Searching a Iain Rice plan...

[DSchmitt]

Artitec online store

https://www.artitecshop.com/en/

A dealer in the US

https://www.reynaulds.com/artitec.aspx

 

[Graham Line]

The link takes me to a display of high-end hardware.

[Marc_Magnus]

Hi everybody,

Nice to see this topic open in 2010 still offer some interests.

As a news about my module, because of some health troubles the project was a bit delated, but the project remind in my head.

As a good news the project is under way now and it will include a small rotary coal dumper in N scale.

I post a few weeks ago on this forum a topic about the rotary kit underway construction about "an old kit of 45 years ago"

I follow basicaly the "Loleta and Mad River" plan, but use 18" minimum radius, Fastrack #6 turnout and some #8 curved, I flip the track design in the other side; the arriving track with the bridge come from the left and the coal terminal will be on the edge simulating a quay on the river (My Maclauriver); the Port itself will be a small port with a small channel entry which is behind the coal terminal and the rotary, the village on the right; the port is  a small fishing port with all the fishing facilities, it will also include a small ferry; most of the buildings will be laser crafstman kit and scratchbuild one.

For info the Nscale ships come from www.artitec.com, Sylvan and an old Frog Shell welder kit which appears time to time on Ebay.

The track go through the village in a curve of 19" and go back to the left, in fact this is a spiral track like a loop fully sceniked.

As work go on I will share pictures; for now just the basic benchwork is done and I'm working on the rotary kit; I hope to finish it before the end 2018 to bring it to a famous Belgian train show.

 

 

[Graham Line]

The two track plans mentioned above are much more workable if you think in terms of four-wheel freight cars and 0-6-0 locomotives. HOn30 might work well. Some of the grades will still be seriously limiting factors. Before tackling one of them, I'd try to build a one inch-to-the-foot scale model out of card or foam board to see how they look.

[railandsail]

railandsail

I issued a challenge. Could a verion of this Cheseake Harbor Belt scene be shoehorned into a particular loop of track on my proposed new double-deck layout plan?

So here is the CHALLENGE.

How might I best place a small port scene in the loop on the bottom left? Can I fit something like that 'Chesapeake Harbor Belt' scene into that area?

posting #98,
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?40307-Help-Please-design-a-dbl-deck-layout-in-its-own-Hand-House-shed&p=456158#post456158

There would be a lower loop of track that is just making the 90 degree around the corner to continue on across the bridge at the shed's entrance.

Then there would be an elevated (4") making a loop around the scene and continuing back down the left side of the layout. That elevated track would cross a bridge,...like the swing bridge does at the entrance to 'Chesapeake Harbor Belt' scene. Perhaps this could be a Walthers drawbridge at the entrance to the small port?

This port scene might fill up the loop circle itself, and that funnel shaped area above the loop circle. I'm thinking it could have 2 feeder tracks from the mainline servicing both sides of the port, and these could be relatively steep grade(s) as it will only be switcher/yard type locos working here pulling 1-2 cars max at a time.

Give me some ideas please

[DSchmitt]

Loleta & Mad River1 

[railandsail]

Marc_Magnus

Hi,

A few years ago I receveid whith my MRP a little attached magazine whith some sketch of planning and also it include a plan of a small harbor layout by Iain Rice.

The small plan which was stenciled whith colors "a la Iain Rice" featured a thruss bridge crossing over the channel entry of a small port whith the line slowly going down to the small town port along the edge of the layout. A track on the edge serve a small coal facility.

The track turn back around the port bassin whith some industry.

I think it was published around 2005 but not sure; unfortunately I can found the small attached magazine.

This little layout could be the opportunity to build a module where the port and small town will be a connected branch line.

Could You help me to find a copy of it?

Thanks a lot.

Marc

 

Would what you are looking for be this "Chesapeake Harbor Belt" published in Model Railroad Planning in 2002?

[Marc_Magnus]

Hello, in fact I didn't have build the layout following Ian Rice pla, however, I have keep the long run whith the bridge over the entrance of the port.

My layout is build as a double deck railroad whith a upper line and a lower line, but they are build on the same layout as a simple deck.

