Who has a small layout?

bremner Dec 28, 2017

  1. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    How many of us have a small layout? Model Railroader Magazine classifies a small layout as one under 120 square ft. Even a 4x8 is 32 square ft. My N Scale Playa Desnuda Branch is a whole whopping. 8.4 square ft.

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  2. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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  3. RBrodzinsky

    RBrodzinsky November 18, 2022 Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Well, I guess the JACALAR counts as small. While in an 8x15 shed, since around the wall, really only has bout 50sq ft. And then, of course, there are the modules.
     
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  4. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  5. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I think my new N road will be about 34 SqFt , L-Shaped and made of HCD tables cut to shorter length. As I weigh build cost, maintenance and moving it someday, I'm sketching some smaller plans as options. My ideal plan would be an around-the-walls pike on shallow shelving, but I'll likely never have the space for something like that.
     
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  6. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Nice modeling Hemi!!(y)(y)(y)

    Two seasons in one area, cool idea!!:D
     
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  7. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I have three layouts (2 N scale and 1 HO) and they would all be considered small by the MR standard.

    Doug
     
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  8. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    I guess the Skally counts as small then. It comes in at 96 square feet.
     
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  9. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I must wonder how MR arrived at the threshold of 120 SqFt and what such a definition accomplishes. MR may define the size as "small", but I'll bet that much less space is typical and encompasses most home layouts.
     
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  10. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    That is the typical size of a spare bedroom, 12x10....
     
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  11. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, well put!
     
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  12. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not everyone has space and resources to build multiple deck empires!

    I'm enjoying this thread as there's a lot of neat small layouts.
     
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  13. bremner

    bremner Staff Member

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    Me too
     
  14. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Yikes. I thought my layout in an 8'x15' room would be considered large, at least by my standards. But being around the walls, it's only 84 sq. ft., i.e., 3x8 + 3x8 + 3x12. I think MR was unfair classifying a 10x12 room as a whole layout. You have to walk somewhere. So a 6x8 layout (48 sq. ft.) would fit in a 10x12 room giving you 2 feet access on all sides, assuming the door opened outwards.
     
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  15. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    I guess I qualify with the POCR, roughly 12 x 11 room around 3 walls and 18” wide. The pennensula adds about 2’ x 8 feet in the middle. With 2 aisles down each side. Plenty of railroading to do an almost 3 hour op session switching cars.
     
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  16. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Twelve inches by twelve inches. Well, that is my only T-Trak module surviving right now.... :(
     
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  17. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    On30 5'x6' Jim IMG_0192.JPG Small for the scale.
     
  18. HOexplorer

    HOexplorer TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here is On30 in 4'x6'. Jim IMG_8450.JPG
     
  19. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I agree with what Hemi wrote, that we have a lot of excellent layouts here that aren't "large". There's certainly no correlation between layout size and layout quality.
     
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  20. wormgear

    wormgear New Member

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    My HO layout is two 4x8 benches in an "L" shape for 64 sq ft. Starting on another 4x8 for an N-scale layout as well. Small.

    Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
     
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