The shortning has begun

[Anonymous]

No, not Crisco. I have begun my shortning of my benchwork. I wanted to make use of every square inch of my newly built train room and so I ignored isleways! New guys learn from my mistake! You may think that you can just climb on your benchwork and get at anything you need to, but when buildings and accessories start popping up, there will soon be no place to walk or crawl up there! So, I've dismantled the benchwork (21' x 20') and shortened everything by 18" to 20". WHEW! And just when my saws thought they were safe in their plastic cases![:D]

[daan]

You don't neccesarely have to crawl across your layout. If you make hitches on tactfull places, you can make a plate with houses on it, which you can lift away, when you need acces to that "unreachable" place on your layout. With that you can keep your overall dimensions intact and still have acces to every place of the layout.
(But if you didn't think of the possibility, knowing it now is a bit late I guess..[B)])

[Big_Boy_4005]

Shame on you Jack.[;)] Leaving access is the first rule of layout design!!! I sacrificed at least 30% of my square footage to aisle space. I realize that I have a lot of space, but I always design that way. I still hold to that even when designing for small spaces, just ask ChiefEagles.

A 4' reach is my standard when designing, though sometimes it becomes necessary to go beyond that limit, I try to hold to it. I don't like climbing or crawling, or even ducking if I don't have to.

We all want to get the most railroad into the space we have, but the people need to come FIRST!!! [swg]

[Anonymous]

Good luck with re-working your "short line"[:D]!

This may be a little off topic but I've been wondering..... Right now I've got my 4 x 8 layout with the one of the long dimensions against the wall, leaving access to the center from 2 of the 4' and one of the 8' sides. That 4' reach is a bit much for my arms . I prefer the traditional size rolling stock so O-31 curves are ok but I wonder if a 3' wide shelf style layout around the around the perimeter of the room is really viable. Opinions please on shelf style layouts for O-gage.

Thanks.

Steve

[lionelsoni]

I think 3 feet is very practical when the layout is no higher than your hips, so that you can bend over the layout. However, a short stepladder or stool can get your hips to any required height. I much prefer around-the-walls, since it gives you the greatest running distance for any size room. Go for it!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daan

You don't neccesarely have to crawl across your layout. If you make hitches on tactfull places, you can make a plate with houses on it, which you can lift away, when you need acces to that "unreachable" place on your layout. With that you can keep your overall dimensions intact and still have acces to every place of the layout.
(But if you didn't think of the possibility, knowing it now is a bit late I guess..[B)])

Oh, yes I know about using hatches. I really NEED to be able to walk all the way around the tables though.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Shame on you Jack.[;)] Leaving access is the first rule of layout design!!! I sacrificed at least 30% of my square footage to aisle space. I realize that I have a lot of space, but I always design that way. I still hold to that even when designing for small spaces, just ask ChiefEagles.

A 4' reach is my standard when designing, though sometimes it becomes necessary to go beyond that limit, I try to hold to it. I don't like climbing or crawling, or even ducking if I don't have to.

We all want to get the most railroad into the space we have, but the people need to come FIRST!!! [swg]

ABSOLUTELY! But I was being greedy. I have built several HO layouts in the past using a great book by Linn Wescott. So, I knew the rules. I just thought I could change the laws of phyisics, Mr. Scott! Ended up setting my phaser on stun and shooting myself in the foot! BTW--All is coming along well now...

[Big_Boy_4005]

Actually Jack, the sci-fi character you seek is Dr Who, from the long running Briti***V series by that name. He traveled through space and time in a device called a TARDIS. Disguised as a police call box, basicly a large blue phone booth, this machine was often refered to as being "DIMENSIONALY TRANSCENDENTAL". Which simply means it's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. It's too bad we have no way to take advantage of that technology, but the "Time Lords" guard it very carefully.[swg]

[Anonymous]

Yes, those would be handy. I know of Dr. Who but have never watched a single episode. My son is a Trekkie or whatever the fans call themselves these days.

[FJ and G]

A Tardis sounds pretty neat. I watched the original Star Track in the 60s when it was a bit more adventurous than the current show; which seems more like a psychological soap opera.

