Thanks all, I will be using several Peco switches that are only 3.5 in long. I am assured my the desiner it will fit, some junctions will be very critical to lay to make it happen. Now low and behold I am moving so that puts the kabash on this for a while, Damn !! I'm gonna try though. Tony
May I ask who this designer is, why they chose to use such tiny turnouts and are there any other examples of his/her designs? Unfortunately, the more I look at the plan, the less it appeals to me. I believe you could choose a much better design than this for the space you have.
Hi all, The design is still being tested by the designer. Z Scale was mentioned too, Z was my first choice guys but not enough hardware really to be had and it's very tedious, I don;t mind tedium but I think N is the scale for me. I have looked at many, many layouts before I got to this one, all were doable but not the prototype I am after. I am after a prototype EL industrial layout and I will be scratchbuilding a big portion of the actual buildings on the prototype and it will follow a prototype track layout that existed as much as possible. I can expand this to "main line" if I get space in the future. It can't be a bit bigger than 30x48 now. This is not going to be a continuous-running layout, it will have the loop for storage reasons and prototype matching purposes. I am thinking about a connecting 'yard' module as soon as space is available. It will have a variety of industries (most) that still exist today for photo reference Purely an industrial switching operation really it will be. SW8 is the intended power on the industrial track. Tony
It's been a while, but here's some more thoughts to consider. I suggest forgetting the notion to expand your layout at a later date. Sure it sounds appealing to start small and intend to expand it later on, but I think once that date comes, a great majority of people would rather start completely over so they can apply all the tips & techniques they learned on the original. Also, and more importantly, designing something with intentions to expand later sacrifices a good amount of possibilities you can accomplish now. Consider the mainlines in the current proposed design. They take up quite a chunk of real estate, valuable real estate that could better be used for scenic/structural elements. Using the backdrop hides the staging and breaks the visual connection of the loop. What if you just made the loop the main line? You can then fan out the industries as the space occupied by current main line tracks will now be free. The backdrop will still break the visual connection of the loop, implying the mainline still comes from one point and goes off to another, and you can still keep trains stored on the loop behind the backdrop. Such an alteration will also allow larger turnouts and curves, probably the biggest advantage gained. I'll spend a few minutes and see if I can make a visual of what I just described...
Here's the new proposal. There is some obvious differences, but basic concept of the original design is still there. The minimum radius here is 9.75 inches and has easements where visible. The original design's max radius was only about 7". The turnouts are Unitrack #4's, still considered a small turnout but about twice as long and way more forgiving. Original:
Mark,,,,, Hi Mark, Fisrt let me say that there is no doubt that you know more than me concerning this stuff, I have not model RR'd for over 35 years. The designerof this layout also has extensive experiance in design and building of very small N scale layouts, so I am listeing to both sides to be sure. ( I do have extensive static modeling experieience, and hands on 1/1 mechanical experience in all types of equipment fabrication and repairs, just making it clear I am not a desk jockey that does not know how to operate tools, and fabricate things, for the record.) The main focus to me is to be true to this particular prototype, the trackage on the left of the layout in the original design going over Blackstone Ave actually goes up and into the building (A) Also the double mainline going thru the center is on the protoype. All the industires represented are there today for reference too. This layout can be expanded to include another part of the city and also the next city, and yards, although in a very compressed manner, which is the name of the game I thought in model RR'ing. I do see however that you plan would work also, yes indeed, but I fell that the double mainline would have to be put in. The designer and I have done alot of research into this plan and it's still on the drawing board to to speak. As of now the whole project is on Hold as I am moving and this might not get off the ground anytime in the near future. The original plan was this size as this was the size I had available to model in, now of course this has changed as I might not have any area to model in at all in the future, then again I may have more room than I had here in this house. We'll see. Spring is here, moving in 3 weeks or so and outdoor pursuits call me so.......... I have all things concering this layout saved and I hope like hell to be able to do it someday soon. I appreciate all your input no doubt about it, I am learning everyday about all things model RR'ing and N scale. Thanks Tony
Now I understand more about why you've chosen this particular design. As you can see, I'm perfectly happy with sacrificing some prototypical elements to get things down. Others want to be as prototypical accurate as possible. There's no right or wrong, but in this case, I'm still worried that there just wont be enough space. It's good that you're still working with the original designer and have been doing loads of research. Hopefully your move will go quick and flawless (and of course, we hope you get 10x the space for your layout. ). Keep us updated on any new ideas!
Thanks Mark, It's a long story, but as I learned more about this prototype the more I became facinated with it so..... I do know that the former size limitations willnot be in effect any longer, don;tknow what that will do to the design. I will be lurking on the boards till I get going again, could be weeks. months or years, hate to say it but,, Regards Tony
Well there's plenty of other topics here to keep your train addiction quenched until the layout becomes reality! Dont go into full lurking mode.
yea I hear ya keeping the addiction is the hardest thing for me to do. Lot of other interests ya know !!? I am an oil painter, try to be anyway and saltwater fishing is a passion so from April to Oct I am busy with that stuff. I have always been a late fall winter modeler anyway, so we'll see what happens. Thanks Tony
