Plan has not derailed, the track plan is still in the works I'm hoping to have it done this week.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Steven,
.
It has been two weeks since an update on your layout. I hope this project did not "derail", and there is progress to report.
Let us know.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 No more than 4 turnouts...
No more than 4 turnouts...
Also - thinking out loud again...
Limiting yourself to perfect 90* angles in the corners of the "pit" greatly reduces the available space for scenery due to the curve of the track. Radiusing the pit edges with a curved facia would gain you a few inches outside of the curves to help break up the impact on the scene.
This space reserved for SpaceMouse's future presidential candidacy advertisements
24" Radius may be "nice", but 22" for a small switching layout will be just fine. You're looking at slow speeds, smooth track, and operation. Not running a bulllet train....
Quick image - 6x8 area, 18" maximum depth on layout surface, and displayed 24" and 22" curves. It's totally doable if you don't visualize things as "straight lines", and understand that even in the real world, things are curved to follow property lines, roads, etc. Adjusting your scenery, structures, and plan to account for that will help you greatly.
Trouble is curvature, I tried a donut scheme with 24 radius curves, they ate about 2ft 8in of shelf leaving very little room for stuff, now if instead of a curve I put something that adds operational interest like a switchback, requiring trains to back or pull into the tail track and then change direction to round the corner then maybe...
Hello Steven,
I am sure I have sent this to you privately or in the thread that was deleted but have a read of this about growing a layout
http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=10671&forum_id=6&highlight=sunil#p203627
and read the section up to and beyond it as well to see where this went!
Seeing you have a space of 6 x 8 might I suggest
1 2x8 section where your main station will be. At one end at least, curve the track so that it meets up with a section 18" by 2' 6" which can be an extension making an L shape.
Then another 18"x8 section which will make the layout a U shape where you can create a staging yard! You will then have a 30" space as an in between aisle to work within.
Because these modules are small, they should be lighter weight particularly if you use foam for a base and easier to store. The framing and legs could also be lighter as well.
You could then complete a circuit by making another 18" x 30" block which could bridge it so you are enclosed.
If you would like a diagram, let me know and I have a method of making very lightweight but very strong framing using plywood strips and timber offcuts. My private email is xdford47@yahoo.com.au
The ball is in your court mate!
Regards from Australia
Trevor
Wood working experience?
Naah, don't need nona that!
Just kidding!
I have with my dad and brother (me doing a lot of the work because my dad has high blood pressure, and is a bit out of shape and my brother is a bit young to help much) built over 100 ft of privacy fence, built a 16x16 addition to a storage building, built a new roof for a 10x20 tool shed, I personally built a cabinet/pantry out of 1 inch pine, and me and my brother built a 2x6 work bench for my dad out of 2x4s and a plywood top...
So yeah I've got woodworking experience...
Job,
Yeah I got job...
I am doing some pressure washing in the next few weeks now that the weather is good, I should have enough money to buy a push mower (I realized people might be a bit frightened by the 60" zero turn we are getting for our own property) and I will have a bit extra for trains, then I will continue to grow my business getting bigger/better equipment and such, on the weekends I have also considered doing BBQ (I am very inclined when it comes to culinary creativity) sports events in the area, my dad has a degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management so he will be able to advise me well on that... how's that for entrepreneurship...
Now back to trains,
I saw the BLI Plymouth switchers which appear to be the perfect fit for my layout, I also looked at their USRA light pacifics, which might also be a good fit...
What is your plan for construction of bench work? Do you have any woodworking experience?
It's going to be a switching layout...
You do realize that with 2 feet of width you cannot make a loop in HO, right? Unless you are running trolleys or something. The N scale equivalent of HO 18" radius is the 9 3/4" radius, that JUST fits on a 2 foot width. HO trains on 9 3/4" radius - trolleys, 4 wheel switchers, MAYBE short cars with truck mounted couplers.
That's why the 'standard' starter layout in HO is 4x8 - you can have 2 loops on 4 foot width, one 18" radius and the other 22" radius, or both 18", one with more straight track in the middle of the curve than the other.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I thought You said You said You had no job and money.....did You find a rich uncle somewhere?
Good Luck, To You!
Frank
Ok, I realized I can utilize a bit more space in the middle, so I am going to see if I can add a 2x4 area in the middle essentially making a 4x4 area with additional 2x2 areas on each side, so all in all its a 4x8 with two 2x2 squares cut out of two corners.
This will give a bit more space to stretch out...
The track plan is about 50% done, it'll be finished next Tuesday, and that's with everything I want in the layout, I am buying the materials for the bench this weekend, parents and weather permitting...
It's going to be 100% portable so I can take it to train shows...
So yeah its already past my keyboard!
I'm rebuilding my 5th and last layout. I don't use a track plan and claim no knowledge of track plans.But from experence I don't think you'll get half of all that in a 2X8 be able to operate it.
But then it don't really matters. I predict that this project as your many others will not get past your key board.
I am going to put in provisions for doubling the length to 16 feet if that opportunity ever presents itself...
