I need help planning a new layout since i want to do more intermediate layout now. My plan is to go with 2 mountains with a dam wall inbetween with tunnels but keep changing my mind on what to put around them.
What i do want is rivers and bridges and a little village or city.
Anyone got a plan which will fit my desire cause i cant seem to make up my own for what i want? My Tracks are Lima so will they work and look alright with Hornby ones?
My scale is HO and i use old Lima Europe/South African Trains with some long coaches and lots of engines and stuff.
without knowing how much space you can dedicate for your layout, it is quite difficult to help you plan your layout.
The best is, that you prepare a fairly accurate plan of your room and mark the area, where you can put up your layout and post it here in the forum. As you will be using mainly Lima track and rolling stock, I assume that you will model a European theme in HO scale. It also helps, that you give an indication of what type of operation you intend to have, i.e. just let trains run around or more prototypical switching operation.
Designing a layout can be fun, but it requires a lot of knowledge to come up with something rewarding. I can only recommend to do some reading - there is a lot of information available in the internet and some excellent beginner´s books from our host, Kalmbach Publishing.
Both links will give you some guidance through your design process - if not for designing your layout, then for asking the right questions here - after all, this is going to be your layout and not someone else´s.
I am not sure, whether Lima track can be matched with Hornby´s. It should work, when rail height is the same. Lima track is no longer produced, IIRC.
I am building it in a garage so got space for car sized layout maybe bigger havent worked out the size yet (Its a rectangular room so it will be in middle depending on layout that is). Was also wondering how i go about making stand for the board to go on seen picture but not sure on dimensions do you have a plan of one or know where to find one?
Also whats best baseboard cause i need to know what to look for in hardware store later. Also gets very humid (70%) here so anything special i need to prepare my layout with? Ive actually got few old issues of Model Railroad magazines hopefully they help with tips.
Whats nice is i have train shop just down the road from me :).
Maddog what Program do people use to design their layouts cause cant seem to get ones i use to work ive tried xtrack and anyrail?
My operation will be having electronic points, lights etc. and trying to make it fun layout with realistic look (which my last layout didnt have it was bare minimum)
Sorry for all questions but like to know everything before starting
I have noticed that you are using British phrases, like baseboard. Does that mean that you go for British outline modelling?If so, you should also visit this forum.
What type of baseboard (or benchwork in the US/Canada) you will be using, finally depends on the type and size of layout you will be building. The typical starter layout is a 4 ft. by 8 ft. “table”, which usually consists of a frame, made of 1" by 4" lumber and covered with a 4´ by 8´ sheet of 3/4 inch plywood and/or 2" insulation board. Personally, I don´t like this type of setup, because it limits you to sharp curves and is not easy to expand. It also requires a much larger footprint to be able to reach the objects on the layout.
Here are some books which I can only recommend to read:
or and
Yes, it is quite an investment, but you will also avoid to make costly mistakes.It is basic knowledge, which you just need.
An around the wall or walk-in style is much better suited to the space you have. Island layouts need aisles on at least 3 sides for access. This space can best be used for the actual layout. You don’t have to fill the space with track as the size allows for broad curves or reasonable inclines to change height (I am assuming a high level of some track to cross those mountains).
As to the humidity, some people have used steel construction studs for building the benchwork rather than wood. Plywood (cut into strips) is a better choice than dimensional lumber. Sealing all the wood would also be a good idea. Of course, one could use a dehumidfier.
I’m sure someone here will have good advice on construction approaches.
Havent checked those links yet Paulus looks interesting.
Thinking about it more a J Layout might work with my room and easier to get to things (island layout you mentioned Doc sounds good too).
Plywood sounds good need to price it at hardware store. Might think of that humidifier solution if it gets bad since i’m not sure how hot it gets in there. Does steel rods work as good as studs? Forgot that the Garage sometimes gets water coming in when it rains hard so would putting it on steel wheels work best?
Maddog yes i use british english here [:)] and also when making a J or island style is it best to start with 1 part of J then slowly add rest or just do the whole J layout in one go?
I also managed to find a place which sells blue foam and heard that 3 mm thick is best to stop noise is this true? also can get 5 cm thick foam 3 metres by 2 metres for $100 but sounds expensive to do it that thick so thats why i though 3 mm would be best and cheap.
I’ll be checking my bookstore for 102 Realistic Track Plans might be lucky and find it
All we know, so far, is that you want an HO layout in a garage. Please Post a scale grid diagram of windows,doors, etc., of the garage. Do you plan to park a car in the garage? In order to Post any picture in the Trains.com.Forum, you must first place the picture in a Host eg. Photobucket.com Establish a free account with Photobucket and a named Album eg. RR photos, in My Albums. Download your photos to this Album. There will be 4 options below each photo. Click on the IMG option, and the word “Copied” will appear, momentarily. Go to the Trains.com, and either start your own thread (as you just did), or click on Reply, to add some Post to someone elses Thread. Type in your Text and click on ctrl V . The lengthy code of your photo will appear. Scroll down to Post and click on it… Your text and photo will soon appear. If you plan to use the entire garage for your layout, plan on an around the room layout, using DCC (perhaps, Radio controlled) My 24ft.x24ft. around the garage loft layout, was built in four stages, over 8 years. I have a dehumidifier and three electric heaters. Specify proposed “era”, “theme” ,"shape. Bob Hahn
