Plan for 8' x8' x8' space

[dwbeckett]

Bump

OK John, its been 6 months, lets see the finish pics!

Or at least give us an update

I would like to see some pictures.

Dave

[kimbrit]

I just dropped in for a look round and find all my favourite rail roaders are on here, big hello from the UK guys, hope you are all well. Ian, say hello to Doreen from me and Gail.

Cheers,

Kim

PS John, in that size I would go O narrow guage, that Bachmann stuff is very good.

[vsmith]

Bump

OK John, its been 6 months, lets see the finish pics!

Or at least give us an update

[John Busby]

Hi Vic

Track plan YOURS the members of AMRA are trying to find a way to get more clearance in the corner that bothered me without adding more than a couple of inches to the width

Have Lionel locomotive and 4 cars specifically for the layout, this may change later when I make up my mind what the theme and outline will actually be but the train can be used out side so at this stage who cares the layout has a train,

No coaches Annie and Clarabelle have not arrived yet.

Just as well I cannot find my air brush which is probably a good thing.

The first building is still waiting for its roof it has been for ages.

Going mad because I cannot find a local supplier of blue foam or a proper trade name to make the search easier

Searching for second hand LGB R1 points and the old style solenoid point motors at the moment have plenty of curves and 1' straights you would think these points would be easy to find but not at the moment.

Still have not done the bench work yet.

Have not finished demolishing the old OO scale layout for the 50x50x3 aluminum angle and as much of the 2"x1" as can be salvaged for the new "G" layout

The next time the boss goes work shopping he is going to get and drop off a piece of cable tray and some PVC ducting its too long to fit in my car that's where the wiring is going for ease of access.

Its very much a case of make haste slowly, and trying to clear the deck of existing model projects

So when I hit the bench work its a case of all go till its finished and track down and basic train running possible

regards John

 

[vsmith]

John

Any updates on this? I'm curious to see what track plan you finally decided on.

[John Busby]

Hi Dave

Wish I knew what you where on about sounds interesting.

The name conjours up an image of the weekly mixed train that's now held together by chewing gum and fence wire running through a land where all the wealth has been extracted from the ground quite a while ago and is mostly desert.

I don't think SWMBO would like me trying to destroy those Lionel G scale wagons I got recently to that level particularly since she chose that nice blue one EEK!!

Haven't had any luck with coaches though not so sure about those they didn't look quite right and where not Yellow so don't fit my image of a wild west line probably seen one to many western movies all I need is a short combine or similar around the same size.

These Lionel wagons seem ideal of a confined space job particularly if its supposed to be Narrow gauge no idea what scale if any they are supposed to be but the gondolas have a sort of narrow gauge feel to them inspite of the big time railway names on them

regards John

[dwbeckett]

John If you can find a copy of the SAN JUAN CENTRAL book and use slective compression you may get most of what you want. If my gray matter recalls correctly the SJC was done in HOn3 as a horse shoe. you may need to do some creative space theft. so far I been able to use some of my wife's side for her storage with only miner complantes after all it is her doll house and extra pots and pans, but only till the new pantry is built.

[John Busby]

Hi Dave

No child will be standing on my most treasured loco that is kept well out of reach when children are around I may however loose a $1500 LGB mallet

Children welcome brats get buried in the back yard

I thought it might be neat to do a John Allen and start the scenery at floor level I might have to re think that idea I don't get may visitors who have children so forgot about the havoc they can or could reek on a railway.

I did see a picture of a G&D box car in G scale maybe I should have bought it just for the hell of it

regards John

[dwbeckett]

One suggestion GET IT OFF THE FLOOR at least 1 meter 1.2 would be better. reason's, storage space, ease of wireing, eyelevel to younger visitors, tripping hazard removed nothing worse then a body laying on that costomized building or rr car. OR worse seeing some brat standing on your prize loco, trying to get a free ride.

David 

[John Busby]

Hi Guys

This idea is still moving ever so s-l-o-w-l-y along

Any one got ideas as to where I can find sketches or preferably drawings for small gold mines and tiny miners cottages.

Oh one last thing!! can't find any reference to LGB FeldBahn caboose any suggestions as a suitable substitute K's 1/2 caboose is a possibility but I did like the LGB one for passenger trains possibly but think I have left it to late to get one.

regards John

[John Busby]

Hi Vic

I think the plan needs to be 3" longer ?? wider?? so that two 10070 75mm straights can be put in to get the clearance problem at the top of the plan sorted.

Have you ever made a wooden level crossing on your indoor layout if so what did you use??.

Still waiting for Hartland mini car sized loco idea to turn up no light bulb over the head yet!! there must be some little steam outline  loco that would be just right for the job one day I will find it

regards John

Dont know about the 3 incher, try it and see. 

