aflyer

First, get Scenery Unlimited's catalog, it's where you'll find the most in S between two covers.

Another good place to do some research is the National Association of S Gaugers site.

If you're considering the scale side, SU carries Shinohora S Scale code 100 track and turnouts (switches.)  I've had their track in service on my layout for 30 years.  (Plus a couple of Old pullman's, no longer available...) 

I used a roadbed product called Homasote product called Homa-bed rather than cork directly on plywood.  It's not any better or worse than cork, it's what was easily available when I started.  Once scenery goes down, it hardly matters what's under the track.

And yes, you can "blow up" an HO track plan.  My plan is basically an ancient Atlas HO snap-track plan for a 4'X6' platform, modified and expanded for an approximate 12'x18' space.  No track planning software here.  Here's my 30 year old freehand drawing of it.  The weird shape was dictated by the basement usage.

Some minor changes were needed in going from 2 dimensions to 3, but the essence remains.  Mainline radii is 33" and 29" respectively.  It will handle my scale wheeled American Models Santa Fe Northern with no issues.

Currently the railroad will run DC or DCC.  It was initially set up for two DC throttles and when I decided to get a DCC system (MRC's Prodigy2) I simply removed one of the DC throttles and wired in the DCC system.  I run mostly my straight DC stuff, though.

Take your time, however.  S isn't as easy to get into as it was 15-20 years ago due to a change in the manufacturing invironment that it still hasn't quite recovered from. 

Lionel and MTH aside, S consists of relatively small manufacturers, some are even part-time.  It can be a little frustrating, but can also be very rewarding.

Rusty

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. It turns out that I'll be able to have an L-shaped table. One side will be 12' x 6' and one 4' x 8'. I like the idea of starting with a simple layout and going from there. With regard to to the homasote covering, that also seems to work well for a lot of people. 

Can't wait to start.

Thanks All,

David

Just to make sure I understand, can somebody explain the difference between      S-scale track and Hi-Rail track. I'm asking since I'm specifically interested in            S-scale.

Thanks,

David

Suggest you read this page from the NASG website:

http://www.nasg.org/NewToS.php 

Hi Chuck,

Thanks for the link. It does help. So it seems that some track manufacturers are S-scale and some are S-gauge. I plan to give Scenery unlimited a call. They are Chicago-based, which is where I live,

David

Scale track has a lower profile than high rail. The profile of the rail is described with a code number. Code 172 would be considered high rail. Code 125 could be considered scale, but only if representing a heavy rail on a main line. For running trains, it really doesn't matter until you come to turnouts (switches) or crossings. The turnouts are designed for either scale wheels or high rail wheels, but not both. Scale wheels are, just that, scale, while high rail wheels have over-sized flanges.

David,

Here are two S scale links and one general model railroad resource to review:

S Scale Special Interest Group:  http://sscale.org/

S Scale Resource Magazine :  http://sscaleresource.com/

Model Railroad Hobbyist Magazine:  http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/

....and the National Model Railroad Association:  http://www.nmra.org

 Enjoy!