A quest for layout help and insights!

[Anonymous]

My advice is to slow down a little. While I drool at the space at your disposal, you will find that you learn as you go.  Having said that, you may revisit your completed layout a few months later & want to start all over, only to realize your track is already permanently glued down & holes are drilled for wiring. Take a section of your available space and build only that part up(maybe a 4X8 foot section). Run it for a while and develop ideas for how to use the rest of your space (wish I had that much room!)  Track, wiring, scenery , and all the other accessories are expensive.  Make sure you've left some of the design process for later after you/ve acquired more experience.  

[Anonymous]

Hey Everyone!

Thanks so much for all of the feedback so far.  It's great to have a place like this, and believe me, as I struggle along, I will be asking more questions.  Thanks to all about the back wall section.......At 5'9(ok, 5'8 and shrinking!) I'm sure I'll run into problems if I don't change that.  Thanks again!

[cudaken]

 I have a 4 foot X 19 foot section aginst the wall and is the worst thing I have done to date. Unless you like laying on your stomach to lay rails you will hate as I do. I will added I am 6'4" and it still hard to reach a engine that has stalled or derail.

 If you have to go aginst the walls, use wheels on the bench work. If you can keep it 2' away from the wall you will be a lot happer in the long run.

 Good luck and have fun.

                       Cuda Ken

[DigitalGriffin]

Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans, by Ian Rice is a great book for ideas, but alas it's out of print.

*ack* I didn't know it went out of print!  But I agree with you general assesment.  Although Iain is a bit heavy on the track and light on scenery, I find his layouts to be fun for the space.

[Bob grech]

First of all, I want to welcome you to this forum. 

The best advice I can offer you is this:

- Read and re-read the "how-to" books and articles.

- For your first layout, start small. This will allow you to experiment with many of the different aspects of the hobby such as carpentry, electrical, structure building, scenery, ETC... fairly quickly.

- Follow an established track plan or project layout before venturing out on your own.

- When in doubt, re-read the instructions! If that fails, post your questions on this forum. From what I've seen, it is filled with multi-talented people always willing to help!

- Last but not least, have fun!!!!  

[SpaceMouse]

Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans, by Ian Rice is a great book for ideas, but alas it's out of print. You can probably get it through interlibrary laosn. That's how always get the great books.

Thanks guys for plugging my article.  

 

[Gandy Dancer]

I don't have a "real" place in mind to model, so I will be freelancing.

Even a freelance needs a place and time, even it if is made up.  In many ways freelancing is a lot harder than doing a prototype because everything must be invented.  Inventing believability is not as easy as one would think.

benchwork, will be in a "T" shape with 12' x 4' against the basement wall and a 8' x 4' section to complete the "T".

Nice space but as others have said a 4 foot section against the wall is going to make construction and maintenance a nightmare.  Is there any chance of leaving an 18" squeeze space against the wall, or maybe only doing 2'  bench against the wall in more of an "around the area" type arrangement. 

I would like to have a residential and an industrial section as well as a rural area with mountains(I enjoy the Adirondacks very much).

AH, so you do have a place in mind.

[stokesda]

Welcome to the forum!

I just want to echo what the others have already said about the 4' wide benchwork up against the wall. You will quickly discover that it's too far to reach, and wish you had some way to access the area.

To keep the reach to a comfortable distance, you'll need to reduce the width of the main layout area to 30" or less. If you need the 4' width to turn trains on both ends, you can have two short 4' wide sections at either end, just so you can hold the track needed for the complete loops. Elsewhere, try to keep the width narrower. What you end up with is an L-shaped "dogbone" style layout. (I hope all that made sense).

I also second the "Trackplanning for Realistic Operation" book, as well as the "Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans" book, both published by Kalmbach, who publishes Model Railroader magazine. The second book may not give you any track plan ideas, per se, but will give you some ideas about how to configure the layout for your space.

Also check this link out:

http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html

I know you're not doing a 4x8, but it might help trigger a few ideas.

Good luck!

[jaytrix]

That is a great book.  I also have one on scenery that I will have to look up when I get home.  I can't believe I don't know the name as I have read it over and over.  I think its original copyright was like 1958 and I laugh as it mentions using asbestos for building a shell.  But what is more amazing is that the techniques are still very relevant in today's model railroading.

[pcarrell]

Welcome to the forum!

"Track Planning For Realistic Operation", "Spacemoue's Beginners Guide", The NMRA, The Layout Design Group.....all good stuff!  (Pick a link, any link!)

The key is, ask questions....read....ask more questions.  We were all new once, so don't be afraid of asking a stupid question.  I know I've asked more then my fair share!

[secondhandmodeler]

Welcome to the forum.  Read, read, read, is all I can say.  Spacemouse has a beginner's guide you might want to read.  I'm sure somebody will provide the link sooner or later.  NMRA.org is a decent starting point as well.  I believe they have a beginner's area.  One thing you may want to consider is the depth of your layout.  If you can't reach the back of the table, your in trouble.  Quite a few people use 36 inches as their maximum reach.  As far as any specific questions you have, the search fuction is your friend.  If you can't find the answer you're looking for, post a question.  Most people are quite friendly around here. 

[IRONROOSTER]

 

Sounds like you're ready to start.  A word of caution, putting the 12x4 section against the wall will make some sections difficult to reach.  Anything over 30" for track and 3 ft for scenery is getting a little long to reach.

The best book on track planning is "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" by John Armstrong.  He explains what real railroads do and how to do it on the model.  He also covers curves, grades, etc.

Enjoy

Paul 

[jaytrix]

Dennis,

First of all welcome aboard as it is always great to have a new crew member to the hobby.  I also clasify myself in the "newbie" are of the hobby.  Especially as my head spins from reading and talking to everyone.  There are a couple of sites and this is one of them to start your journey.  Mostly I do enjoy all of the different ideas within this forum and others.  I recommend that you just continue to soak in what you can and ask any question you may have as it seems someone always has an answer or at least a comment.

[Anonymous]

Greetings All!

I am a "Newbie" to model railroading.  I have always been fasinated with the hobby, and have been collecting trains, buildings, track, etc. for many years with every intention of building a layout.  I have finally found the time (and space) to build a layout.  I don't have a "real" place in mind to model, so I will be freelancing.  I have the material for the benchwork, which will be in a "T" shape with 12' x 4' against the basement wall and a 8' x 4' section to complete the "T".  I would like to have a residential and an industrial section as well as a rural area with mountains(I enjoy the Adirondacks very much).

Any help would very much be appreciated.  As I said, I am a newbie, and I don't quite understand alot of things, such as maximum radius and grades, just to mention a few.  Also, if someone knows of a book or a website that explains such things in easy to understand language, please let me know.  I get lost sometimes with the terms that I see in magazines and on line.