N Scale Layout (need help/advice)

[douginut]

By all means!
two ways to do it that I have enjoyed.
1. Build the layout to HO scale but with your track and scenery in N-Scale. this makes everything look incredibly more realistic if you have the room.
2. what I have done is to take a layout book (the Linn Wescott one from Kalmbach) and blow the layout plans up to N-Scale at Kinko's or another graphics and print place.
what I have done is to blow the size up to the size of your table, I have used a 36 by 80 hollow core door blank and used the blown up plans as templates. I have been using 1/2 inch pink foam insulation cut to the contour lines shown in each of the Wescott plans to complete the layout.

hope this helps.
Doug
In Utah

[Anonymous]

I have several 4 x 3 layout designs I made in Right Track. I ma making a small layout within a coffee table. You could easily expand the layouts to larger demensions by adding turnouts or more straights.

Get the free Atlas track software. It is real easy to use and design layouts. I could send you mine which you could then open and change. You might be able to get other layouts from people as well. Feel free to e-mail me for the layout files at [e-mail] and goto: http://www.atlasrr.com/software/welcome.asp for the software.

Mike N.

[MAbruce]

Good point. Those "Horribly Oversized" modelers do have some nice track plans (insert face with large grin and wink - as this site doesn't have them).

[BR60103]

Don't overlook the HO layout plans. You can get a wide-open look by using an HO plan for N and building it to the HO track radii, just squeeze the track spacing down. Most of the older layout books (e.g. 101 track plans) had 4x8 plans that could be used.
John Armstrong's Creative Layout Design book had one example of this.
David

[MAbruce]

Atlas publishes a book called "9 N-Scale layouts", which are mostly either 4x8 or smaller. You can find it at any Hobbystore. (I based my layout on the Atlantic Longhaul layout in that book) While they are not specifically designed to be expandable, you could always pick one were you could throw in an extra turnout that would lead to a future area.

A note about a 4X8 layout. Depending on where you place it (like against a wall), a layout of this size can limit the areas you can reach. It's never a good idea to build a layout with areas you can't easily reach into. It tends to take the fun out of building a layout.

The Atlas website also has freeware called "Righttrack". It's a good tool to use if you want to take one of their standard designs and modify it.

I hope this helps you get back on track...

[Anonymous]

I used to *play* with my fathers HO Scale railroad as a kid and he often passed on gems of wisdom on how to wire things and how to operate the railroad. I decided a couple of months back that I would model my own, and confident as I was chose N Scale (space is a problem) and bought what I needed for a couple of loops and a yard. I guess you could say I jumped the gun because after doing the benchwork I finally decided to lay down some track and hit what I can only describe as a crisis of confidence.

I have a good idea of what I did what to build but now looking at it, I'd kinda like a grade and the ability to expand things in the future without ripping major sections out.

Does anybody know of a source of good N scale layout ideas that fit within 4x8 that can be expanded in the future?? I'm realizing that while I have the technical know-how I am lacking inspiration....