The track is coming from my "Upper" track line and run to the "Lower" track line and come to a small town called Port Elisabeth; here come the inspiration of the Rice plan, whith the approach going over the entrance of the port, following the shore and interchange whith the lower line at the town of port Elisabeth.

 This line is called the Elisabeth branch and allow some train coming from the mountain to go to the lower point of the layout on the "lower" line.

I have use as the rule for my Nscale layout no curves under 17.5"

[Floyd]

I have tried to build this layout and I wholeheartedly agree! The visual of the bridge in the center is great, but you can't see the fishing village except from the end of the layout. The curve and grade combination is okay, but even with a system to easily move the layout away from the wall, it's horrible to work on. 

The engine house needed a completely custom handlaid curved turnout. 

I've recently dismantled it because of the access and sight line problems constantly bothered me. 

As several folks have pointed out, unfolding it into an L sounds like a very good idea. I may try that in the future. 

A great looking plan on paper, but good luck trying to build it! 

[Marc_Magnus]

Sperandeo

Hello Marc,

The most recent edition of Model Railroad Planning included a 16-page supplementary booklet that reprinted, among other things, Iain Rice's article, "Expandable track plans." This article include's Iain's plan for an HO layout called the Gulfport, Yarde & Industry, showing how the layout can start on a 12-foot shelf and expand to a size of 15 x 20 feet. This article originally appeared in the 2006 edition of MRP, pages 22-25.

I know you thought it was from a few years ago, but this is the only Iain Rice article we've ever re-published in an MRP supplement. I know that because I've worked on every one of them.

So long,

Andy 

Hi Mister Sperandeo,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I have now the plan in hand and after a nearly full day research I was able to find in my "archives" the small folder attached to MRP were the plans was featured.

Thanks a lot to everybody for Your help.

Marc

[markpierce]

fwright

River plan, while very pretty looking and right up my alley of preferences, would be horrible to actually build and operate as drawn.  OTOH if you took the various scenes and spread them linearly around the walls (a U would be a practical configuration), the themes, ideas, scenery, and operation would be much better served.  Even an L with the fishing harbor, turnback loop, and coal trestle on one leg and the main harbor on the other leg would be a much better configuration.

An excellent recommendation, Fred.  "Straightening" the layout  doesn't reduce operational opportunities (the schematic is still point-to-point and is not continuous) and greatly improves realism, access, buildability, and operational reliability.

Mark

[Sperandeo]

Hello Marc,

The most recent edition of Model Railroad Planning included a 16-page supplementary booklet that reprinted, among other things, Iain Rice's article, "Expandable track plans." This article include's Iain's plan for an HO layout called the Gulfport, Yarde & Industry, showing how the layout can start on a 12-foot shelf and expand to a size of 15 x 20 feet. This article originally appeared in the 2006 edition of MRP, pages 22-25.

I know you thought it was from a few years ago, but this is the only Iain Rice article we've ever re-published in an MRP supplement. I know that because I've worked on every one of them.

So long,

Andy 

[Marc_Magnus]

BobL609

Was it called the "Loleta & Mad River"?  The layout if 4' x 8' and basically wraps around an inner harbor.  The supplement, if this is the correct one, is entitled "8 Great Track Plans for small spaces" and features 8 plans by Ian Rice of various sizes.  If this is it I'm looking at it, I found it last week while searching for something else entirely in the attic.  Let me know who wants it and if I can figure out how to scan it I'll be more than happy to scan it for you and e mail it. 

Hi,

Thanks to send me the info's about this plan; it will be helpful to design a small module.

Marc

[fwright]

 Marc

You never said what your interest in this particular plan (Loleta and Mad River) is.  The full article was in the 2002 Model Railroad Planning - that was the issue that concentrated on 4x8 plans.  I'm a huge fan of Iain Rice plans - but ready to build they are generally not.  Using the Loleta & Mad River as an example:

• one tends to assume 18" radius unless otherwise specified on an HO 4x8 track plan.  That assumption would be wrong here.  The 210 degree turn around the fishing harbor is about 16.5" radius - on a 4% grade.  It's going to be pretty limiting as to locomotives and rolling stock that will work. 
  
