This is one area where the budget really bit hard on the real-
istically-doable options. Even a starter DCC system from most
of the major manufacturers easily eats almost half the contest
budget. Analog DC is the option which best fit the budget cri-
teria. That said, at eBay prices, a Bachmann E-Z Command DCC
system potentially could be substituted, if needs and whims
really required one. Whichever system is chosen, the wiring is
easily accommodated by less than 6’ of DC power cable, and a
microswitch to handle the turnout frog switching.
Structures and scenery
Structures and scenery are another area where spending time
instead of money can pay dividends in improved modeling
skills and the wow-factor impression. While the three car-spot
Chicago Hoist and Fork warehouse shown was kitbashed from
a Walthers Buds Trucking Co kit, a sheet of styrene and some
foamcore could easily achieve a comparable result.
Another alternative is using some of the cost-effective
card structure kits available from KingMill Enterprises and
Scalescenes. Whatever the preferred option, a few lengths of
styrene I-beam, brass wire, and scale corrugated metal can
form an effective scratchbuilt awning. The chain-link fence
is simply brass wire soldered together to form a frame and
draped with $2 worth of decorative plastic mesh.
Bottom-line
So how did I do on the budget? The layout itself, (everything
including benchwork, lighting, track, structures and scenery,
throttle and wiring) ended up at around 50% of the budget.
The rest was taken up by the locomotive, freight cars, and a
small “miscellaneous expenses” fund to cover minor extras,
consumables, or budget overruns. Without the savings
contents
