Need advice on building a H-O 4x8 layout! tips much appreciated!

[Trainsorbust]

Any tipa for making a H-O, 4x8 layout? Type him here!

[jecorbett]

Keep it simple. Don't try to cram too much into it. A single or double track oval with a siding or two, a few industrial spurs and maybe a small yard. If I were to build a 4X8, I would put a double sided backdrop down the middle, maybe angled slightly. This would give my small layout two distinct locations that were scenicly separated from each other.

[hminky]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jecorbett

Keep it simple. Don't try to cram too much into it. A single or double track oval with a siding or two, a few industrial spurs and maybe a small yard. If I were to build a 4X8, I would put a double sided backdrop down the middle, maybe angled slightly. This would give my small layout two distinct locations that were scenicly separated from each other.

That works well for me.





Click images to enlarge

Chronicling the adventure at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/4x8/

Thank you if you visit
Harold

[Anonymous]

There are TONS of track plans all over the internet and in books for a 4x8 layout. Check them out and pick one - why re-invent the wheel?

[Anonymous]

Personally I feel its not the track plan you choose in 4' X 8', but how well and detailed can you do it? Its been done to death, and after all this time, they don't differ all that much. How well can YOU do it. Scenery, track-laying, wiring, benchwork, etc., etc. Make it as good as you can, take your time, and you will be satisfied beyond belief.

I did this once 25 years ago. I am re-living this experience now much later in life. Much has changed in this world, and I want to do this as good as I can in 4' X 8'. I'll never have a 40' X 25' layout on any of Allen Keller's videos, but if I can make mine LOOK as good and realistic as I can, I am happy. This is my satidfaction.

Anyway, GL to you for your trackplan.

Mike

[Anonymous]

Trainsorbust, whatever you do, avoid the temptation to cram as much track into the layout as you can.

Harold's 4x8 above is an excellent example of a balanced track plan. There are interesting switching manuevers to make, plus continuous running when you want to kick back and watch 'em roll.

I personally would suggest staying away from any grades (changes in track elevation) on a 4 x 8. Trains that go over & under each other, etc. end up having operational difficulties and looking toy-like on such a small layout.

You could achieve scenery below the track by using an open-grid construction.

I personally recommend keeping everything slightly simpler than you'd might initially expect. This will help you have a smoother running layout and likely enjoy yourself more.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Here is a helpful link.

4 by 8 layouts are common to start with. Some who've done more than a few layouts may not agree with a 4 x 8, but it is a valid choice. You can get some ideas on what can be done with a 4 x 8 other than just round and round running @ http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id28.html

Once you have a design in mind, post it here on the forum and the members will help you fine tune it and/or answer specific questions.

Regards

[SpaceMouse]

Good link Tom. I wish I'd read that before I built my 4 x 8.

[hminky]

Your first railroad should probably be a 4x8 starter layout. The late great layout planner pointed that fact out. Build a small starter railroad something simple. Find out what you like tear it down and then build your "end all" railroad.
You will not like your first layout. You will out grow it once you find the direction you want to go in the hobby. All these layout articles about not building a 4x8 assume that the modeler has some direction in their desires. It is easy to pontificate about how the 4x8 is wrong if you are experienced and know what you want out of the hobby.
Build a simple 4x8 layout play with it a while and decide what you want. Then tear it up and build your real layout

Just thought
Harold

My 4x8 in the pictures above was originally built as a throwaway. It was originally going to be used as a testbed of scenery ideas in 1/4" scale and I planned on selling it or giving it away. I have since decided that I didn't like On30 and have switched to OO scale on HO track depicting the 1870's standard gauge. The scenery came out well enough that I will be using it in a larger layout. I am expanding the unsceniced side to have more switching. That is one of the reasons I left narrow gauge, too limited switching.

[traindaddy1]

Hi! With HO, did you ever consider a 5' x 7'? It is a little more work but it gives you a wider layout for those little extras. Just a thought!

[BigRusty]

Don't get your tender in front of your engine. Start with track planning FIRST. See the above thread You Asked For It! The ULTIMATE Redesign!!

[Anonymous]

There are more complex 4 by 8 track plans out there, especially some of those sea port plans that have been published in the past few years. However, if you are a first timer a simpler track plan may be better. Those more complex 4 by 8's really do require a greater skill level.

