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Lessons Learned - More Instruction Needed
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<p>You said: "<em>After a couple of months of study...</em>"</p><p>If this is your first layout, a 15'x12' two level layout is quite an undertaking. Most of us started out with the basic 4'x8' and spent a long time just learning basic things like how to lay roadbed and bend track. So don't be disheartened but it might be wise to slow down a little bit.</p><p>Layout planning and technique learning can be a challenge but that phase can be fun in its own right. When I got back into MRR a few years ago after being away from it for 30 years I found out that I needed to re-learn <u>everything</u>. </p><p>See the current thread "<strong>track plan critique</strong>" for some of my thoughts on starting out but one thing in your notes caught my eye. You said that you could not live with the duck-under. What is (was) the height of your layout? I am 60 years old and I have a duck-under that is no problem for me at all. However my duck-under has a clearance of 51 inches and is only 8 inches wide. So the design of the duck-under can make a difference. And swing openings, lift bridges and other techniques can also be used.</p><p>The reason I dwell on the duck-under is that, in my opinion, an around-the-walls layout is much easier to construct and maintain than a layout with big blobs and associated access hatches. Double sided peninsulas are fine (typically with a view block) if you can reach in from both sides easily.</p><p>Since you have something built now you can use that to test optimum heights and depths for you. Construction and maintenance can quickly sour one on this hobby unless you do a lot of up-front investigation on items such as ease of reach.</p><p>Bottom line - take a breath, step back, and enjoy what will be a multi-decade hobby.</p><p>Good luck,<br />-John</p>
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