Hi All,
I've been away for far too long. Word is that I'm downscaling to "N" (at least temporarily) to accommodate the new basement suite. So, ...
thinking that I'd like to go with a 2 ft x 4 ft layout (simple start) so that I can put the entire layout away when not in use. Wondering if any or you brilliant track plan designers could suggest a 2 track, loop, and with siding plan for me ? I have about 4-5 basic plans, but none that I like yet. your ideas would be amazing. It's a blank slate, I have yet to buy anything in N scale.
apparently I've been living in the Horriblly Oversized world for long enough (I usually disagree with my local friend, but renos dictate that I now join his normal) world)
appreciate your suggestions / thoughts / jokes / whatever floats your boat.
ps - just realized that there is a layout forum, if someone could copy / move this to there, that is fine with me
cheers, krump
"TRAIN up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" ... Proverbs 22:6
back, Krump!
Some time ago, I drafted a 2 by 4 N scale track plan for one of the Diner regulars, which you may find interesting.
Here is the track plan and the track list:
It´s a cheap and cheerful layout, but with a potential, if you "grow" it to include a yard our staging at a latter stage.
that looks brilliant Sir Madog, thanks. I think I may consider (at least much of) that layout. impressed.
Unless you are absolutely restricted to 2' X 4' for some external reason, you may find that a slightly larger layout is more satisfactory, especially if you would like double-track all the way around.
To-scale, a 2' X 4' N scale layout equates to about 44” X 88” in HO, so it’s relatively smaller than the HO 4X8 with which you may be familiar.
Scaled accurately to N, the “sacred sheet” HO 4X8 would be about 26” X 52”, so a little larger than 2’ X 4’. This impacts the radius you may use for the end curves and still have some buffer-zone room to the benchwork edge.
Many folks working in N scale like hollow-core-door-sized layouts, which are typically 30” X 80” or 36” X 80”.
Good luck with your layout.
Byron
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
My problem is that I really have no space (for trains) after the renovations, so I'm trying to find a way to make something work. The 2x4 using N may temporarily keep me in the hobby. Tuck it into a closet, slide it under the bed. The hollow core door is a great idea, but I would need to have the garage for that (not heated well enough). If I had space, the HO plans (now dismantled) would have continued. The only spare room that I have is my office - so that needs to be presentable and clutter-free as I meet with clients. Bit of a challenge, but I'm already getting some good ideas. Thanks.
krumpThe 2x4 using N may temporarily keep me in the hobby. Tuck it into a closet, slide it under the bed.
Good for you to keep something going. I think something slightly larger (than 2' X 4') would still slide under a bed or fit in nearly any closet and still allow you a reasonable radius for double-track in N scale.
Just because plywood comes pre-cut in specific sizes doesn't mean that those are necessarily the best sizes for layouts.
Do not, and I repeat myself.Do not limit your self to N scale track plans .There are a lot of HO track plans that convert to N very easy.
By the same token if you find a 4' 8' HO plan that you like and find yourself with the space to build it,do not down size it but build it to the HO size. You will find it easy enough to fill up a 4' x 8' N scale layout.One of the benifits is nice wide curves so your trains will look a lot better.
Actually you might check out some S and O scale track plans too.
Appreciating all the thoughts and ideas. I basically have only a few restrictions for ease of use, and space.
1) space is limited
2) can not interfere with my office (that is the income source and that will ultimately allow for a second home on the property in 3-4 yrs, translates to a "train room" in future.)
3) my phyiscal limitations (disability, and more recently a permanent back injury from a MVA) mean the I need to independently move it in / out of the space used, so lighter, smaller, simple footprints are best for a portable layout
4) I have a small acreage, so a station-shed to suit might be a future plan for the layout. The hobby farm is not suited for an outdoor railway though ... why did the chicken cross the tracks? ... to leave a deposit. (nope)
5) keeping it simple saves $$$ to pay the other bills down first
all the responses are giving me ideas to work with. thanks.
Have you considered a more permanent design that takes up the unused air space over say a book shelf/dvd rack etc? This is what I went with, and managed to talk my other half into liking the idea (I know, not many are as fortunate as I am). Around the walls, 12"-18" wide and somewhere around 36" or your eyelevel (whichever is easiest). You can mount this without benchwork. Just think of it as an around the room bookshelf (metal hangars that screw into studs).
BMMECNYC - that was sortof the earlier plan that I had with the HO. Unfortunately this would not be workable in the reno'd basement-into-suite, as access consideration is paramount (walker, cane, wheelchair ...). I might try to hinge the plywood to the wall though, say in a corner somewhere ...
Ulrich,Your track plan is perfect for a one engine shortline. The long track in front could serve as a interchange. The engine could be kept in front of the station-now being used as a office.
You may not realize this but,that layout could be operated as a out and back with x many loop "miles" between the interchange and the industry area..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Krump, I'm a big fan of a plan published in Model Railroader a little while ago called "Southern's Spartanburg Subdivision" (perhaps a little big at 3 x 5.5 ft), but the concept is really good and might shed some ideas.
I'm also a fan of 'Twice Around' layouts, and even in a small area, if you're clever with scenery, this design is fantastic at essentially doubling your mainline run.