• train length is also limited by the staging siding, which might be 3ft between clearance points of the turnout.  That gives you 4 40ft cars, small engine, and caboose.  Which is probably an appropriate train size to the rest of the layout - anything else would be overwhelming.
• the layout is designed to be placed into a corner with a backdrop on the back side and right end, according to Iain's sketches.  This creates real access issues for stuff in the back of the layout.  My view is that the layout - if built as designed - will need to either roll out of the corner, or need to have an access aisle behind it.  And the backdrop is going to have to be easily removed.
• if built up high near eye level - which would be great to view the harbor scenes - the coaling pier and incline up to the bridge block the view from the front of the fishing village.  IMHO, the fishing village would normally be the most attractive scene of the layout, but views of it are blocked, and it is 3.5 feet back from the front viewpoint.  Only the left end has a reasonable view of the fishing village.  If the layout is lowered to get a front view of the fishing village, the illusion of separate scenes is going to be destroyed as you helicopter over the layout. 
  
• The runaround track for the main harbor (and the entire layout) is on a curve.  I measure the inside track at less than 18" radius (16" in one direction and 18" in the other).  Coupling and uncoupling on this curve could be quite the challenge.  I would sure want to experiment with my coupling and uncoupling system in a more accessible area before expecting everything to work on this semi-accessible curved runaround track.
• The discrepancy in the radius measurements means the plan needs to be redrawn in software before committing to build.  As drawn, handlaid or significantly modified commercial turnouts are going to be needed to fit in the space shown.
• The plan is not continuous run.  This is not a flaw in my eyes, although most 4x8s do feature a continuous run.

To me, the Loleta & Mad River plan, while very pretty looking and right up my alley of preferences, would be horrible to actually build and operate as drawn.  OTOH if you took the various scenes and spread them linearly around the walls (a U would be a practical configuration), the themes, ideas, scenery, and operation would be much better served.  Even an L with the fishing harbor, turnback loop, and coal trestle on one leg and the main harbor on the other leg would be a much better configuration.

my thoughts, your choices

Fred W

[Marc_Magnus]

BobL609

Was it called the "Loleta & Mad River"?  The layout if 4' x 8' and basically wraps around an inner harbor.  The supplement, if this is the correct one, is entitled "8 Great Track Plans for small spaces" and features 8 plans by Ian Rice of various sizes.  If this is it I'm looking at it, I found it last week while searching for something else entirely in the attic.  Let me know who wants it and if I can figure out how to scan it I'll be more than happy to scan it for you and e mail it. 

HI,

It sounds like the ones I am looking for, I just remenber the line coming from a hill, passing on a thruss bridge above the channel entry of the harbour, going down along the channel whith a little spur whith a small coal facility along this track( a small steam loco whith cars was stenciled on this coal track), and reaching the small town and wrappping around the small harbour bassin.

It's like a track making a small helix but fully scenicked.

If you have it You can help me a lot.

Thanks.

Marc

[Marc_Magnus]

cuyama

Edit: After re-reading the Original Poster's request, though, it does also sound a bit like the 5X9 Coalport design from the Small, Smart, and Practical Track Plans book. This has the bridge over the improbably tight harbor mouth and a coal trestle. The track is bacially a "teardrop" around the water.

Byron

Hi Byron,

Yes I think you have right, this a good description of the small plan I am looking for.

This plan come whith the same  little folder "design tips-small tracks plans" we have received whith the 2010MRP.

This small attached magazins contains often good tips and some plans like the one I am looking for.

Did you have a copy of it or be able to scan the plan?

Thanks a lot for the research.

Marc

[cuyama]

It does sound a bit like the 4X8 HO Loleta and Mad River plan, which was originally in Model Railroad Planning 2002. The original design calls for a 4% grade through a roughly 16 1/2" radius curve -- pretty stout! This layout had an ore dock along the water. The main track winds in a large s-curve around the water.

If they are sold out at Kalmbach, back issues of this and many other magazines may be found at Railpub.

It was also published in the 8 Great Track Plans for Small Spaces supplement that's been included with a number of different special issues. (There's only one plan by Iain Rice in that supplement, by the way.) If you contact Kalmbach, they might be able to provide you with a copy of the supplement, since it's been used mutliple times with different issues.

