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45 Original Track Plans
Well done publication overall (as usual) but too many “large” layouts are included at the expense of layouts that are more inline with what the average hobbyist has in terms of available space. The two space-themed layouts are interesting exercises but I would have preferred the pages be taken up by more mainstream railroading designs.
Great publication with lots of NEW plan ideas.
Very interesting track plans, although I too would like to see more plans oriented to smaller rooms. I purchased the book mainly because my son wants to do a 14’ x 20’ Soldier Summit in N scale, and this book had it. I was fascinated by the specialty layouts, especially the military shore battery layout and the Mars themed layout. Probably because I have had, or do have, career interests in those areas. In fact, I’m contemplating doing the Mars plan in N to go with my 8’ x 11’ HO freelanced mountain layout. It would be a great motivator for our STEM students at work. Just have to persuade the wife that it’s work related to secure the space outside the current layout room.
I found a great deal of brain fertilizer in this book, to the extent that features of several designs boosted me out of a hole I was in with a design for the 2016 LDSIG challenge.
I enjoyed the track plans and may use a customized version of one layout; I would suggest more layout details. I agree that the large layout plans will appeal to a very limited audience.
The plans are nice but none really stood out as a WOW plan to me. While they are “original” and not reprints like similar recent Kalmbach booklets, some felt like made up on the fly to fill the book. There were a couple nice plans for around the room shelf style layouts. I collect model layout plan books, and a couple plans are good for the files. But had it not been on sale would not have bought it - suggest others review in hand at a hobby store before buying to decide yourself.
I’ve been looking for a new layout plan as I will be moving next year and will be starting a new one; as Frolin said, none of these stood out as a WOW plan; too many small switching layouts for my tastes, would like something mid-range in size, not too big, not too small.
Whether you are looking for ideas to build your next layout–on your own or with a club–or whether you prefer to build elaborate railroads in your imagination, Bernard Kempinski’s book should sate your appetite for a while. And when you’ve read it and re-read it, you’ll want it on your reference shelf. The featured layouts range widely in scale and scope, covering all kinds of prototypes from around the world and from different eras. Some of the layouts capture high profile locations such as the Tehachapi Loop and the Horseshoe curve where railroads have become iconic parts of the landscape. Others are firmly rooted in the industries–steel, lumbering, mining, manufacturing–and port terminals that provide the foundation for railroad traffic. The track plans themselves are clear and easy to read, rich with landscaping detail and structures, while the attached text succinctly motivates the prototype background and discusses the modeling strategy proposed. Enlivened by well-chosen illustrations, the book’s plans will draw the reader into these replica slices of the world, rather like the maps of imaginary worlds of famous fiction. Because of that, this may be a wonderful book to take motivated youngsters beyond toy trains.
Fun to read, lots of inspiration and well thought out plans for model railroads, small and large alike. Nice graphics too. Highly recommended!