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Why not N scale 4X8s?

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  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Saturday, December 1, 2012 4:36 PM

The only reason 4x8 became a popular size for a layout is because that's the standard size of a sheet of plywood, and someone who had no saw could build a layout with minimal effort.

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Oreland PA
  • 986 posts
Posted by UncBob on Saturday, December 1, 2012 6:46 PM

DELETED as already covered

51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )

ME&O

  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Corpus Christi, Texas
  • 2,377 posts
Posted by leighant on Saturday, December 1, 2012 8:29 PM

I had an N scale 3 x7 which might still exist if I had built it as 4 x 7 or 4 x 8.

I tried to get a mainline oval with 2-3 hidden staging tracks, plus a branch line outside the oval.  The 9 3/4 inch radius curves (and probably my own "kinky" contributions) led to its demise.

("ground zero":

If I could have had maybe 12" radius mainline curves, and 2-3 additional stagin g tracks so I could run all my desired opertions on the layout...

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Saturday, December 1, 2012 9:40 PM

BF&D

BRAKIE

"Any modern 4 axel unit"  rules out any steam locomotives or older first generation 4 axel units.

Is Axel Rose first or later generation?   OK, OK, don't get steamed  -  just pulling that diseasel chain.

Let's see..Gun & Roses was a late 70 or 80s band so,second generation.Maybe a GP40-2?

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: good ole WI
  • 1,326 posts
Posted by BerkshireSteam on Sunday, December 2, 2012 3:44 AM

BRAKIE

BF&D

BRAKIE

"Any modern 4 axel unit"  rules out any steam locomotives or older first generation 4 axel units.

Is Axel Rose first or later generation?   OK, OK, don't get steamed  -  just pulling that diseasel chain.

Let's see..Gun & Roses was a late 70 or 80s band so,second generation.Maybe a GP40-2?

GP38-2, could technically stretch GP50 and GP60 in there also, U series from GE and Dash 7 definitely, and could also stretch the early Dash 8's in there.

Ha, I win. Wink

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: good ole WI
  • 1,326 posts
Posted by BerkshireSteam on Sunday, December 2, 2012 3:57 AM

Now for my real post, it really relates the person modeling. I quickly became interested in the hobby, first issue of MR I got was April '08 issue covering building of WSOR Troy Branch structures. I have gotten cars and locos in both N and HO, but nothing more than that.

So, now I lie with no layout, but am beyond the point for a table top layout with out-of-the-box structures, 'grass' mats, and plastic-road-attached track. No matter what I try I run into the problem of "not enough space". My allowed layout space shrinks and grows worse than our economy. When I first got into I had an entire spare room 11.5 x 10 feet for myself. Now, dealing with a moving fiasco, I was notified by the wife I get the 6 foot wide space between the wall and the door of this same room.

Needless to say going from a room sized layout plan to a shelf only a few inches taller than I am, planning is getting no where.


I'm looking forward to the day when I can get a few hundred square feet of space to build a railroad empire. Of course, if I had that space I would probably drop my N scale stuff off at a second hand store and stock up on HO. The sounds alone that come out of a DCC/sound diesel can keep me occupied, but alas I have also become addicted to N scale.

Uuuuh, decisions decisions.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, December 2, 2012 7:14 AM

BerkshireSteam
So, now I lie with no layout, but am beyond the point for a table top layout with out-of-the-box structures, 'grass' mats, and plastic-road-attached track.

Some of my most enjoyable  N Scale hours was switching a 4 track Unitrack yard layout on my dining room table .I could and did spend 2-3 relaxing  hours switching cars.IMHO that beats nothing.

The downfall of my  N Scale was the slinky action of the MT coupler that killed the realism of switching since the last two cars slinked back and forth unrealistically.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: North Carolina
  • 1,905 posts
Posted by csxns on Sunday, December 2, 2012 11:43 AM

Why are Grass Mats bad,the ones i see at the LHS are high dollar i was thinking about getting some but with the track down i changed on that one.

Russell

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Pittsburgh, PA
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by JoeinPA on Sunday, December 2, 2012 11:52 AM

csxns

Why are Grass Mats bad,the ones i see at the LHS are high dollar i was thinking about getting some but with the track down i changed on that one.

It's not that they are bad it's just that they are not very realistic looking. Most modellers don't like the uniform, "Astro Turf" look that they give.

Joe

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Staten Island NY
  • 1,734 posts
Posted by joe323 on Sunday, December 2, 2012 1:13 PM
With respect to the grass mats I used one but ended up covering most of it anyway so why bother

Joe Staten Island West 

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