I am starting a new shelp layout’ 16ft by 32in and a small L at the end. My other part of room is a Large 1/24 SLOT CAR track’ The kids like it but have been wanting me to do another HO Train layout. I have built many layout before and have boxes and boxes of stuff. I have looked at many shelf layouts but most just have to much track. So I am first putting all my building and industy stuff out just to see what I want to use and get a idea how to run my track spurs and such. I will take a few pics to remember where my buildings go. Then I will remove all and start the process. Also I am making this where the main line will end at both ends for expansion one day if the Slot cars ever get tiring. Does this sound sane. Will post a pic tonight of my bench work with my buildings scattered about where I think I will want them. Thanks
Seems like a great idea to me. I loved those slot car tracks. It seems like there was someone, or a group, in many towns, that would start a club, and have race sessions, just like an operting session on a model railroad. Many guys built their own cars. I had family friends that were involved in such a club. I did a lot of watching, but occassional I’d get to run some of our friends cars, and race with their two boys.
Mike.
The slot car racing hobby has evolved into large scale radio controlled cars on outdoor tracks.
I’ve seen those. A bar we used to stop at after work, in Cambridge, WI. had an outdoor track. The bar was decorated in a racing scheme, and had a small 1:24 scale layout inside.
Mike.
EDIT: Just checked Google Earth. Place must have changed hands. The track is gone, nows it all yard. [sigh]
That’s where Matt Kenseth is from.
I think it’s a great plan.When I built my layout,I just layed track and spurs where I figured they should be. I then built the buildings to fit.Sometimes had to relocate a spur to fit.
The only ting I would question ,is the 32in, pretty good reach. But you stated this ain’t your first, so I assume you know what you can and can’t reach.
I have no interest or knowedge of slot cars, so no comment
Terry, yeh, right! the bar is on Hwy 18, East of Cambridge, at Hope Lake Rd. That was 11 years ago already, wow. There’s lot’s of refferences to Matt in that town! We were bulding a new WWTF, just north of town. Stopped there most nights, after work.
Mike.
Like Mel, I don’t know much about slot cars. On the shelf layout that you are proposing, I assume it is a point-to-point industrial switching layout (ISL). And, also like Mel, I think the accessible reach may be a stretch. I think, however, that it depends on how far from the edge of the table the farthest track is. You may have full, or nearly full structures, (as is apparent in your photos), instead of mere backdrop flats, behind the far-away spurs, which would shorten the reach.
My layout is a 20 foot long, around the walls, ‘U’-shaped configuration. The width varies from 8 inches (at staging) on up to 2 feet. It is an ISL, in which I have tried to maximize the amount of industrial switching, so I had the balancing act of trying not to create a “switching puzzle”, while at the same time, maximizing the numbers of industrial spurs and sidings. I am still rebuilding this layout after moving homes last fall, but I figure the layout will comfortably handle about 30 cars. And, like you, I have boxes and boxes of stuff, especially motive power and rolling stock. BTW, the layout was originally an L-shaped configuration, which was expanded into the configuration that it is now. I have also found that in designing such a small layout, that putting a track plan on paper is somewhat useless. In the 4+ changes I have made in it, I have found that just playing with the track on the layout itself produces a better visual, especilly in my case, where I’m working with commercially made track and turnouts.
Thanks Tom for your reply and help. I have no problem with the 32 width. Easy for me to reach flat footed’ I made the layout quite high like 48in’ I am used to my slot car track 6 ft deep so this is easy.
I wanna see more of the slot car track! lol
Looks like a good start. Lay some track and you’re in business.
here you go bibbster 
Had time to work on the shelf due to the rain. Starting to take shape 
Fender777, not knowing much about your era, prototype, etc, may I suggest considering what type of freight car captures your interest in deciding on your selection of industries which will aid in your choice of structures. If it is boxcars that you like, maybe you’d lean toward warehouses and factories. Covered hoppers,-- grain, cement, sand, chemicals, etc. Quite often, the type of industry served has an impact on the track arrangement.
My time era is modern. I will use many warehouse and covered hoppers. I do have a large Chemical plant but their really is no room for it to fit.
Thanks for the other pic of your track. I feel like I have seen that before, most likely on SCI or HRW I guess?
Your shelf layout is looking good. Looking forward to your progress on it.