Does anyone have experience building a home layout using free-mo modules? The reason I ask is that I potentially want to build some free-mo modules for the local club I belong to, but I also want to be able to work these into a home layout. I figured if I’m going to take up space in the garage, I might as be able to run them at home. Has anyone seen websites or books on the subject?
Thanks,
Burt
We have a member in Kansas that includes one set of Free-Mo modules into his home layout. For shows, he disconnects it and brings it for the show layout. It about a 15’ long module with a passing siding, grain elevator and is on an gentle S curve
Ricky .
Check out the Westport terminal railroad website:
http://www.westportterminal.de/wt.html
It is a layout made by wedudler who posts here on the forms. His layout has a section (Third Street Terminal) that is Free-mo compliant.
Chris
Lancaster, CA
Burt,
This sounds like a perfect oppertunaty to have one of those “spectacular scenes”. I have seen a guy who has a fantastic module scene of twin operating Bascule bridges over a river scene that he supposedly incorporates them into his home layout. I’ve thought about doing a reverse curve with a huge snow shed scene in N scale that would be awesome. Keep us posted, we all want to see what you come up with!
Todd
Hey Chris,
I also checked out your Flickr account and noticed some nice free-mo layouts that look they would work great for home as well. Especially your shortline plan. Any idea where I could find more examples? Thanks
I wonder if you could combine Free-Mo with MR’s No-Trak specs…?
Hi Burt,
One of my modelrailroading buddies, Bart Bakker from Utrecht the Netherlands, has a Fremo (the inspiration for Free-Mo) module in his garage. It was featured in this years Model Railroad Planning. See his website:
http://web.me.com/bartbakker/saguaro/Saguaro_Jct.html
Hope this helps you.
I knew a guy who had a rather large modular setup at home. 2x4 and 2x8 modules were stored on racks on the walls of his garage. Much like what you see at an auto glass repair shop when they store the windshields on racks up the walls. He could make a layout as large or small as he wished in the garage or house. It was mix and match.
In the summer he would set them all up for a very large layout out on his patio when there was long stretch of good weather forecast. He would just throw drop sheets over it at night. A good way to deal with having to downsize his living quarters.
Brent
I can post a few of the other versions of that plan.
For everyone else here is the plan he is talking about:
Chris
Lancaster, CA
Because you asked for it:
Short line plan 0
Short line plan 2
Short line plan 3
Short line plan 6
Short line plan 7
2.5x15 Design 5, this was planned as a home free-mo layout as well. It is more city than country
Chris
Lancaster, CA
Unless you have a rather large space at home, the Free-mo specs will limit you on what you can do with your space. In particular, the requirement to be straight for 6" with no turnouts at module end, centered on a 24" end (or 26" for dual track), no track within 4" of a module edge, interchangeable end for end, and the minimum radius all oppose normal practices on home layouts - even around-the-wall sectional layouts.
For instance, in the layout drawings in this thread, the track that connects to the rest of the home layout violates Free-mo rules on the Free-mo module set. It depends on the Run Chief as to whether those discrepancies will be allowed, as there would be a chance for floor diving unless those tracks were somehow made dead and unused.
What I have seen done successfully is to have a Free-mo module (or 2) that “plugs” into a home layout using the Free-mo interface. The rest of the layout becomes a docking station for the Free-mo module(s). Then the modules are fully Free-mo compliant, and there are no issues at setups.
just my thoughts
Fred W
Who is mo? and why do we need to free him?
I am doing a modular layout for a different reason
I currently have a 48"x108" as seen below
As you can see I am severly space limited and if you look at the upper left you will see a gas pipe
There is also a water connection next to it behind the dropped ceiling to an outside water outlet
It had to be changed once already
Luckily there was no scenery etc on my layout and the plumber was able to get up on the table
I also had to cut the top openings so I could change the lights when need
I am doing a 4 modular new layout that can come apart so you can get to the pipes if needed and it will have a large open center section ( will be filled will a removable foam scenery insert ) for overhead light access
I am expanding the width 6 inches so I can run 22 and 24 ovals
There will be 2 end modules 54"x34" connected by 2 -12"x48" side modules
I will therefore have a 48"x30" access opening and if needed the 2 side sections can be removed and the module against the wall moved away
The end modules are 3 1/2 frame with 3 1/2 braces and the side modules are 1 3/4 frame and 1 3/4 braces
All 4 are covered with 1/4 luan and probably homosote on top
I am making the legs now-( decidng on final height )-side sections will not have legs
Here is a pic of an end and side module from underneath
Just curious - since your layout is already made in sections, and you already need to duck into the pit to access a lot of your layout - why not take the layout all the way out to the right wall there, and make the operating pit much bigger ?
Gives you room for a backdrop up against three wall, instead of having you look in across the right end of the layout across the pit at the rest of the layout.
Smile,
Stein
Stein
What you see is the just finished room
Here is the reason I can’t extend to the right or just duck under from the front
The cabinet sits under the table and has all my staging
Hi I am a new and can you help me why does my ho train just stops[%-)]
Go here: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/88.aspx
Click on “New post” (above list of posts).
Give your post a descriptive title.
Describe what you are doing, what is happening and what you have tested.
Stein
… And learn punctuation.
You guys would never survive a computer game forum where half the forum posters speak broken English and are from foreign countries!
Burt
If you are seriously considering a Free-mo module, I strongly recommend joining the Free-mo Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Free-mo/. They are a friendly bunch and gave some good advice when I was attempting to plan a similar module/home layout setup. I haven’t given up the Free-mo module dream, but have postponed it until my home layout gets further along. I ended up deciding on a stand-alone Free-mo module set rather than trying to integrate it into a home layout in my current space.
Fred W