You guys may remember a few days ago I posted a XtrkCad layout for your comments. I designed this layout because I was held to the constraints of the room that I had available in my home. I really didn't love the layout, so I started thinking.... The office for my construction business is located in an older home. We only use two rooms which leaves two bedrooms vacant. These two bedrooms yielded the space (either of them) for my dream layout that I found years ago in this book: The track plan is titled the Northern Pacific Cascade Line. This tri level design offered everything I was looking for in a N scale layout. Large minimum radius, hidden staging, a helix, mountainous terrain, etc. I set out to reproduce the layout in AutoCad which worked pretty well: Here is the main level: Here is the staging level: Here is the top level: (added 02/18/06) Today after church, I started the benchwork. My fiance actually helped for a couple of hours. It was great. I am pretty excited to have finally started the work. All this time and planning behind the computer for two weeks have started to take its toll. As you can see from the two L girders laying on the floor, I am not quite finished, but a few hours tomorrow and I will be ready for all the joists. I found some nice ash that will make for really straight and true joists. My plans: 1. finish the L girder benchwork 2. use 1/2" birch plywood for the sub road bed 3. finalize my track selection. right now Peco code 55 4. make my DCC system selection 5. lay some track What do you guys think? [ February 18, 2006, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Hutch ]
Hutch, Excellent progress on the benchwork and it looks really solid What are your intentions for the stub ended yard in the centre? As it is in the centre of the layout I would have thought a main industry would give you a great scene as the centre piece?
Thanks guys. I needed some positive feedback. I hope to have the backgroud surface and the joists in by the weekend.
Looks real solid. Great looking track plan. If you are going to paint your bench work (an often debated issue), now would be the best time while it is accessable. Much easier than crawling around under it later. What are you going to use for scenery? Styrofoam or hardshell or ??? Nice to have help with construction. Having a mate who will share in this hobby is priceless.
Here is the progress I have made so far: and Note the beginnings of the upper level on the rear wall. I have to hang this upper level since any support from the front will block the view of the main level. I have devised a method that will work. The staging level is at 40", the main level is at 45.5", and the upper level is at 60.5" or about eye level. Once I get the upper level supports in place and the backdrop installed for both levels, I will start the helix to each of the three levels. I am excited. The computations have almost come to an end and it seems like it is all going to work out. I ordered the May 1986 copy of Model Railroader hoping to see a constructed version of this layout, but it was disappointed to only find a reprint of the track plan in the book I used. Duhhhh. I wonder if this thing has ever been built. Maybe it was all just an idea that no one ever tried out. Well, I am giving it my best shot. [ February 04, 2006, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: Hutch ]
I have a quick question: Would it be safe decision to use ME code 55 track and build my turnouts with the FastTrack turnout jigs? What problems might I encounter using this approach outside of the fact that I will need to practice building my turnouts. I think it would be great fun build the turnouts since the turnout selection for ME is quite limited it seems. There are a few curved turnouts on this layout. Since ME turnout selection is limited, how difficult is it to build a curved turnout? There is no jig for a curved turnout that I am aware of. I had previously decided that Peco code 55 was the way to go, but the FastTrack turnouts seem to make ME code 55 a possibility. Lend me your experience guys. Thanks.
ME track was my first choice, but the lack of turnouts changed my mind. I am not one to hand lay turnouts so that was completely out of the question for me. I went with Peco C55 regaurdless of the criticism of it being "euro-type". If you've got the expertise, time, and patience to handlay your turnouts I'd say go for it.
Reality hit me today with this track plan. Actually my distress over supporting the upper level leads me to believe that I haven't put enough thought into this monster plan. [ January 28, 2006, 08:52 PM: Message edited by: Hutch ]
It's easy to bite off more than you chew. When I go to the boat show I start with "this 14' with an outboard is all I need..." Before I know it I've worked up to 36' ocean ready cruisers "this is all I need!" Depending on scenery material, you may not need as much support for the upper level as you think. For mine, each 80" hollow core door sections are supported by just 2 shelf brackets. Quite sturdy and the only near disaster was due to my own stupidity and laziness. As far as simple roundy rounds go I highly recomend one. Great to have a place to run trains while working on the "master layout". Very handy for breaking in new engines and experimenting with scenery techniques.
Thanks John. That makes perfect sense. There is no reason I can't do both. What a diffence a night to 'sleep on it' makes. Today it doesn't seem so impossible anymore. Thank you for your comments, not to metion that your shelf brackets will solve my problem.
Here is the progress photo from today. The upper level benchwork is complete! I am so excited. The backdrops for the first and second levels go in tomorrow, and on Thurday night, train night, my fiance and I are going to paint the clouds and horizon on the background(s). [ February 04, 2006, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: Hutch ]
Boy am I glad you kept going. It would have been a shame to see you undo all that work. I can't begin to tell you how many times I had to "sleep on it", or even walk away for a few days. There is no better tool than a clear head!
I got the backdrops installed on the first and second levels today...I forgot the camera though and left it at home. It changed the look of things quite dramatically! It really looks like a nice layout now! Now, where can I find a tutorial on painting backgrounds... Let me know if you know of one... Thanks.
There was quite a good one in one of the Fall or summer Model Rail Roaders. Well, it looked good to me Edit: Actualy it could have been last Spring. I'll try to find it. [ January 25, 2006, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: Grey One ]
More progress photos... Almost time to paint! Sky blue by this weekend.... Got the new air brush from the Hobby Lobby sale today for the cloud painting. The helix goes here in the corner... [ February 04, 2006, 07:46 PM: Message edited by: Hutch ]
