so, anyone else have any tips on my idea?
same person here.. but had to make a new account to link my sub to... smh!
Thanks for the reply.. this is not my first layout.. been in model railroading in some form or another for better then 20 years.. just been out of the game for a few years.. job, family, money.. you name is.. Im still just in the idea stage right now so thats why im asking for ideas..
This is something I would like to see. As Byron stated, a dors in N scale is a considerable space upgrade from the 4x8 version in HO. Resist the temptatioon t fill in the space with more track, and you would have a reasonable layout to run trains AND explore some nice scenery. The extra run length would make the mine branch up the hill be more of a branch instead of a long siding.
There is more than simply using larger (equivalent) radius curves and some extra straight track to expand the plan to fill a door. So DO do some research into track planning and draw it all out, if by hand than be sure to measure turnouts so you aren't cramming in some fantasy piece of track that doesn't exist and/or would never work. You could always buy a few pieces of track and trace it (or make copies and use those templates) right on the door until you get something that works.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
My first N scale layout was an HO scale trackplan on a door. It worked out beautifully.
Those cramped up HO scale track plans scale beutifully onto the slightly bigger (in scale) foot print, and look great.
I hope you stick around and keep us updated.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Welcome here!
Wow! Bravo on jumping in the deep end. Can I please ask you wait a bit on worrying about a layout until you do a ton of reading? There are shelves of books to grab that can help guide your efforts. Undertaining MR requires doing some background first, so please be prepared.
Keep us posted.
Early in the history of N scale, then MR editor Linn Westcott mused in an editorial whether N scalers would use its small size to merely build "the dinky little layouts we've always built" or exploit its size to really be more spacious and wide open. In other words, don't think of an HO layout or track plan and make it half sized for N - keep the size the same. In a sense the famous N scale Clinchfield layout that MR's Gordon Odegard built (and which I saw and marveled at at a train show) was a proof of concept for Westcott's idea. I think it remains with the Beer Line the finest project layout MR ever did, although I also liked the point to point Sierra Pintada of the 1960s.
Since then many modelers have suggested or have actually built, N scale layouts on more or less exactly the same size footprint of the HO scale track plan they are following, with impressive results.
In this case the Virginian (which I also saw and admired at a train show) would be perhaps even longer than the original and nearly but not quite as wide. Some very nice scenic effects would result, and even more realistic operations.
Perhaps I am getting confused between MR project layouts but didn't MR publish an expansion of the Virginian at some point?
Dave Nelson
Welcome to the forum. Your first several posts are moderated, so it may take a while for them to appear (especially over a weekend). But stick with it and that passes quickly.
The “sacred sheet” HO 4X8 is the equivalent of about 26”X52” in N scale, so you could make a number of improvements to the Virginian (or any HO 4X8) by building it in N scale on a 36”X80” hollow-core door (HCD).
Reworking the layout in this way would allow you to increase the relative minimum radius, reduce the grades, and open up more opportunities for scenery. Optimizing the HCD would mean a new layout design rather than simply scaling the HO 4X8, but would be well worth it.
Good luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I have a idea for a layout and I would like some fed back on it or more ideas..
I am thinking about taking the plan for the MMR Virginian layout from a few years back, and scaling it down to N scale and fitting it for a 36 X 80 hollow core door.
Anyone done anything like this or would give me some feed back..
thanks!