BN guy,
please wake up.
You will NEVER EVER get something in beyond a circle as long as you use an 11 inch radius. The 11 inches are the centre-line so you will need the extra inch at both sides to keep your trains from kissing the edge.
A last try: using the 9,75 inch code 80 track of Atlas will give you 2,5 inch to play with. Just enough to get Texas Zepher first option in, just not enough to realise his second plan.
I would head for the hardware store. When you politely ask, they may find you a slightly bigger piece of scrap ply for free.
Paul
ok, first off please calm down, I've read all your guy's suggestions, I understand I won't get much with 11" curves, I just want something simple that I don't have to pour a bunch of money into, I know that's not possible but I'd rather just keep this simple and focus on the details of the scene(s), as well as practicing my ballasting skill, what I can do to liven up building kits, and if my abilities from my previous layout will be improved.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
Paulus Jas BN guy, please wake up. You will NEVER EVER get something in beyond a circle as long as you use an 11 inch radius. The 11 inches are the centre-line so you will need the extra inch at both sides to keep your trains from kissing the edge. A last try: using the 9,75 inch code 80 track of Atlas will give you 2,5 inch to play with. Just enough to get Texas Zepher first option in, just not enough to realise his second plan. I would head for the hardware store. When you politely ask, they may find you a slightly bigger piece of scrap ply for free. Paul
Theres nothing wrong with a simple circle ,
General comment regarding small pizza type layouts
OK there are no ops but thats not the goal now is it, its to develop modeling skills, thats what micro Pizza layout likes this are best for. As the OP does say he has plans for a larger layout down the line but that he wants to develop his skills now. Besides Micro Pizza's are just plain fun and allow alot of folks who dont have room for a traditional layout, to dabble in model railroading of various scales :
PS this above is also 24"x24" and in G BTW
I also have a Gn15 24"x30" layout in the works as well as a 9" square N layout, If you love to model but dont want to spend 20 years and a zillion dollars filling a basement, this is a great way to participate in the hobby.
Have fun with your trains
yep, ops are no longer(I didn't realize they were) a goal for this layout. are all of the pictured layouts yours Mr. Smith? They look great!
Burlington Northern #24 yep, ops are no longer(I didn't realize they were) a goal for this layout. are all of the pictured layouts yours Mr. Smith? They look great!
Yep, the top in HOn30, the bottom two are G, one is 24" square and the other which I posted earlier is 36" square.
I sort of fell into building micros a few years ago when I had to dismantle my fixed layout when we demolished and rebuilt our garage. I started with the 36" sq pizza, added the second level track about a year later and have been dabbling with micros ever since. As I said they are very fun to build and quite addictive. The chief advantage being you can build a micro and finish it quickly , they dont take up anywhere as much room as a traditional layout, and you can try a wide range of scales styles gauges ideas fantasies whatever, without breaking the bank or causing a near divorce when your layout eats up the entire family room.
So go for it and remember with a micro, the detailing gets focused inward, every square inch is part of the layout and something for the eye to consider. They are great tools for learning detailing.
amazing, yes I'd really like to try and do an urban scene or something with a small town sort of feeling.
Gary,
I know you are doing N Scale, and a circle is about all you get unless you strive for 2 circles in some manner on the same layout.
Just to give you an idea of what a small layout can do...In HO, granted, but people tell me what I have done is "impossible".
I have a 3.5 foot x 5.1 foot HO layout. It consists of a 15"R inside oval interconnected to an 18"R outer oval via 4 switches aimed at each other. Inside the 15"R oval is a 4 spur mini yard, AND A 2 SPUR engine storage/servicing facility. I also have a "track to nowhere" side on the other side of the station near the 4 spur yard that simulates another siding That is not connected in any way, but "disappears into the horizon". {I mentioned that to you already}.
I have a mountain top on the back right corner on top of which I have a water wheel saw mill and lumber storage shed with another piece of short 9" track "disappearing" into the horizon.
I have a "mini town" in the center betwixt the station. 4 spur yard and engine facility.Its just a few buildings and houses.
In order to avoid the "flat pancake look" I used Woodland Scenics {WS} risers and inclines on top of which I used WS black foam roadbed with latex caulk to tie down the track. It makes the terrain "undulate" instead of flat as a pancake.
