hey guys thinking aobut building the virginiain project layout but on a larger table top 6x10 what can i enlarge the curves radius to and whats the graded up to the branch line. lastly any thing that i shoudl change on the layout to make it more operatble thanks lfb.
Agreed. On a six foot wide "table top" any reaching will be very hard when constructing. And then later any maintenance or operation needs could be a headache.
Especially that mining branch that transverses the middle of the plan. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
well i have the table built alreayd rather not demolish it just to rebuild it already ill deal with the reach somehow either with a pop up hole or soemthing since my layotus on wheels and during operation it will be rolled away form walls into middle of room i just wnat to know how large i can increse the curve radius up to please and if it can be built with kato ho unitrack
Well the plan does have a large mountain you could make into a hatch, and you're enlarging it... Sorry I can't really help you with radii increases, I'm familiar with N scale Unitrack, no experience with the HO variety. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
LFB - A 6 foot wide table is 72" wide. Let's assume you want to keep the centerline of the track 4" from the edge on both sides. That decreases the available width by 8". So your available width is 72 - 8 = 64". Your maximum radius is half the available width. Half of 64" = 32" = your maximum radius for the outer curves if you stay 4" from the edges. The closest Kato HO Unitrack curve pieces are Item # 2-250: 31 1/8" Radius 22.5º Curve Track The layout can surely be built with Unitrack. However, I recommend you draw up an accurate track plan using a layout design program. That's the best way to determine which Unitrack pieces you will need and how it will all fit together. With a layout this large, you'll want an accurate track plan so you know exactly what track pieces to buy. - Jeff
thanks jeff anyway you could draw one up for me i cannot seem to get the hang of any of the track planning programs have tired quite a few of them and cool thanks for the info on the curves and yes id like to keep some space between table edge and the mainline cetner line to avoid the DEATH dive to the floor thanks for the help.
LFB - As long as you are not in a hurry, maybe I can give it a try. It will take a few hours, you know. You should not give up on learning to use one of the layout design programs yourself. Two of them -- XTrackCAD and SCARM -- are free. XTrackCAD has a good series of tutorials to help you learn the program. It's not THAT hard! - Jeff
LFB - Just to confirm, the layout below is the one you want to build, right? But you want to expand it to 6 x 10? - Jeff
okay yea im not in any hurry on it and yes that is the plan i want to build but in a 6x10 flavor i will keep trying on the software and i will look into the strkadprogram and thank you for the help again.
Anyrial has a pretty short learning curve, but you're limited to 50 pcs. in the trial. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
LFB - Here's a track plan for you. It's not perfect, and someone who is familiar with HO Unitrack can probably do better. At least it gives you an idea of what track pieces you will need. - Jeff XTrackCAD Parts List LFB Virginian Kato HO Unitrack 12/19/2015 Count | Description ------+----------------------------------------------- 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-105 Straight 2 3/8 60mm 4 | Kato Unitrack 2-111 Straight 3 11/16 94mm 5 | Kato Unitrack 2-120 Straight 4 1/2 114mm 4 | Kato Unitrack 2-130 Straight 6 7/8 174mm 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-140 Straight 4 7/8 123mm 3 | Kato Unitrack 2-150 Straight 9 3/4 246mm 4 | Kato Unitrack 2-160 Straight 8 15/16 227mm 21 | Kato Unitrack 2-180 Straight 14 1/2 369mm 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-210 Curved R21 5/8 550mm 22.5° 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-220 Curved R24 610mm 22.5° 11 | Kato Unitrack 2-230 Curved R26 3/8 670mm 22.5° 10 | Kato Unitrack 2-240 Curved 28 3/4 730mm 22.5° 9 | Kato Unitrack 2-250 Curved 31 1/8 790mm 22.5° 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-260 Curved R16 7/8 430mm 22.5° 5 | Kato Unitrack 2-290 Curved R34 1/8 867mm 22.5° 6 | Kato Unitrack 2-850 #4-L Turnout 6 | Kato Unitrack 2-851 #4-R Turnout 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-860 #6-L Turnout 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-861 #6-R Turnout 3 | Kato Unitrack R550-15.5° (incl w/#4 TO) 2 | Kato Unitrack R550-3.5+15.5° (incl w/#4 TO) 14 | Kato Unitrack R550-3.5° (incl w/#4 TO) 2 | Kato Unitrack R867-10° (incl w/ #6 TO) 3 | Kato Unitrack S114 (incl w/#4 TO) 4 | Kato Unitrack S61L (incl w/#4 TO) 2 | Kato Unitrack S61R (incl w/#4 TO) ------+------------------------------------------------
