I have been around model trains for a long time and am a member of a modular club in Long Island (HOTrack). My challenge is that for the first time ever, I want to attempt to design and build my own model layout in my basement. I have set the goal of making it moveable (I don’t want to permanently use walls, etc) I read the recent RMC article in Dec 2005 about Trevor Marshall’s O layout that was inspired by British designs for portability. Has anybody tried this type of approach or something like it? I like the idea of 24" depth, the light weight design, but since I never ever put down track for a “permanent” type layout, I am not sure what type of layout (U shaped, etc) might make the most sense in a portable design approach? Any guidance or comments would be appreciated - love NH railroad but the design of the layout can surely be free lance.
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I can only speak from my experience. I have just finished the benchwork, and am about 80% complete on the spline roadbed for an open square bench that comprises four long open-grid type benches bolted to each other to form the square. I must stoop below 43" to duck under the bench facing the open area to get to the operating centre. That may seem like a terrible compromise, even unacceptable to those who have sworn to never use a duck-under again, but I am still young at 54, and was never built very far from the ground anyway. Good things come in small packages, me Mum used to say.
So, I used L-girders made from ripped 3/4" X 4" white/clear spruce, and used braces liberally to both strengthen the framework and to provide an anchorage for the inevitable and numerous risers for the spline sub-roadbed. The stilts are also L-girder because I wanted this thing to be handed down to my great grandchildren as it was built. With the surface at the lowest point (the yard) being at 52", you can picture the legs as being quite long, so they were braced as well. I used 2.5" carriage bolts and 3/4" washers, two per mating surfaces, to join each bench frame.
I hope to post some pictures this weekend when the film gets developed, but maybe for the Mid-Week Madness thread that will come a few days later next week.
Since you’re already comfortable with the modular concept, I would suggest using it to construct your easy-to-relocate home layout. One approach would be all-modular, while another would be to incorporate modules in a non-modular layout, with scenery and connecting tracks considered expendable in case of a move.
David Barrow builds “dominoes,” structural units of fixed dimension, but without any standard track interfaces.
The nice thing about modules is their survivability. Since they are designed from the beginning with moving in mind, they can easily outlive layouts, homes and even states of residence. The one I built in 1980 has been in six different homes in five states and has been operated alone as well as in conjunction with four layouts.
I only wish I’d built more of my old layouts as modules.
Chuck
I’m just getting back into the hobby, so I’m on a learning curve (again).
I like David Barrow’s domino idea, but I didn’t want to spend the time and money to construct them. I was also concerned about the weight - his dominoes are pretty heavy duty - and having to construct benchwork to support the dominoes.
After reading a bunch of MR articles, Web sites and this forum, I decided to go with 2-ft wide modules of 2-inch thick extruded foam. Because the foam is so light, I’m using inexpensive shelf brackets for a linear (L-shaped) switching layout.
The proviso is that I’m not going to be moving this around a lot so I don’t have to worry about protecting the edges from getting knicked or crushed. And like dominoes, I can work on a module pretty much anywhere I want - I’m currently laying track on a 7ft long module in my family room. At less than 10 pounds per module, it’s really easy to move / store the thing out of the way.
I haven’t thought of how I’ll do the fascia yet. Somebody here suggested using Velcro to latch modules together - cheap, fast and easy.