Remembering that ROUGHLY, HO is twice the size of N, that means an comparabel N scale would be about 24" x about 31".
That is a lot of action in a small space!!! I am NOT saying that in 24x31 inches in N you could get all i got in, mind you. Just saying a LOT of action can be paced into a "circle only" or "two circle only" layout!
So give 'er a go and have fun!
EDIT: here is a link to a whole website of SMALL MICRO layouts!!!: Hunt an' poke around, LOTS of stuff with pics there!!!:
http://www.carendt.com/index.html
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
actually galaxy you just gave me an idea(if you didn't hear the light bulb click ). I could raise part of the track. I've been wanting to try and put some water or a water like scene thingy majigerbobber.
Hi Burlington Northern #24
Next time you are in a hobby shop.
Take a look at Peco "N" set track points (switches).
While these brutes are horrible short sharp things I would not normally sugest unless being used
in the confines of a very tight industrial area, they are a good quality point
They are worth a look for your tiny layout the curved side is 9" radius which is sharp but might get you the desired sidings.
regards John
unfortunately my LHS carries very little MRRing stuff. Atlas & bachmann track, Atlas, MP, Bachmann kits, and atlas rolling stock.
HI Galaxy,
The OP's problem was he insisted on using a 22" radius (the equivalent in HO) and then you would have issues on a 4x4 HO layout.
All remarks about using a smaller radius or a tad larger piece of ply were rejected.
I am glad he is happy building his circle of track now and he is able to find the site of the late Carl Arendt for tons of inspiration.
11" N scale radii curves, it was never a problem. Can I not want something simple to practice my scenery skills on?
There will be plenty of time for me to use massive radii, etc. on my next layout, but at the rate that the spot for is getting taken care of it may never happen.
galaxy Gary, I know you are doing N Scale, and a circle is about all you get unless you strive for 2 circles in some manner on the same layout. Just to give you an idea of what a small layout can do...In HO, granted, but people tell me what I have done is "impossible". I have a 3.5 foot x 5.1 foot HO layout. It consists of a 15"R inside oval interconnected to an 18"R outer oval via 4 switches aimed at each other. Inside the 15"R oval is a 4 spur mini yard, AND A 2 SPUR engine storage/servicing facility. I also have a "track to nowhere" side on the other side of the station near the 4 spur yard that simulates another siding That is not connected in any way, but "disappears into the horizon". {I mentioned that to you already}. I have a mountain top on the back right corner on top of which I have a water wheel saw mill and lumber storage shed with another piece of short 9" track "disappearing" into the horizon. I have a "mini town" in the center betwixt the station. 4 spur yard and engine facility.Its just a few buildings and houses. In order to avoid the "flat pancake look" I used Woodland Scenics {WS} risers and inclines on top of which I used WS black foam roadbed with latex caulk to tie down the track. It makes the terrain "undulate" instead of flat as a pancake. Remembering that ROUGHLY, HO is twice the size of N, that means an comparabel N scale would be about 24" x about 31". That is a lot of action in a small space!!! I am NOT saying that in 24x31 inches in N you could get all i got in, mind you. Just saying a LOT of action can be paced into a "circle only" or "two circle only" layout! So give 'er a go and have fun! EDIT: here is a link to a whole website of SMALL MICRO layouts!!!: Hunt an' poke around, LOTS of stuff with pics there!!!: http://www.carendt.com/index.html
I for one would love to see a track plan or some pics of this layout .
Burlington Northern #24 11" N scale radii curves, it was never a problem. Can I not want something simple to practice my scenery skills on? There will be plenty of time for me to use massive radii, etc. on my next layout, but at the rate that the spot for is getting taken care of it may never happen.
No Galaxy, it wasn't you it was the other fellow who mixed up the scale that the layout and myself are in.
Burlington Northern #24 No Galaxy, it wasn't you it was the other fellow who mixed up the scale that the layout and myself are in.
galaxy Burlington Northern #24 No Galaxy, it wasn't you it was the other fellow who mixed up the scale that the layout and myself are in. Oh, {slaps forehead} I see now I reread agian, I see I got confused. In my older age is easy to do! I still wish you luck and you have actually invigortated me to dosomething small N cale, even a "shoebox" or "attache case" layout mini. Have a great night.
