WHERE ON THE WEB CAN I FIND TRACK PLANS FOR A 4X4 LAYOUT, HELP!

[Anonymous]

I RECENTLY ONCE AGAIN TORE UP MY 4X8 LAYOUT DUE TO A NEW ARRIVAL DUE IN MAY. SO I DECIDED TO MAKE A 4X4 OUT OF IT INSTEAD, BUT WHERE CAN I GET TRACK PLANS & IDEAS FOR THIS SPACE BESIDES ATLAS BOOKS? PLS HELP, I RUN ATLAS AND KATO ENGINES, ON ATLAS CODE 80, THANKS JS 4 USC
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[Anonymous]

What scale?

[CNJ831]

Assuming that you are modeling in HO, you are not going to be able to do much more than a simple double loop of track with 19" and 22" radii in that 4x4 space. Unless you cut the radius down to around 16"-17" it's unlike even one useful turnout could be realistically added. There are sites on the web that purport to have trackplans for such small areas but these are typically rather absurd, largely unworkable designs.

If you are not absolutely a round-and-round-the-loop kinda modeler, have you considered a narrow point-to-point shelf layout spanning one or two walls of a room? This would offer a lot more opportunity for interesting operation, much longer runs, wide scenicking possibilities, and overall actually save room space if the shelf were say 12" wide.

CNJ831

[Jetrock]

Indeed, a 2x8 shelf layout would provide a lot more operating interest and scenery possibilities than a 4x4, in the same surface area and dominating less of the room. It's just a matter of getting over that need to watch trains run around in a circle...

[Anonymous]

You will need to join this group to get help (free) but this is the best place on the net for quality feedback on a small layout; its at Yahoo! Groups:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/small-layout-design/

[GerFust]

Jess:

If you absolutely need to do it in 4x4 for HO, try running the main line diagonally, then branching off in sidings. You end up with a switching layout. You can make a "cassette" then or fold-down "fiddle yard" to bring in trains from the rest of the world. When not in use, that part of the layout goes away.

Or, maybe it is time to switch to N or Z scale. For a small space, it won't be that big of an investment to switch.

-Jer

I agree, though, that a shelf is much more useful for doing something fun in HO.

[MACKINACMAC]

I too have another little one coming and I need to scale down my layout until we can afford to move into a bigger house. After finding a scrap piece of plywood thats only 32" x 38" I decide that this would be the size of my new layout and switched to N scale. Go to the website: www.carendt.com
Micro layouts for model railroading

Very interesting ideas!

Good luck!

[vsmith]

At 4x4 a continous loop over and under with swiching in the center is also possible. if you can live with smaller engine and smaller cars you could build it up as a branch shortline or industrial line using 15"R curves or better yet, toss the snap-track and use flex-track, then you can get as creative as you want with the layout.