MRP 2002

[Anonymous]

I agree with deschane 100%

[Anonymous]

I just completed reading this years issue of MRP and can't understand how anyone with a true interest in this hobby could pass on this magazine. There are fifteen layouts or layout design elements examined. Seeing the controversy started over David Barrows' minimally sceniced layout, made the issue worth the price for me. Then there's Darnaby, Barrows, Koester and other thoughtful/thought provoking ideas from all the contributors to consider. I feel this is some of the most condensed, hard core model railroading information available and yes, I will spend the money again, next year!

[Jetrock]

There are five 4x8 plans in MRP 2002: two are port layouts by Iain Rice (one Northcoast logging operation, one east-coast industrial port), one is an On30 narrow-gauge plan, one is an N scale terminal.

The fifth might be a winnder for you. The plan is fairly simple and I caon't find a name--I suppose you could call it the "Beeville & Austin" as those are the names of the towns. The article is based around the idea of starting with a traditional 4x8 layout but with the option of modifying the track plan to a 2x16 shelf layout or a 10x8 L-shaped layout.

The plan is basically a single-tracked loop with a divider down the middle of the layout, separating it into two 2x8 foot scenes. This is good for a prairie setting, as you can include lots of big, big sky and not have the other end of the loop within sight--it looks like a single track crossing the prairie. On one side is a stockyard, a team track and a scrap dealer with a runaround track, on the other size are a pair of interchanges and a small yard.

The other two plans are variants on this theme--on the shelf layout, the yard is a food processing plant, the yard lead becomes a fuel oil dealer, and the interchanges become a furniture factory and a printing plant.

The plan is definitely worth considering for your setting--you can fiddle with some of the industries to suit the kind of things you would like to model, but it would be very simple to build (it's all flat, no grades or river crossings) and would be well-suited to your Oklahoma prairie setting.

[Anonymous]

I heard there were some 4x8 palns in MRP 2002. Are any worth cheking out ? Are any adaptable to an Oklahoma prarie theme ? thanks !