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Nope havent done a crossing, never got far enough yet before disaster would befall my layouts.

-

Not steam but heres a few suggestions, particularly the 12 ton models.

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http://www.northeast.railfan.net/diesel114.html

Hi Vic

Very interesting where would I find a drawing of one of the 12 tonners

regards John

[Anonymous]

  Vic

 I never new Mack has a Museum in Allentown, after the Holidays ,I must check this out. I live about 55 miles from Allentown.  Ben

[vsmith]

Hi Vic

I think the plan needs to be 3" longer ?? wider?? so that two 10070 75mm straights can be put in to get the clearance problem at the top of the plan sorted.

Have you ever made a wooden level crossing on your indoor layout if so what did you use??.

Still waiting for Hartland mini car sized loco idea to turn up no light bulb over the head yet!! there must be some little steam outline  loco that would be just right for the job one day I will find it

regards John

[John Busby]

Hi Vic

I think the plan needs to be 3" longer ?? wider?? so that two 10070 75mm straights can be put in to get the clearance problem at the top of the plan sorted.

Have you ever made a wooden level crossing on your indoor layout if so what did you use??.

Still waiting for Hartland mini car sized loco idea to turn up no light bulb over the head yet!! there must be some little steam outline  loco that would be just right for the job one day I will find it

regards John

[vsmith]

Nice try John..

 I did say you could build a nice Darjeeling loco.

 I reworked my basic layout with buildings and elevations, I'll post a link, let you decide whether its something you could use or not.

 http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Busby%20Study%20Model%20update.pdf

Hi Vic

I took the liberty of posting the plan on the 16mm news group for comment just in case I missed something.

Concerns where raised about the clearances on the rising an falling grade in the top right of your plan.

And vertical clearance on the head shunt leading to the mine.

What are the full size dimensions for those two areas so I can check them by setting it up full size, and making sure that stock will clear the space with out raking the cliffs or breaking whistles off loco roofs

regards John

[John Busby]

Nice try John..

 I did say you could build a nice Darjeeling loco.

 I reworked my basic layout with buildings and elevations, I'll post a link, let you decide whether its something you could use or not.

 http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Busby%20Study%20Model%20update.pdf

Hi Vic

I took the liberty of posting the plan on the 16mm news group for comment just in case I missed something.

Concerns where raised about the clearances on the rising an falling grade in the top right of your plan.

And vertical clearance on the head shunt leading to the mine.

What are the full size dimensions for those two areas so I can check them by setting it up full size, and making sure that stock will clear the space with out raking the cliffs or breaking whistles off loco roofs

regards John

[John Busby]

Hi Vic

Read error 401

I was however serious in my thoughts on a something or other on a Hartland mini car chassis any thoughts easy build and visually interesting would be good, as much info on getting the chassis right so it works without destroying its self would also be good.

Did you get the message with the correct email address for me??

Like the layout track parts list please

By facades I take it you mean false front structures or is it literally only the front wall of the structure

The micro layout web site you posted I am still going back to and wondering how they got that in that space there are more than a few interesting ideas on that site

regards John

[vsmith]

Nice try John..

 I did say you could build a nice Darjeeling loco.

 I reworked my basic layout with buildings and elevations, I'll post a link, let you decide whether its something you could use or not.

 http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Busby%20Study%20Model%20update.pdf

[John Busby]

Yes John i haver done all that, twists and turns and going over itslef and now 2 years down the track i am still not sure that i would not have been better off going for something simpler.

Rgds Ian

In an outdoor space, even a space restricted space, I agree with you, less can be more.

But when you start to really shrink the layout, now maximizing track, adding more sidings and as much visual interest you can is where it gets really fun. The layout I did for John tried to allow for as much "operation" as possible. On a really small layout you can only go round and round for so long before its gets dull, adding the ability to actually move cars from siding to siding, assembling trains and operating it like a real RR is where it get smuch more interesting and can keep one occupied for quite a while. Thats the real fun of microlayouts.

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John, any ideas for your layout yet? I've been thinking of tweeking the one I did to see what kind of buildings I can add, Interested? Of course if your planning on modeling the Darjeeling mountain RR I look forward to seeing your layout plan. I think you could build a nice Darjeeling lokie on a Stainz chassis.

Hi Vic

Thanks for the generous offer of loco construction would you be  willing to do a vertical boilered loco or something simple but interesting with a Hartland mini car providing the chassis I don't think any one manufacturers anything that small.

