Inspired on all these small layouts I decided to build one for friend his kids. They have 3 kids in the age of 8 to 13 years old and where very hard with parting with my layout on a birthday party. As far as I learned from them, railway accidents and derailments are the best thing to replicate, so the track needs to be guarded by some structure to prevent trains falling off the table. I used a figure 8 as base and aded a leftover switch with a siding they can switch off. Also a couple of sturdy lights are added so they can derail their trains in the darkness of the night.
I used a 1/2" thick sheet of 4x8 plywood, some 1x2" support beams on the sides and 031 curves. Don't start talking about gradients, since this layout features 6% grades for runaway trains! The plywood sheet is cut down 1' in length and 1/2' in width witch I used for the mountains and sides (to prevent the trains running of the table.
The mountains are made with fake grass (green carpet) which flexes on impact and reduces damage to a minimum.
The finished layout. The trees bushes and everything else needs to be made by them. I rebuild the K-line engines to DC, since it's easier to switch direction and used a relaiable transformer with a decent power shutoff when a short happens. If a train derails, it's cought by the mountains and ends up leaning in it's carpet walls. I'm sure that I've tested it very thoroughly, downhill with max voltage and only one small dc can motor per locomotive!
The left over space is filled with roads for matchbox or lego vehicle's. Fun guaranteed! (and not only for kiddos )
Here's a photo of our small layout.
Oooooops! That's a photo of the Chief dressed as Snow White.
HERE is a photo of our small layout.
And another
And yet another
and another
Jim
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
1688torpedo wrote: Jim A- Will the photo of Snow White er ''Chief White" be on the Front Cover of the CTT with your layout in it??? Take Care.
Cover and Centerfold. As Curly would say "whoob whoob whoob whoob!"
I figured something was up when he told me on the phone to check his post on small layout. Dang, got me in my Disney outfit. Instead of working Bass Pro Shops when I go to Orlando, I really go to Disney and work.
I've seen some really nice layouts. Now mine has the track taken back up ans soundboard going down. Here it is before the treack came up but will still have the same track layout.
Yes, goes through the walls and makes a circle. Engine storage track and reversing track is in the other room.
Lets see Lionel diesels smoke.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Daan thanks for "restarting" this thread. Your layout looks great. I wish my prewar roster could handle 2% grades! Anyway, I started my first layout 4 weeks ago. My general plan is shown below. I wanted to run three of my prewar trains at a time with NO switches. At its widest, the table is 4.25 feet and its longest arm is 8.5 feet.
After working on it the past 2 weekends, I'm probably 75% done and everything seems to fit so far. The legs have casters on them to I can move the table back and forth. Its final resting place will be in the basement. I hope to have it all done over Labor Day weekend.
This is my current layout, a 4X6. It will be going away soon for the new one. That will be an L shape 4X8 and a 4X6 table. The old one has a bridge and 3 independent loops, the 1st & 2nd loops are connected with a left switch with a block Fastrack between them. I can switch between loops and still have 3 independent power sources, running with a CW80 and a KW.
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
I received an e-mail that my link would not work for my layout shots.The link is http://community.webshots.com/user/otftch. If someone could let me know if it works now.
Thanks,
Ed
Here ya go! I clicked on "preview this image" at 425 pixels, and copied the informmation under the "direct link to this image", and placed the img before and the /img (in square brackets) after the url.
Kurt
Hope this helps.
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
Less is more. I luuuuvvvv spaghetti; just not on a 4 x 8 .
However, I do find kpolak's track plan most interesting.
Heres my micro layout. Figure 8 is all 0-27 curves and a crossing. About as small as you can get other than a circle.
Just simple 2 loops with switches to a small yard with some operating accesories
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month