GM & HNY to everyone. I am just getting started in setting up my N Scale layout. Just built my 48x60 benchwork. I have done some research on layout including using SCARM. My first question to you is how to get the selected plan to the actual benchwork? I’m used to working from a set of plans to build fine scale wooden ships and aircraft.
Thanks for the help!
[#welcome] to the Forums.
You can use the “squares” method. Draw small squares on your plan, like using graph paper. Then draw large squares on your bench top. Then transfer the tracks from your plans small squares to the table tops larger squares. To get the size correct, you will need to figure out the relationship of the small squares to the large ones. So if you draw your plan to 1/4 inch = one foot, then if your plan squares are 1/4 inch, the squares you draw on the table top should be one foot square.
Elmer’s approach is what I used in HO, laying out my 5’ x 10’ HO layout that I had developed with XTrackCAD, which let me print the laout with a grid, without having to print the whole layout full size. I used a 6" grid marked on my cookie cutter (some elevation changes) plywood. If you’re using flextrack as I did, you can focus on critical (e.g, mainline) turnout locations and use actual turnouts (or paper copies) to preliinarily locate the main elements of the layout. Then draw your connecting straight track and arcs. As you do this, you may decide to tweak some things; e.g., easy to add easements where curves transition to straight sections, if you did not plan those exactly. I moved some curved turnouts at crossovers, for instance, and since my radii changed in some curves I also played with those transitions.
When you lay actual track, you can start at a critical turnout (or set of turnouts) location and work your way out in both directions. Again, if using flextrack, you will probably do some additional tweaking during the tracklaying process.
LION dint do none of that. Him knew about how the track was supposed to look, and what it was supposed to do, and then him frelanced it from there. What fit, fit, what did not fit was altered until it did fit.
Even then, the layout has undergone many changes: helixes added to ease grades, a helix expanded from two tracks to four tracks. Layout has to be flexible like a LION. And what the heck, it has been rewired… twice!
ROAR
Well, I agree with Lion. I don’t think that I have even drawn a plan for a layout, and this includes the two that I built for my kids back in the 70s. My layout has been expanded several times to get where it is today and I have done it by just knowing what I wanted it to be and then building it. That includes the hidden trackage under the city and the second line that I put under the mountain range without removing the mountain. 
If you can visualize what you want in your head, you certainly can build a layout without plans. I’m pretty good at being able to visualize things, having been a tool and die designer/maker. However, when it came time to build a model railroad I found drawing out plans made building it much easier and I also enjoyed the process of doing so.
My guess is most people will draw things out or use a CAD program to design a layout and I don’t see people deserving “extra points” for building without a set of plans.
There have been a large number of books and magazine articles published over the years that include the detaile plans along with step by step instructions to build the layout. I think one of these would be a good place to start for a first layout.
Take a look at this article before you go any further with SCARM:
“My guess is most people will draw things out or use a CAD program to design a layout and I don’t see people deserving “extra points” for building without a set of plans.”
I just wanted to bring out that drawn plans are not necessary if you can visualize the layout.
Relating to what Gandydancer said, instead of using 1/4"=1’0", I would suggest using 3/16", 3/8" or even 3/4"=1’0" because if you use say 3/8" =1’0" then 1/32"=1". That can be convenient in locating curves, etc.
If you are fortunate enough to have access to a CAD program, then you can draw your plan at 1:1 scale and plot or print it in whatever scale you would like as long as it will fit on your paper. To find out a scale ratio, take the desired number of units in 1" and multiply that x 12. That gives you a printing ratio.
Example 1/4"=1’0", there are four 1/4 inches in one inch, multiply that times 12 and that gives you 48. So, your ratio is 1/48 or .02083.
1/4"=1’0" is 1/48 = .02083
3/8"=1’0" is 1/32 = .03125
3/16"=1’0" is 1/64 = .015625
You get the idea.
And if you don’t mind using up a bunch of paper, you can even plot it full size and lay it out on the floor or your benchwork.
However, for what it’s worth, I had tried a layout using a couple of plans from books, but the one I was happiest with and remember the most was the one that I just started laying out track in the available space. Enjoy!
I’m in Rogers camp.
I knew pretty much what I wanted so I estimated the amount of track and turnouts needed, but I bought a little less to be safe. I laid out the track and as it progressed I ordered more of what was needed.
As you wil learn and it has been said often on the forum, there is no one right way to do 99% of building a layout.
Good luck and have fun.
Bob
Nah, LION gets no points, extra or otherwise, for building without a plan. It comes naturally for a LION to plan as he goes. I knew what I wanted to build and sometimes I had to wait until an inspiration on HOW to do a task entered my head.
I knew that 242nd street was to be the terminal of this railroad, but I did not know how to build it.
I wanted an elevated structure such as from Micro Engineering, but price and skill led me elsewhere. Finally, I decided that since it would be at eye level and nobody would be able to see through it anyway, I laid out a 4’ x 12’ length of Celotex (you can see the joint disguized as a bridge), built legs and substructure out of wood, and then got some people to help me move it to place where it was needed. The tracks were laid on this piece before the legs were put on and painted.
LION does have plans for the layout of him. But the layout was made first, and then I made the plans to show primates what I did.
For the record, the dimensions, room and tables are to scale, the curves and switches are not.
ROAR
I am also good at building things from what I have in my head. My current layout I did draw on this big pad of graph paper just because it was larger than any layout I had done before. It gave me a rough idea of where everything went but I rarely refered to it once I started building. Also once I started building I changed some things as I went and it all came out great.
If you can put things together without detailed instructions, a simple drawing should suffice.
