Solving Layout Dilemmas (discus layout problems)

[#welcome]

If your looking for info on layout planing, trying to find a plan, want know how to build a bridge, or just want to share your “railroad wisdom” this is what your looking for.

Here are good places to go if you need pointers on layout planing:
O/O27 scale: http://www.thortrains.net/modelrr0.htm
HO/N scale: http://www.thortrains.net/smscale1.htm
Large scale/Garden railways: http://www.thortrains.net/Gscale1.html
Table-Top trains in 1/120 scale: http://www.thortrains.net/ttscale/ttdex.html


Now the first thing you need to know is that when you first start to build your trainset you shouldn’t be woried about how the layout looks. Your first layout probobly will not even be finished before you move on.

What that means is that by working on your first layout you know a little bit more than you did when you first decided to build your layout. After you build the second or third layout you should be surprised at what you acomplished.

Now you know what this tread is for so ask a question or give an answer[D)]

Well, the last wooden bridge I built is still int he box it was stored in in 85. Still looks good. How did I build it? From looking at a picture. Found a picture of one I wanted to model and kept it in front of me while I cut and glued.

When planning my current layout I built a factory with DPM panels before I finalized my track plan. Of course when the track was down I found that the builing was much too large for any space available without sacrificing another planned section. Needless to say the building was scavanged for a few other buildings.

The best way to make sure a custom made acesory will fit in your layout is to make a scale drawing of the area on graph paper. Include the land features that are already there and see if you can use them in the design. After the drawing is acurate draw in the building. Then using the picture, build your building. Just remember that you will need to deside the buildings height without the picture.[:)][:D][8D][{(-_-)}][(-D][swg][:-^]

I want to put a gorge in my layout with the main line (2 tracks). I am using a double track trestle bridge. Can anyone help me[?]

[%-)]

First of all, you dont want much.

There was an article in a May 2003 magazine for Clasic Toy Trains. if you have it, it is similar to what you are looking for.

If not, just wait until thursday at around 4:30 pm eastern time.
I will have a summary of the article by then.

[soapbox]I WANNA KNOW NOW[soapbox]
I don’t have the magazine.

[soapbox]to you too!

We are still open to anything you have to say.
Thats how desprate I am to share my “railroading wisdom” I have to pleade for your confusion.
[#welcome]
[#wstupid]
[#offtopic]
[#ditto]
[#dots]
[#oops][oops]

What a story!

Nice to see there are fans of my work

Judging by your user name I would say you are talking about the links to thortrains.net

I am using one of your HO track plans for my new layout.
It is a geat site[bow]

If thtat is not what you are talking about than [#oops]


But anyway her is my reply to “big_steam” and his question on building a gorge.

Got the info from a May 2003 “Classic Toy Trains” Magazine

  1. Start by cutting out the shape of the gorge and remove the braces that may be in the way.
    The width of the cut should be a few inches less than that of the bridge.

  2. Frame the layout with 1 x 4 sides and a baes of plywood. Be shure they fit flush with the
    layout edge.

  3. Now would be a good time to put any supourts for the bridge in. When those are in place
    staple in some strips of corrugated cardboard shaped to the rough outline of the gourge to the
    botom of the gourge and the top.

  4. Now place overlaping peices of Plaster Wrap over the cardboeard strips. Read the
    insructions on the Plaster Wrap for drying times.

  5. AFTER the Plaster Wrap is dry cover it in Gypsolite.

  6. AFTER that is dry you can paint an add Enviro-Tex. Use a board fastened
    tightly to the edge of the layout to prevent runoff. Revove the board before the Enviro-Tex dries.

ENJOY
[8D][:D][:)]

Thanks for the reply. I will try it this weekend.

We are still open to anything you have to say.
Thats how desprate I am to share my “railroading wisdom” I have to pleade for your confusion.
[#welcome]
[#wstupid]
[#offtopic]
[#ditto]
[#dots]
[#oops][oops]

What a story!

Good luck with the HO pike. I hope you have as much fun building it as I have designing them.

I plan to use the layout below as a mining route w/ a mountain in the back. Later I will expand it around the room an I hope to run an Amtrak train around the side or the mountain and maby a Shay logging train on a small oval track on the mountain. What do you think?

[image]http://www.thortrains.net/4hob4a.gif[/image]
[%-)]

Sounds good. I think you’ll have a lot of fun with it.

wjco9a, the modified dogbone w/ the addition of a crossover (top, middle) is my favorite basic loyout shape. IMHO I would add the crossover for the ability to reverse long trains, and use both directions w/o the dreaded 0-5-0 switcher. Its a good shape to add to.

Thank you for the input! I will try it.

Need advise on decorating a tunnel entrance. I want it to look like concrete. Also I need to know how to add the effect of the soot build up at the top of the tunnel.

[%-)][?][%-)][?][%-)][?][%-)][?][%-)]

Big Steam,

I just read your request for a gorge idea. I built one I’m very proud of and I used the article from CTT. The only difference between mine and their’s was that it took me a lot longer than what they suggested but I enjoyed every minute of the construction and it really does draw the comments.

Check out the progress and completion at:

http://jands.logicalgeek.com

Jon[:)]