The new Atlas N scale GP40-2 gives you two choices. These units are perfect for anyone who may or may not have plans to use DCC techonology in the future. The decoder delivers 128 speed step control, four digit addressing and many other exciting DCC features. At the last meeting, we saw excellent examples of experimentation when Ron Bremer showed how he used dry spaghetti to make corrugated metal, and sandpaper to make shingles. I sometimes find myself wandering through department, grocery, and building supply stores, looking for materials to use in scenery building or weathering.
Some people use make-up for weathering.
I have read that John Allen did a lot of experimenting to come up with techniques that we all use today. Model railroading is very much a multi-disciplinary hobby with both breadth and depth, which is one of the things I like best about it. Each of these is a creative hobby in itself. There is the challenge to find common materials that can be applied in new ways to make a layout more realistic, stronger, lighter, cheaper, easier to build, or safer. Neil Burrus showed up at a recent meeting with a module framework made of galvanized steel.