I am Jimmy Low from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For the last few months I have been reading and researching on layout planning. Finally, I decided to blog about them in http://mytrainmaster.spaces.live.com/. My planning notes are in there and will be updating regularly.
Please feel free to give me your comments esp on my Druthers. I would like to know if my druthers are realistic for the N-scale layout I am planning to build within a 11’ x 12’ room size. Refer to Layout Planning - Part 3 Givens and Druthers (23 Jan).
I welcome all comments. You may also email me at jimmy[dot]gmlow[at]gmail[dot]com
Druthers are things you would like to have on your layout. Often though, we have more druthers than room on a layout. That is fine, you just have to choose. But it is better to list everything you want as it is an exercise in developing your vision of what the layout is to become.
And you are wrong about one thing. Far too many people are designing their layouts without a vision of what they want to see. They want to build too fast. Congratulations on having a vision.
My N Scale layout is going into a 9’ x 9’ (usable space) room, and planned as two-level around the walls. It is an interurban traction layout on the lower level with a Class I railroad on the upper level and interchanging with the interurban on the lower level. The challenge here is to keep it simple while going from one level to the other, and; designing what is in essence, two layouts. The 9’ x’9’ area really dictates a lot of “druthers.”
A Druther: While I really like traction, it is technically a “druther” because N Scale will require a little more scratchbuilding especially in the area of engines than HO Scale, but; traction also fits in a ton of operation, because by its nature the tighter radius curves are justifiable (and practical), plus the Class I mainline will then wrap around the interurban trackage on that lower level.
A Given: This extent of N Scale operations could never occur in 9’ x 9’ and HO Scale.
A COUPLE THOUGHTS…
[1] I am taking my good old time researching to do this right, and; I would highly recommend Spacemouse’s ideas about visioning what you first want to do, and then do it in the most effective manner. Ripping out benchwork, track, and scenery later on costs money.
[2] Do you realize in your 12’ x 11’ space that you can do an around the walls and even a mid-room peninsula while keeping it one level? I see a peninsula coming out of the upper right hand corner at an angle toward the main door entrance perhaps about six feet into the room. For the operator(s) you can actually have a mild walk-around instead of a cockpit-only layout.
[3] When you look at John Armstrong’s trackplans, be sure to take note that with the excepti