In planning my new layout, I am looking for ideas on some different scenery sections. I am doing a two level layout with industrial switching etc. on the upper level and strictly scenery on the lower level.
Basically I have a large loop (16x12) and I am wanting to do 4 different scenes; possibly a "grand canyon" look on one wall, a tunnel scene on another, and a river/bridge scene on a third... what would be a good idea for the final side?
Has anyone done anything similar (or modeled any of the specific scenes listed above) and have some picture they could submit to help my creative juices?
Thanks!
How do you plan to get between levels? If that hasn't already been planned, then that gives some purpose to whatever you choose for the 4th wall.
If the scenery is to be rather low-lying terrain on both sections, then using the lower deck as the more scenic one makes sense. If in the mountains, it might be worth considering the upper deck as possibly having more vertical rise, thus more suited to rugged terrain.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
As for what goes up and what goes down, I'd decide based on which type of operation you like to do when standing vs sitting.
My lower level is at optimum viewing height when sitting. Upper level is best viewed when standing.
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Missouri Pacific BNSF In planning my new layout, I am looking for ideas on some different scenery sections. I am doing a two level layout with industrial switching etc. on the upper level and strictly scenery on the lower level. Basically I have a large loop (16x12) and I am wanting to do 4 different scenes; possibly a "grand canyon" look on one wall, a tunnel scene on another, and a river/bridge scene on a third... what would be a good idea for the final side? Has anyone done anything similar (or modeled any of the specific scenes listed above) and have some picture they could submit to help my creative juices? Thanks!
In your size, it's going to be very challenging to get two levels with scenery on both levels, but it is possible. If you want anything more than an 8 inch clearance over the bottom level, then you'll need a helix as far as I can tell. I've built a similar sized layout as you (mine is 10x18') no-lix layout - track laying in progress now - and I had to make a 2.9% grade up to get to the top level and the clearance is about 7.5 inches - enough for access but not really for scenes etc. unless they are very narrow.
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I failed to mention that access to the second level will be done via a helix residing "outside of the loop.
You could do all farmland on one side, two or three farms, houses barns, silos livestock, etc.
Or you could do a town scene, small old houses next to the tracks, bigger newer ones farther back, a Downtown area, etc.
Dave
Missouri Pacific BNSF I failed to mention that access to the second level will be done via a helix residing "outside of the loop.
OK, now I can visualize things better now.The helix will give you lots more control over the deck separation distance, so that makes things more flexible if you want the ISL elements on the top deck. At this point consider things like your height and reach, ceiling height, and viewlines for the second deck. You'll likely be doing a lot of reaching in, spotting cars where they need to be, coupling and uncoupling, etc. So the top deck needs to be where it's comfortable for all that.
If the lower deack will be all scenery, then that stuff is much less important. There those factors are important to a certain degree during construction, but if you're just running through things they'll be much less of a factor than they will be with the other deck.
You didn't say whether you want a continuous run between the decks, where you may want separate up and down tracks through the helix or if a single track helix will suffice. That's another factor you may want to consider.
At this point, I think it's worth asking why you want strictly scenery on the level that's not the ISL part of things? I can see mostly scenery, but I think you need a reason to go to that other deck. Ideally, you would have at least one other community that has a few industries to ship to and receive from those on the ISL deck and to interchange/staging to the outside world. It will add to the apparent distance the layout travels and suggests reasons why the line was built in the first place. And it will enhance operations when a train arrives back on the ISL deck to "deliver the goods."