Jack, my last layout was too wide. I could have made access hatches but for my current layout, I decided that narrower is much better for many reasons. And I don't care for popping in and out of hatches.

Coupling for one. If the train is within reach it can more easily be coupled/uncoupled. 3rail couplers are notorious for not working well if the spur is out of reach. Also, a narrower layout lets you see the trains up close and more appreciate their size and beauty. Also, you can have wider aisle space, easier time with wiring, and rerailing trains.

dav

[Anonymous]

I haven't been able to get into the new Star Trek "Enterprise" series. I watched a few episodes in the first year. The show is supposed to be a "prequel" to all of the other shows & movies, but they've found a way to include things from the more recent & now defunct shows, which are supposed to be set in a later time frame. It just didn't appeal to me.

I suppose the producers were trying to re-use sets that they had created for the other shows as a way to save money, but it didn't really do anything for me.

Now, I could use that TARDIS thing for my train room. It's only 10'x20' on the plans, but if I could make it more like 100' x 100'....

Heck, I could use the same thing on my shed to turn it into a cool "New Yankee Workshop."

Tony

[Big_Boy_4005]

That's the idea Tony, the end of all space problems for model railroaders! A layout as large as you like, in a space inside of your home smaller than a closet. By the way, it's the 10' dimension that makes your space so tough, I'm still thinking.[swg]

[FJ and G]

A coiled space wormhole would fit inside your basement and allow you to build a layout that connects the other side of the universe or perhaps a parallel universe. A black hole cold also fit inside your basement but it would suck up all your trains and you'd disappear as well, never to be seen again.

[Big_Boy_4005]

That's Stargate!!! I liked that show and movie too. Can't say I've ever been that big a fan ofStar Trek in any of it's incarnations, but I've seen enough of it to know the basics. Beam me up Scotty. [swg]

[Anonymous]

Star Trek has passed its prime, in my opinion. UPN is trying to keep the cash cow alive, but I think they're guilty of cruelty to their viewers at this point.

Another "cash cow" that's past its prime is Star Wars. I am a big fan of the original trilogy, but the new one leaves MUCH to be desired. The actors are so wooden, you could probably use them to build benchwork! Even R2D2 & C-3PO aren't as funny as they used to be.

I noticed that in an interview with George Lucas, he's about as emotional as the walking benchwork he hired to play his leads. Since he's directed both of these flops, that's probably why they're no better at delivering their lines than a piece of pine.

Did I mention I feel strongly about this? [:D]

The Stargate TV show is much better done than the movie was. When I saw the movie, I thought, "Here's something with potential. Too bad this movie doesn't live up to it."

Tony

[Big_Boy_4005]

Tony, I totally agree about all 3 series. The Star Trek and Star Wars series cash cows have left fans with a "tough rump roast". Stargate the movie leaves me with an empty feeling after seeing every episode of the TV series.

I should probably appologize to Jack for going sci-fi on his topic, but I picked up on his remark about Mr Scott, and we were off at warp speed.

If I remember correctly we were talking about leaving enough aisle space when building a layout.[swg]

[Anonymous]

No, that's okay guys. Problem solved. Nothing a nice jigsaw and a little time couldn't solve. I left 18 inches on the sides, back and up the middle. The front has about 3 feet. So unless I get a lot fatter I can walk through these spaces very easily. Boy I feel stupid sometimes[:I]

[Anonymous]

Jack:

As we say in the software development business:

To err is human;
To really foul things up requires a computer

Tony

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vitabile

Jack:

As we say in the software development business:

To err is human;
To really foul things up requires a computer

Tony

Or in my case to be greedy for space and NOT pay attention to one of the giants---Linn Westcott!

[daan]

In Holland we have small black plastic boxes, powered by two penlites with a magnet on it. When it is made from metal you can lift it up without effort. It is called a "zwaartekrachtomvormer". If you wear a helmet with that thing on top, you can easily reach any place of your layout.
(talking about sci-fi, "zwaartekrachtomvormer" means gravitytransformer..)