Hi everyone. I have just revised my trackplan for a smaller layout. I have posted this here toshow you what I might end up with and I would like to know what improvements I should make to this plan.
Mitchell
To. Many. S. Curves.
Hard to tell from your very nice sketches. But do remember that they are sketches and not to scale. I would strongly recommend scale drawings before you put saw to wood. It’s infinitely easier and cheaper to make corrections on paper than after construction has progressed far enough that you realize where a suitable curve just won’t fit or that your arms will need extensions for you to reach a derailment.
Chuck
Time for a scale drawing. You need a compass, some graph paper, a good ruler, and your imagination. Oh, dont forget to check the track planning bible too!
Unless the dimensions of the purposed layout are extremely large, many of the curves will have impossibly small radii that wouldn’t even handle an 0-4-0 switcher. The over-and-under spiral trackage toward the left end of level one is out of the question as illustrated, as is the design of the yard extension. The double extension shelf itself is not likely to be very stabile or self supporting if built in the manner shown in the profile view.
CNJ831
I notice that the track seems to turn at nearly a right angle at the “spiral” in between the two tunnels…that bit in particular seems to defy credibility, both the right angle and the descent down a hill only to turn back and under itself.
It seems like it would be much simpler to just have one tunnel and a smooth curve…unless the table in the drawing is 10-12 feet wide or you’re planning on 6" radius curves (make that 5-6 feet wide and 3" radius curves if you’re modeling in N) some of this plan seems unrealistic.
But if you smoothed out the curves, it has potential.
This layout is N scale.
Will there be access from the back of the layout? What are the overall dimensions? Without knowing how wide and long the layout area will be, it is tough to gauge things like curve radii.
Good start Mitch. Lot’s of good advice posted. Now you need to refine your plan, maybe try it on one of those track software available on line.
No matter remember to have fun, this is, after all, what this hobby is about.
Keep up the good work.
Happy MRRing
Luc
No such thing as a dud trackplan
A good start Mitch but you may want to take heed regarding scale drawings. I too have been caught by my imagination not facing reality.
One thing I did was draw off a grid on a large peice of paper and then made several styrene sheet circles of different radii so I didn’t have to re adjust my compass every time I drew a curve.
Just something to ponder
Fergie
Mitch, I like it. It’s a good start. You’ve got alot of good advice here. Please keep us advised on it’s progress.
Robert
The plan is surely not a dud. You will find that as the track
gets laid the plan WILL change. Pick up a copy of J.Armstrong
“Track Planing for Realistic Operation” and correct your mistakes
as you go. Believe me, my track plan and the actual result are a far
count from each other. Do alot of reading so your results are favorable
to what you want to accomplish. Good luck.
The plan is a great start! And you have lots of good advice from the posts above. Your level of imagination is exciting to see in a young man your age. Hand drawings are a great way to put on paper what you have thought about and imagined in your head. I would recommend applying your ideas to a track planning software application, they have accurate curves and usually allow for brand specific track data. I have used the Atlas track planning software that is a free download, and I am now using 3rd PlanIT. It takes awhile to learn the drawing and CAD techniques, but practice makes perfect.
Keep plugging at it and I know you are going to have a great accurate layout plan soon.
Best of luck,
Ryan