Over the past couple years I have received a great amount of advice from this forum about constructing a small HO layout. Here is the result.
I have been working on a small HO layout that would fit on top of a pool table. The design is based on 2 - 3’ x 4’ modules that are bolted together. On top of the framed wooden base are up to 3 layers of 1" styrofoam. The code 100 flextracks have tight curves from 11" to 15" radii. There are 2 mainlines and a siding where the trolley operates back and forth. The steep inclines rise 3" over 72". Small engines and short freight and passenger cars work well. The engine frames need some filing to accomodate the tight curves. A single good engine (without traction tires) can easily pull 12 cars on the steep inclines with no problem. Here are photos and videos of the layout. There is still a lot of work to do on the scenery but the trains, tracks and switches work well.
A work well done - reminds me of my first layout I built back in 1969, with pretty much the same track plan. It was all marklin with tin track, sharp curves and steep grades, but it worked and it was mine! We had no foam board in those days - scenery was made of bits of news paper, soaked in glue and put over wire mesh. Ground cover was colored saw dust and trees were plastic things looking more like a stack of opened umbrellas. But again, it was mine and I built it!
I posted a photo of my layout not so much as to show it off but as information to show that tight turns and steep inclines are possible if space is limited.
Thanks for compliments, it has been fun constructing and operating the layout and will continue to do so.
I like it too Dave, I can see my house from there! Great work. [bow] The Ford Rotunda was a great place. I remember the Christmas’s until it burned down in 1962. [#oops] I had an uncle that worked for Fords and we went almost every year. They also had a train layout, I don’t remember much about it, but I know it sticks in my mind, and was part of what got me into this hobby. The other part was my dad building a Lionel plywood prarie around the oil tank when I was born, which he showed me how to run it at age 2 (1952). I got Lionel HO at 9 years (Christmas, 1959), Aurora Model Motoring at 10, (Christmas 1960) Thought I lost them after a divorce, [tdn] (dream up in smoke) (I was told they where given to ex-brother in law’s resale shop) [banghead] found out 4 years ago (2005) my oldest daughter [angel] (God Bless Her) saved my HO and Slots. Bought Tomy Super G+ (Fast) and started to build. 15.5 X 4 X 10 X 6 , “L” shape with Trains, Aurora MM for city streets, Tomy “freeway”…" the need for speed." I was in the Testing stage for all track 3 plans, Life is good, HAVING FUN! building my dream. It all went up in smoke (for real) last year. [banghead] A fire in the train room at 4am melted everything, I salvaged a Lionel HO Seabord flat car and 1 box car (slight smoke damage, i’ll call it weatherd.) Had to make a “Statement of loss” for insurance, to the tune of $11, 579.00. How do you replace that, from my childhood memories, to my still dreams of today? (at 59)
EBAY!!! (Christmas 2008 sorta) Insurance got my Lionel Ho New Haven Rectifer (in fact the whole train), MM track and cars, bought new Tomy SC+ “freeway”, Lots more new locos, rolling stock, buildings, scenery, all in box’s in the basement. executive officer took over recently remodeled train room for bedroom.NOT HAVING FUN! [:(] I now have to rework the basement…what next? [banghead] Started to build, Life is good,&
First don’t think about degrees. Way to difficult, use a percentage, it’s done that way all over the world. So you do not have to go back to school after all.
The only trapp is you have to compensate for the vertical curve(VC).
You have 4.5 feet or 54 inches available. Due to the VC lets say 50 inches.
We are almost there: you will have to rise 3" in 50".
Now the math comes in: that’s 6" every 100", so we have a 6% incline.
(per cent is French for “every 100”). Steep, but short European trains will have no problems; they are usualy equipped with traction “tires”. A rubber band around a wheel. This is not common practise in the USA. For a modarate 3% incline you need twice the space(9’).
Paul Jas
On every calculator you’ll find a “tan”-key. Because we know the percentage we have to use two key’s; first the "second"key and than the 'tan"key. ( 6% = 0,06) So we get: sec tan 0,06 = 3.43 degrees. We have two formula’s: degree*= sec tan (perc / 100)* and perc = 100 _* tan (_degrees).
I was particularly interested in seeing your post because I’ve been toying with the idea of including some ultra-tight radius curves (14" to 16") in an upcoming layout. Like most folks, I’d prefer to use broad curves; my last layout had 30" radius, and a few larger cosmetic curves, and I loved the look. But I don’t have the space to work with that I used to. And John Allen’s first G&D had 14" curves, which got me to thinking small.
So thanks for providing an example of a fine-looking layout that breaks the mold of today’s big-curve bias. Since layout space is a concern for just about everyone, it seems to me a lot of folks could benefit from ignoring the broad curve mantra and considering the benefits of tight radii. (Provided, of course, they’re willing to tailor their rolling stock accordingly.)
BTW, what was the maximum length of freight cars, passenger cars and locos that worked consistently well on your layout?
And look for a prototype where small radii seem natural. In urban area’s and on mountains you can find real great examples. A week ago there was a posting about the Rhatische Bahn near Brusio, the great little railway that uses modelrailroad radii on their Bernina route. Forget the wide open spaces and the countryside. Why think small when space is abundant. Urban Bush Terminal NYCH used very tigth radii to get in the alley’s between the buildings. Coupling cars is a major problem. In an old MR-planning i read a comment from Paul Dolkos. The engine has to be (almost) in line with the two freightcars you want to get/set out; so your alley’s will eat up a lot of space but the lead curve can be made really tight indeed (10") No problem, as long as your train is only 2 cars long while running as slow as you can. Urban is great,… Paul
