Hello. I am planning my first layout, and I have very limited space. At first I thought of just a 4′×8′ layout, and it is still in my mind as it is simplest to construct. However, I have also considered going around the three walls. Could I get some input on these ideas, or maybe some other suggestions? (Please don't say move. I am hoping this will be the last place I will ever live.)
Are you commited to a continuous loop or are you willing to go point to point? If continuous loop, are you willing to do a duck under to get into it? Or have a movable section to get in? What prototype are you looking at? I would not build a 4x8 and have 2 sides against a wall. That's not going to be fun for access to the layout and anyway, one of the open sides has less than 2' of space. That's not going to work out. Assuming you want a continuous loop and are willing to deal with a duck under and/or can build benchmark high enough. I would do the following: You can pack a fair amount of railroading and scenery in such a shell layout. Most of the benchwork can be cantilevered off the walls. Ugh, that picture is small. Basically it is 4 tables 2 24" wide. One 18" wide and one 12" wide. With 5' of width, you can commit to some reasonable curves around the corners and your length is sufficient for decent linear track. Plus a little fiddle yard over by the bathroom. If you don't need a continuous loop, then remove the 12" section. Or only do part of it converting the plan from a Q to a G style plan. Since the Bathroom is there, I'm going to assume blocking the entrance is a non-starter. If not, then the Heart of Georgia plan would be even slightly bigger.
Having to reach 3-4" is NOT the way to go. Try to get your reaches under 2.5'. How about your layout being a triangle in upper right corner w/ open middle. Access to middle could be thru a lift bridge. Why do you want to go roundy-round? 99.99999% of the real RRs don't run like that. Think about going point to point. And it could go multilevel easily that way for more run.
Multi-Level in such a small space is going to be a challenge. That Helix is going to take a huge chunk of room.
Here's an example of a layout I'm working on in a small space (6 by 11 1/2 feet). A bit of a duckunder, with a layout height of 54 inches above the floor. The track at the bottom is semi-hidden, and serves as staging, which allows for operation. Yoho suggested the Heart of Georgia HO layout, which is an 8x8-foot around-the-wall layout. I second his suggestion, as it can be modified somewhat to fit the space There are ideas for small layouts by Iain Rice, Lance Mindheim, and Byron Henderson (the latter posts on here once in a while). Personally, I'd avoid a 4x8 layout like the plague, mainly due to access issues.
greetings Michael J always good to welcome someone to the forum especially a PRR fan ;-) in HO scale, the smallest radius of curve you would want to use is 18" and that is a really small radius and will probably only allow for 4 axle locomotives and 40-50ft rolling stock at least in terms of how it will look (not everything that will operate on 18" radius looks good on that radius) thus, your width of 36" is not sufficient. the radius is a measurement of track center. so using 18" radius it will be 36" just from distance of track center to track center on a 180 degree turn. in wanting to provide for trains that will derail and not having them crash to the floor, you want some table space to the outside of each track. so, using 18" radius you would want the width of your tabletop to be atleast 40" or more. this is what it would look like: sincerely Gary
but even a nolix is going to be tight in that space assuming a reasonable grade. You could put in subgrade stagging and just have a relatively high grade to get out of it. Now, if it's a logging line... NOW, having said all that, I would probably just build 2 layouts one on top of the other in that space, because that's the kind of crazy guy I am.
I have to say, while it is on the small side, I'm kind of jealous of that space. It appears to be off the living room which means your "with the family" as it were, not off in the dungeon. And it appears to have open space. You could make a small, but very solid layout there.
Are the yellow areas simply space available for use, or what you wish for actual layout space? If the latter, you've a long reach to do anything. Pop-up access would help, but I hope you'll consider something more within the span of an arm's reach.
Well, I'm not interested in getting into an argument about it, but look at how he described the neighboring spaces. It appears to be an alcove off the livingroom and the access to the bathroom is in the "L" part of the room. So I'm assuming that blocking that, even with a removable section is unacceptable. So really, he only has 5'x9'11" to loop around.
If it's your first layout I would go small and do something either on a shelf around the room, or even one of the small atlasrr.com starter layouts on a 4x6. Just build a layout, chances are you'll want to rebuild at some point. It is a common delusion that the first layout will be the last layout. As you gain skills you'll see where your layout could have been better. A smaller layout will allow you to develop a sense for what you enjoy about the hobby from a practical perspective. For myself, I always thought I wanted to have a perfect sceniced layout that would some day appear on the cover of a model magazine. I've since realized I am actually more of a toy train guy and just like to make them go roundy roundy. My imagination fills in the blanks on missing scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epnb_rrJPOE But back to what you want. Are you a model builder, or a mainline runner or a switching problem guy? Do you like doing electronics or scenery? At some point you'll discover what part of the hobby is your real passion and it may make you want to rebuild so you can follow that desire.
