I also have a 4x8 foottable unused in my basement. I plan on using it for N scale. Any great designs in reseaonable budget. I mean I’m 13, get paid 20 dollars a month, bored, need to build a layout, and want somthing to do all winter when I’m not outside. The table is in the middle of my room and I have acsess to all sides. I plan on a run around layout with a small yard and grades. Thanks, PJK (not allowed to mention name quite yet on this site).
There’s the tried and true Atlas plans.
http://www.atlasrr.com/Code80/index.htm
PS-Don’t let those prices scare you. You can do a lot better if you shop around.
If you can, check out “101 Model Railroad Layouts” by Linn Westcott (many libraries have it, you might find an old one for a buck or two at a RR fleamarket). Although it’s written primarily with HO in mind, there are several 4 x 8 HO layouts that really would work better as N layouts - the 18" radius curves are very sharp in HO, in N they’re “broad” allowing you to run anything you want - large steam engines, full size passenger cars etc. BTW just because you can’t afford big stuff now, you may be able to down the road. It would be a shame to have to rebuild a layout because you find out a year or two from now that you really do want to run more than 40’ freight cars and GP diesels !!