1. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    YUuuuup !

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  2. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    interesting idea . but how about the buildings and landscape how do they fit in there?
     
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  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Crunch...... :eek::eek::eek::eek:
     
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  4. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Given the shelf brackets used to support mtntrainman's door frame on the wall, you could just use longer shelf brackets (at top and bottom) to hold the door frame further out from the wall...
     
  5. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    There is roughly 4 inches of clearance when its closed up. Shorter buildings...trees..or other scenery works just fine...(y)(y):)

    I even had a 'cell tower' and a 'water tower" with 'home made' hinges set on each corner that folded down when closing it up...(y)(y)
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    Last edited: Aug 26, 2022
  6. sidney

    sidney TrainBoard Member

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    very clever with the towers. something to keep in mind (y)
    all ya need now is a rack for the trains to load onto then store the rack in the back and when folded down take the rack and load the trains onto the tracks. i forgot what they call those. (cartridge rack ? )
    Nice lil layout by the way...
     
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  7. toomanyhobbies

    toomanyhobbies New Member

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    For the folks using Unitrack, there's a simple solution to the misaligned rail tops. Shim the roadbed from under the lower side. If you compare the ends of the roadbed from Unitrack, there are some pieces that have less roadbed under the rail. May have to do with the varying degrees of the plastic shrinking as it cools? So anyway, if you're careful in assembling Unitrack and shimming where needed, you can have a nice smooth running layout.

    The layout I show is a layout on a 36 by 80 HCD that I put together back in 2011 or so. It was the Unitrack version of a plan that DK Smith had drawn up for Atlas track I think. The original plan for the layout I show was drawn by John Armstrong in which he had varying radii with only the wide curves in view as mentioned earlier in this thread. The crossings are Atlas code 80 which were connected to the Unitrack using code 80 joiners from Atlas. I may have cut a piece or 2 to get the track aligned near the crossings. Sorry, I have no plan for this layout as I put it together on the fly.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    What are the radius' that you used on this? I really like what you accomplished, I may try to adapt it to the 32"x 76" I have to work with.
     
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  9. toomanyhobbies

    toomanyhobbies New Member

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    @DeaconKC Thank you! It was done a long time ago and I have no idea which curves I used. Sorry for that. Doing a plan on the computer was pointless for me because at the time, I had at least one full circle of each radius plus any partial curves made. It was easier to just find a plan I liked and make it fit using the track I had on hand.

    As far as fitting the twice around plan on a 32 inch door, I'd think while possible, you'd have to use some compact curves on the inside curves to make it fit. Looking at the picture, the narrowest curves on the 36 inch door were probably 249's. Not much to go on but I guess it's something.

    If I had your 32 inch door, I would adapt this plan I made shown below. It was adapted from Byron Hendersons ho plan on trainplayer. I switched the plan to n on foam cor boards at 30 by 60 inches. The extra width of your door and 20 inch longer length would allow you to curve the yard area to the right of the oval freeing up space for a wider radius curves on the oval plus a longer run up to the oval. Having a slightly wider oval, would also give more distance between the two "towns" across from each other. Again, no help with the radii I used but if you have unitrack on hand, it only takes a few minutes of moving pieces around like a puzzle until you have something you like. I can tell you judging by the black frogs, the turnouts on this plan were # 4's that I massaged the points on for better operation.
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks! Yup, I do like the second plan as well. One thing I will have to plan for, I definitely want to put a turntable in. Hope to have enough room for a roundhouse as well.
     
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  11. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    I've always liked the twice-around pattern, and this one doesn't need grades!

    I'm wondering if using a 15 degree Unitrack crossing would help slim it down some to fit in 32"?

    Or you could work in a double crossover, instead of the crossing, which would then give you variety of routes.
     
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  12. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    I know it's almost 2 years old, but......have you started this layout?
     
  13. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Wow... that long?!

    Yes I have started, but with just the track assembled on the HCD (including temporary viaducts for the elevated tracks.) I've rolled my longest rolling stock on it to see how they look/function. It's not wired/powered yet.

    The industrial park at right has been simplified, and the two industries at left have been replaced by an engine (/caboose?) yard/facility. The main yard at front (bottom in view) has been altered, and is now parallel to the front edge for more/efficient capacity, if a bit less aesthetic. The locations of crossovers have been altered for more efficient operation of both shortline and mainline, but reversing on the mainline will be via one double crossover. The minimum radius is now 11" on the shortline, and 12.375" on the mainline.

    I have "run trains" extensively electronically on the layout in XtrackCAD, which informed/verified many of the changes.

    I just recently built a knock-down plywood stand for the HCD, with a shelf for the electronics & "stuff" under the front edge of the layout. My wife failed to appreciate the aesthetics of my two B&D workmates I had supporting it in our (seldom used as such) living room. Hey, I moved it off the dining room table! Eventually, it will move upstairs to a spare bedroom.

    I ordered three sheets of "pink stuff" foam insulation board (2, 1, and 0.5" thickness) with the plywood, to use on the layout, but The Borg ran out of stock before they could fill my order.
     
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  14. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks for the answer....if you have your latest XtrackCAD file and willing to share, I would be interested to see how it looks like now
     
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  15. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    Here's the latest design state of the Spaghetti & Western.

    The dashed-line tracks at top (rear) are hidden tracks (tunnel, additionally accessible from rear). The hidden spur is tentative for staging, but requires a remote controlled switch (preferably controlled from throttle via JMRI w/DCC or LCC). Tunnel entrances are approximate (xtrackcad wants them at sectional track boundaries for now.) Hidden grade crossing tracks are only there for the built-in re-railers.

    The bold-outlined track is elevated viaducts/bridges. The tracks up to that (around right end, shank of dogbone) will be on grade (WS inclines, 3%, unless I get ambitious and carve them into the foam substrate).

    The layout will have curbs/sideboards around the perimeter to prevent derailments from leaving the layout, making it slightly larger than 36x80.

    The layout will be easily moved out from the wall (at the rear/top) for access and while building, decorating, or retrieving errant stock.

    I currently have a slightly earlier version of this layout (sans reversing double crossover in the bone shank, and slightly different trackage on approach from there to near end of bridge) assembled on the bare hollow core door, using viaducts and graduated piers (std and intermediate unitrack inclined pier sets).

    The "mainline" is the dogbone, while the yard at bottom, and the outer track around the lower end of that bone-end, leading around the industrial park inside the bend of the bone shank, could constitute a separate industrial shortline, or simply a local industrial district served by the mainline. The outer track around the lower bone-end at left serves as the yard lead/arrival/departure track.

    upload_2022-11-2_14-58-17.png
     
  16. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Great name, Spaghetti & Western :)
     
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  17. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" was just too long.
     
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  18. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    GB&U :) Mine is C&L for Cheap Layout, which is NOT true at all! No layout is cheap :)
     
  19. BigJake

    BigJake TrainBoard Member

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    As far as I've seen, there ain't nothin' cheap 'bout this hobby!

    Maybe if I built more and bought less... nah, I'd still find somethin' to spend the money on.
     
  20. sp9800

    sp9800 TrainBoard Member

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