I could not leave well enough alone, so here is an improved track plan for The (Enlarged) Virginian. The changes are all in the two branch lines to improve the flow and the spacing of tracks. A revised parts list is included. Note that Unitrack turnouts include a few spare track pieces that are essential for fitting the layout together. These extra track pieces are not labeled on the track plan but are listed in the Parts List below. XTrackCAD Parts List The (Enlarged) Virginian Kato HO Unitrack 12/20/2015 Count | Description ------+----------------------------------------------- 3 | Kato Unitrack 2-105 Straight 2 3/8 60mm 5 | Kato Unitrack 2-111 Straight 3 11/16 94mm 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-120 Straight 4 1/2 114mm 4 | Kato Unitrack 2-130 Straight 6 7/8 174mm 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-140 Straight 4 7/8 123mm 3 | Kato Unitrack 2-150 Straight 9 3/4 246mm 5 | Kato Unitrack 2-160 Straight 8 15/16 227mm 20 | Kato Unitrack 2-180 Straight 14 1/2 369mm 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-193 Straight 5 7/8 159mm 4 | Kato Unitrack 2-210 Curved R21 5/8 550mm 22.5° 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-220 Curved R24 610mm 22.5° 9 | Kato Unitrack 2-230 Curved R26 3/8 670mm 22.5° 10 | Kato Unitrack 2-240 Curved 28 3/4 730mm 22.5° 9 | Kato Unitrack 2-250 Curved 31 1/8 790mm 22.5° 2 | Kato Unitrack 2-260 Curved R16 7/8 430mm 22.5° 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-270 Curved R19 1/4 490mm 22.5° 5 | Kato Unitrack 2-290 Curved R34 1/8 867mm 22.5° 6 | Kato Unitrack 2-850 #4-L Turnout 6 | Kato Unitrack 2-851 #4-R Turnout 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-860 #6-L Turnout 1 | Kato Unitrack 2-861 #6-R Turnout 2 | Kato Unitrack R550-15.5° (incl w/#4 TO) 1 | Kato Unitrack R550-3.5+15.5° (incl w/#4 TO) 16 | Kato Unitrack R550-3.5° (incl w/#4 TO) 2 | Kato Unitrack R867-10° (incl w/ #6 TO) 3 | Kato Unitrack S114 (incl w/#4 TO) 4 | Kato Unitrack S61L (incl w/#4 TO) 2 | Kato Unitrack S61R (incl w/#4 TO) ------+------------------------------------------------
very cool thank you again jeff for all your help on this now to start buying track after the holidays are over i have some of the track ill need the 24'' radius and the 9and3\4 straights have a temp elongated oval up on the table at the moment just to keep the juices flowing so to speak i will post my pgress when i start making things happen one more queston any advice on what bridge would work well with the kato track since kato does not make any bridges in the ho lineup and i know in the og plan there is a bridge for the branch to go over the main n the part where the bracn curves in the upper left corner. thank you again LFB.
LFB - There are no bridges on the layout. In the upper left corner the terrain is elevated so that the lower tracks go through tunnels beneath the two curved tracks. No bridges are required. Also, take a look at the original Virginian below -- no bridges! Let us know how you plan to deal with the "reach" issues. - Jeff
okay cool i just remeber in one of the project videos on youtube david pop talked abotu a bridge and my plan is simple the whole layout will be acessable form all sides when in operation i built the layout on heavy duty locking castor wheels when not in use its stowed against 2 walls and when in use will be in middle of my bedroom slash mancave i will keep ya'll posted on the progress. gonna go to my local hobby shop after christmas is over and see if i can get some of the supplies for atleast the mainline.
The branch has a curved trestle before the coal load out siding. It isn't necessary though since it doesn't cross over lower tracks. Glad someone stepped up with some Unitrack plans for you, have fun! Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Remember: It's YOUR layout, so if you want bridges you are free to add some. Apparently, HO Unitrack can be connected to Atlas track by removing the Unijoiners and replacing them with regular Atlas joiners. So you could use Atlas track with any bridge you like! - Jeff
