Hello all, I've been reading over the forums here for a while as I have embarked upon creating my first layout. Long story short, I'm starting my first layout in N scale set on top of a 36x80 hollow core door. I've got the benchwork done, and the foam is cut to the dimensions needed. I need to get my design nailed down. What I've got here is a sketch I did at work. I'm in the process of digitizing it now. This is not an easy process since there is no planning software for Mac. So I'd appreciate you look past my horrible artwork and look more at what I've got planned. The side with the "Tunnel" and "Ridge" labels are just that: it will be the mountainous region that includes two lines through a tunnel and one slightly elevated on a ridge skirting it. The rest is self explanatory. Thanks in advance! Kevin
what dimensions of space are you working with? keep in mind, any side against a wall provides a reach issue, usually not more than 30" wide. respectfully Gary
Looks decent. A couple quick questions: 1. What is the minimum radius of your curve? 2. What track do you plan to use? 3. What size turnouts? Building a layout in the same space, with Atlas C55 and a combination of #5 and #7 turnouts. With a 15" minimum radius.
Hello again, For working dimensions I've chosen to go ultra portable with this layout and I have the hollow core door and foam sitting on top of two sawhorses. Therefore I can pull it out the the middle of the room and work on it. 360 degree work area. As for the minimum radius of curve, to be honest I'm not too good with that stuff on paper. My track (Code 80 Flex) should be here within the next day or two and that's when I was going to start looking at angles and turnouts. This is probably the biggest area that I need advice though.
As a concept sketch it looks good. Keep in mind that your curves and turnouts will take up far more space than show in the drawing. For what it is worth, I do my drawings in MS Paint using 48-50 pixels to the foot as a scale. It takes a lot of work / practice at first but can have workable results.
It's a solid, basic plan. Have seen it done many times. One thing I do notice, is your track parallels all sides. You might wish to vary that. Have it curve in and out along one edge. Also, your layout essentially circles one town. Take a look at possibly creating a scenic division at some slight angle through the middle. Make it into two distinct areas. This will give a sensation of going somewhere.
not bad: http://www.railmodeller.com/ alternative: http://www.haddonsoftware.com/ some have made this work: http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/MacOSX By the way, your curves and turnouts will not fit as drawn. You will probably have enough room overall on a hollow-core door, but it will require some significant rearranging of elements. Best of luck.
Thanks for the info, cuyama, Thanks for the info. I have tried Rail Modeller before and I thought it to be okay. I am looking now to employ the help of my significant other to help with the design portion (she's a graphic artist). Today I glued my foam to the base and started being able to visualize what I want. I know now that my outer main will end up being on a 16.5" radius. Taking more measurements on the actual layout just seems to help me moreso than on a computer. Thanks for everyone's feedback. Keep it coming! Kevin
As Tred pointed out, 16.5 continuous radius won't fit your door, however, starting your curve at 16.5 and easing it into something tighter at the apex, like 11-12 will certainly fit, reduce the toylike jerking associated with constant radii turns, and allow you to get rid of the racetrack ovalness that Boxcab suggested.
I have both my outer and inner main widths marked out already using a 2x1 with holes drilled in it. The outer main is a 17.5" (I may not have mentioned but due to the foam hanging over a bit I do have some extra room) and that radius does leave space for the mountains to end as well. The inner main is a 16" radius which is leaving plenty of room between tracks and also keeping turn radius as high as possible. I'm still carving out the mountain tunnel then I was going to look at how I wanted to do the last curve. I will probably end up moving the industrial area (which will be a mining facility with three track widths of loading area) to the mountain side and just make a simple turnoff to go to that.
heres one I just did for you in xtrkcad using kato unitrack with the mains having a 15" inner radius and 16.375" outer and using no.4 turnouts
I think that still won't fit as drawn. Curves and turnouts take more space than you have allowed, especially once you eliminate the s-curves. And, of course, some means to move between the inner and outer loops.
Newbie here. I really like this layout is there any way to get part numbers? Currently I have the bench work completed using the manning oaks layout from kato but this design has reconsidering it Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