I also designed and constructed a layout for my partner on a hollow core door recently. The size of a hollow core door is actually quite good for storage, and a couple of cheap fold-up saw horses make excellent legs for when it comes time to operate the layout. We based the track plan on the "Carolina Central", but added a working interchange and a diamond to fit a 1950's Midwestern theme, and used Kato Unitrack. When it's not in use, it just leans up against the wall in a spare room.
Hope this is of some inspiration,
Mitch
OK, let´s voice some criticism!
The OP asked for layout ideas for a 2 by 4 footprint N scale layout he intends to build. He also gave the reason why he wants to go "that small".
What did he get so far?
A ton of advice he was not asking for!
And only 1(!) track plan idea!
Krump is no novice to model railroading, IIRC, so he does not need all that newbie stuff.
End of rant - let´s go back to the OP´s question.
If you, Mr. Krump, let me know what you would like to have on your layout in terms of industries, scenery etc. I will fire up my track planning tool to assist you in developing "your" track plan!
Howzat?
krump ps - just realized that there is a layout forum, if someone could copy / move this to there, that is fine with me
Moved, as requested.
You may also find inspiration in HO scale 4 x 8 plans. Just divide all dimensions in half.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Welcome to downsizing, son moved home and reduced my world to 1/3 original plan.
I know you asked for a plan and so only have one. I don't have a different plan, but you did mention that due to an MVA you needed a light layout. Have you considered a 2" foam base. It comes in 2x8 sheets. If you have the room in your storage spot (under bed or wherever) you could make a 2x4 a little longer to give you a bit more variety. A sheet of 1/4" plywood could protect the bottom and a strip of masonite around the edge would protect that. The masonite might even be enough for the underneath, since you are using such a small piece.
Just a thought to expand a little and maybe add some to the plan already presented.
EDIT: Another thought, a hollow core door can be cut down in length, just insert a filler strip in the opened end. I have a plan to do a small N layout on a door that would be able to go to shows, etc. In order to get it to a transportable size I plan to cut the door in half and have alignment pegs when I want to set it up.
Good luck,
Richard
I'm still looking at, and for options, but Madog's plan intrigues me, and I will have a look at some of the other suggestions also.
Funny how, when you leave things be (refocus on stuff that needs to be done) and then get back to it a week later, new ideas surface.
Here is my newest thought ... a box table on solid support legs, that is perhaps 3 ft x 5 ft (about the size of ao office desk surface), with the sides being 4 inches tall rather than simple edges. Thinking a plywood base, and 1x4 sides basically. Build the N scale layout inside this box, and have a "table top" to cover it all up. It can be set up in the office room without moving it in/out of the way. I always need a large flat surface for sorting the paperwork anyway, so this may resolve several ideas.
How tall proportionately is an N scale mountain that measures 3.5 inches ?
My wife insists that I have the larger spare room in the basement as my office (leaves the original smaller room for kids, guests). I think I can find a corner to just leave it set up, and covered.
Further thoughts ? :)
krump - there is quite a drawback to those "coffee table layouts" and that´s the viewing angle. You always look down at your layout and you always see all of it in one glance. This is not really helpful to tickle that railroad feeling in your mind.
It´s not a rule of thumb, but a helpful guideline when designing a layout. The smaller the scale is and/or the smaller the layout is, the closer you have to bring it up to your nose, i.e. eye level.
Let´s take a look at some more options, other than a coffee table layout and a layout you can store under a bed (not at all a good solution - think of the dust!).
A layout in a briefcase is a neat idea for those who are really space-starved and have no, nada, zilch space for a permanent set-up. There are limitations to the height of such a layout and the "best" scale would be Z scale.
Some time ago I designed a small layout for my own use:
Z scale is not really cheap and are only few US prototype locos and cars available.
Another option is building a mini-modular layout. I did that a few years ago and it was great fun. The mini modules are only about 6" by 12" and can be stored on a shelf when the layout is not being "operated". I won´t go through the details here, but there is some reading available here:
Confessions Of A Mediocre Model Railroader
Wow Ulrich, you really have given some good advice (And great track plans!). I'm a bit new to both the hobby, and this forum - but I'm in a very similar situation as the OP. I'll have to keep an eye on this thread to see how things progress. I too, was looking at Z scale, but wondered if it might not be to 'finnicky' when compared to N scale. 52" x 26" does seem like a nice size.
Krump,
On page 172 of the walthers N and Z catalog there are pre-made 30"x 48" layout terrain bases. There is at least one continuous loop plan. They appear to not include track, and weigh 12 lbs according to the info provided. I am not endorsing this product as I have never used it and I have no affiliation with the company. Track plans can be found here: http://www.terrainfortrains.com/Trackp~1.htm
This also allows for future additions (they are set up for that). They are a bit pricey ($310 for the continous run piece unpainted, $385 pre-painted).
From your previous post money appears to be tight. I ran some numbers, you could put $25-$35 a month in one of those christmas savings type accounts or something like that and after 12mo you have about enough to cover the cost of one of these pre-built layout pieces.
They do not appear to come with benchwork. I hope this is at least helpful. You might want to run the track plan(s) past the LDsig members on here to flush out any potential issues before commiting to a design.
krumpHow tall proportionately is an N scale mountain that measures 3.5 inches ?
46.5ft
There are a ton of plans over at "Mike's Small Track Plans" (http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm) 2x4, 2x3, HCD, shelf, just about anything you want.