So here's for idea.. Up here in the northwoods of Wisconsin, the weather doesn't allow me to really do much work on the layout which is located in the unheated/unsulated garage. So I've got an 18" x 48" sheet of 3/8" thick plywood. And a sheet of 1/2" thick pink foam on that, not yet secured down. The wifes gonna allow me to work on this in the house as long as I keep mess to a minimum, and do all the cutting outside. First question is... Should I focus this small space on a single large scene? ( A mine, engine facilities, iron works, a busy port, or maybe a meat packing industry) Or should I focus on a couple of smaller industries that could be swtched and cars moved to an interchange? What kind of Ops am I looking at for a shelf this small? Any ideas?? Thanks ahead.
I would be willing to compromise and go N scale for this to increase my oppprtunities.
Mike,
It sounds like either of your suggestions about ops would give you lot action. Kind of up to you to pick. A couple of sites that a lot of people have found inspiring are Carl Arnedt's www.carendt.us and Byron Henderson's www.layoutvision.com. Both of these guys are full of good ideas and Byron really offers a lot of good tips on operation. Great blog as well. Carl's site is simply amazing. There's a lot of stuff from our European brothers and sisters. It's all about micro layouts and what can be done in really small spaces. I'm planning on using both sites as reference as I work on my own layout.
With the winter being what it is now, I think I'd be looking at a pretty flat plan. Yer gonna want to keep that outside cuttin' to a minimum!
Lou
Well, the current half-month issue of Carl Arendt's scrapbook of Micro layouts is themed "Switching shelves shorter than 4 feet", so there might be ideas there:
Current issue: http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page93/index.html
List of scrap books: http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/linkindex/index.html
Some more tiny switching layouts:
http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page84/index.html
http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page78/index.html
http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page70/index.html
http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page47/index.html
But you get my drift - have a look around and see if you get any ideas for a small layout of your own.
The piece de resistance when it comes to 4-foot layouts is probably professor Klyzr's 2x4 feet H0 scale "Brooklyn 3AM": http://www.carendt.com/scrapbook/page87/index.html
Needs a traverser, but very neat work.
Smile,Stein
Don't know how far along your main layout is, but could you make this as a module to be part of the main layout or attach it as a peninsula? If it can be then think about what would fit there and also fill your desire to do while filling your time during your "indoor" months. If you really want to run trains, something with lots of switching moves would seem to be the direction to go. If you want to do some super detailing and run trains occasionally, a complex arrangement of buildings, track and scenery would be an idea.
If you can't attach it to your existing layout you could set up an interesting track configuration and pratice some of your scenery skills thinking about a scene you want on your final layout. Run trains when you feel like it. When the big layout is ready, move the buildings and other elements of the scene and next "indoor" season do a different scene.
Have fun, whatever you decide to do,
I am thinking about doing a 24"x72" switching layout myself. I am planning on having a grain operation, farm/construction equipment trans-loading area, small scrap yard, and possibly a warehouse. I know it sounds like a lot but I am pretty sure I have a plan that will work for this. It will eventually be part of a larger layout when I have the space to do so. I have a GP18, 3 GP7s, SW7 and 4 MP15s to do the switch work and I can change them up to keep it from getting too boring. I also have plenty of different grain cars and flat cars with different Caterpillar and John Deere loads to keep that from getting boring as well. I recently picked up 5 undecorated MDC boxcars, 10 undecorated MDC gondolas and 10 60' undecorated flat cars. I plan on painting these up in my own private rr paint scheme. The 3 GP7s and 2 MP15s will be painted re-lettered for my private road as well, the others are in BN and BNSF paint which will be the connecting road.
You guys have been very helpful.. I like the idea of using this as an add-on to my larger layout, but I am not sure what to add on to the layout, or where.. I am leaning towards loco/car facilities. Turntable, Engine house/roundhouse, sand, ash, water, car shops, MOW. Mostly just running engines, with the occasional freight car moved to and from car shop for inspection/repair. Good excuse to have a variety of cars on module. So a tail track that could fit engine and 1 car would be best...Tail could be used as connection to main layout as an add-on.
I will keep equipment shorter, and am not stuck to any particular era.. The facilities will be aged, but I could rotate the train roster to accommodate different times.
GREAT!! The more I type here, the more I am convincing myself this is what I am gonna do. Now I need to mull over a track arrangement. This shouldn't be hard since there is soooo much out there for engine facilities.
If you have ideas or plans feel free to share. I will post back later with what I come up with.
MikeDon't just look for a 18x48 plan. You could use any appropriately sized section of a larger layout plan.
Tony Koester created a concept called Layout Design Elements (or Building Blocks)- small vignettes modeled after prototypes. They could be used stand alone or as part of a larger layout. (I think some people call these modules). He published a Kalmbach book on the subject.
Alan
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
I might do some sketching with two section 9" wide. If end to end that would double your length and give you more "Backdrop" industries. Walthers makes several only 4" deep. I would also do some playing with overlapping them as much as 2'. That would allow you to put a yard and small engine facility in the middle and an ess curve on the layout for interest. I would put the yard at an angle in that case. Just some off the cuff thinking. Just be prepared to lay the track in the house otherwise when summer comes and the rails expand you may have to fix some expansion kinks.
Lee
I wish I could do what I wanted to to the garage, but we are currently renting and are not allowed to do work like that.. Even if it would benefit, and be at my own cost. Its just the way it is. So, with that in mind... My wife has said that this module could be a display for in the house, possibly to put on top of our dresser.
I'm up for splicing it in half and doubling the length but not sure if its practical in my case. Remember we rent and I don't want to make this a shelf on the wall.. As much as I'd like to.