layout design

[gnry fan]

Hi,

I have been looking over the plans posted, and no one has mentioned the NMRA plan for beginers on their website.  I just started to build this basic plan, with plans to extend it in the future.  Has anyone built this one???  Success???  Failure???  I was also looking over the foam issue, and think I'll go with 2" pink as opposed to Homasote.  I'll post pictures soon.

Todd

[Texas Zepher]

I have been looking over the plans posted, and no one has mentioned the NMRA plan for beginers on their website.  I just started to build this basic plan, with plans to extend it in the future.  Has anyone built this one???

You mean this one?

http://www.nmra.org/beginner/extended.html 

or this one:

http://www.nmra.org/beginner/ex_plus.html

Or something else.

Both of the above layouts were are used on the site to demonstrate wiring techniques and issues.   I don't know if they were designed with any other thing in mind,  I did have issues with the extended one, but then I saw they did it that way because they intended to expand.

[gnry fan]

Yes, those are the plans I was going to use.  The idea was to built the basic first,and extend it out more than the extended plans call for, maybe build another 4x8 on the other end.

[Texas Zepher]

Yes, those are the plans I was going to use.  The idea was to built the basic first,and extend it out more than the extended plans call for, maybe build another 4x8 on the other end.

My issue with the basic "main line" is that it has two 18"radius s-curves in it.  That is going to limit loco and car length.

[markpierce]

Hi Todd,

I wonder what you find attractive about those NMRA track plans.  To me, they are unimaginative and limited in operations and visual appeal.  There are hundreds of track plans available for that space.  Have you studied many of those?

Mark

[gnry fan]

What appealed to me was just that it is a simple plan for beginners.  This is my 1st attempt at building a model,  I'm not going to start out building the Gorre & Daphited, I want to start small, and practice on everything, and most of all, get a few of my trains out of the box and on some "live track".  I realize there are many, many plans for a 4x8 sheet, and maybe I'll incorporate some of those ideas into a different portion.  My overall goal is to have a 4x8 sheet connected to another 4x8 sheet with an industry or city scene on the narrow section that goes between, by narrow I mean 24-30"x8ft.  The long range plan is to use the SKILLS I acquire with this simple design to build a rather good sized layout, I have access to the entire basement....  28x32.

http://www.nmra.com/beginner/extended.html

Todd

[markpierce]

 The long range plan is to use the SKILLS I acquire with this simple design to build a rather good sized layout, I have access to the entire basement....  28x32.

That's a wise move, Todd.  It will give you time to acquire skills skills, but also time to evolve/assess your givens and druthers and to learn how layout designs might best simulate prototypical operations and appearances before making a huge commitment.

Mark

 

[steinjr]

What appealed to me was just that it is a simple plan for beginners.  This is my 1st attempt at building a model,  I'm not going to start out building the Gorre & Daphited, I want to start small, and practice on everything, and most of all, get a few of my trains out of the box and on some "live track".  I realize there are many, many plans for a 4x8 sheet, and maybe I'll incorporate some of those ideas into a different portion.  My overall goal is to have a 4x8 sheet connected to another 4x8 sheet with an industry or city scene on the narrow section that goes between, by narrow I mean 24-30"x8ft.  The long range plan is to use the SKILLS I acquire with this simple design to build a rather good sized layout, I have access to the entire basement....  28x32.

http://www.nmra.com/beginner/extended.html

Todd

 A pretty good beginners layout is Scott Perry's "Heart of Georgia" (HOG) - you can find all plans, cutting diagrams etc.

 Sadly, Scott Perry's web site www.hogrr.com no longer exists, but the files have been preserved on yahoo group HOGRR (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HOGRR/ - you would have to register to join, but it's free), then check out the files section for the directory "*Hog files from Scott Perry".

 A possible HOGRR inspired layout was discussed in this thread not too long ago: http://cs.trains.com/forums/1461252/ShowPost.aspx

 Smile,
 Stein

 

[Texas Zepher]

I'm not going to start out building the Gorre & Daphited, I want to start small, and practice on everything,...

Are you sure about that??  The Gorre & Daphited started simple as:

Courtesy of Carl Arendt. G&D Original

Courtesy of the Witt Family. G&D 1948 (first expansion)?

Notice that 14"-16" radius curves were used.