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Another vote here for Tortoises, and you can get good deals by buying them in 12's...

It works fine on XP, although it's user interface is a bit weird, to say the least. I think it was written by a cross between a model railroader and a computer programmer, which doesn't bode well I suppose :-)) Personally, I use Raily 4, which is also weird (but less so in my opinion)...

No, Xtrkcad is a free cad program that lets you design your layout and run virtual trains around it. Then you can see exactly what space it will take up, and play with different designs, and see whether the operating possibilities will be boring or not... can't remember exactly where it is...

I like your plan. Try getting Xtrkcad or something else and laying out for real -- this will also allow you to compare N and Z scale if you want. Peco do some nice old-style small UK wagons, although the quality is not exactly fabulous for the money, they are bashable... Charles

I don't know that kit, but for leadlighting I use a (highish quality) inkjet on inkjet transparencies. Normal leadlights are (or at least used to be) made with 1/2" lead, which is one-three-hundredth of an inch in N-scale. So if your inkjet is 300dpi that's one pixel, i.e. as good as you can...

Great backdrop! What casting material did you use? I love the way you've made the three identical casts look like different buildings. It looks like you've cast in the window glass, and then painted them with gloss black (or very dark green?) -- is that right? Presumably it's too hard to...

1/4 the size of N? No, sorry, it isn't. 1:220 is only 27% smaller than 1:160, i.e. about 3/4 the size (in each direction). A foot is 1.39mm (instead of 1.91mm in N). On the other hand, because of the limited track availability, and similar logic that explains why you can't get N in 87/160th...

That would depend upon what paint thinner you used. I think I've heard of soaking in isopropyl alcohol (for several hours, which it doesn't sound like you've tried), and then a toothbrush to get it off. There are also proprietary paint-removers. On the other hand, if the paint isn't too thick...

Even MT couplers will only just work with the MT magnet in perfect conditions. Yes, check with the coupler gauge (particularly the pin height), and dry-lubricate the couplers. I find they sometimes have to be opened up a fraction (i.e. bend the flat section away slightly) -- careful here though...

Taking your idea a step further, it could be done in very limited space with a helix. Imagine a helix immediately next to the layout, and you could have two or three differently scened layouts above each other, and a decent length of track that you'd send a train off one layout to arrive at the...

Just out of interest, I started this structure kit yesterday (as I haven't done any structures for ages and I was getting sick of rolling stock). It's a lot better kit than I thought it was going to be -- just about at the level of the Bar Mills stuff, but without the details. The parts fit...

Ok here's a go. I'm currently trying to design a yard for a similar sized area on one wall of my layout. The plan below is for a shelf 4.3m long by 500mm deep. The mainline comes from the lower left, into this yard, and then past it to hidden staging loops. You could always skip the staging...

2c: A couple of runarounds would help -- there isn't one in the main yard (except for the siding), which means you can't reorganise a train when there's either mainline traffic or something waiting in the siding. Ditto with the industries -- as soon as you have more than a single spur or so...

This will be egg-sucking territory for most of you, probably, and I apologise if that's the case, but I've just found the Walthers "Insiders Reports" and found them really useful (like much more useful than anything I've seen in a magazine). Particularly, for example...

So here I go again? Garth Brooks? Vanilla Ice? Ah well.... I certainly don't remember Whitesnake singing about "Forums are for questions to be asked" :-) IMHO, 2" foam may well give you more problems than it answers. Yes you will have problems with switch machines (particularly...

Just something that came to mind... I love your Main Street picture, and I've seen lots of layouts like the one you show, but they have one of two problems -- either the buildings front on to the tracks (which is patently ridiculous) or they back on to them, so you can't see the street itself...

Easy. ME code 40. But to be more sensible, Atlas code 55 or ME code 55. Now all you have to do is choose your turnouts. ME does have the advantage of offering ready-weathered rail, but doesn't offer turnouts. Isn't life always like that? Charles

...and what does the 'both types' option on the poll mean? MT and Accumate? MT and Rapido? Or something else?

Same here in New Zealand, but that's only because the stock's so old. Some of the US e-tailers are still selling Atlas freight cars with rapidos, though Atlas say they don't. In the poll, it would be interesting to have more detail. I'm in the process of converting to MT body-mounted...

No, this doesn't need to be so, but it depends upon your controller. I'm always in 'switch' mode, so you can flick switches anywhere on the layout at any time (and program in routes, or more usefully make one switch trigger other switches). You can still control two locos or consists while...