Ok, didn't know it was that serious. I guess I will come up with idea's on my own. Thanks for all the help.
mj
mjmueller I understand and agree with all your comments, what I'm really looking for are some layout ideas (track wise) for the area I have. I only added the extra information because people kept commenting on the region and what now. I have some specific Idea's but am reluctant to post them. I would really just like some general ideas.
I understand and agree with all your comments, what I'm really looking for are some layout ideas (track wise) for the area I have. I only added the extra information because people kept commenting on the region and what now. I have some specific Idea's but am reluctant to post them.
I would really just like some general ideas.
What do you mean by "general ideas" ?
Here is a general idea: model an Chicago passenger terminal in 1942.
Here is another general idea: model a logging railroad in New Hampshire in 1910.
Here is a third general idea: model a shortline serving an industrial park near Seattle in 2010.
Track configuration for an urban passenger terminal, a logging railroad or a modern industrial park are very different.
Track configurations for a layout where you want to model one local freight train a day, taking all day to move at 10 mph down a sleepy branch line with a handful of cars for various industries along the the line is very different from track configurations which will allow you to model a short stretch of the North-East corridor, with 15 different trains passing through in front of your viewing position in the space of 45 minutes.
Form follows function. If you have no clue about how you want to run your trains, it is hard to say much intelligent about what track plans are possible in N scale in a space 10 x 10 feet.
Also - other people have tried the "I don't want to tell them my ideas - I want a big menu to pick from" trick before. It does not work all that well - they do not get a big pile of track plans to pick and choose from.
For some odd reason, it seems like a lot of people do not want to waste a couple of hours (or more) of their time on making a random track plan that has no chance whatsoever of flying, since it does not fit the picture you have inside your head.
I would, with all due respect, suggest that you quit fooling around, and just tell us what you are looking for. Then maybe someone can make suggestions that would actually help you.
Smile, Stein
If you look above I do have the workbench and layout dimentions. I made the sides 24"
One of the major issues you will face will be designing a layout or track plan. The first thing to do is define the space that you have. How much of the room can you use? Do you need to have a workbench in the same room? You will get more running track if your layout is along the walls with a peninsula or two sticking out toward the center. The longest that you can reach things is about 24 inches. Thus quite a few folks make their benchwork 24 inches wide. The peninsulas can be wider because you will have access from both sides and the end.What I do for layout design (have done so far) is define my area and benchwork first. Next I decide on a theme. (Mainline running, with a branch line(?) or other special interests.) Then I put in a mainline. I am fond of twice around the room types divided by scenery and grades. Since I have gotten into operations, I also have a staging area of some sort, whether it is a lay-over for entire trains, or a yard that simulates an interchange yard. One track in staging is a through track for continuous running. If I put cars on it, the layout becomes point to point for operations.Next I try and determine how many small towns I can have, and possibility one city with a yard and loco facilities, without them crowding one another. Usually small yards and facilities unless I have the room for larger ones. I will try to fit in a way-side industry or two just for variation as long as it won't crowd things.Then I go looking at plans for modular railroads. I look for ones that would make good towns or cities because their track plans are usually fairly compact, and most of the way they will be switched is already determined with a good track plan themselves.Because I freelance, I don't worry about town and city names etc., but if you want to model a specific prototype, you can name the towns as the railroad you are modeling would, and build or plan you scenery to suite the area you want to model. Also, some of the industries that may be recognizable in a town you choose to name from a real one may have to be built or otherwise implied to achieve the "feeling" of the real town.When building starts, I try and get all of the benchwork built first. Then plan where the towns will go and install the mainline to get some trains running. Then I work on one of the yards so I can store stuff when not running. Then I plug along on the other track work and scenery design and continue from there.You can think about and play with a bench / layout design while you are getting the room ready. As was said before; "That means lighting and backdrop installation but also can include things like drop ceiling, carpeting, etc. Things that make for a pleasing environment. That will be more important to some than others and only you can decide that. All these things are much easier to do before you start building the layout."
If you want to start building right away, build a switching module that can become a town on part of your layout. Something about 2 X 6 or so. At least this way you will be doing something while you are preparing your room.
My layout uses four lift bridges and I have a short write up on them. Go to my web page (Link at the bottom in my signature) and the look for a link on the web page to 'Lift Bridges'.
Hope this helps.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
mjmueller I really want to build this layout at 58" or somewhere around there. What would you guys recommend? I want the new height standard....I really want this to be a fall scene, so maybe the mountains are out of the question....I might go multi-level with the helix, but this might not be the right thing to do.
I really want to build this layout at 58" or somewhere around there. What would you guys recommend? I want the new height standard....I really want this to be a fall scene, so maybe the mountains are out of the question....I might go multi-level with the helix, but this might not be the right thing to do.
