I have come up with a track plan for a 2x4 diorama... the upper track I might change to be a small yard or get rid of it all together...
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Here's a new and improved version...
I'm not sure how we can comment on a diorama. By it's very nature it is more of a freestanding work of art than a track plan. It's success very much depends on the quality of your work. Too bad I trashed the rest of the magazine from which I sent you that article. It had an article on building snow sheds.
Ken Patterson is a professional photographer for the MR industry. He builds both dioramas and removable modules for his layout that he uses for photography. I suggest you look him up on Youtube to see what he does.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
First rule of model railroading, never throw anything away!
Well I'll try to find it on ebay maybe... what issue of what magazine was it?
I would keep it simple, one, maybe two tracks at most. Or a track passing through plus a siding where you couold set an industry structure. There is a good article in the 2018 Model Railroad Planning where the author has built multiple structires on the same size base so they can be swapped out, so you cna make a completely different scene just by swapping that structure.
Or go even smaller. I have a diorama kit Woodland Scenics put out that makes a much smaller scene, little more than room for a single loco or car at a time. Some day I may even finish it. It has the track at a middle level, with scenery rising above the track and also going below it, complete with a culvert under the tracks. I took a lot of extra time to paint the entire frame of the thing, inside and out, flat black. Since they supply some mastonite pieces for the frame, it took several coats. Its to the point where I need to place the plaster cloth and form the basic landforms. I've had it at least 10 years now...
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Trouble is industries aren't my thing I prefer mountain scenery...
Perhaps, you can start with making a wood trestle that can go on your diarama, and maybe later on a larger layout. If you are interested, you should be able to locate articles on how to build a trestle for a model railroad. ... Kalmbach published a book on brdges and trestles several years ago that would help.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
MTH November I think, look in your business car thread.
I would cross the one track over the other either by trestle or portal.
Ok, mountain scene, two tracks, one above the other. Bottom one crosses a stream on one type of bridge, upper track crosses botht he lower one and the stream on a trestle.
If you plan on one day joining a modular club, there are some standards you need to conform to so your module can be plugged into the layout. I like the guys at our local club and have often thought it would be a fun club to join.
The tracks need to be a certain distance from the edge at the ends so they meet up with the other modules. This is is probably the most important thing to consider, along with standardized electrical connectors.
I think the "less is more" principle is something to keep in mind when thinking about a plan. If you do your module to completion, just start another one. Before you know it you will have an entire layout that didn't seem to cost much because the money trickled out at a slow rate.
There is some incredible talent in my local modular club. These are people that don't have the space or the funds for a layout of their own. Google "modular layouts" for ideas, the sky is the limit.
Here is my local clubs website. Standards may vary from club to club so if you have a local club, check it out. Looking at photo's gives ideas and inspiration.
http://mainlandmodularrail.com/#home
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BigDaddyI'm not sure how we can comment on a diorama. By it's very nature it is more of a freestanding work of art than a track plan.
I suggest mocking up a version (full size) using cardboard, the kind from boxes, which is easy to fasten using a hot glue gun, or staples.
Seeing it in real 3D might not only give you either new ideas or reassurance that you are on the right track, and photos of the mockup would likely give us more to comment on than a drawing does.
Dave Nelson
NWP SWPFirst rule of model railroading, never throw anything away!
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I always throw things away... it is the best way to prevent stagnation of the creativity.
Please build this diorama. It looks like it has a few interesting settings for photography, and you will certainly lear a lot.
Get to it!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Rrebel, Rrinker, could you guys just freehand the arrangements you suggested? Thanks
I'm not really too worried about module connectivity just not something I'm interested in...
Do you guys think having four tracks in a 2x4 too much?
Instead of trying to nail down the entire track plan, why don't you just build the 2 x 4' module? You'll have a platform to work upon and it will be easier to envision what you want to have with your diorama using the cardboard mockup idea suggested by Dave.
Do what you CAN do now (build the module) and figure things out as you go. While your diorama may change and evolve over time, your 2 x 4' module base is the constant.
Move forward...Do it!
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tstage, those track plans ARE the 2x4! I just drew it with marks at every 6 inches and the dots with lines are the foot markers...
Steven,
The point is that the 2 x 4' doesn't/shouldn't need to change with your track plan. You'll be building your diorama on top of your module, yes? It's a module so it doesn't have to be complicated. All you need to start is to build a wood frame then add a top, four legs, and leg supports.
Is that something you can do?
Luckily I was the dollar store and was able to get about a dozen cardboard boxes to build a mock up!
Just sat down to start the mock up, and realized I don't have any hot glue for the hot glue gun...
NWP SWPcardboard boxes to build a mock up!
I cannot think of a better idea!
Go get those glue sticks! A pack of 50 is less than $5.00 at Wal-Mart. Also make sure you have a utility knife, leather gloves, safety glasses, a yardstick, a sharpie, and kraft paper (or more boxes) to cover the floor. About $10.00 worth of craft paint will help a lot.
Here's two more plans I drew up...
This one is a bit manic and I'm not going to use it...
This is the most refined one and is the one I'm going to build...
I'm a module guy, so I have a lot of mental experience with the 2x4. The very first thing I'd point out is drop at least one track and probably two. Once you broaden those lines out to roadbed width, you're looking at almost 50 percent of your surface being roadbed. The vertical shifts you're going to have going from front to back are going to be so abrupt and sheer that you're going to have more a wedding cake look than I think you'lll want.
So ditch two tracks and leave only two instead? I'm going to be getting some flex track to help the mock up process, I got the base built but then realized I need some track to fiddle with to figure out the arrangements...
NWP SWPThis is the most refined one and is the one I'm going to build...
Great! Step away from all further comments and suggestions, so you stop "overthinking" and build.
We ALL await your progress. Just BUILD. It's YOURS, build!
Mike.
My You Tube
I got the base assembled by gluing two layers of cardboard together to make a 2'x4' drew a 3" graph on it an tried transferring the track plan to it... I'm going to have to get some flex track to get the arrangements right..
Great! Check out this video, all shot on a diorama. He (Jurg) has different dioramas he uses in his photography.
EDIT: Clicking on the bottom video doesn't always get more Jurg videos. Search for him on Youtube. He did 6 HO scale collection videos, and another called Let it snow. They are all just as good as the one you watched. Music, modeling and all.
His name is Jurg Ruedi.