Possibility of me moving into a small apartment. Any ideas or tips on layouts in a really small space. Id rather prefer not to do a switching layout if at all possible.
It all depends on what you can give up space wise for your layout. But an around the walls shelf layout actually sitting on book shelves, so that you do not damage the walls with screws, is a good option. Otherwise your kind of stuck with the small 4x6 or 4x8 style layout. What kind of trains do you want to run?
Any ideas of space size available? Shape of that area? Interference from doors, closets, windows? What else, non-hobby, will be neecessary in the room?
Do a Google search for HO layouts in whatever size room you think you'll have & what type layout you want.. Also check out layouts already posted hear & other MR forums. Most bedrooms are 9' x 10. Guessing you want a roundy round one to just run trains w/ no switching. If you want to run two or more trains pick one w 2 or more sidings so trains running in opposite directions. Are you going to run passenger & freight trains? Once you have a plan you like pot an image here to get other opinions on it. If this is your first layout pick one that's relatively simple so you can learn what you like about layouts. If you have an LHS go there to ask about any home layouts that welcome visitors. Also ask about any local HO clubs you can visit. They should be able to help you w/ any questions you have. Have mine in my living room which is 10' x 14' but have to take into account any wall heaters though. '
I will mostly run coal on my layout seeing as how coal is pretty much a way of life from where I'm from in wv. I know the bedrooms will be off limits. Living room maybe?
Whenever someone says they have a small space I always ask what they like to run. And I try not to be insulting, but with 7x4 feet you'd be amazed what you could do in a smaller scale. Either that or an earlier time period with single steam locos and shorter trains. But I also know how it is when you are used to a certain scale/era etc. It just feels wrong doing anything else.
Not sure what era is of most interest for you? What type of setting? Urban/industrial? Rural? As always, I suggest sticking with smaller motive power, smaller cars and structures. The larger you go, the more it visually shrinks the space available.
