Layouts and layout building

I am in the process of planning my first layout, and want to combine two of my loves. Woodworking and Model Railroad.  I have a copy of the N Scale in a coffee table article from Sept 2001, and think this would fit my spave perfectly. My plan is to build the layout, then to build a Craftsman style Coffee table fitted with a glass top to house it.

Something similiar to this:

Track Plan: Delaware & Hudson

Has anyone built this layout?  What would be a good way to handle the change in grade of the track, thinking of just making some small riserd from 1/8" or 1/4" plywood, and using then to raise the cork Roadbed, then plaster cloth to make the mountains and elevations.

Becasue of the Tight Radius of the Curves, I am thinking of using a small diesel Switcher for the Locomotive power, and no more than 3 or 4 cars and a caboose.

Please let me know if this sounds feasable, or an I just asking for trouble.

Jacob

It doesn't say with the drawing, but I suspect it uses around 9" min. radius...a lot of N layouts are designed around Atlas N snaptrack which is I think 9-3/4" and 11" radius. That's pretty sharp but a lot of N scale equipment is designed for that sharp a curve. Most any four axle diesel or early six axle one (like an SD-9) and 40'-50' freight cars should be fine.

As for raising the track, you could try Woodland Scenic's inclines and risers. Again it's not noted but I suspect the grade is 4% so getting the WS 4% incline set would work, or you could get the "starter incline" set which is a box of inclines going from 0 to 1/2". (You would have to then add risers underneath each one...i.e. the first one is laid flat going from 0" to 1/2" height. The next incline would have a 1/2" riser under it so it goes from 1/2" to 1", then the next would have two 1/2" risers one on top of the other to raise the track from 1" to 1-1/2" etc.

The risers/inclines are made for HO so they're a bit wide for N, but looking at the trackplan you should be able to fit them in OK.

Another option would be to use Kato Unitrack with roadbed and track together...in fact when I look closer at the trackplan, I see it uses a Kato Unitrack bridge, so probably the whole layout is designed for Unitrack. That would be easy to raise with inclines, or (since the track with roadbed is fairly stiff) you could make kinda like simple trestles to raise the track up and down, then scenic over them. I'm not sure but Kato might make a grade set to use with their track??

http://www.katousa.com/N/unitrack.html

I happen to have a copy of the article here, and the minimum radius is 7.5", and the incline is 4% He uses a Alco RS-2 engine. The track used was Atlas Flextrack. He did use the Woodland scenics risers and Trackbed.

 Jacob

 I have the coffee table plan from MR December 1970.  Anyone interested can PM me.