Hi gary
I thought about the attache three ways:
one} I could do N scale in a case, but I could not get a tight oval unless I used flex to create about a 5.5"R circle {for a two wheeler loco and cars IF I can find them}.
two} do a scene without a complete circle...like a town scene or an industrial scene {probably more the case for a RR siding{s}}. Maybe a saw mil, or a meat packing plant...dunno.
three} go to Z scale {oh the horrors!!!}
AN attache case is about 13x18x4" {epandable to 5" high}.
A Portfolio case for ARt, however is a 24x 36" proposition! so with some stiffener in it, I could do some real damage!!!
I think I threw out the GOOD shoe boxes to make vingettes in, BUT....OHHH OOOOOHH OOOH...there are plastic shoe boxes AND plastic UNDER BED boxes of good sizes!!!!!! OOOH OOOHHH...NOW I am excited, too!
som many possibilities.
I DO have n scale stuff already, so that not a problem.
i have to go investigate now...
later!
Have fun!
sound interesting, have fun!
This is not what you asked for, but... I splurged and went to 24 in by 36 in for an operating and scenic N layout.
looks awesome, I have a train of USAF traincars. I'd do an airbase but, I'm not sure how much the Airforce used rail.
My N scale micro layout:
Confessions of a mediocre model railroader
If you are looking for food for thought on micro layouts, try searching some of the UK based railway modeling sites - they are champions of building small, but intriguing layouts over there!
that looks amazing Ulrich! I'm going to have too try that sometime. Do you still have the layout?
I still have this layout. I have recently added two more modules to have a passing station, but I won´t be adding more modules (for the time being).
There are some pros & cons for this way of building a layout.
The pros are:
The cons are:
Sir Madog My N scale micro layout: Confessions of a mediocre model railroader If you are looking for food for thought on micro layouts, try searching some of the UK based railway modeling sites - they are champions of building small, but intriguing layouts over there!
Geez, Ulrich, if thats mediocre, I'm doomed!
hmmmm, well I wouldn't mind using Kato's track, the small design would be great for a short line local operation with a through freight. I agree Mr. Smith, I'm not entirely sure what mine is if Sir Madog's is "mediocre." I thinks it's amazing, far better than what I can do.
vsmith Sir Madog My N scale micro layout: Confessions of a mediocre model railroader If you are looking for food for thought on micro layouts, try searching some of the UK based railway modeling sites - they are champions of building small, but intriguing layouts over there! Geez, Ulrich, if thats mediocre, I'm doomed!
Actually, it is much easier to create a nice looking scene on such a small module, that to scenic a complete layout. If you have a good eye for scenes and scenery, you won´t have any problem at all. The nice part is, that you don´t lose a big investment, should you be unhappy with your achievement. The only difficult and cumbersome task is to ballast the track.
I am a mediocre model railroader - I can´t solder, I hate wiring, I am lacking the dose of patience and persistence you need building a "big" layout, I change directions while building a layout, I am not firm in using power tools other than a drill, and I have no money to speak of for my hobby. If that´s not mediocre, than I have to recheck my dictionary
Update:
I think I have a made a decision after some research.
I can get all i need to get started in Z scale for about $200, so I will save save save and get what I need.
That would include: track oval, power, loco, 3 or so RR cars, to start with. They will all be of the same livery HISTORY, though not all of the same era. Shame I cannot find all to be of same era. but...I like the B&C&O, CHessie, and CSX anyway.
The loco is a CSX for $89.
Then, I will explore the attache case or underbed storage unit as a base for the Z scale!
Underbed gives me more room as I go.
Now i just need some money!!! {soon}
I'd have some Z scale but I feel I'd spend more money than I already shouldn't, speaking of spending I purchased a railpower 1300 for my little 2' x 2' while I wait for the area where I'm going to build to get fixed.
Ok so the track has been glued down in 4 places, anyone got any suggestions for a good railroad crossing/ road material? I'd use WS smooth it but that stuff caused me more trouble than it should've.