hi everyone i am new. I know the things in my city i wanna have in my 10’ x 10’ foot room layout, but i cannot make sense on paper to get it started and for it to look like it should, sort of like the rela one. mallasses fact, quakers oats, unimen mines, cardboard fact, and minute maid. how do i get my idea on paper to make sense so i can start, i know my basic size and shape of benchwork, now what
thanks , Dale
Welcome, Dale [#welcome] Glad to have you aboard.
Now find a copy of John Armstrong’s Track Planning for Realistic Operation and read up on the techniques used by a master trackplanner. Just his explanation of the use of ‘squares’ is worth the price of the book.
If your space is big enough, it’s just possible that looking at what’s actually on the ground around the things you want to model might trigger some ideas. Try using the aerial view feature of your favorite map-reading program - it might surprise you.
Be aware that you will probably have to do some (a lot of) selective compression, virtual construction and calculated omission. (Track runs behind a hill, which has a tall smokestack and an industrial water tower, both labeled Humongous, Incorporated, peeking over the top. OF COURSE the 275-acre plant is there, but it’s hidden by the hill…)
As a last resort, prioritize the things you want. Then, when you can’t fit the lower priority items, bite the bullet and set them aside for inclusion in the next, bigger and better layout.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Dale, a hearty [#welcome] from the other side of the Big Pond!
You did not mention the scale in which you want to build your layout in. In HO scale, a 10´ by 10´ is sufficient room to build an interesting, along the wall shelf layout, but limited to a branch line. The number of industries you want to have may not fit onto that type of layout. The “Heart of Georgia” layout maybe viwed as a good example for such type of a layout - just google your way along to find it.
In N scale, your room is big enough to build an empire! If you are a subscriber, you have access to MR´s track plan data base, which should give a lot of food for thought for your layout.
Just an example of what can be done in N scale:
This is a track plan my friend Paul (Paulus Jas here in the forum) has developed - based on MR´s current project layout scheme. It surely could be adapted to fit into your room!
Try to collect as much information as possible - there is a lot of it available in the web, and there are many fine books available from our host here, Kalmbach!
Have fun!
hi,
here is the HOG. Cut a 4 x 8 sheet in 4 one foot wide shelves and BINGO.
Paul
Besides what is suggested above, you would probably gain by studying other people’s layouts, good ones such as those that appear in Model Railroad Planning published by our hosts, Kalmbach Publishing. Think about what John Armstrong and other planning advisors say, and then look at published track plans to try to figure out why they laid tracks the way they planned to lay them.
Then, keeping in mind your minimum radius for your engines, start doodling. Take 1/4" grid graph paper and layout out several borders to show different bench configurations for the space you have, and doodle. Most of us who do this take several evenings to finally realize that we are actually making a lot of progress. One night, it all comes together and you will know that you have a good solid plan.
The alternative is to simply duplicate what another planner has done and enjoy the benefits of their work…as suggested above. [:)]
-Crandell
Welcome.
As mentioned above prioritize you wants and desires. Do this for not only the industries you want to serve, but also there are other things you need to think about: era, season, continuous running/point to point (if continuous, how to enter room: duck under, swing gate or liftout.) As stated read, and also, if the opportunity is available, go to a show to see some layouts. See if there is a club or individuals in the area that have layouts you can look at. Leave your name at your LHS and ask them to give it to others, that way they are not giving out names of people not interested in having someone see their layout, they look you up.
Have fun,