1st time layout questions

Gerardo Oct 26, 2020

  1. Gerardo

    Gerardo New Member

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    Good morning guys allowed me to introduce my self I been working on building my first layout for quite some time but like everything else time has not been on my favor, but his time I’m ready but have a few questions to ask I don’t have to much room in the spare bedroom so I’m thinking on a 4x8 dog bone layout, I’m been buying ho locomotives and rolling stock my question is I have a Acela set the is 5 carts and 2 locomotives long and 6 vehicles carries an my question is are this to long for a 4x8 set up and what will be the recommended curbs radius, thank you for your time


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  2. Chops

    Chops TrainBoard Member

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    You can run trains that are quite long on a 4x8, and from experience the Acela will accommodate 22 inches without difficulty. As to 18 inches, I've not tried. it. A dogbone in 4x8, I'd like to see how you would make that fit. Seems like your straight section would be very short. I posted a new video today of a
    five coach train on a 4x8 today, on the post above this one.
     
  3. S t e f a n

    S t e f a n TrainBoard Member

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    Which scale are you in?
    Regardless of that, why not cut the 4' by 8' asymmetrically, and build an 8' by 8' 'L' with 3' turnaround loops ? With some 1' boards you could even stretch the 'L' along the walls.
    This would give you more modeling length for the Acela without blocking as much space as the solid 4x8 sheet would.

    4by8-cut.jpg
     
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  4. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    A plain 4x8 has to be out from the walls while running trains, since you cannot reach across it (and that is where all the problems will be). That consumes quite a bit of room.

    Are you thinking about a folded dogbone, or a straight one? Either one could allow you to cut out a chunk of the front side, to allow you to reach the back side, and thus may allow keeping it against the wall, especially if neither end is in the corner of the room (i.e. you have open access to both ends of the layout).

    Depending on how much room you have in the spare bedroom, Stefan's idea is a very good, tried and true one, but it can consume a lot of wall space. If you raise the layout closer to shoulder or eye-level, it may be able to pass over some of the furniture. The same holds true for a plain 4x8, with or without a chunk out of one side.

    If you don't already have/use track-planning SW, I strongly suggest it. I use XtrackCAD.
     
  5. Gerardo

    Gerardo New Member

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    Thank you so much for the ideas and input , I think I might do a L shape layout Hope to start build in a few weeks, it’s going to be a HO scale layout I will keep you guys posted on the build up, since this been my first layout is going to be an experience


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  6. S t e f a n

    S t e f a n TrainBoard Member

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    Pretty exciting! Regarding height and use of space: I moved my benchwork (shelfwork, really) up from 44" to 55", so that I can sit below it at my desk; ducking under is also a lot easier. But if you have the whole room available, and you don't need to duck under, then a height that allows you to operate sitting is maybe not such a bad choice.
     

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