Hey All
I am new to model railroading. I have a 15’ x 11’ room and am looking at starting an HO layout…want to go bigger than a standard 4 x 8 but not sure a design or shape that whould work best with the space i have …any advice greatly appriciated…thanks Sparksalot
Hey Sparks - That’s a tough question. If there’s a club you can visit, that might answer many questions. I tried a first layout that turned out to be too big and subsequently built a bit smaller with better results. But that’s me. Many of the current track products lend themselves to track planning in 1:1 scale, and you could do worse than to get a general feel for what does and might not work for you by actually putting down some track and running some trains. As you know, a 4 X 8 eats a pretty good lump of space. Only you can answer your question; take a little time, experiment, and figure out what it is you like. If you do decide to build a smaller layout, you can always build a larger and better one after that! Good luck!
I’m in N scale, but I have an almost identical room. My room is 15’x10’. I played with lots of shapes but I got the longest mainline with a kind of a G shape. Most of my curves are in the 20" range, so kinda tight for HO, but maybe this will give you some ideas. Here’s my multi-level plan (room door is in the top right): http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/My%20Plan/
Also, maybe one of the other plans I’ve done will spark an idea. Here’s the main page. There are lots of sub-pages too. http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Track%20Plans/
Get John Armstrong’s “Track Planning for Realistic Operation,” it has many good ideas on what will and won’t fit. Am using it to plan an HO layout for my 13X22 if I can get it back from being used as temporary storage.
Good luck.
Sparks,
I am a sophmore modeler, beginning my second year and on my second layout. That my room is 11 X 16 is coincidental, I suppose.
WHat kind of railroading do you like to do? Continious running, switching/operations or both? The answer to that question leads directly to the next two questions:
What are your givens, i.e. Room size, locale, budget, run sitting or standing, etc.
What are your druthers i.e. Bigger is better, lots of open spaces, would like some mountains, etc.
Getting the answers to these helps you to determine if you want a point to point, folded dogbone, large oval etc.
I must have twenty different layout books that I devoured before and after I started my layout.
Joe
See my model railroad blog at http://wwwjoe-daddy.blogspot.com/
My 13 lessons learned by a Newbie are posted there.
Good luck and happy modeling.
[#welcome] to the hobby
For a first layout keep it simple, you’re more likely to get something built that way. One of the traps in this hobby especially starting out is to get too complicated and tricky, this leads to half finished layouts.
I would build a 5x12 table. Place one end against one of your 11’ walls. Position it 2 feet from one 15’ wall and 4 feet from the other.
The 5x12 will let you build a layout with 24" curves and allow for track and scenery outside the basic oval. You’ll also have room to build an 18" shelf along a 15’ wall as either a branch line, yard, or staging tracks.
I would start with a double track oval with some switching. Use a solid table top construction so you can make changes easily. By the time you’re ready to build the shelf portion you will have enough experience with the 5x12 to know what you want it to be.
Enjoy
Paul
Sparks,
Got your message. Try it now.
My area is very similar. I would agree with Paul, the only thing I am going to change is that I’m going to make mine 6’ X 12’(if I do an island and not an around the walls, which I’ve been contemplating); the 6 X 12 will allow “broad” curves(i.e., 30 and 32 inches) for my mainlines. Be careful here, though as in an island this would be a reach of 36" to the center, usually a longer reach than is suggested(max. recc. usually 24 inches, maybe 30 inches if height of table ideal)–center opening in island can alleviate this–if I do the 6 X 12, still plan on doing an island, but the plan I’m considering(a modification of one of Wescott’s plans from his 101 Track Plans book) only has a crossing reverse loop that I’d have to work on at that 36 inch reach. I recc. Wescott’s book, by the way, not necc. to copy an specific plan completely, but just to give you different ideas. Armstrong’s book as mentioned above, by the way, is a must.
Jim
I am interested in how you are doing yours, in 6 by 12. Mine is 6 by 24, same width, twice the length.
Mine is HO scale
Height is 45 inches and I have no problem reaching the center of the table.
Mine is totally walk around at this point, may go around the walls off one or both ends later on in time.
I am looking at possibly combining and slightly modifying several different track plans.
Ed
I would plan your layout in phases. Design your initial layout “small” with areas and lines set up for expansion to the eventual full size. Get one part done, enjoy it, learn from it then expand to the next section. Using this method, you have a working, layout with sceanry, and when you’re ready you grow, while still being able to operate trains.
Jim
What JIM said, he is full of good wisdom !
Joe