The first thing you have to do with any but the most basic model train setups is design it.  You lay out where you want everything to go – hence the term "layout" came to be used for the resulting model as well.  These days there are a number of programs available to use on computers.  I've been using and been very happy with it.  But that wasn't true when I built my last layout.  And even the best plan usually has to be changed when things don't fit.  See the expanded My Layout page for an example.

MY Z LAYOUT

     I built this layout between 2001 and 2003. I call it a model railroad rather than a toy train because I spent a lot of time putting in details to make it look real. The guage (scale) designation, "Z", means that at 18'4" to the inch this is the smallest comercially available scale of model railroading: the rails are less than 1/2" apart.  This is a pain for detailing but allows for some neat tricks:
     *You can buy HO scale trees and split off branches to be whole trees in Z.
     *The trains are so light you can cut up styrofoam and foam core for track support.
     *And you can print out great looking brick and stone walls, tunnel portals and even
          buildings to fit your needs.
     My major construction materials were foam core art board, styrofoam, Peco Z guage track, ultra thin scale wood strips (for bridges and trestle), sandpaper (for gravel), Card Stock (heavy paper -- for walls and tunnel portals), Liquitex Acrylic Paints (Green for vegitation and various browns for "mud") and onion skin tracing paper (for bare rock).

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