Howdy all. Ok, it may not be that big of railroad, but it sure is a small space.
Been awhile since Ive posted, all though I have clicked and lurked here and there. Just a few days ago, I finally picked up a new phone, a IPhone 6. Been having a blast taking pictures... One mode it has, is the abilty to take panoramic pictures. And that gave me an idea. Which brings me to here.
For those that are new, the back story.
Several years ago, I moved into a small apartment. Roughly 460 sq feet, 1 bedroom apartment. Coming from a house, to here was a challenge for the hobby, but I was bound to make it work. I came up with a good floor plan and using some balance with furniture, I was able to "find space". In years passed I have talked to a few about how you can squeeze it, and still have a nice layout. Using the pano mode, I took this picture so it can give an idea how I did it.
The room is 11.5 feet wide. The flat screen is a 42". The layout is 11.5 wide, but 24" deep. The ends are 40" wide. My radius is 17". It is tight but had make a compromise. 17 works for the 2 axle rolling stock. But, some of my 3 Axl power does run, its super tight, but at least I can take them out and run them
In this picture, my son is playnig Xbox. I used simple plastic shelves for bench work with the use of few 12" shelf brackets. I had the old tool boxes from the shop and they have been assigned to "railroad duty" for years. They hold various kits, projects, cars etc. In the clear bins on the shelves, hold trees, and details for scenery. And the others hold other rail cars for changes in rollng stock. In the drawers of my old dresser, hold scenery materails and odds and ends. Other drawers hold movies and games for the TV. I am renting, and some day, next year or so, I think I migth be moving. Only major plans bench work related is finally finishing of the end with valance or cover for the foam and improvd lighting.
It's a squeeze, but it works. Better than I thought. Any questions, be more than happy to share.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
Congratulations Big John,
You have done a wonderful job on downsizing, it is a great layout. I hope that Ulrich will take a long hard look at it to get some ideas of how to incorporate, living space, storage space and layout to work together.
Well done.
Johnboy out.......................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Making the most of the available space is an art in itself, John. This is really impressive what you have been able to do -- and still have room to actually live in your apartment! It is probably just as well that living room wrestling isn't another of your hobbies (unless it is??).
Dave Nelson
Another proof that you don´t need a basement empire to enjoy model railroading!
I have considerably less space available than you have, but I am right now working on a layout concept to fill my 6´ by 2´ space with a modular layout - essentially a couple of micro-layouts linked together, which each one depicting a different scene.
I clicked through your photobucket pics. The layout looks great. Thanks for sharing.
-E-C-Mills I clicked through your photobucket pics. The layout looks great. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very kindly EC.
Happy to hear it Ulrich. Love to some pics of what you have come up with.
dknelson Making the most of the available space is an art in itself, John. This is really impressive what you have been able to do -- and still have room to actually live in your apartment! It is probably just as well that living room wrestling isn't another of your hobbies (unless it is??). Dave Nelson
Thanks Dave! I do miss the old one. But I have really enjoy this and I have lerned a lot working with this one. Working with buildings, scenery and weathering.