HI there,
Just in case you may be thinking that an Ntrak layout may not look good/realistic/OK/all of the previous, check out https://www.tracksidemodelrailroading.com/current-free-edition-preview/ with an N trak layout based on the Columbia River Gorge.
Hope your hunting for ideas is going well!
Cheers from Oz
Trevor
Recently linked thread about FreemoN.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/212393.aspx?page=1
I would start off by checking around and seeing what modular clubs exist in your area. The benefit of an established club is that you will have access to whatever shows they have access to. N-track or T-track sounds like a good idea for your situation.
If you go with a standalone, I would go to shows and inquire of the show coordinator if they have a space for your planned layout. They may or may not have room or may have a waiting list to get in the show. Some have both vendor and display waiting lists.
As far as transport, think three dimensional. You could devise a method of stacking small modules to maximize the amount you can transport.
Hi there,
Noting that you are in N scale, there is a system gaining popularity here in Australia called T-trak http://t-trak.nscale.org.au/ which I have seen in a Freemo type format with variations for small yards etc and there appears to be a North American site http://www.t-trak.org/modules.html.
The beauty of the system is that once you have your 4 corner modules, you can make two modules as pairs and it lends itself to displays where people want to see trains running and storage is easy in being a foot wide. If trains are running, you can engage with the people watching or with your yards you can switch in the "quiet times" ... good luck with that one!
Cheers from Australia
__________________________________________________________________
Mike Kieran
Port Able Railway
I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.
My original plan for my 4'x6' HO layout was similar to your plans of showing it to the public, not only at train shows, but at local craft shows, etc. Give the kids something to look at while mom was shopping. Hopefully a few woould catch the bug and ask for a train for Christmas or their birthday.
With the demise of the van it would have fit in, I changed ideas and was thinking N on a hollow core door. You could cut a door in half, install some alignment pins and clamp the two sections together. Since your space is longer than half a door, you could use two doors, cut each about 5' long, put them together. The short pieces could even be used as staging or additional layout if desired.
Some years ago, I think it was in RMC, there was an article on building a storage rack for the back of a station wagon. Very simple a frame to fit over your wheelwells to keep things from sliding forward, with guides on each side to slide the layout pieces in on, the layout would provide the pressure to hold the sides in place while in transport. Depending on your terrain and the vehicle you are putting it in, you could have several modules in the stack as well as some storage underneath if needed. If you change vehicles all you need to do is reconfigure the sides and the overall width.
It was such a simple design that I didn't even write down the issue it was in, which I often did back then. Sorry.
Because of serious work space shortage, my plan is somewhat stalled, but the door still stands ready to get chopped and decorated to do its thing.
Good luck,
Richard
I had a lot of fun with my 3 by 7 N scale layout that could be transported to shows.
.
It was pre-N Trak, and I liked it better that way. I could set it up and run it myself. For me, this is better than watching other people's trains run in circles through my scene.
You might consider a stand-alone layout like mine was.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Byron Henderson designed 2 transportable layouts in N Scale.
One is the Alameda Belt Line http://www.layoutvision.com/gallery/id32.html which was built by M.C. Fujiwara http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?24836-Alameda-Belt-in-a-Box-1-x6-Switching-Layout.
Another is Byron's Brewery layout http://www.layoutvision.com/gallery/id27.html.
One N scale modular group is Ntrak. Here's their "pamphlet" on standards:
http://ntrak.org/documents/Manual.pdf
I think there's also a Free-mo group in N (the "regular" one is HO).
Ed
It is in n scale as I have already invested a lot of money into it.
Hi Jason
You did not mention the scale you are considdering - HO or N??
I agree with Ed. The next show, check out the groups that have portable layouts set up and ask what standard design they are using. There are modular standards for both N and HO. Check into joining a group. The benefit is the contacts and available help from members. It gives you the opertunity to run a large layout without building one.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Jason.
One word: Free-mo
Another word: http://free-mo.org
Ignore all the "topics", and check out the button "what is free-mo".
I guess I would start out with some of the project layouts that the MR staff has built, as they are built to be transportable, in the back of a van.
Maybe not all of their layouts are done this way, but many of them are.
Mike.
My You Tube
Just last week my wife had suggested that until we get my train room custom made that I should focus on maybe starting something portable to bring to train shows (Which solves not working on a CP Rail part and relieves a lot of planning).Being where I live the closest train shows are 2-3 hours away and some highways are well questionable. The truck space I’m working with is 4’3” x 5’3” so I can transport it. I would also like to attempt to promote the hobby in my area as well.
I am looking not for track planning ideas as I enjoy that part but rather construction ideas. Do I go modular or a solid design? How do I connect them? What materials are best for Bench work? Do I go metal or wood for connector plates? There are so many options on the web and I’m looking for opinions on which would be best And the most durable for transport
Thanks