I would also consider a shelf layout if possible. Many of us go with a 4 by 8 because we think we want the continuous run. But on a 4 by 8 a train can run the whole circuit as quickly as eight seconds and as long as thirty seconds. Most of us will want a larger layout for a continuous run. But a point to point shelf layout can almost go around an entire room and have a whole lot of operational interest. But because it is a shelf it doesn't really take over a room.

Just something to think about.

[Anonymous]

Check this concept for a great alternative to the problematical 4 x 8:

http://www.kudzucompany.com/lds/samples/betterbeginnerlayout.htm

[pcarrell]

Just about anything on this sight would apply;

http://ldsig.org/

[ralph13050]

Before you get started on a 4 x 8, follow this link for a different point of view.

http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsvc/id39.html

[Anonymous]

what i would do is [if you have the room] add a piece on to the side that is 3'by 3'6'' and go with that because that is what i did and i like it it gives you a little more room and something eltse besides an oval for a track plan

[Anonymous]

Here's my [2c] worth of advice.
Go with small locomotives and short cars found in early railroading like an old west theme or modern industrial switching. Short equipment does not require broad curves or big turnouts. Trains with short locos and cars look longer because there are more cars on a train than on a train with longer cars and big locomotives.

You might even want to explore HOn3 narrow gage.
for example, Model Railroader had published a series of articles for a 24" X 42" portable layout project called Traveling Tascosa & Calico. The layout was built on expanded polyurethane foam and is an imaginary narrow gauge short line located just across the Mexican border. It was published between October 1993 and December 1993.

Here are some Other HOn3 small layout plans

Be aware though that 3 foot narrow gage track and the rolling stock are somewhat limited in availability is a little more expensive .

(click on highlighted words for links)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by niblick13bee

Check this concept for a great alternative to the problematical 4 x 8:

http://www.kudzucompany.com/lds/samples/betterbeginnerlayout.htm

Ditto.

I'd absolutely recommend taking the 8' x 12' space a 4x8 really takes up (with a minimal 2' per side to walk around it) and do one like the link above - an 8x12 "around the edges" style layout.

[Jetrock]

Indeed--the best improvement for a 4x8 layout is cutting that 4x8 sheet into four 1x8 sheets and freeing yourself from the ping-pong table trainset trap...

[jhugart]

Wow. What are your intentions? Do you have your heart set on the nifty layouts you see in Model Railroader? Or do you just want a place to run trains? Do you want them running in a circle? Or would it be OK to have some switching around to do? What kind of trains do you want to run (passenger, mixed freight, unit freight, etc.)? Do you like Rocky Road ice cream? Is 4x8 the space you have available, or are you just thinking of buying a sheet of plywood? Could 2x16 work as well for a switching layout?

You can read about some of what I'm going through in the link in the signature, below.

Track planning is only a part of the whole model railroading experience. You need to consider everything from property acquisition (i.e., finding out from the people you live with what they will surrender for your model railroad space), improvements (new lighting? more power circuits?), operational concepts (switching vs. continuous running), scenery ideas (plains? mountains? rivers?), control technology (DC vs. DCC), and finding friends who have a truck to help you move stuff.

Perfection isn't required, just a general idea. And do any prep work for your layout space before you actually build the layout; it's far easier.

When you finally get into track planning, you can look around at stuff, or come up with your own. I can't recommend Model Railroad Track Planning for Realistic Operation enough; it gives you some things to think about. Browsing layout books and such to find features you like and ones you don't is also a good idea.

Feel free to contact me if you want more stuff. Lots of what I learned has come along the way of building the stuff I mention below.

[tomikawaTT]

Keep it simple - but not TOO simple.

By all means, build an oval. Then make sure you have a runaround track, and some spur sidings where you can drop (and from which you can pick up) cars. Also make sure your locomotive has working couplers on both ends.

Keep locos, cars and trains short, so you can avoid the 'hamster in a cage' look.

For a first layout, avoid any kind of reversing connection. You can have a couple of spurs that can later be connected to make one, but for now you don't need the electrical hassle. There is a learning curve involved here. Don't make it steeper than necessary.

Once you have your track in and operating, you can add buildings, try different kinds of scenery construction and work toward that elusive goal of making it look like a full scale railroad.

Above all, have fun. That's the final objective.

Chuck