Layout height is a perennial topic in these forums. Some like it high, some like it low, and some like it just right (for them). There are two ways to resolve the problem:
1) mock up adjustable shelves with track and trains on them at different heights until you establish what height you prefer.
2) Build the layout higher than you think you want, and cut off an inch of the legs at a time until you are happy.
What is interesting is the inherent contradictions in your wants:
Looks to me like you are not sure of what you want, and are throwing out ideas for our approval. Our approval of your ideas hardly matters to your enjoyment of your layout. There's nothing wrong with a generic layout if you are unsure of what your real desires are. The downside is a higher likelihood of rework and rebuilding than if your layout had a focus in advance. OTOH, there are plenty of examples of focused layouts whose owners changed their minds about focus at a later date. And the rework/rebuild still happens to most of us.
The less sure I am of what I really want, the more likely I am to start off on a smaller scale until I gain the experience to better know what I want. Applies to model railroading as well as other aspects of life.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
I really want to build this layout at 58" or somewhere around there. What would you guys recommend? I want the new height standard. Also, attached you will find a little update to the idea of the layout. I would not say this is final at all, I would still like your thoughts. I really want this to be a fall scene, so maybe the mountains are out of the question. I want to have 2 to 3 mainlines with a staging area in the middle. I might go multi-level with the helix, but this might not be the right thing to do.
Thanks
MJ, what did think about trying the Atlas Program? Details would help on room layout (I will reread your original post) and what are you looking for?
Are you looking for?
1 Rail Fanning (just running the trains and watching)?
2 Switching?
3 Point to point?
4 Sizes turns you need?
I am HO, so to me I need 22 or larger. To me 18 inch is tight, while 32 inch is medium large. Give me a idea on turns sizes and what you are hopping to do.
Ken
I hate Rust
What you wish to model is going to determine what your trackage looks like.
The mountains? The rural towns? The suburbs? The city? The waterfront pier?
Then you have choice of the type of train you'll run: Freight (raw and/or finished goods), passenger, excursion, historic?
For example a logging train in the mountains will have lots of twisty tight curves and lots of trees. A rural or suburban town passenger train however will have broad sweeping curves to support the long passenger cars.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Well, I had a great plan for the garage and it was pretty far, but I just got done with a lot of demo. I have decided to go with the basement, that is why I started the thread. I am looking for good Ideas for the above post. Thank.
My self, I would stick with the garage. In my case, the kitchen was on the other side of the wall so there was a gas line. I had a wall mounted gas heater installed in the garage. I all so have a window A/C unit. I am warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
One thing that comes in handy is a track program. I use the Atlas RTS 8.0 and it is a free down load from the Atlas site. While it is a pain to learn, and it is not the end all (other words it will let you plan mistakes like S Curves) for building a layout. The advantage is you can draw your room, and post layout ideas here at the site. Here is a sample of what I am playing with. Each square is 1 foot.
Atlas all so has RTS 10.0 and I have down loaded it, but have not used it yet.
I am far from being a master of the RTS program, but if you go that root I will help as much as I can.
Cuda Ken
I would say I'm pretty good at all. I have all the tools (Shopsmith :), and talent. I build many things. See, the real problem is I already have a layout benchwork and some track laid in my garage right now. The garage is 13X17. I would have to rip up all that and bring down to the basement. The only draw back to the garage is, I do not have it heated & in Wisconsin it's pretty bad with weather changes. Also, the room has a slope on the ceiling about 4' up from the sides, so I cannot build the layout at the height I really want to. In the basement, I can build high & have the temp. controlled. So, I have all the means to do a very nice layout, and I have a friend who works for Walthers & does all the scenery there.
mjmueller Attached please find the layout outline. I have an area of 10X10, but with 12' on the far wall. I have N Scale. Please show me your possibilities.
Attached please find the layout outline. I have an area of 10X10, but with 12' on the far wall. I have N Scale. Please show me your possibilities.
Well, there will be a lift out bridge by the bottom left of the layout. The wall is on the top, right and bottom of drawing. I am doing 2, or 3 mainlines I think. 2 at least. I am debating on mountains out west, or maybe praire du chien in some parts.....I'm still debating. I also might do a multi-level with Helix.
How can we show you all possibilities you may have in the given space without knowing what you want?
A 10 by 10 ft. room offers a lot of possibilities in N scale, from a small shelf-type layout along the wall to a more complex, peninsula type multi-deck layout.
There are a few questions you need to answer for yourself, which will help you to find "your" track plan:
Take a look at this page by Byron Henderson, which will guide you through your decision making process (Thanks Byron)
Attached please find the layout outline. I have an area of 10X10, but with 12' on the far wall. I have N Scale. Please show me your possibilities. Thank you.