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Many thanks for your post but I think I am out of my depth here. Is there any chance that you or someone could show me a picture of what would go where and maybe highlight what bits to buy to make this work please? I don't really want to have something that is boring like a single loop with two sidings but also I'm finding the terminology confusing and what goes where mind boggling. I work better with pictures, one of those things I think, once seen I should be able to build it hopefully. I'm really looking forward to the modelling aspects but getting a functional track down that will last for a while is alluding me.

Thanks, so if I add the controller on the main loops where the red and the blue spots are and then run wires from from the blue part of the controller to those two siding as well that will be ok? Where the green blobs are would I use plastic joiners between the two sets of points? This is one thing I'm not clear on at all, surely once a train crosses the plastic joiner it'll stop if there's no power on the other loop? Do I need to match the power settings on each loop so the train just goes over the points? If I do this though with a train that has pick-ups on it's front and rear bogie wouldn't that have the potential to blow the motor, especially if the power isn't matched between loops?

Hi, I'm new to all this so have some probably basic questions that I'm hoping you can help with or point me in the correct direction. I really like this design and I have been looking for a design to build and I think I have just about enough money to now commit track to board. To start with though a bit of background; basically I have brought some stuff which was probably the wrong way round but there we have it, on the plus side though it isn't a lot, I have some loco's, rolling stock, metcalfe buldings, half of which I have built and a controller, which I hope will do for this job. So first question, the controller i have is a Gaugemaster Series D, one of these. Will these be good enough for Madog's design? Size 7x3 is pushing a bit big for me, do you think there is a way of cutting this down to 6x3 without totally ruining it? On that point basically I have no space with kids etc. I need it to sit on top of the table and then be stood in the corner of the room when not in use. I do have a garage and built a board of 6x3 last year but over the winter it got damp and had mould on it, I don't think I can do that again as that cost a fair bit of money. Track Specifically what track bits would I need to make this? I was thinking the peco numbers if that's possible? What type of points would be best or are required insulfrog or hotfrog? Wiring/Electrics - I know nothing :-( Where would I connect the wires to the track? Where the two rings/loops (not sure of the terminology) join with points, do they need to be insulated at all? Base Board I was thinking 6mm ply with bracing, does that seem ok? Unknown Unknown's Being new to this and already having one failure what else should I consider building this design? Ignore scenery etc I'm just thinking about putting track on a broad and getting something that I can use and get my trains running at this stage. Many thanks for any help in advance and thanks to Sir Madog for the idea Edit - Sorry I forgot to say, I would like the points to be all manual, so I don't plan to install any other electrics. The era I am planning is very wide but is 99% diesel's from the 60's to the 80's, mostly BR blue's but from Warships to 125's.