That is awesome! You are da man!
It looks so different on "paper". Wow.
Here's the first draft of the track plan. Not great, but not too horribly bad. A little fuzzy because I had to compress the .JPG file to fit.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
If you give me all the dimensions (including fascia curve radius), I can make a 3d model using sketchup. I did it for my layout and it works splendidly. The basic version is free too. Here is a screenshot:
I haven't "laid" too much track yet, and my layout in real life isn't much further in progress, so thats why it looks so primitive and plain.
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
restorator The overall length with staging would be an additional 130 inches added to the 170 on that axis ( perpendicular to the stairs) for 300 inches total
The overall length with staging would be an additional 130 inches added to the 170 on that axis ( perpendicular to the stairs) for 300 inches total
I revised the sketch in the previous post to reflect these comments and additional info. No sense clogging up the thread with a lot of preliminary stuff. Plenty of time to clog things up later.
The 164 is the horizontal in your image (parallel with the stairs). The 170x164 is the main layout room ONLY and does not include the stairs nor staging areas at all. All shelves around the walls in the main room are exactly 2ft wide not including the center penninsula section
Basic stuff.
The first thing I need to know . . . If the room is 170"x164", which dimension is which.
The grid shown is 12"x12". The lower left corner is (0,0).
EDIT: Revised sketch.
in the meantime I can tell you all the mainline curves (and mostly all of them on the layout) are 24 inch min radius except the big center one which is approx 26 radius
restorator Here is a link to a google photos album on the layout with measurements.main room overall 170" x 164" almost 14'x14' https://photos.app.goo.gl/fPVssp9TdCVsKNeB8
Here is a link to a google photos album on the layout with measurements.main room overall 170" x 164" almost 14'x14'
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fPVssp9TdCVsKNeB8
Okay. Those photos are good, and there are a lot of them.
Later on, we might need some more and some that look kinda like this:
No need to worry about this right now. Let me noodle around a while and see how the rough layout goes. One thing we will need are some specific dimensions of the stairs.
joe323 u You know someone is going to try that now
u
You know someone is going to try that now
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Lone Wolf and Santa Fe restorator Pruitt It looks great to me, restorator! Is that an Alexa sitting on the table? Can you say "Alexa, run my GG1" and have it start the train? Ha, not yet, but I can tell her to turn the lights on and off and play music while I am working. But that does give me an idea, I could put an Alexa controlled outlet or even a few, for the command station and other powered items that I could tell her to shutdown, which could work both in an emergency, and for the night. "Alexa!, Shut down the layout, we got a runaway!" Just don't ask Alexa to play, "Global Thermonuclear War"
restorator Pruitt It looks great to me, restorator! Is that an Alexa sitting on the table? Can you say "Alexa, run my GG1" and have it start the train? Ha, not yet, but I can tell her to turn the lights on and off and play music while I am working. But that does give me an idea, I could put an Alexa controlled outlet or even a few, for the command station and other powered items that I could tell her to shutdown, which could work both in an emergency, and for the night. "Alexa!, Shut down the layout, we got a runaway!"
Pruitt It looks great to me, restorator! Is that an Alexa sitting on the table? Can you say "Alexa, run my GG1" and have it start the train?
It looks great to me, restorator!
Is that an Alexa sitting on the table? Can you say "Alexa, run my GG1" and have it start the train?
Just don't ask Alexa to play, "Global Thermonuclear War"
Joe Staten Island West
restorator I have wanted a copy of my track plan and have asked others and even offered payment, but no bites, only references to several different software choices to use.
Okay, we'll give it a shot.
I've seen the video. Do you have still photos? The plan is to work out a rough draft of the overall layout using a bunch of photos pieced together and arranged in a kind of mosaic. Overhead viewpoint shots. The higher, the wider, the better. And some general dimensions. Rough dimensions for now; more, tighter dims later as things start to gel.
