just starting

In message , mewthree writes

Look at any of the model railway rings on the net. Any number of sites are based on planning and constructing individual layouts. It might be a good idea to decide on a scale first to narrow your search as layouts are in the main scale specific.

There are even sites with support forums based around layout planning and construction such as

Cheers.

Your local model railway club may be a good point to learn first hand off experienced modellers.

>

One of the biggest problems with listening to many experienced modellers (esp from magazines) is they can tell you what you must do and how you must do it. You appear to be expected to be born with suitable knowledge and skills that allow you to follow their ways.

I like David Jenkinsons book 'Historical Railway Modelling' in which he explains what he thought is required to create a layout in both planning and implementation, and how he did this himself. However right from the start he says that its how he did it and whilst you may learn from it you must make your own choices. Most important enjoy as much as you can.

Simon

You local library will have, or be able to get, a huge range of Railway Modelling books. From memory, the Dewey classification is 619 or somewhere near there. You will also find prototype information somewhere around 385. Ask the librarian. Many library services now have on-line catalogues so you can search in other counties and get stuff through an inter-library loan. It might cost a couple of quid. In Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire) you can visit the "county reserve stock" where they keep all the books they don't have room for on the shelves. Heaven! Other counties may have something similar.

There are a number of monthly magazines covering the UK scene (you don't specify which country): Model Rail, Railway Modeller, British Railway Modelling , Modern Railway Modelling(?), Model Railway Journal. At least one of these (MR) has a range of "how to" videos and DVDs. Your library may even have some of these or you can request them. If you get your request in now you may get them approved for the new financial year in April.

Exhibitions and Local club. Look at

for lists of clubs, shops, exhibition dates, etc.

The web. Too numerous to mention but there are no end of personal and society web pages with pictures and how to articles.

For free track planning software get a copy of XTrkCad from

. A little quirky at first but has good demos to show you how.

MBQ