Gray,One can incorporate a decent layout with industries,small yard and still have room for scenery on a 3x7' layout.I wouldn't waste any space for stagging since I would build it as a branch line or short line centered around that type of operation..
I wish I had photos of my 36" x72" hollow core door layout I had in the 80s.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE As a former N Scaler I am not impress at all with that 2'x7' track plan since there are better plans that would work far better in that space... Maybe MR should allow its N Scale readers to design such future N Scale project layouts?
As a former N Scaler I am not impress at all with that 2'x7' track plan since there are better plans that would work far better in that space...
Maybe MR should allow its N Scale readers to design such future N Scale project layouts?
I thought it was a good plan. It don't look like a spaghetti bowl, there's atleast 5 industries and hidden staging. If I had the space I'd be building a copy of it right now but based on a different geographical area. (David designed ithe's an N scaler.)
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
ACY Mike: You been breathing those paint fumes again? Tom
Mike:
You been breathing those paint fumes again?
Tom
Heh, heh, heh.
Tom, you know I'm always thinking outside of the box. I figured the reality show format is pretty acceptable, warts and all, so MR might as well plug into the way people think about the world when they entertain themselves.
I would expect them to File 13 this idea, of course, except for the "improve my layout" part. Now there's the kernal of a new way to look at the project layout theme, although I'm not sure it's really original to me. Wasn't there a recent thread about some folks going and doing a makeover on someone layout? If not, if your wife watches enough HGTV or you something similar but more tool oriented, the "makeover" is also an idea that people could latch onto.
People could enter the contest with a pic or two and a short eassy describing why the layout is so lame, while extolling its potential for improvement. Best sob story wins.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
If you like the track plan and the basic concept, I'm sure it could easily be adapted for any era. Just change the scenery and some of the industries, and voila... Really the only thing that would need to change is the scenery portion of the layout. The trackwork, electrical, benchwork, etc would still be the same. Maybe MR could address this in future project layouts by publishing suggested "alternative era/location" diagrams with different industries and scenery to fit a particular theme. IIRC, I've seen a similar thing done with some of Ian Rice's designs in some of the Kalmbach books.
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
jmbjmb For the last few years they have done pretty well at hitting a good mix, including the styles of railroading I'm interested in. For the project layouts, I love seeing a mix of scales and subjects just to see alternatives to what I'm doing (1950s SR branch) Last year's seaport hit one of my desires, as does this years midwest. I believe they did a modern HO shelf layout a couple years ago with the WSOR, but I agree with you that it was a bit on the large size. Because I love variety, personally I'd like to see the next layout be narrow gauge around the turn of the previous century (say 1890-1910). Perhaps in On30 to explore that scale/gauge combination. But I could go with the modern shelf as well. The one thing I'd really like to see in a project layout is for them to take a typical room, much like the standard "spare room" that MRP has used and build in it. I know it's a stretch, but mock up the walls, windows, closets, and doors and build around them. Would love to see how they approach common contraints and problems. jim
For the last few years they have done pretty well at hitting a good mix, including the styles of railroading I'm interested in. For the project layouts, I love seeing a mix of scales and subjects just to see alternatives to what I'm doing (1950s SR branch) Last year's seaport hit one of my desires, as does this years midwest. I believe they did a modern HO shelf layout a couple years ago with the WSOR, but I agree with you that it was a bit on the large size.
Because I love variety, personally I'd like to see the next layout be narrow gauge around the turn of the previous century (say 1890-1910). Perhaps in On30 to explore that scale/gauge combination.
But I could go with the modern shelf as well. The one thing I'd really like to see in a project layout is for them to take a typical room, much like the standard "spare room" that MRP has used and build in it. I know it's a stretch, but mock up the walls, windows, closets, and doors and build around them. Would love to see how they approach common contraints and problems.
jim
Yeh, but they would insist on calling it On2 1/2.
Ray
MR project layouts are supposed to be short enough for the average person before you decide to make that dream layout.
My idea for the next project layout would be Conrail in N Scale on a door probably set in the 1980s. The scenery and location doesn't bother me, as long they have everything else under control.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I have been thinking about this more. For the next Model Railroad Project Layout, I would like to see:
I've got an idea for the next project layout. "Moving In: The Model Railroader Reality Show." People enter their names and one lucky winner gets a different member of the MR staff every week for 16 weeks to help them finish their layout for the big reveal.
There will be Cody in his wifebeater t-shirt and Bugs Bunny slippers at breakfast. It turns out Neil snores...a lot...so you have to ask him to sleep out in the camper or your wife will renounce the contract. Steve O. went to graduate school with Julian Assange for a semester...lots of hijinks ensue when they spend an afternoon Skype-ing to catch up.
This could be fun...
The did just do On30, except it was only on MR Video Plus, not in the magazine. ANd it's a nice small layout that would fit just about anywhere.
As for using reader submitted track plans for a project layout, well, it seems most of the tiem, the reader submitted plans are plans for the layout they've already built. At least, the winning ones. Couldbe why they win - they are actual practical track plans that work when actually built, vs ones that may indeed fit int he space but have sneaky issues like grade clearnaces or just not fun to run trains on.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I think it would be cool to combine a layout design contest with the project layout series. In the past MR would have readers submit layout designs based on a set of constraints. They could do this again and then the winning design would be built by MR staff as the next project layout.
The N scale Red Oak layout looks great and I can't wait to read about it. I am sure that there will be a lot of new information I can use.
However, I model the modern era in HO scale. For the next project layout, I would like to see an HO scale modern era layout that is practical for small spaces. There were a few modern HO scale project layouts completed for the MR&T (MRR Staff layout), but the plans where a bit large. I was thinking something that would fit in a spare room. Maybe even a shelf layout. For a prototype, I would suggest a branch line that would have a few GP38-2s, GP40, GP40-2s, or maybe an SD40-2.
What are your ideas for the next Model Railroader Project Layout?