ROBERT PETRICKSadly I cannot seem to successfully work with track planning software, hence the reason I posted the video. Hey Rest- Do you want a track plan? Personally, I can see a lot of reasons for a plan even if the layout is completely 100% built, and as we all know, no layout is ever 100% built. Maybe a large illustrated plan to tape to the wall, or just something on letter-size paper to figure out wiring schemes or something. I'm asking if you really really want a plan because there are people on this forum who can easily prepare one for you. I know of at least one who enjoys doing forensic sort of work who could even work out a workable plan from the video. So, if you can take some photos and maybe include a few rough measurements (or even manage to stick a yardstick or tape measure into the scene for reference), a rough layout plan might show up all by itself. Who knows? Robert
Hey Rest-
Do you want a track plan? Personally, I can see a lot of reasons for a plan even if the layout is completely 100% built, and as we all know, no layout is ever 100% built. Maybe a large illustrated plan to tape to the wall, or just something on letter-size paper to figure out wiring schemes or something.
I'm asking if you really really want a plan because there are people on this forum who can easily prepare one for you. I know of at least one who enjoys doing forensic sort of work who could even work out a workable plan from the video.
So, if you can take some photos and maybe include a few rough measurements (or even manage to stick a yardstick or tape measure into the scene for reference), a rough layout plan might show up all by itself. Who knows?
YES! I have wanted a copy of my track plan and have asked others and even offered payment, but no bites, only references to several different software choices to use.
Doughless ... If you must have a critique, the only possible issue I noticed is that a lot of the spurs have a lot of cars on them. I don't know if you have a switch list or operating plan, but sometimes a lot of cars on spurs hinders the ability to switch out industries. It sometimes is a benfit to keep some nearby tracks empty as to give the crew places to spot cars out of the way while switching industries. ...
...
If you must have a critique, the only possible issue I noticed is that a lot of the spurs have a lot of cars on them. I don't know if you have a switch list or operating plan, but sometimes a lot of cars on spurs hinders the ability to switch out industries. It sometimes is a benfit to keep some nearby tracks empty as to give the crew places to spot cars out of the way while switching industries.
I am using JMRI operations and it gives pretty good car movement. Sometimes its easy and sometimes a bit more of a puzzle. Sometimes things are full, sometimes empty, and sometimes in between. It makes it so you dont really know whether the work for the day is going to be a challange or easy until you get your switchlist. I like it.
restoratorSadly I cannot seem to successfully work with track planning software, hence the reason I posted the video.
restoratorThis layout is the result of no serious planning and several changes during development. It is pretty fun and reasonably straightforward to work
That is the correct way. If it works the way you want; you done good.
What is left to plan?
Things look good, even better than just good.
Work on buildings and operate, either alone or with a crew, depending on your desires. If after a year or so you start thinking "I wish that track was longer" then add some length.
Then do detailed scenery.
Then start publishing how to clinics.
Dave
Finally a layout I can see! I like what you did with the variety of industries. The lack of roofs on buildings is to make adding lights later easier?
I saw at the 1:00 mark on the video stub tracks that might be too close to the curved track. It was difficult to determine the distance between them. Perhaps they are farther in real life.
I've had great success with the SCARM free-ware. It hs libraries from various track companies (e.g, Walthers, Atlas, etc). You also can add elevation, bridges, etc. The learning curve is not too steep either. Youtube has tutorials on it.
Thanks for sharing! I can't wait for further updates. Good luck and have fun.
You may want to consider getting an 11x17 pad of graph paper, a scale rule and a decent compass and draw track plans on paper old school like this:
First measure the boundaries of the room and the location of doors or other obstacles. Then draw them to scale on the pad as large as will fit. Then you have the basis to plan, design and draw a track plan.
I think it looks great. Obviously you are continuing to progress with scenery and details. Its hard to study the trackplan for possible inefficiencies by looking at the video, if that's what you're after.
Other than that possibility, I got nothing. Looks like fun.
- Douglas
What's to plan? You have a great looking layout! Go with it! By all means fine tune the track arrangements if you feel the need, but AFAIC you should be enjoying what you have already done.
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Looks good to me. I was looking for the dreaded S curves and could not see any. I am impressed that you have a fold down which is part of a reversing wye.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Looks good to me restorator. I especially like the warehouse district and the buildings in progress there. A lot of nice yards too. I don't think you'll ever get bored in your basement. I could only wish I had your kind of extra space available.
TF
I wouldn't worry about a track plan now, you have it down and running. A plan at this point isn't going to change anything. It isn't going to show you anything that you haven't worked out already.
I don't think you need to add any more track, unless you like the "busy" look, or as some might call "cluttered".
It looks good, work on scenery, and structures.
Mike..
My You Tube
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton