For continuous running, go to N scale. 2x8 would be a good size layout in N. You can also test all of your theories and building skills. Pack up your HO stuff until you are able to have a larger layout. Maybe not what you wanted to hear, but trains are trains. If you were hoping for sound, just be selective in what you purchase for a locomotive. You don't have to buy a lot of N scale stuff, just enough for the layout you have room for now. Who knows, by the time you have room for your HO layout, maybe you can sell your N scale one, lock, stock, and barrel.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Good idea to start with a small platform to see where you want to go with this. My suggestion would be to look up HO modular standards, and build your first 2x4' chunk to meet that. Whatever theme or era or prototype you ultimately decide on won't really matter, since it's going to be such a small project.
Use that first module to develop your skills in track laying, ballasting, basic scenery and structures. Think about the scene you'd like to represent, such as a small industry or a bridge crossing a creek or highway, sketch it out on paper. Then do some research. Look at prototypes to see what they really look like. Bridges, for instance, seem like a pretty simple thing until you really look at how they're built. Understanding how the prototype looks will be really helpful in building a believable scene.
If you like the results, start working on the next module. By building them to a standard, there's always the opportunity to join a club and run trains on it that way. Also, the modules can ultimately be incorporated in the Master Plan once that basement becomes available.
Refrain from trying to do too much too fast.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Unfortunately, in HO one just can't turn a train with GP38's and 50' cars on a 24" table. Cursed Reality! I know that there are folks that have done standard gauge HO with extremely small curves, but that is primarily in industrial or logging-style operations. The BARE minimum for the turn to allow continuous operation is 18" radius, and 20" or 22" would look and run better.
This does not preclude your connecting up a couple of those pieces and getting something operational. There may be quite a few decisions yet to make: urban or rural? mainline or shortline? western mountains or flatlands? will this "straight stretch" be a small town along the way or the operational focus? Will the track one day circle back in a true "dogbone" (a petvet might relate to that), or will there be hidden trackage across the back of the table to allow an oval-style operation?
Keep plenty of plain paper handy to sketch out ideas. Track plans doodled in the margins of the notebook during staff meetings can be helpful. Look at as many published track plans for small areas as you can. There is nothing wrong with just tacking down some track to be able to test your locomotives and keep the mental images growing, but don't make it permanent until you are more comfortable with how it will develop. Let us know how it goes.
Bill
Thanks for the reply,
I have thought about a 4x8, but in this apartment, I have no room for the whole 4x8 (as a matter of fact, I only have 4 2x4 panels, hence the 2x8. My thought was to be able to work on it 2x4 at a time, just getting benchwork together without legs to begin. Can always place it on the floor when I want it to run. I will probably use a locking mechanism to combine the 2x4 sections
Will it be perfect, no. Is it the best situation, no. Did the CFO know what she was getting into when she told me to get a hobby, no.
Why not take a divider and put it down the middle of your 4 x 8. They you can have two 2 x 8 layouts, whic hequals both coninuous running and a hear to there feel. Look at the 4 x 8 contests to see examples (when if come back on line.)
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Hey all,
I have been trying to design a 2x8 layout which can also be used as a 4x8, but with the ultimate goal of it becoming part of a larger layout when I move out of this apartment and actually get into a house (not planning basement empire, CFO has other ideas). So, this, I guess, is where it gets. I would like to design a 2x8 layout (with scenery) just to get my feet wet and find what I like the best. Although the idea of operations interests me, I still want some continuous run (hence the addition of the remainder of the 4x8. I was thinking of of a design where there are turnouts near the end, which can would be used in diverging routes to connect to the other half for continuous run. The 2x8 layout contest gave me a couple of good ideas, but nothing seemed 'just right'.
The plan for this would involve the diverging routes to be small spurs when viewed as single 2x8 or as part of larger layout. I have ideas in my head, none on paper or on RTS, so if it comes into RTS, I will show the plan.
Is this concept a) rational b) possible with some operational interest and good scenery options?
Please forgive the mild rambling - this is what being called in to work very late at night does to me, especially after an additional day's work on top of it.
Thanks much in advance
Russ
PS: I suppose you should know, going with HO, nothing larger than 50' boxcars and a couple GP38-2's on code 100 snap track for now (have the track, want to use it up)