The August issue of Model Railroader features a fold up layout for “home and road” (page 60). Several places ths article states the layout is 4x13. The specifications state there is a minimum radius of 18", and it shows the sectional track layout.
Ok so how is this only 4’ wide? On the right side of the layout it shows a full 180 degree curve of 18" with two 9" straight tracks. By my calculation that is 36" + 18" = 54" for the track centerline so add edge space it is more like 58" wide. I also measured and compared the ratio of the length to the width and if it is only 4’ wide then it is only 10’ long. I thought perhaps I misunderstood and those dimensions were the folded up size, but no, then it would be 4’ x 6.5’.
Am I going crazy or is this a major editing snafu?
Neat idea and article, but everything visual was by drawings, no photos to clear things up, a major omission. You can do anythng like sqeeze 54" radius into 48" on a drawing.
I’d like to see if the author actually built what he drew, or was it all imaginary?
If I remove the middle and back rows of seats in my mini-van (a Chevy Venture) I can lay a 4 x 8 foot sheet of plywood down flat on the floor. If I propped the sheet up about 2 and 1/2 feet, keeping it level, it would contact the frame around the glass and by now it is mashing the back of the front seats. Reduce the sheet by a foot in length you have a box 4 x 7 x 2 1/2 feet. I don’t know if that helps.
I have difficulty seeing how it fits in the minivans. No word about the WEIGHT of the payload when it is loaded into such a vehicle. Things like that. I feel like I want to break out a Ford 350 for that job.
I like the wye, but it looks like it does not have all it’s stuff. Perhaps a tail track on a extension.
I like the plan. But too many iffies. I recall the Marquette and Independance layout years ago in a similar space… shows how old I am. That layout is 4 x 12 and gives nothing away except perhaps the wye.
I thought making the traveling layout look like a wood reefer or boxcar was really neat.
The text made it clear the author had built this layout, didn’t it? … but I wondered about the drawing of two guys putting the layout into a mini van. I’d need more than one other guy helping me that is for sure! Having been a pallbearer a couple of times I know my limits. Of course I am getting to the age where I’m more likely to be the “passenger.”
Dave Nelson
I to have doubts but did no calculations. The weight of the lumber to me would be heavy & ackward to handel in one piece. Maybe it’s the April fool’s issue early or late???
Larry
I think this is how it works. The folded length is 6’-6" and it opens to 13’. The 4’ dimension is actually deceptive. That has to be the traveling / folded width to fit in the minivan. The key is the height, which could go over 36" and still fit in the van. It is that height that allows the the unit to be more than 4’ when assembled.
The two ends with the curves form about 2/3 of the side wall, with the side leaf backdrops making up the other third. The two main backdrops travel back to back.
The answer to the width question is actually found in the side view on page 65. 55 1/2". For that matter, of the other dimensions are there too if you look carefully. The max height is 39" at the center, while the side walls are 32". Exterior travel length is 6’-8".
I’ll admit, it is a little confusing, but it does work.
Could those two straight pieces be something less than 9 inches? While the drawing is “not to scale” it appears that those straights are somewhat shorter than the straight portion of the turnouts.
Perhaps someone can do up the plan on one of the trackplanning software programs so we can get a solid answer on this.