I have been an armchair modeler for about 30 years, and finally broke down recently and actually started building my first layout, after collecting various kits and cars over the last 20 years or so.
I really would have preferred to do an around the room layout, but wanted to be able to have trains up and running quickly, and not just have them going back and forth, as I have a son who is also really into trains, and he wanted that. So, I decided on the good old island type layout, but a 4X8 just wasn’t going to cut it, so I went with a 5X9. The layout comes apart into 2 2.5X9 tables, which makes it easy to transport in case we move (we just did once), or if I ever decide to take the layout to a train show or something.
It does have one sneak-off track to get to future staging along a wall, which will double as a yard as well.
It has a long way to go, with some obvious things left to do, and some not as obvious. Being my first time, I have done a number of things wrong, which I was able to correct, and some other things wrong I wish I could go back and correct.
My biggest issues right now are what to do for the backdrop in the middle, tracks to span the connection between tables, and issues with power loss at turnouts.
The backdrop is obviously double-sided, and I would like to use photo backdrops on both sides. Not the ones you buy, but making my own, and then having Kinko’s or someone print it out for me. I currently have a styrene backdrop that is too tall, as it tilts over. I will cut it down to size, but I still think it will tilt over. I also have thought of using hardboard, but one side of that is smooth, and one side is rough, which may show up when I adhere the photo backdrop to the rough side I think. The backdrop is designed to pull out of the slot it rests in, for easy transport. Another dumb question I had is - if the backdrop is curved on the layout, but when I pull it out it becomes straight, would that af