for several reasons' 1. there small and manageable 2. they are cheap to build and dont need complex benchwork 3 who is saying you cant connect 2 4x8s together? often, there all a person has domestic approval for (ie, the wife, or in my case mother wont let the have any more 4. if mounted on wheels, they can be kept in 4 foot by 8 foot no more 5 i have fit a lot of action into several 4x8's these are just my pros of 4x8's. i know off at least one disadvantage, that they are limited to tight curves, but, the smaller locos are often cheaper too (ie, a GP9 is cheaper than a BVig boy these are my 4x8 plans enjoy
I agree, despite planning an around the walls layout there is some strange kind of appeal towards the ol 4x8. Ever check out http://www.gatewaynmra.org? Some excellent layouts there. Click on Project Railroads. Nice track plans, the first one seems influenced by Model Railroader's "Red Wing".
Yes I too have a 4X8 layout. When I close my eyes the whole basement is the Canadian Pacific. But alas I am married with children so it is a 4X8 for now. I do agree that you can pack a lot of action in 4X8 feet though.
Remember back around the 1950's when it was necessary to hinge two 4x8's so the layout would fold up out of the way? They provided a full 8x8 layout. It did leave one side with buildings etc. facing out into the room, and sometimes a forgotten car would plunge to the floor, but they finally fizzled out when the concept of 2x4 Modules came around. Somewhere I remember a write up of a 2x4 type modular layout where three of the 2x4 sections were made to slide in under the top, like refrigerator shelves for storage, with a drawer under them to store rolling stock. For operation, #2 2x4 was mounted on aligning pegs that fit in holes on #1 (top) module, (with a leg at the outer corners of #2, 'C' clamped in place along the 2 foot end of #1 module. The remaining two 2x4's (#3 & #4), mounted on pegs along the 4 foot side of #1 and #2, also with 'C' clamped legs, then wiring plug/socket connectors completed the wiring to make a 4x8 layout. There were 'suitcase spring latches' to hold each module to the other. (You would 'peg' #3 to #4's end before 'pegging to #1 & #2.) He had a Plexiglas top that would hinge down flat over the top of #1 to protect the scenery, and the whole thing looked like a piece of furniture when "closed up" with a Dresser Scarf draped over it. One photo showed a lamp sitting in the center of the top, which made it look like a Chest of Drawers. (The 5 extra legs were slid into place under the drawer, and the 'C' clamps had a pocket for them inside the drawer. Visitors would not suspect it was a train layout. It was pretty neat, and the whole thing would roll from room to room on only four casters! I think it was an article in one of the Furniture or Wood Working magazines back in the early 50's. It was in his living room and his wife didn't mind.
Ah, drop-leaves. I first heard of them in Linn Wescott's HO Model Railroad that Grows. (Dated book, but I have yet to see a better explanation of how to manage block wiring.) I never noticed that I rarely heard of anyone actually using drop-leaves. They aren't really designed for moving, unlike a fully sectional/modular layout. The main advantage I can see is speed of setup.
