My advice from experience: Pick three or four items you need to comparison shop. Enter one at a time into Google and price it at four or five of the standard suppliers; i.e., Favorite Spot, Model Train Stuff, Hobbylinc etc. No one place has all the items and no one place has all the best prices. I have found that, overall, Model Train Stuff has, by far, the best prices and the most complete inventory. I have NO financial interest in MTS whatsoever; am just an avid N and HO scaler. I have also found that, many times, an item listed on eBay can be had cheaper and brand new from one of the suppliers.

Len - thanks very much for that information. It will make my siding on my ceiling track very easy!!

Thanks for that - now at least I know what the #s mean. 2nd Question - if I use a #5 turnout on each end of a siding, does anyone know what I need to attach to the turnouts to have the siding rail about 3" (center-to-center) from the main?  I know I can figure it out by trial & error, but knowing beforehand would save buying track curves and pieces that I may not need.  Continued thanks!

I apologize if this has been asked many times before. Can someone please explain to me the difference in angle/radius or whatever among the #4, #5 and #6 DCC controlled E-Z track turnouts? I cannot find any specifications or information anywhere, including this Bachmann site.  Thank you.

You'd best contact someone else when it comes to wiring questions. Wiring is definitely NOT my strong suit. I'm better at layout design and construction.

Just checked my profile and the email address is there. Anyway, it's mrmtox@tampabay.rr.com. Let me know if I can be of any help.

Just remember you can lay them within 3/4" or so if your rolling stock isn't too long. but if your cars (long box cars, passenegr cars etc) are 4" - 5" you'll have curve "hangover" problems.  If you'd like to e-mail me or even (gasp) call, I'd be happy to discuss my experiences with the same kinds of questions not too long ago. 

For an alternative to cutting pieces of track and making splice joints remember Bachmann sells packs of short pieces of EZtrack. I've used a bunch of them and they're really handy when you need 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1.5" etc.  I think the part #s are BAC44829 and BAC44899.

Will your double loop be on a flat surface with "X"-type cross overs or will you elevate one track above the other at the cross overs? I did the latter on an elevated track around the perimeter of my layout and it was lots of fun to construct and gives the entire layout a nice three dimensional component.

Maybe some high school geometry would help.  The circumference of a circle (the total distance around it) is equal to the value of Pi (3.14) multiplied by the diameter of the circle. The diameter is simply twice the radius.  Therefore the total circumference is Pi times twice the radius (2R). Sooo - an 11" radius curve generates a total circle of 69 inches of track that is 22" (twice the radius) wide. One-quarter of a curve = 17.3", one-half a circle = 34.5",  etc.  Pencil and string certainly works but if you're going to do a lot of curve layouts a couple of bucks invested in a simple set of dividers (available at most art supply stores) would sure make your life easier.

e-mail sent along with pics. Let me know if they don't come through.

On eBay check out a seller called oddstuff13. He currently has a custom made covered bridge available. He does superb custom work and has made several items for me including a covered bridge. I can't figure out how to attach a photo of mine, the photo is apparently too large to be attached on this site. If you're interested in seeing mine e-mail me at mrmtox@tampabay.rr.com and I'll send it that way.

A 19" radius gives you a 38" circle. I'm afraid you'll have a bit of over hang on the 2' wide board.

It can be a bit difficult - maybe consider taking a car or two of your rolling stock that already has Rapido couplers and replacing one end with a knuckle (usually more easily done) to fit the rest of the train?  Many (including myself) do that to give versatility to the converted cars.

Would like to light a few passenger cars and am considering the Rapido "Easy Peasy" lights. I would appreciate opinion from anyone who has installed them. Is it a good product; does it work as advertised etc?? The product sounds too easy and "too-good-to-be-true".Thanks.