Here I is almost 30 years after I received my 1st and last train set at the age of about 10. That little HO circle track kept me entertained for all of about a week until mom got tired of that 4X4 pc of plywood in the living room. So the train went to a storage box.
Over the years I would on occasion pick up a copy of MR or spend an hour or two sketching out a layout. Most of these sketches were room sized around the walls with bridges and canyons and running water and many other "slightly challenging" great ideas.
Now I'm in a better position ("I" being myself, my wife and kids) to afford the money and space to begin a layout. Here is where the planning becomes complicated and also where I discovered the question that is being addressed here....the existance of the 4X8.
Almost all reasons, thoughts and ideas presented here are very real foundations for the 4X8 being so popular. Having said that, here are my reasons for shooting for a 4X8-
1-since our basement (the only area my wife would permit such a hobby) is still "unfinished" I need something fairly portable. If we decide to finish out a certain area of the basement then 2 people can move the layout easily.
2-a 4X8 is relatively economic to produce (at least from the roadbed down) which permits more funds for the roadbed up.
3-this will be a trial run to determine my skills, intestinal fortitude, and the patience of my wife.
4-pending the results of #4 it will determine whether or not I continue.
The comment was made about this thread becoming ridiculous.....I think it is very informative for those of us who may be entertaining the idea of building their first layout. We look at what is available in books and on the net and what do we see? In HO we see constructing the building sized layouts, room sized layouts, and then the old stand by of the 4X8.
There is a population of us newbies that benefit from discussions such as this....
just my 1.258 cents (accounting for the economy)
ken
Space Mouse, you did one heck of a job on the Beginners Guide!!! I have attended workshops thru my employer that simplified streamlined manufacturing processes but have never even considered applying the same theorys to designing a layout. Now I need to postone my designs and focus on the intended purposes of each stop.
thank you for that info!
Ken
concretelackey wrote: Space Mouse, you did one heck of a job on the Beginners Guide!!! I have attended workshops thru my employer that simplified streamlined manufacturing processes but have never even considered applying the same theorys to designing a layout. Now I need to postone my designs and focus on the intended purposes of each stop.thank you for that info!Ken
Thank you for saying so.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.