After years of collecting N scale equipment, I now want to build a small layout. The table has been built, 28" x 66" x 43" high, on casters with a 1.5" foam layer attached to the 3/4" plywood top. Door width dictated the width as I needed it to be rolled from room to room.
I have contacted four layout design firms, but their fees rangle from $1000 to $1500.
Aside from CAD programs, does anyone have any suggestions on coming up with a simple, but realistic plan?
Thanks!
Do you ahev any idea of what you want? Continuous run? Switching?
With a 28" width, you're limites to about 12" radius curves if you want a continuous run. That's not huge, even for N scale. But it will certainly run plenty of variety of equipment. 66" long, with 12" radius curves, leaves you with little more than 3 feet worth of straight in a basic oval. The distance isn;t quite long enough to get enough clearance to have 2 loops stacked over one another at one end and maintain no more than a 2% grade AND keep one leg flat for sidings.
Take a look at the Atlas N scale books. Some of them, at least in the later plans, have ones that utilize 11" radius for most if not all the curves. Perhaps one of those will prove interesting. Or check out the track plan database for N scale plans of approximately your dimensions.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
What Randy said.
Until you/we know what you want in terms of how you foresee your railroad running, it's hard to make suggestions. There are a lot of good track plans out there that can be modified to the size layout you have.
2'x4' is a standard size layout so there are a lot of plans for that size. You can also look at 4'x8' HO plans then cut the dimentions in half. Once you find something you like, you can expand it to fit your table.
That's the point where the software comes in.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
You might consider modifying the table so it could be connected to another table in the future. It may not require any modification at all as most of us overbuild our benchwork.
This book gives you some knowledge of track planning and realistic operation. It is a classic.
https://www.amazon.com/Track-Planning-Realistic-Operation-Railroader/dp/0890242275
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Randy,
Thanks so much for your input and suggestions. I do want the ability of continuous running and also some switching, but certainly do not want a bowl of spaghetti!
Will look into the Atlas books.
Thanks again,
Bayne
Chip,
Thanks so much for your suggestions, will look at HO plans and "downsize."
Henry,
Thank you.
I read of this what I could. No one answered the question. Other than pen/pencil and paper, good measuring tools/including a compass, etc. This gentleman asked about "other than CAD". I have that same problem. All the software available has too steep a learniing curve for me. As for using a plan from a book, or the MR data base of track plans, they are all "helpful". But as an individual, you alone are going to make that final decision. I will also add. If you have the space, and get some paper large enough to "plan" the entire layout (a 8.5"x11" is hard to get a 25' layout on. A 4'x8' layout can be laid out on the page). The ultimate would be a paper full size. Then, you could draw exact and make sure you are allowing enough room for the turnouts, etc. I hope this helps - some. And all IMHO.
You are best off to look thru lots of designs in that size range that you are seeking. There are hundreds on various forums, google images etc.
Pick out one that appeals to you and make some mods to it that you think you might like (just pencil sketch them in).
Then get out a relatively small piece of drawing paper where you can draw out to scale (1" to the foot) your plan. There are scale turnout patterns on the internet that will then let you know if you can make some of those sharp turnouts you sketched. You are on your way to planning. Nobody is going to draw it up for you, but they might provide some helpful hints once you have something more definite in mind
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
PennsyNutThe ultimate would be a paper full size. Then, you could draw exact and make sure you are allowing enough room for the turnouts, etc.
And since the OP says his table is 28"x66", that can be done. You can get shelf paper, or plan brown wrapping paper in rolls, cover the table, tape it down, and draw away!
If you don't like it, tear it up and do it again.
Templates for track appliances like turnouts, etc., are easy enough to find, or even make yourself.
Mike.
My You Tube
Yes Mike. I missed the size. The butcher paper works, especially if you can get white. As for drawing, I'd use a very soft pencil and good eraser for that and not have to tear up each error. The eraser I refer to is like a pencil itself, with a string down the side that you pull to unwrap the paper around the eraser itself which is a rubber like that don't have much residue. I don't have any with a name on, but I think it was from an office supply store. I mention it because I remember gum erasers that left a ton of residue and a lot of mess. And the regular pencil eraser is too hard, dries out and don't erase clean.
