I only started few months ago and I wish I could give you a lenghty reply, but I have to rush off and will be absent for a couple of weeks, so here is my 2p (in a hurry)...
(1) Buy things AS-AND-WHEN-NEEDED. Do not anticipate too much.
I am talking about EVERYTHING; equipment, tools, accessories, materials. I fell into the trap of envisaging my layout, and then stock-piling much of what I though I needed. Then I changed my mind
about the layout!
Statistically, you are quite likely to change your mind. Designing and making layouts is a complex task and the odds of you getting it right first time are very low :)
(2) Be EXTREMELY PATIENT about realising your layout plans.
Estimate how long you THINK it might take you to finish, and then convert EACH DAY of your estimated period into a MONTH and you might have a more realistic deadline. 2-4 years is a common
figure.
(3) Do not CLUTTER your layout design with too much TRACK unless the location specifically requires it.
Leave plenty of ROOM for BUILDINGS and lineside SCENERY. Trees need space.
Build MOCK BUILDINGS from card (or even stiff paper) to give you an idea about space requirements.
(4) I could go on and on... Meanwhile have a look at some American layout ideas published by Atlas, just for the fun of it...
N Gauge = http://www.atlasrr.com/products/fanlayout/nflintro.html
HO/00 Gauge = http://www.atlasrr.com/products/fanlayout/hoflintro.html
Martin, HO = OO as far as track GAUGE is converned; They use the same tracks. However, the 00 SCALE is slightly larger than HO scale, but I shall let someone else tell you about that.
Harry Mantheakis
London, UK
02/28/2000