Guys, I had planned on posting an update to my layout this morning, but forgot to bring the darn digital camera cord with me to the office. I hope to get it at lunch and download the pictures I took last night. I'll post a new thread when I have the pictures downloaded. BTW, thanks for the compliments.
WEll I have modified Dave's layout and I would like some criticizm. It is supposed to be a pretty simple setup for now and I will add yards and switches as my son grows and gets tired of the current layout. Here is the pic, watch your eyes, its pretty ugly. Also, I think that instead of using the full 51 inch depth I will limit it to 40 to make the layout look longer than it really is and so it doesnt just look like a square. Any thoughts about that idea? Thanks!
Welcome Aboard Josh! Sounds like your on the right track (pun intended). A lot of N scalers use a hollow core door to build a layout on. They hold up well to moving around, can slide under a bed or be stood against the wall, and at 36" X 80" it's a GREAT size. I'm not sure which engine your Bachmann set came with, but it's only fair to tell you that beginner sets don't come with the best equipment. Sure, it will get you started but it may require some prodding to keep it moving. The reason I'm telling you this is so you know from the begining what to expect and please don't judge N scale by the beginner equipment. I'm sure you'll get lots of advice on that too!
John, I wish I had room for the full length door. I wonder how well it would hold up to being cut, probably not too good. The kit that I got was just the engine and 3 cars and a circle of track. The engine doesnt seem to be too bad but its rather slow and doesnt have very good traction. I bought another engine and a bunch of cars and the new engine is much better and has lots of power. The power pack that came with the kit sucks and doesnt seem to have very much power when running 2 engines together. I used to have a controller called a techII, Is this a good controller to use?
Wouldn't worry about cutting a hollow-core door. I have done it before and on the new layout (using nothing but 24" and 30" x 80" hollow-cores, am going to need to cut one down to 63.5" x 80".
Tech IIs are good controlers, I use one. I believe the newest version are Tech 4s (I'm looking at a double). Sure a door can be cut. By putting a scrap of wood or even styrofoam in the cut will help keep the structural integrity. I have several locos that qualify as beginer or "entry level", they don't get any use these days. They got me going with Nscale many years ago. Because I had done HO as a kid I knew there was a vast difference in engine quality and quickly started to upgrade. Now I am upgrading my upgrades. It seems the more you know the higher the standards go.
Josh - Those modifications you made to the plan can't work. There is no way you're going to get those tight curves in. Rule of thumb: When modifying a plan, use the existing curves as guidelines for the radius of any new ones.
Welcome MT-AZ to The TB! Double loop layout you ask? Dimensions 60" long and 54" wide? --- Two seperate loops, with inner-to-outer (under bridge) and outer-to-inner (over bridge) connectors - and 2 small staging tracks. Too bad you aren't closer to Sacramento... it's for sale
Well I didnt get any reply notification to this topic but oh well. Triplex- I know that the turns are way too tight, I was just doodling trying to get some ideas down. I will redo my plan after I get all ideas on paper. I have a few new ones down also. Thanks for the tip though. Mike- nice layout, it IS too bad Im not closer to you because Id buy it so that I have something to run while building my bigger layout. I think that I am going to abandon my plan of putting the layout under the bed since I will eventually want mountains and permantly mounted buildings. Because I am building this layout for my son (I have to keep reminding myself that this is HIS, not mine) I will have the layout about 36 inches off the ground. He can stand on something to view it and opperate it and it wont be too low for me to work on it. One more thing, a local guy is selling his old and rather large n scale layout. I dont really have room for a 10x5 layout but I figure the track itself is worth the price. What would be the easiest way of getting the track off the boards? I think he used the atlas tacks. Thanks!
There's nothing wrong with it being for the both of you. In fact it will be a lot more rewarding for the both of you if this is something you can share together.
if the layout is structurally sound, keep it , put it on a grid of steel and put it on the garage, hanging from the ceiling, just raise it up and drive under it. i've seen pictures of a couple that way, my b-in-law used to do that with his HO layout 20 years ago. if this isn't an option: if the track is nailed and not glued, i'd try a pair of needle nose pliers and be careful. if they're glued, you'd need to figure out what kind. if it's elmers, you should be able to soak it loose. my 2ยข beast
one after nine o nine- The layout is for us but since I really am building it more for him to have a hands on with trains and stuff. He touches everything, I let him put the cars on the track, control the engine and help me set up and take down the track since I dont have the base for the layout yet. "MY" setup would be alot more detailed with alot more effort into it and I wouldnt want him touching everything like the trees and all traffic cars and such. His will be a nicely detailed layout but nothing like most of the ones here. Beast- I dont have a garage but that is an idea. I am going to go check out the layout in oerson on saturday but the guy says its very sturdy. I need to remember to ask him how the track is held down.
Well here is the layout that I am going to go check out. The pics are kinda crappy but what do you guys think of it? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6026541676&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEDW%3AIT&rd=1
after a quick glance it looks like a decent layout plan to me, i'd inspect the wiring, etc. it will probably need some re-hab. any power supplies coming with it? beast
Probably not going to have any powersupplies with it but I figure that the switches and track is worth the asking price, 100 bucks. What do you think? "I started to wire this for blocks with a power at every flex connection." What does this mean, whats a bock?
Well I drew up another plan and fixed the right hand loops. I added a switch in the tunnel and added a small yard on the right and a engine house also. I have not decided if I will be enclosing the curved track in the middle but it would be easier to do rather than trying to build 2 bridges for the loops on the right. What do you all think?
Blocks are sections of track that can be electrically isolated from each other to allow control of multiple trains on the layout. I'm not sure if the plan is feasible. It needs to be drawn to scale rather than freehand. The curves might work now, but I'm really concerned about the grades that'll be required to get all those tracks over and under each other.
