Mine started in the late 70' when my parents got me a double Lima "golden series" set. It had a freight and passenger set in it together with a printed "lay out" with an assortment of buildings. That was my first layout!

In the years after that it was expanded with Lima accessories and a few additional sets (like the Japanese bullet train) that where available at the time, until the room the layout was in needed to be repurposed and everything ended up in boxes....

40 years later I rolled into model trains again via a friend that was an avid Marklin collector.... not so much for the trains but to get a backdrop for my vast HO model truck collection (Herpa) witch has always been my number 1 modeling hobby The rolling landstrasse and kombi verkehr sets are therefore my favorite train sets!

Thanks to the internet it has become so much easier to get inspired on building a layout, Step 1 I would say is keep it simple and don't worry to much about accuracy and proto type correctness, just enjoy driving the trains. As in most hobby's, as you go you will gather knowledge and skills and then its up to you how you are going to use those to further enhance your layout...

BTW, on our recent trip to Europe I unearthed both SNCF loks from my original set and brought them back with me. After giving them a good service, both are driving perfect again! The "Shinkansen" will come with me on our next visit.

Regards
Jean-Pierre

I had a starter set with the addition of a diesel locomotive and extra pieces of track, a turnout and a signal.
This was in storage for ~30 years until Covid came along and we had time to clean up the house and re-discovered said pieces.
I watched many Youtube videos, and wanted to jump right in.
I did all the newbie mistakes mentioned.

I was so eager to start, I bought a lot of stuff, and started to build a 1200 x 600mm layout.
But that size layout would only allow a double loop and a few spurs. I got dissapointed in the realisation that if it were to be finished it would be very boring to operate.
I also have very little modelling experience and had a long hard think about it.

I came to the conclusion that I won't be building a layout as:
a) I only have 1200 x 600mm available space
b) I need more experience in modelling

---

In my opinion:

• a beginner should buy some items to experiment with and don't even think about a layout

• a beginner does not know how much time it takes to model, and needs to factor in how much spare time they actually have

• the beginner should construct lots of micro-sized dioramas, with each one building up the complexity and size

• the dioramas should eventually be "working" dioramas in that there is power to the rails and anything else, eg: street lighting, buildings

This approach would have the diorama sized as a do-able unit of work, which is not too daunting, and ultimately resulting in satisfaction, not dissapointment.

Much like hxmiesa's recommendation


My first diorama that has taken a month from design to construction up until this stage

Hi Manga
Welcome to the hobby!
I only have room for a Noch layout board 1mtr x 2 Mtr although I am planning to add an extension 1mtr x 600mm.
I started by buying a start set, then adding to it as I went along. It is easy to spend money on the hobby, but I would suggest you start by look at the special offers or sales. Also look at secondhand track, most people look after all the track stock etc.

Also look at the Noch online website, they have track plans for there layout boards etc, to give you ideas.

But most importantly visit some exhibitions and then start to loosely plan, think about an end to end layout, or one that goes round, I prefer these because you can start it running and just sit and watch!

But ask members for advice or guidance.
Good Luck

Harry

With only very limited space available, a "good" layout can still be made;
(Taking notice of your 1,2m x 0,6m space)

Make a simple oval. It´s not even necessary with a multi-level layout.
Build a "wall" cutting off around 1/2 of the space (1,2m x 0,3m). Use tunnel portals to let the oval mainline enter and exit this hidden space.
Cram A LOT of sidings into the hidden space.

In general, think of the layout as a THEATER;
The front/visible part is where the action takes place.
Behind the stage is where all the "actors" stand ready to do their part on-stage, when the moment come.

That way you can easily have a small(ish) rural station in the visible part, where only shorter trains stops. -While longer express/freight trains just pass through, before waiting again in their hidden siding.

This is a well-known concept called a "shadow-station".
(Some british people might call it a "fiddle-yard", but I would argue that there is a subtle difference in how it is operated and controlled!)

I grew up in the USA, so Marklin was not the first choice shall we say. I had a false start with cheap Tyco HO in the late 70's, then spend most of my younger years with Lionel O gauge trains. The gift of a Marklin starter set with the diecast 0-8-0 engine and M track from my aunt, who was married to a wonderful German gentleman, around age 12 was my introduction to Marklin HO. A LGB set for outdoor fun followed from uncle Herman when I was around 15 or 16. Both bought in Germany when they would travel there to visit his relatives. USA style HO came when I joined a local club at 16. I had a few HAMO pieces to run there to the dismay of the serious modelers watching me run German steam and a rail car on layout based on the old Clinchfield RR that hauled coal. I stuck with LGB and the Marklin HO was just minor aspect till adulthood and the wonders of the internet letting me see whatelse was out there with Marklin trains. We had no local dealer for them, but we did for LGB. So G became a huge thing, and now I have both electric powered LGB and live steam from Regner, Roundhouse and Accucraft as well. I am now starting a vintage style Marklin M track layout in my small train room.

For anybody starting out I would say spend cash on a good new control unit and power pack. Other items can come over the years and to get going one of the Marklin cheaper locos and coaches is all that is needed while building and designing the layout.

I wouldn't start out with any "hidden" parts. Not that it isn't a great solution, so I'm not criticising the idea. But as a beginner anything can and will go wrong (usually not in a disastrous way of course) so it's nice to have everything on the layout in plain view. You can always add some scenery to spice up things.