questions on the MR virginian

[sjhenry]

Zach,

On a 4*8 the grade ends up at about 4%. I built the Virginian as a 4*8 as it was my first project and I wanted to learn and follow along with the Videos. Someone I believe built it as a 5*8 or 5*9. To be honest I would not built it as a 6*10. The Virginian is an interesting layout, but with the space you have I would look at the alternative that Byron posted. If I was starting again, I would take his layout.

Steve

[DSchmitt]

Thebat91

okay cool thank you for that information what is the easist to use track plaan software ive tried scarm didnt' get along too well with it and the old atlas program what other optiosn are avilble thanks

 

I like XTrakCAD

[Steven S]

SCARM is about as simple as it gets, especially since you're using sectional track.   Using flextrack can be a bit tricky, but sectional track just adds one piece onto the end of the previous piece. 

Did you watch any tutorials?  There are lots of them on Youtube.

 

Steve S

[Thebat91]

okay cool thank you for that information what is the easist to use track plaan software ive tried scarm didnt' get along too well with it and the old atlas program what other optiosn are avilble thanks

[DSchmitt]

Considering the track radius as the controlling factor

The track radii on the 4x8 Virginian are 22" main, 18" branch.    

The best fit Kato unitrack curves for your space would be 26-3/8 main, 21-5/8 branch.    They are both 1.2 times the radii of the Virginian plan.

The layout in Kato track would have a footprint of 4.8 foot x 9.6 foot.

Straight track could be added to more closely fit your available space.  Placeing the layout at a skew in yoy space (so the track is not parallel to the table edges) could ienhance the scenic posibilities.

Reaching the middle of the layout to work on track, scenery operating  and troubleshooting  might be a problem. 

As sugested previously a track planing program is worthwhile to check the fit, would let you explore other possibilities to modify the basic plan and explore other options.  

Note Cuyama's comment regarding space utilization.  The basic layout could be redesigned so access is from the middle with better access.  Doing this also has the potential of allowing the use of even larger radius curves.

Kato Unitrack   https://www.katousa.com/PDF/HO-Unitrack.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

[maxman]

Thebat91

Theird and final question is what is the grade up to the branch line for the layout

I looked at the plan in the MR Track Plan Database: http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2011/11/the-virginian

According to the information listed the maximum grade is 3%.  You would have to make some assumptions as to where the beginning and end of this grade is.  The entire branch is level at an elevation of 4 inches above the baseline.  The elevation is the same (4 inches) in the area of the company houses.  I would also assume that the passing siding in this area is also at 4 inches so that any uncoupled cars won't roll away.

So I'd say that the grade starts from this 4 inch elevation and ends either at the 3/4 inch elevation or at the 1/2 inch elevation to the left of the track scale.

If your layout footprint is going to be bigger than the plan, and if you start your grades at the same relative locations (track scale and company houses), then your grade will be less because the distance will be longer to get to the same 4 inch height.

[Thebat91]

thanks guys yeah ive saw that thread lots of good information and i have tried drawing it up with a track plan software i cannot seem to get the hang of the softwares and was hoping smone here coudl draw it up and give me a parts list as well thanks for all the help though and wow those are some pretty decent radius curves the reason i am building it on a 6x10 is for wider radius curves and a little bit longer track run i like modern deisel locomotives and they need 22'' radius and up to run reliably thansk again guys

[cuyama]

Note that a 6X10 layout, if built as a monolithic rectangle, will leave some of the center out of easy reach, even with aisles on both sides. Most folks find that they cannot reach more than 30" across a scenicked layout.

Even if you have only 2-foot aisles all around, a 6X10 rectangular layout requires a space 10'X14' overall. In that much area, there are many interesting HO alternatives besides a big rectangle.

Since you will be cutting wood (or foam) anyway, consider placing the people in the middle and the layout to the outside, as in this example HO layout (coincidentally based on the Virginian).

In your larger overall 10"X14' space, you could do something simlar with Unitrack.

Best of luck with your layout.

[wjstix]

As far as curve radius and what will work, you can figure it pretty easily. You need (in HO anyway) to allow about 2" on the outside of the track - you don't want the track right on the edge of the benchwork. On an oval track plan, that means you need to allow for 4" total.

If you know the width of the layout, convert it to inches and subtract 4", then divide in half. That's the largest radius curve you can use. So in your case 6 feet is 72". 72"-4"=68". 68" divided by 2 is 34" radius.

You can do it the other way too. If you want to use say Kato's 24" radius curved track, you'd need benchwork at least 52" wide. 24" x 2 = 48", plus 4" = 52".

IIRC The Virginian plan was a 4'x8' layout using 18" minimum radius curves. Since you're expanding it to 6' (72") you're increasing the width by 24". An 18" radius curve means a 36" diameter. Add 24" and you have 58". Divide by two, and you have 29" inches. So your layout should be able to use a 29" minimum radius - the nearest Kato radius would be their 28-3/4" radius pieces.

[MJCoppage]

Hi Thebat91,

There is an extensive discussion on the orgininal Virginian at:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/202934.aspx?page=1

While it will not address your specific questions, it has TONS of information on building the Virginian.

Mike Coppage

St Louis, MO

[Steven S]

Thebat91

my question what is the radius i can open this layout up to with this space alotment. My next question is i want to build this layout with katos ho scale unitrack first layout and want the ease of the sectonal track peices can this layout be built with the kato track avilble and could somone give me a parts list for the layout.

 

You can find all this out by drawing the layout in SCARM.  It has Kato Unitrack in its library so you can figure out which radius will work.  SCARM also will generate a parts list after you've finished drawing the layout.

http://www.scarm.info/index.php

There are tutorial videos on Youtube showing how to use it.

Steve S

[Thebat91]

Hey everyone first post here my name is Zach i am intrested in building a version of the MR project layout the virginian. I have a few questions about this layout that the magazine articles can't answer, I am gonna be building it with a larger footprint of six feet wide by ten feet long for larger radius curves, my question what is the radius i can open this layout up to with this space alotment. My next question is i want to build this layout with katos ho scale unitrack first layout and want the ease of the sectonal track peices can this layout be built with the kato track avilble and could somone give me a parts list for the layout. Theird and final question is what is the grade up to the branch line for the layout thanks guys for the help in advance.