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I just start my first ever layout on a board last week. One week and a half ago I had no N scale track or trains. None. I used two 4' x 4' x 1/2" pieces and used wood pieces 4' long x 2" wide x 1/2 '" thick (4 pieces this size) across the bottom with screws to hold the two 4' x 4' x 1/2" thick plywood together. So now it is 8' x 4'. I got news for you. You are trying to cram something into nothing. I think you need to find a bigger space to build your N gauge layout. Look around. You will find it if you really want to. 4' x 8' is a good start. I suggest two 4'x4' put together. Your not going to get much on your size board and even if you do you will get bored of it real soon. In N scale feet your talking only two football fields long and two wide with a fourth of one cut out. Have you ever see a real railroad that is only two football fields wide each way? You need to find more space and if your going to invest your time building this you will need to invest some money too. I suggest you set aside a few bucks ever week for you and your son's layout. Like make it his allowance. To buy train stuff. Be it $20 or $30. Whatever you can afford. Then take him with you to buy the goods and get him involved. <br /> My total cost for my lumber was less than $25 bucks. I built it in two pieces so I could get it into my third floor apartment easier and if I move I can take it apart in to pieces. Don't waste your time and money on something your not going to be happy with. Look around your place. There must be room for a 4'x8' board someplace. I made room for mine. You can too. I never built a train layout before this but as a child had lot's of N gauge and H.O. trains and dreams of building a super layout.. Now at age 45 I am finally going to build the layout of my dreams. My little empire! I'd like to send you a PIC of it so maybe you will be inspired or get some ideas for what you are going to build on yours. Send me your e-mail address to EjcWeb@aol.com and just tell me your the guy with the son that wants to build a 4'x4' with a 2' square cut out. Then I will know it's you. When you see my layout I know you will be impressed. Remember it is two 4'x4' pieces together so when you look at it cut it in half and remove your 2' square. Then maybe you can get some ideas from my layout. Just so you know it has 20 remote control turnouts and in scale feet is over 1,200+ long. That a little more that four N scale football fields in long. You should remember that if you are going to spend time and money building a layout don't cut yourself short. Make it the best you can. Take your time and invest. Or else you will just be wasting your time with a dinky layout that is boring to operate and was a waste of time and money to build. It could take years to complete. So be it. It will teach you son the value of a dollar. If you take it slow and ad piece by piece and maybe start with your board you have now but add another board in the future than maybe you will be happy with the end result. Hope my advise helps you out. Think it over. Hope to hear back from you so I can send you a PIC of my layout. It could and should give you some ideas. I started planning it a week ago and all the track cost a lot of money but if I am going to spend hours building mountains and lakes and "working on the railroad" I am going to do the best I can do so that I will be happy with my little empire when it is done. Wait until you see this. If your wondering how much money this type of track would cost it is about $800. for the track alone. This is the new power- lok track from Life- Like. No messy rail joiners ever again. I would never go back. . Good luck. Ernie.
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