Randy made the correct point. The curve radius that's needed to fit on a premade table will dictate the plan. You can't have a climbing crossover plan unless you push the comfort level of grades, so you're left with a variation of an oval, IMO.
You can use graph paper and a compass to plan, or you can choose from one of the myriad of oval plans from trackplanning books or internet, then alter it as it suits your tastes.
Byron Henderson has created several excellent HO scale plans for a 4x8 table that I would think could be inspiration for an N scale door layout.
https://www.google.com/search?q=byron+henderson+4x8&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=QQwVC4TBssNjBM%253A%252C6zvS0yW2w9vehM%252C_&usg=__dIKCtbW68aYE8Tc2hjnTM71Vkms%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj30JLI2IzZAhXupVkKHZVhA04Q9QEIMDAB#imgrc=_
IMO, a table type of layout works best when there is a scenic divider down the center of the plan. Whether its a backdrop, mountain ridge, or city buildings; the bifurcation of the layout into two main scenes seems to work best.
- Douglas
At 28x66, I'd draw the layout in pencil full size on the benchwork. Art gum and pink pearl erasers erase smooth wood just as easily and as cleanly as paper. Assuming the surface is smooth like a hollow core door or a sheet of plywood. Even if I did produce a scaled drawing, I'd still lay it out 1:1 (that is to say 1:160) on the benchwork using antique drafting tools.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
I just checked out the track plans in the "track plan database". This one looks like it might work, as an example. It's 30" wide, but looks like it could be "trimmed" a couple of inches:
http://mrr.trains.com/-/media/import/files/pdf/5/c/8/mrr-g0305_a.pdf
I've never worked with N scale.
Kato makes sectional track curves down to 9-3/4" radius. They claim their engines and rolling stock can operate on those curves. I have shoeboxes full of UniTrack, including those small curves, and have never had a problem, so I believe their claim.
The question isn't whether it can be done, or whether the OP should be using 4x8 plywood or something. The OP is looking for track plans. Kato has quite a few listed on their website that would fit the existing 28x66 table. OP doesn't have to use Kato of course.
I used the free trial from Anyrail for my HO plan. Lets you set up a grid for the size of your layout. Then you can choose from a number of track librairies to start building a plan. You get 50 pieces of track to use, then it says please buy the program to receive full access.
What I would do is save the 50 pieces I had laid down, if I liked it, to my computer, gave the file a name, and kept adding to it and so forth. Ended up with 30 files of different ideas. Planned my whole 10x23 layout using this method, all for free. The nice thing is there is no guess work whether a 30" radius curve, or a number 6 turnout etc. will fit in the space you have or not, because the program shows you.
The big drawback is you don't see your whole layout at one time. But with a little imagination it can work for you!
Canadian Big BoyPlanned my whole 10x23 layout using this method, all for free. ... Ended up with 30 files of different ideas.
Or, crazy idea, if one likes and uses a program, one could pay the developers who did all the work to create and support it.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
cuyamaOr, crazy idea, if one likes and uses a program, one could pay the developers who did all the work to create and support it.
Touche!
cuyama It's amazing that people who would never think of robbing a bank, have no problem stealing other people's work. This is a fine program and the developers deserve to be paid for it. Kudos to cuyama for suggesting they do the right thing. Don Canadian Big Boy Planned my whole 10x23 layout using this method, all for free. ... Ended up with 30 files of different ideas. Or, crazy idea, if one likes and uses a program, one could pay the developers who did all the work to create and support it. Byron
It's amazing that people who would never think of robbing a bank, have no problem stealing other people's work.
This is a fine program and the developers deserve to be paid for it.
Kudos to cuyama for suggesting they do the right thing.
Don
Canadian Big Boy Planned my whole 10x23 layout using this method, all for free. ... Ended up with 30 files of different ideas.
Besides the paid for model railroad CAD programs, there's at least two that are fully functional and free and/or open source. No need to make up workarounds to avoid paying for something.
I'm not stealing anything. Anyrail gives you a free trial. What part of the word free don't you understand.
If you used it to design a layout of more than 50 pieces....
You owe them the money.