Hi, im a longtime train modeler but this is my first venture into On30. I have so far a 0-4-0 gas mechanical and a 2-6-0 along with a boxcar, a flat and a small gondola ( the latter two being scratchbuilt effort). After moving in and settling in last july, im will finally be able to start on a layout. The apartement we live in is a 2 bedroom , of which the larger one has been split in 2 to form the "hobby room". on one side, my wife has her scrapbooking and craft stuff and on the other side, my trains, wargaming minis .subbuteo etc.. . after doing some careful planning and figuring how to maximize the square footage , i came to realize that within my half of the 12 by 12 room ( i.e: 6 x 12), after figuring space needed for bookcases,work table, storage and all the various stuff need for my hobbies, the most i could possibly allot to train would be an area roughly 117" by 18" (9 3/4' by 1 1/2') .
Now mind you im used to working in small space and im sure to some this would be a boon (for me it sure is as last layout was HO in a water heater closet roughly 24" by 60"). Whats kinda mentally blocking me is the horizontal clearance needed for On30 as well as a desire to minimize turnout .. well maybe not minimize but seeing im planning on handlaying track and turnout, i dont wanna make more work for myself than i need to...While im not the operation freak, i do want to be to use the layout for either simple card operation or puzzle-like operation ( i.e: timesaver style)
here are some of my givens and druthers:era:late 30's to prewar , nothing set in stone but no wild deviation either
locale: not quite sure, part of me enjoys urban area with intense builded area and concrete canyon but somehow it dont seem to go with the usual trend or layout people build in On30. I do have a particular affection for southern california though
traffic: well because im thinking probably short line there's probably a little bit of everything: passenger , maybe one or two related industries and maybe a full size transfer point to interchange
operation: nothing high stress, my basic idea would involve the small critter doing the bulk of the work while the "big" engine handle the passenger and brings in the cut of cars from the transfer
rolling stock: aside from the 2 engine, i dont plan on getting anything else, motive power wise, at least nothing bigger than the 2-6-0 as it would go to waste or gather dust. I would like to have a large roster or cars though as the scratchbuilding i did on the flat and gondola has proven to be very fun. nothing to scare off competetive modelbuilder but certainly something quite evocative.
track/control/etc: i want to handliay track so that means, i kinda wanna keep thing simple. no complicated crossover, no weird angle turnout, no double or triple crossing or double slips. I want to keep simple on the elctrical side as well. good ole fashioned dual cab set up with toggle switch and a neat little control panel. im not sure yet on how to lock points in place yet of the turnout but if i can id like them to be live frog ( just to keep dead spot to a minimum) everything should be easily accessible / buildable / maintenable and tearable in case it dont work
there, thats a lot to say and not even sure theres a question in there, just a bunch of statement and interogation. comments question always appreciated
D