This is my first post here, though I’ve been lurking for a bit. I’m begining a 4x8 in HO, and have been drawing/searching through track plans to find something I like. I finaly found one that struck me as being a good layout for my first try at building something. The site that I found it on said that it had been published in MR magizine a few years back, but does not mention the name of the layout, or what month and year the plan appeared in the mag. I’m trying to locate the issue that featured the plan, because I have a feeling that it may also have more hints and clues for building this thing. I’m wondering if anyone here recognises the layout, and could perhaps point me in the right direction for finding it.
This is one of the better 4X8 HO plans MR has published recently, but like so many of them, it would be so much better still in a skoche more room. With a little more width, the tight 18" minimum radius could be eased to a more-accomodating 22". The switchback industry spur would also be more realistic if replaced with a couple of independent spurs, perhaps with a crossing.
98% of the people I talk with who say they want an HO 4X8 actually have space for something a little larger. Even if you don’t choose around-the-room, a 5X8, 5X9, or a bit larger will often fit into a room if the 4X8 would fit. In this case, a little bit more space can make a big difference.
Here’s one way to make a 4X8 sheet cut at home (or the lumber yard) into a more-useful 5X8 with the simple addition of a 2’X4’ precut plywood “Handy Panel” (also offered at the lumber yard or home center). Fear no saw!
Very cool, thanks for the info, that’s exactly what I was looking for. Now I just need to find a copy.
I was very pleased with the overall plan of the layout, the possibility of continous running as well as the ability to switch a bit. I do agree that larger would be better (isn’t it always?), but I do have the problem of space. I don’t have an entire spare room to dedicate to this, so it’s going to have to share either with my bedroom somehow (12’x12’ with a full size bed and my computer desk) or with the livingroom which would require permission from the roomate. I have considered all sorts of ways to tuck away a big sheet of wood like this, and I really think 4x8 is going to be my max size, at least untill I get a bigger place. Luckly it wouldn’t be too hard to extend the outside yard line, as well as the central branch siding right off the edge of the layout to connect this up to a bigger and better setup down the road. I’m also not too terribly worried about the 18" curves, as I really want to shape this into a transition era small scale mining operation. It’s my favorite period in history, and would mostly eliminate the need for any HUGE cars to be rolling through. I think i’ll mostly be running short ore hoppers, with possibly a 2 or 3 truck shay, as well as a smaller desiel loco that I really haven’t thought about yet. We’ll see though, because I’m just getting started in this, and theres still a lot to learn!
What are peoples feelings about trying to suspend a layout of this size to tuck up out of the way when not in use? I’m a bit nervous about it, being in california, I don’t really like the idea of that much weight swinging around over my bed in the event that we have a large quake.
Thanks again for your help, and i’ll see what I can do to convince my roomate that the space in the livingroom isn’t being all that useful right now and would look so much nicer with a layout in it!
It sounds like you are in a living situation where a move may be in your future. If so, I’d strongly suggest that you consider building some sections or modules instead of a monolithic 4X8. Much more likely that you’ll be able to re-arrange them to fit in a new space. Put the mine on one section, a small town with a yard on another, and join them with other sections to make a continuous run. That way, you’ll be able to keep the town and the mine for future locations.
All too often, I’ve seen 4X8s go into permanent “storage” or get hacked up when the owner moved.
I’ve seen this movie a bunch of times, and I know how it turns out …[:)]
Very cool, thanks for the info, that’s exactly what I was looking for. Now I just need to find a copy.
I was very pleased with the overall plan of the layout, the possibility of continous running as well as the ability to switch a bit. I do agree that larger would be better (isn’t it always?), but I do have the problem of space. I don’t have an entire spare room to dedicate to this, so it’s going to have to share either with my bedroom somehow (12’x12’ with a full size bed and my computer desk) or with the livingroom which would require permission from the roomate. I have considered all sorts of ways to tuck away a big sheet of wood like this, and I really think 4x8 is going to be my max size, at least untill I get a bigger place. Luckly it wouldn’t be too hard to extend the outside yard line, as well as the central branch siding right off the edge of the layout to connect this up to a bigger and better setup down the road. I’m also not too terribly worried about the 18" curves, as I really want to shape this into a transition era small scale mining operation. It’s my favorite period in history, and would mostly eliminate the need for any HUGE cars to be rolling through. I think i’ll mostly be running short ore hoppers, with possibly a 2 or 3 truck shay, as well as a smaller desiel loco that I really haven’t thought about yet. We’ll see though, because I’m just getting started in this, and theres still a lot to learn!
What are peoples feelings about trying to suspend a layout of this size to tuck up out of the way when not in use? I’m a bit nervous about it, being in california, I don’t really like the idea of that much weight swinging around over my bed in the event that we have a large quake.
Thanks again for your help, and i’ll see what I can do to convince my roomate that the space in the livingroom isn’t being all that useful right now and would look so much nicer with a layout in it!&nb
I whole heartedly agree with Fred, he posted an excellent comprimise.
You will get so much more out of an around the walls than you can from a monolithic 4x8 in the middle of a room. For one the 4x8 requires the operator to operate the layout from outside the layout rather than within the layout like an around the walls. This space takes up more sq footage than within the around the walls. Also in an around the wall’s the area blow the layout can still be utilized for a desk, Bed, dresser. An around the walls IMO is the perfect students room layout.
Another thing is with the around the walls you can add length to the overall run, siding, and staging. You can also broaden the curves!
I for one would like to thank Fred for posting the link. I have been doing research for my own around the walls/shelf layout. The wesite is chock full of great tips and is a nice change of pace from google.
MR did print a layout built by a British Chap, that was 4x8 made of 4 modules two 2x4 end tables and two 1x4 leafs. I can’t remember the month of release but that was the only 4x8 I seeriously considered actually building. He managed to get 2 class 1 railroads in one layout with 2 switching area’s and 3 tracks of staging. Pretty amazing. He simple set it up in his drive on good days to play engineer.
This suggestion may go against the grain for some, but in the end it is YOUR layout.
Have you considered making the layout directly over the bed on stilts, like a bunk bed, except the top “bunk” is your layout??
I believe a Full Size bed is 55" wide X 73" long, so make your layout 5’x8’; or (60" x 96") This also gives you almost 2 feet of space at the foot of the bed for a dresser or work table or just a clothes hamper. Depending on how tall you are, you might consider putting the box spring and mattress directly on the floor to give you more sleeping room under layout, and with proper diagonal bracing, it would be plenty sturdy.
Well, good news. I asked my roomate about the posibility of re-aranging our livingroom in a way that we would use more, as well as incorperating space for a 4x8 layout, and much to my suprise the answer was “sounds like fun!” It’s probably going to be a full weekend project to move all the furniture around, as well as draining and moving my 90gal freshwater fishtank, but I no longer have to figure out how to cram this thing into my bedroom. I do think I will be sticking with my original plan for the layout I posted, because it sure looks like fun to run. Thanks for everyones help, and i’ll keep you updated with progress. I’ll probably start a new thread once I actualy start construction.