Edit: After re-reading the Original Poster's request, though, it does also sound a bit like the 5X9 Coalport design from the Small, Smart, and Practical Track Plans book. This has the bridge over the improbably tight harbor mouth and a coal trestle. The track is bacially a "teardrop" around the water.

Byron

[BobL609]

Was it called the "Loleta & Mad River"?  The layout if 4' x 8' and basically wraps around an inner harbor.  The supplement, if this is the correct one, is entitled "8 Great Track Plans for small spaces" and features 8 plans by Ian Rice of various sizes.  If this is it I'm looking at it, I found it last week while searching for something else entirely in the attic.  Let me know who wants it and if I can figure out how to scan it I'll be more than happy to scan it for you and e mail it. 

[Paulus Jas]

Hi Marc,

must have been the Loleta & Mad River. From a cassette hidden in a hill on the right the railroad crosses the harbour on a high bridge and the makes almost a full circle with all kind of little rail/marine scenes.

From a captains POV a very bad designed layout. Way too narrow waterways with a sharp 180 degree turn. Nice for a rowing boat with a fisher, not so nice for larger commercial craft. But a cute little railroad; can be found in Model Railroad Planning 2002. Beside an extension of the LMR,  The Chesapeake Harbour Belt is also featured.

Paul

 

[steinjr]

Marc_Magnus

plan of a small harbor layout by Iain Rice.

The small plan which was stenciled whith colors "a la Iain Rice" featured a thruss bridge crossing over the channel entry of a small port whith the line slowly going down to the small town port along the edge of the layout. A track on the edge serve a small coal facility.

 

  Might be "Coalport, Maryland, 1941" from Ian Rice's book "Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans".

 Teardrop shaped layout within a 5x9 foot footprint, with the wide end of the teardrop on the right. Coal dock along the dockside, small carfloat in the background, single staging cassette along the wall on the left.

  Other Ian Rice harbor plans are "Gulfport and Yarde" (in several versions)  and "Roque Bluffs" - probably a lot more, too :-)

 Smile,
 Stein

 

 

[nbrodar]

 I know it too.  I think it was called the Industry City and Gulfport.   It had two or three expansion plans.

Nick

[CNJ831]

Indeed, Marc, I also recall the exact trackplan you speak of. Unfortunately, I think it only appeared in one of the Kalmbach layout planning books and in that flier, not in MR itself. So, even if someone can come up with a layout name for it, it may be difficult to locate the trackplan anywhere on-line. I just had a quick look through some of my archieved trackplan literature and couldn't locate the design article in question.

CNJ831
 

[Marc_Magnus]

Sir Madog

 Could that one have been Iain Rice´s famous "Roque Bluffs" layout?

You can see the track plan here, just scroll down a little - or in the track plan database (Oct. 2003)

Hi

Thanks for the answer but it's not this plan; the track comes from a hill a cross over the entry channel of the harbor through a thruss bridge, than go down slowly along the edge of the layout and along the small channel to arrive in the small town where it turn back around the port bassin.

It was published in 2004 or 2005 don't remenber.

Thanks again.

Marc

[Anonymous]

 Could that one have been Iain Rice´s famous "Roque Bluffs" layout?

You can see the track plan here, just scroll down a little - or in the track plan database (Oct. 2003)

[Graffen]

 I have been searching for it as well! I hope someone can help.

[Marc_Magnus]

Hi,

A few years ago I receveid whith my MRP a little attached magazine whith some sketch of planning and also it include a plan of a small harbor layout by Iain Rice.

The small plan which was stenciled whith colors "a la Iain Rice" featured a thruss bridge crossing over the channel entry of a small port whith the line slowly going down to the small town port along the edge of the layout. A track on the edge serve a small coal facility.

The track turn back around the port bassin whith some industry.

I think it was published around 2005 but not sure; unfortunately I can found the small attached magazine.

This little layout could be the opportunity to build a module where the port and small town will be a connected branch line.

Could You help me to find a copy of it?

Thanks a lot.

Marc