I don't plan on modeling the DHR however that has influenced my thinking as to how to best use the space available with its twists and turns, I do sometimes wonder if the engineer was a railway modeler with the way it gets to some places as it loops over its self and spirals up the mountains.

As you rightly note some operational interest is a must I would get bored very quickly just running around in twisted loops

Scenery will start at floor level hence the boards on the floor to keep the carp off the carpet.

But the track will be on risers etc to get height to a comfortable level.

What is the shortest distance I can have to get the required height to cross over the line below

Any bright ideas for a principle freight traffic so I know if open trucks, flats or vans should be the higher number present on the line.

Looks like I have a use for those two Lehmann blue toy train coaches after all any one know if they did a blue 4wh toy box car I could use for a luggage van

regards John

[vsmith]

This would make for a fun exercise.  Everyone that wants to can put in a design for an 8 x 8.  We'd have to standardize the rail - pick a brand or custom bent.

Or even new threads where someone throws out a concept and a space and folks could put in their designs.  It would be a great resource for beginners.

Anyway, just thinking out loud.  Well, writing out loud I guess. 

[vsmith]

Yes John i haver done all that, twists and turns and going over itslef and now 2 years down the track i am still not sure that i would not have been better off going for something simpler.

Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

here's some pix (I hope) of what I did with 5' x 8' on a diningroom table (nice height to work with, BTW).... It's just your basic oval with a double siding. If it looks a bit crowded it's because my old garden was 8' x 16' and I wanted to reuse a bunch of it.

 

 

 

 

 

[Anonymous]

Yes John i haver done all that, twists and turns and going over itslef and now 2 years down the track i am still not sure that i would not have been better off going for something simpler.

Rgds Ian

[vsmith]

John

I would seriously consider raising the base of your layout for ease of access. raising the base to at least 24inches will A: allow for greater ease of construction, B; easier accessing to any inner switches, C; better to look at visually, D; better access for maintanence or derailments. E: far far easier to couple or uncouple cars.Otherwise you'll be on your knees to do anything and everything.

My old indoor layout was about 32" tall, the new one will be 42" tall.

[John Busby]

Hi iandor

I figure its worth a try Vic and others came up with possible plans rather fast

Vic being the forum appointed expert on no space railways does tend to have ideas that fall out side the normal perspective of what is workable space.

I figure something that twists and turns all over the place should be able to gain some height and go over its self a couple of times should get a reasonable run small stations typical of mountain narrow gauge should be possible.

It will probably have to be a rabbit warren layout with R1 curves to get a run worth having the only possable killer being can I get the grade to get up and over where it is needed and often.

I have seen a couple of DHR pictures where things twist turn spiral and generaly tie them selves on knots to get the train where it is going.

Even saw a possable station which could be done with a passing loop with R1 curves and points no straight track and thats at the top of a spiral with a small settlement inside the loop and the station building outside the loop.

Just wish I had copys of the pictures because I cannot remember where I saw them

regards John

[vsmith]

Kinda a surprising reply considering that Elizibeth and myself were both able to rather quickly supply John a suggested track plan for the given space. Large scale can most definelty be done in tight spaces like this, it just takes a more refined approach to track planning and an understanding of what to expect. I suggest reviewing the microlayouts website I referenced above, as the famous man once said, "there are no problems, only solutions"

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http://carendt.com/index.html

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Elizibeth, I should have said I would have liked to see that plan using an LGB templete similar to the one I use, as I'm still unclear as to how that plan would eventually lay out, anyway I'll take your word that its good for LGB track.

[Anonymous]

I really can't see how you are going to do much with such a small space. I probably wouldn't do it if that was all the room i had.

Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

...................................................

 I would be interested to see how your layout as planned would translate into a  program using Autocadd. I tried but my take was as best I could get and still stay within the 8' square area.

............................................................. 

 Hello Vic,

 

Our layout designer says:

There would be no difference between AutoCadd and CADrail; a tangent track of 300mm is precisely the same in AutoCadd, this also applies to a 600mm curve segment of 30º. We have 6 different makes of track for 45mm gauge track planning. Choice is up to the end user or depends on the application i.e. North American or European.

The turnouts are shown as the projected tangents, this shows at a glance how steep or  shallow a turnout really is.

The track material in question is LGB, turnouts are R1 types (600mm rad).

 

Best regards

ER 

PS the layout consists of four segments, each measures 1500mm by 800mm

 

[MTCarpenter]

This would make for a fun exercise.  Everyone that wants to can put in a design for an 8 x 8.  We'd have to standardize the rail - pick a brand or custom bent.

Or even new threads where someone throws out a concept and a space and folks could put in their designs.  It would be a great resource for beginners.

Anyway, just thinking out loud.  Well, writing out loud I guess.