I am basically a novice at building layouts even though I have loved model railroading all my life. As a result, I will probably ask some really basic questions.
I am in the process of planning my first real layout. I have seen several canned designs in books and websites that I liked, but one really caught my eye. It its not too complex given my experience and skill level, but has certain elements that I want to have. The only issue is that the design is for N scale.
The layout is from the Kalmbach book “Small Railroads You Can Build”. It is “The N scale Mohawk Division” on page 23 by Lou Sassi. It has what I want, two train operation, some basic sidings, a small mountain and I really like the under-over of the roadways. I am intrigued by the scenery using plywood over 2" foam with quasi cookie-cutter construction.
I understand that there will be additional space required and larger pieces of plywood, especially since this layout was designed to be built on a 36" x 80" door!
I will answer the obvious and reasonable question “why not just use n-scale to begin with?”. I have a large number of ho scale engines and track that I have been collecting for 6 years and longer. This is the real reason.
The only track planning software I have at present is Atlas RTS 7. Since it now includes flex track, I thought I would give it a try.
Any suggestions on converting everything from the size of the boards to the track plan would be appreciated.
In general you can just about double everything (the real number is about 1.8, but doubling is a reasonable, quick, approximation). But look out for reach issues, especially, since easy reaches might now be long stretches.
Welcome to the forum and the the building stage. The first problem with upsizing the scale is reach. A 36 x 80 inch layout becomes 6 foot by 15 foot. That is a huge table. Without lift outs you can’t ever reach it to build it. With 3 foot space all around you have a 12 by 21 foot room. With that room you can build an around the room layout with a “E” shape that would give so much more. Lets talk some more.
Wow! You guys are quick to reply! I appreciate it. The space I have is essentially a bonus room over a two car garage. I want to use part of this room for my railroad and part of it for my small recording studio.
You sure gave me a lot to think about which is exacetly what I want. A large reach with a clumsy person (me) is not a good combination!
Perhaps I would be best served by designing something based on the elements I liked in the Mohawk, but not a straight conversion as that seems not to be practical or smart.
Is anyone familiar with this particular design? I can scan it in when I get home if that would help.
Well, you are on the right track. Some start with a track plan and then fit the scenery and businesses to it. I started with an image of the mountains and businesses (logging and mining, and two bridges), and fit a track plan to that. They all work, if you get what you want in the end.
A big question for me, with this layout, was what it had to have on it for me to like working on it. That came before the track plan.
You have enough space to do some good thinking. If you have the desire to be a little creative, you might be able to base a layout on that trackplan, but in a completely different shape. A look at John Armstrong’s ‘Track Planning for Realistic Operation’ could show you the types of shapes that are possible in the space you have, and how to roughly determine what will fit without doing the total design. Then you could make a plan based on the schematic of the plan you like, but fitting in the space you have.
I never got to use my over the garage room so I can relate to the mental images you must be having of a grand pike there. I am not famliar with the specific layout you mention, but one general though comes to mind…a change of perspective. Instead of the layout on a big table top that you move around, how about trying to adapt the same themes to an around-the-room layout that moves around you?