why does everyone hate 4X8 layouts?

[Anonymous]

I dislike small looping layouts. I'd rather take that 4x8 sheet, cut it in half, and build either a 2' deep 16' long shelf switcher, or or an 8x10 l shaped switching layout. Watching a train go around and around doesn't entertain me. I'd be rather dropping off and picking up cars at a bunch of industries.

[BRAKIE]

Only those that hate the 4x8 has no idea what can be done with a piece of plywood..Check out these small layouts!


http://www.gatewaynmra.org/project10.htm

Look more closely and you will see some of these layouts are 4x6 foot!!!

[joeyegarner]

It's not that I hate them, it's that they are so impractical. Once a person gains experience they usualy go on to other things, with a 4X8 there is not much room to make many changes with your track plan, I like to build shelf layouts now they can give you good point to point or around the room layouts and it's a lot eaiser to do scenery on them. I really don't think there practical. But to each thier own.

[Anonymous]

i like layouts that are somewhat small, say a few 4'x8' sheets of plywood. i would not want to have one of those layouts that takes up a 20'x20' room- i want to watch trains run- how do you keep an eye on them w/ a layout that large? the only advantage that has is being able to run 125+ car trains[:D]

[cheese3]

actually i love 4x8s, they are usually more complete than larger layouts so they look great!!!

[Itsed65]

I wish I had room for a 4X8! When I was a kid living at home I got my start in the hobby that way and learned alot by the 10 or so different trackplans I put down and tore up. When we moved to a bigger house, my parents very nicely gave up half of a two car garage for my HO empire which I sadly had to remove when I joined the Air Force and moved away from home.

Fast forward twenty something years and I am living in a one bedroom apt, and just managed to squeeze in a 32X80 door. I am now starting my first N scale layout and having a lot of fun with it. Sure more room would be nice, but its all about making the most of the space that you have!

ed

[tmcc man]

Well, I started out with the 4X8 layout when I was in HO, and I got a lot of compliments on it. I never heard that anyone dislikes 4X8s on here. I am now into O gauge, and I am now moving outside wiyh all my G scale stuff.

[Marty Cozad]

Dang, now 8 ft will only hold 3 engines in line.

[Anonymous]

the HO scale layout i recieved this fall (my first one)was 4ft by 40"- it had an outside oval track and a circle just barely fit inside that- not only was it small 2 trains could run at once! my grandfather built it in the early 1980's. i promptly added 4' by 8' so now it's 4ft by 12 ft. i see nothing wrong with a 4by8- however once you've had bigger you will never go back --the thing i most hated about the 4'by40" was trains had to be short ,6 cars was the most without looking crowded. now with 4'by12' trains can be 20 cars long and it looks ok. i kept the small circle should someone else want to run a train. What scale is your 3'by6' Josh_A?

[Marty Cozad]

Where did you get that they hate it?
4 X 8 is basic beginners and a simple wood method of construction. Once you fill the board you can change the design.
By the time you fill up 32 sq ft, you then can gain more space.
And I to had a 3 X 6 RR back in the ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,60's. woow,,, age,,, is catching up with me.[;)]

[railroadyoshi]

I agree with both of the above reasons. The main reason the 4x8 became the basics of MR was because of the standard and easy to obtain materials, but they aren't the most efficienct use of space.

[Anonymous]

I don't neccicarily have a problem wit a 4X8. Its just 4X8s are not as flexible as I would like. They would make good penensuals though in an expanded system that goes around the walls.

James

[Adelie]

It's not a hatred. But a lot of people plop a 4x8 down in the middle of the room, and if you look at the available space, you can get a lot more railroad in an around-the-wall scheme. And on a 4x8, both of the 8' edges need to be accessible or reach is a problem.

[Anonymous]

Ive noticed that some members despise the cliche 4x8 layout, and I was just curious why? My layout is 3x6, along the same lines as a 4x8, so I uppose that puts me in the same boat. Im just curious whats so wrong with them?

For me, I dont have the room to build a giant empire. I like my simple loop, I realize that it has several limitations, but Id like to hear from others what they think the pluses and minus of that style layout are...