Are there any developmental track plans for what became the Beer Line project floating around cyberspace? I'd love to view a couple drawings or sketches to validate what I'm dreaming up.
I've been armchairing for about 20 years, and I currently live in a rental house. I have to be able to move a layout easily, and set it up without damaging the walls. I've become enamored with the Beer Line as far as the portable layout in 4 pieces concept. What I hate are the 18" curves on each end. Dang it, I'm 50 years old and my era is 1981, so I don't want to have to settle for train set curves on my main line ;)
What I have in mind right now are the two 8' sections are built with some modification to the spurs to suit me, and backdrops replacing the river. I'd add 6 inches to both dimensions of the end caps, and use 22 inch radius curves instead; barely tolerable per my preferences. The end pieces are essentially disposable, and whenever I am a homeowner once again, the 8 footers will become the basis of an around the walls shelf layout. Custom benchwork would fill in the gaps.
For now, I have a large and mostly unused family room available, but I will have to share that with my wife. The Beer Line concept will get me a layout I can take down and stack in a corner out of the way when the room is used for something else.
I'm planning on 2" foam glued to framework built out of 1X3s for lightweight benchwork. I have an unused Atlas/Lenz DCC system just begging to be let out of the box, and about 80% of the track I need to build the layout is on hand.
Praise or flame this as you see fit ;)
I used to be clueless, but i've turned that around 360 degrees.
With longer equipment in mind why not change your curves to 30 inches on what will turn out to be your main line sections. In looking at a 90 degree curve you would need to add 12 inches to the ends of the layout length to accommodate the larger radius. Instead of 2 feet deep go to 3 feet deep and you will still have sections that can be stacked up as you wish. Although with movement in mind you may want to consider two 5 or 6 foot long sections in place of each 8 foot section.
John Armstrong always said in his books it was easy to make a layout a bit bigger as opposed to making it smaller. With out adding much more in the way of track other than bigger radius curves you will also have a bit more room for scenery which should make things look even better.
VunderBob I've become enamored with the Beer Line as far as the portable layout in 4 pieces concept. What I hate are the 18" curves on each end. Dang it, I'm 50 years old and my era is 1981, so I don't want to have to settle for train set curves on my main line ;)
I've become enamored with the Beer Line as far as the portable layout in 4 pieces concept. What I hate are the 18" curves on each end. Dang it, I'm 50 years old and my era is 1981, so I don't want to have to settle for train set curves on my main line ;)
So what aspect are you enamored with:
- Building a layout in sections?
- Modular layouts (where any to sections can be joined to each other)?
- Having a continuous loop layout that can be disassembled and stowed away?
- Something else?
Smile, Stein
@steinjr: All of the above.
I like switching. My operational theme has always been a branch or short line, but I have always wanted in practice a layout with a continuous run that would not get used when formally operating. I have days where I want to operate, others where I add stock behing units and caboose chase.
I realized that SOBL could give me two design element scenes now in a compact and portable layout that satisfies just about everything else I want to do.
VunderBob @steinjr: All of the above. I like switching. My operational theme has always been a branch or short line, but I have always wanted in practice a layout with a continuous run that would not get used when formally operating. I have days where I want to operate, others where I add stock behing units and caboose chase. I realized that SOBL could give me two design element scenes now in a compact and portable layout that satisfies just about everything else I want to do.
You can have continuous run and sections without having modules. I.e you can make a layout where the sections only fit together in one specific order.
A dead simple way of doing that would be to make four hollow "boxes" - say each 18" deep and 6 feet long, and put them together in an box with a rectangular opening in the center, so one side of the resulting square is 6 foot long, and the other is 1.5 + 6 + 1.5 = 9 feet long. Total floor space need: 9 x 6 feet. Operated from inside the pit (which is 3 feet side and 6 feet long, unless my math is completely off)
Depending on how big your room is and how much floor space you can scrape up while running trains, this would allow you far wider curves.
Look for "Heart of Georgia" plans to see how this works.
hi
here is the HOG, four 8 x 1 sections:
If you want to copy the Beer Line, not only the radii have to be made larger (let assume 30 inches), i would choose for #6 switches as well. It would make the total length 3 feet longer and the width 2 feet wider; so with a 30" radius the dimensions will become. 15 x 6; when going for a central operating pit (11 x 2) you do not have to be able to walk around the layout. Apply " around the layout aisles " and you will need a 17 x 10 space.
For the original 12 x 4 Beer Line you must be able to walk around at least 3 sides; so the space needed in your room will be 14 x 8. (using 2 feet wide aisles)
Smile
Paul
Paul,
You just showed my what I was trying to explain in the opening post.