I think that's the best choice. Its good that you researched it, asked questions, and came to that conclusion yourself.
- Douglas
No donuts for me... I went to the club and Rod showed me a donut in CAD with 24 minimum radius... I decided for the space I have have 2x8 switching layout with a small mine, engine terminal, yard, and carfloat op... that's it! How's that sound?
The only way to get a 6x8 area to work in with a 6x8 allowed area, is the donut type layout. With 2' wide sides, that does leave only a 2x4 operating pit in the middle. But the sides don;t have to be 2' wide, they can be 18", which would make the center 'donut hole' 3x8. Sounds tight, especially the 2x4 hole, to many of us older people (and probbaly a lot heftier than you as well - I know I would not be comfortable in a 2x4 foot space. 3x8 I could manage). But you're a lot younger than most of us and can probably easily crawl under (the higher you built it, the easier it is to go under, but too high and you can't easily reach).
Take a look at the plan on Byron's page. But with the donut like that, you can easily have a main line that goes around twice before running back on to the same track, even if it's all one level.
On the subject of throwaway or not - John Allen built maybe 1 diorame before the first, small (and very tight radius) G&D. He then incorporated that layout in both of the ones that came after. So this sort of thing is always a possibility. But even John Allen had some regrets, at least on the final big G&D, the tight radius and steep grades were a bit too extreme even for him. The likelihood of building the perfect lifetime layout on your first attempt is rather astronmical. That doesn't mean you go in thinking all along it will totally end up in the dumpster. There will be things on the first one you get right, and things you don't. Some simple reworking can fix some of the things. You can keep building on that basic start and upgrade without trashing the whole thing. At some point you will move, or gain access to a larger space - maybe keep this one and add extensions, maybe you'll have a completely different concept in mind years from now and most of this won won't be usable. You never know.
I think only you can answer that. As said, nothing wrong with a 6x8, but I'd make the pit bigger than 2x4.
The switching layout would provide for a deeper scene. Even 28 inches would work.
So should I do a 6x8 with2x4 ops pit continous running with a yard or a 2x8 switching layout?
It's in an alcove so no worries far as passers-by...
NWP SWP I have exactly 6x8 no more, that's for aisles and the bench work... and I'm barely keeping that... Would a once (or twice) around with a yard/engine terminal and a logging camp and a mine work or still too much?
I have exactly 6x8 no more, that's for aisles and the bench work... and I'm barely keeping that...
Would a once (or twice) around with a yard/engine terminal and a logging camp and a mine work or still too much?
I was just wondering if people walk by the layout to get elsewhere around the house if you could stand in that space to operate a 6x8 layout.
If you're going to stand in the middle of the layout, which isnt a problem, I would make the shelves no more than 16 to 18 inches deep in order to increase the open space so you don't elbow the trains.
I'd shoot for one lap around. Put a hard scenic divider at 12 o'clock and put scenes at 11 o'clock and at 1 o'clock to maximize the distance traveled. Can't really have two distinct scenes in that space, but there might be an opportunity to make the two extremes look a bit different . Have a stream/bridge somewhere along the route to build some below track scenery and some hills for vertical above track scenery.
I think it would provide plenty of fun and great experience.
Trying to do too much becomes more work with a less satisfying product in the end because things get too cramped. IMO.
With your lack of experience...too much. Pick ONE of those three scenes on a single deck and keep the layout S-I-M-P-L-E. You have a lot of things to learn and too many scenes and "gotta haves" will only deter you from both starting and finishing your layout.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Are you proposing an operating pit of 2x4 feet? Hmmm.
Maybe try a single deck operated from outside the layout and use the open space for access and scenic break.
Or narrow the shelves to make the pit a bit more comfortable.
The first layout dose not have to be a throwout. You can do your experiments off layout diarama style and transfer what you learn to the layout but you just can't throw it together, it takes time for bullet proof trackwork and few compromises (I did cheat on occasion but in the end it did not save any time).
NWP, time to start listening and following the good advice above. Lets not get back into that old pattern of the past 8 months of ignoring all the advise etc. ad nauseum.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I'm with Kevin.......... make this first one super simple. It is the beginning of a long learning curve, and it will only give you frustration to complicate it - to bite off more than you can chew so to speak.
Forget about multiple levels, grades, double cross-overs, reverse loops, and other difficulty prone features. A double loop with two single cross-overs and a couple of sidings will give you a great introduction to the layout building process.
From it you will get a taste of all the steps in building most layouts - design, benchwork, track/roadbed, wiring, structure building and eventual operation. You will find that in some of these steps you excel, some you don't, some you love, some you dislike.
The thing is, don't over think it - just do it. And remember, even the great Transcontinental RR was started by the laying of that first tie..
Good building!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Check out Byron's web site. One of the plans in his gallery is one he did for someone who had a 6x8 donute That may give you some ideas. 4 times around 2 decks is not something that should be taken on as a first layout. Keep it simple, get to running trains, and add on or replace it with the next one.