Hi All,
I have been in love with the Virginian 4x8 layout since I randomly picked up a copy of Model Railroader Magazine for the first time in 2012. Life, being what it is, has prevented me from building it. The modeling bug has bit again, but for space reasons I want to try to build it in N scale.
I have been playing with the design in XTrkCAD, and the only way I can seem to make it work is to use a lot of (expensive) Peco ST-44 & 45 curved turnouts. Can any of you more experienced modellers help me figure out a better or more economical design? I also need help with the elevations. I want to keep them proprtional to the HO design.
Thank You.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v9x24q1wi6aj5p1/N%20Scale%20virginian.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jplqlldjaqzcy54/N%20scale%20MRR%20virginian.xtc?dl=0
In my opinion, some of those curved turnouts seem extraneous. The two dead-end tracks in the upper left don't need the two curved turnouts as a cross-over, as the one beyond that, and near the bottom right, allows you to select either of those two dead-end tracks.
Likewise for the cross-over near the bottom left.
As for the three paired sidings, I'd suggest putting sharper curves in the three tracks, just beyond where the switch motors are located, then straighten the dead-end sidings so that regular straight turnouts could be used.
Perhaps my imagination is somewhat restrictive, but I can't see that this trackplan will keep you entertained for long.
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
Thank you so much for the advice. I was trying to keep my plan as close to the original HO plan as I could. You're right, since I don't plan on adding the Turtle Creek Branch line, I don't need the upper left crossover. Then I could remove the curved turnout at the bottom right and add a standard turnout farther up the straight section. 3 curved turnouts gone and $ saved.
The curved crossover at the bottom left is one of the features of the original plan I want to keep so that's on me.
The switching yard (Rogers Yard on the HO plan) is definitly a problem. Even in HO they had to modify the snap switches to make the yard fit. I was trying to make sectional track and switches from XTrkCAD's libraries work. I didn't see any radii smaller than 9&3/4". What is the minimum radius N scale trains can operate, and how do I draw it?
I don't know why I like the Virginian plan so much. Maybe it was all of the excellent photos and media Kalmbach produced at the time that made it so enticing. I've only ever made simple looping layouts without any thought to prpototypical operation. The articles & videos just grabbed my attention and I wanted to one day build it.
Thanks, I'll keep working on it.
The second link doesn't work for me so I don't know if that's an improvement on the first or what.
I like the crossover at the bottom left.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy The second link doesn't work for me so I don't know if that's an improvement on the first or what.
The second link is the track plan file for XTrkCAD in case some adventurous person wanted to get deeper into the design.
Well, here are my current adjustments. I figure it saves me $130 over my original design. I still think it can be better. Am I wrong? I'm also hoping to get as much stuff used for cheap on ebay. Are all #4 turnouts created equal or do I need to stick to the Atlas ones I used in XTrkCAD?
Latest Pic:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/poyuwiy4osilxg6/N%20Scale%20virginian%20alt%201.jpg?dl=0
If you're new to layout building and/or to N-scale, might I suggest looking into using Kato Unitrack instead of 'traditional' flextrack and such?
N Featured Unitrack products (katousa.com)
Rather than try to scale down the HO trackplan exactly, it might be better to figure out the largest possible area you have, and adjust the HO trackplan to fit in there. The ideal of course would be to do the full 4x8 only in N, then those sharp curves would become broad curves so you could run anything you want. But even if you can make it a little bigger than an exact N-scale reproduction, you could use broader curves and more gentle turnouts - and have more room for structures and scenery.
wjstix If you're new to layout building and/or to N-scale, might I suggest looking into using Kato Unitrack instead of 'traditional' flextrack and such?
Hi Stix,
Thank you for the advise. I was worried that unitrack would be too expensive for my budget. Also, I have not yet found the curved turnouts I would need in untrack. I chose N scale to keep the layout small. My future is uncertain at the moment, and I wanted a small layout around 2x4' I could easily move if I have to. I just haven't found an N scale 2x4 track plan I like yet so I thought I would try to convert an HO that I already like.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Instead of building it as 2x4, build it as a 2 1/2 x 5. It's only a little bigger and will allow some leeway in terms of track brand selection and placement.
Paul
IRONROOSTER Instead of building it as 2x4, build it as a 2 1/2 x 5. It's only a little bigger and will allow some leeway in terms of track brand selection and placement. Paul
Sorry, my laptop died. I haven't seen your replies untill now.
The layout is already 2&1/2" x 4&1/2". I've thought about expanding it to 3x5 at the most. Any bigger than that I might as well build the original 4x8 in HO. I thought N scale would give me the best bang per square inch. I just want to build something because if I keep waiting to build the "dream" nothing will ever get built.
I would suggest not trying to build an exact duplicate of the Virginian layout in N scale, but rather build a layout 'inspired' by it. Don't worry about copying each section of track and each turnout exactly.
Keep in mind the HO Virginian used sharp 18" radius curves. Many products in HO today say "22" radius recommended" as a minimum. In N scale, the Virginian curves would be equivalent to 9-3/4" radius track. If you have a little more room, you could use broader curves, which will improve operation and appearance.
My suggestion would be get the largest area you can - if you can do 3x5, do that - and then get an oval of Kato Unitrack with the largest radius that will fit, and start running a train and get your feet wet. You can add to it little by little over time. You might even find you come up with an idea that is an improvement on the Virginian plan, or find something in another plan that would work on your layout.