I am finally at the point of starting a permanent track. I am seeking to build “The Hazzard County Short Line” track plan found in “48 Top Notch Track Plans” Book. It was designed by Ed Sumner. I would like to build it in N scale. I am wanting to build this for my 4 children to enjoy with me. I have purchased a 80"x30" Hollow Core Door. I will be purchasing some foam insulation to use for the geography. I’ve even found some 1/144 scale dukes related cars like the General Lee, Daisy’s Roadrunner(a personal Fav) and some others.
What is the best way to adapt the track plan and apply it to the door to get started.
I don’t plan on doing DCC as I can’t afford it. This is somewhat of a budget build. I’ve got a foam cutter so I have that going for me, I have plenty of turnouts and a friend of my is building a pulse width modulated control for me.
Any HO 4X8 layout will fit easily on a 30” X 80” hollow-core-door (HCD) in N scale with roughly equivalent radii (or even a bit broader). For those with access to Model Railroader back issues, this layout was originally published in the October 1987 issue, page 90.
Other than the name of the town, this layout doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the TV show (but I never watched it, so I’m certainly no expert). You could add-on a similar “Dukes” theme to pretty much any N scale layout designed from the get-go for the HCD size.
This layout would be easier to build with N scale flex track than with sectional, but either would be a re-layout from scratch: there aren’t mathematically exact N-scale-for-HO-scale substitutions for every component. But again, because an HCD in N scale is equivalent to about 4’7” X 12’3” in HO, you have enough extra space to actually build a more reliable layout with broader radii and turnouts, if you choose.
This particular layout has at least one potentially troublesome s-curve (which could be easily designed out). In addition, even with the odd switchback, I think that all the spurs point in one direction. So that would be a little less interesting in the long run if your interests grow toward operating.
It’s a nit (and certainly won’t matter to your intended audience), but the location of the mine at the far end of the spur means that only one car could be spotted at a time realistically. Moving it along the spur a bit would allow room for more cars to be placed there realistically. This is a common error in many published plans.
If the layout is intended to entertain multiple children, a full double-track arrangement might be more fun as multiple trains could run simultaneously without collisions. That would be easy to do in the larger relative space in N scale.
One other minor thing to note is that it can be a little tricky to
“Sort of” starting or “sort of” permanent? [:)] Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
If it were me I would get out a pad of vellum graph paper and a template of various sized circles. Decide what scale you are going to use for your drawing, i.e " = 1’. Assuming the track plan is not in N scale estimate the minimum radius of the plan (if it is not provided) and convert it to N scale. Keeping in mind the scale of your drawing, select a circle that corresponds to the minimum radius. Sketch the track plan on the graph paper, using the circle template for the minimum radius curves. If there are some wider curves, use one or more of the larger circle templates. If you are like me, keep a good eraser handy (and thank me for suggesting vellum paper).
Once you have the track plan sketched out on graph paper, draw a grid on the door (or the foam sheet if that will be the flat land surface) to match the one foot lines from your sketch. I would use a chalk snap line for this because it can be easily erased when you are done. Again using chalk, sketch the plan onto the door, starting with the turnouts, crossings, etc. Place them on the door trying to closely match their locations relative the the grid lines.
You will eventually wind up with a plan laid out on the door. It almost certainly will not match the book’s plan precisely but with patience you will wind up with a workable plan.
The Duke farm is there as is the Boars Nest. Lots of country roads and a couple creeks to jump. I found these on ebay:
I will be using flex track, and I will be using broader curves to eliminate as many problems as possible. The “s” curve you speak of, is that the one going to the “County Co-Op”? I’m thinking of adding a second line through the tunnel to be able to run 2 trains. I’m keeping it simple for the kids so having all the spurs in one direction is OK with me. A slight adjustment of the location of the coal chute should not be an issue. I have multiples of various Atlas turn outs, not an issue. I have done wiring for a detailed slot car track and the feeder wires are a piece of cake.
Right, that was my point – those could be added to any layout already designed for double-track on a hollow core door. It would certainly be possible to design a layout that is more interesting from a railroad operating standpoint than the published plan. But if you like it, that’s fine, too.
If it matters to you, the “Duke” cars will appear larger than items that are true N scale, so I’d place the farm away from other buildings and close to the front of the layout. Then the perspective is working for you and not against you. But it may not matter to you, which is fine, too.
S-curves where you will be shoving a couple of cars into an industry are usually not so bad. I was looking at the one near the bridge over the creek. There is a short section of straight track there, but it would be better if it were a full car or locomotive length.
As far as where to start, I’d decide on the radius to use and lay out the curves at the ends of the table first (allowing for enough track-to-track clearance between). Since you wish to double-track the layout, you’ll also want to allow for longer turnouts for at least a couple of crossovers between the tracks (for Atlas Code 80, #6s; for Atlas Code 55, #7s). So you’ll need to allow space for these, watching for S-curves created by curving tracks adjacent to the crossovers.
Thanks for the input. I like the look of the layout. Not too busy an enough to keep them interesting yet not too much to hinder completion. The cars are actually 1:144 scale ! they are very small and look pretty accurate.
Well… Got the foam laid down. Track is down and just about to lay down the ballast. I purchased the General Lee and it is for sure way out of scale. Im working on a couple ideas to shrink it. 1st attempt, I’ve made a resin copy and sectioned it length wise and width wise. I have a lot of reshaping to do. My next attempt will be using hydrocal. I’ve already built the boars nest. I have also made a bunch of other cars too. I’ll try to post some pics.
I wouldn’t classify a 4x8 layout as permanent since it can be moved relatively easily. A permanent layout is one which is built-in to a garage, basement or room with benchwork. Technically I would consider my 10x18’ around the wall layout permanent but I expect to have to remove it when I expect to move in about 2-3 years, although the benchwork was build in a modular fashion to aid in removal and perhaps salvage some of the lumber or frames.
If you say it is a permanent layout then it is a permanent layout! Who says a permanent layout has to be bolted to a wall? I think your terminology is just fine.
