I have another question for everyone which is: I can’t think of a track plan that can incorperate the features from my “layout size” post excluding the turntable. Can somebody help me please?
I would be eternally great-full (i know I spelled that wrong)
THANKS EVERYONE
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More information would be appreciated.
Around the walls or island type?
Physical room demensions would be nice to know
Continuous run or point-to-point operations?
What era are you drawn to?
There is no "off the shelf pla
It is around the walls
The area I want to use is 6’ by 10’ I don’t know the actual room dimensions
I really dont care what era I use
I have No Idea what plan…yet
You need to sit down and do some serious thinking about what kind of railroad you want. Do you want steam only or the transition era with both steam and early diesels? How about the modern era? Do you want mainline running with a little switching or do you want a branch line that is heavy on switching? You need to do some research and crystallize your wants before you can attempt the beginnings of a layout/track plan. There is a wealth of knowledge represented here on this forum so get to work and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Joe
Lets start with what scale?
You will want to check out this http://lancemindheim.com/upcoming_books.htm
and all of his books http://lancemindheim.com/bookstore.htm
see the preview video about them http://www.youtube.com/user/LanceMindheim#p/u/2/VGJE9Q1EBOM
and you will want to consider everythign in here http://layoutvision.com/id13.html
ratled
If you have access to the Track Plan Database on this site, check out the Indiana & Aurora. It’s a 6’ x 7’ layout where the table top can be cut from a single sheet of 4x8 plywood.
It verges on a being a ‘spaghetti bowl’ type track plan, but it allows for both operations and just running trains. To lower the cost of buying track, you could exclude some (or most) of the staging tracks, but I suggest keeping at least a few of them, if possible.
The I&A originally appeared in the August 2008 issue of Model Railroader and there was a discussion about the track plan here on the forum back in April of 2009, here.
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Hi Svein,
this kid has another thread covering the same subject on here. A 14 yr old with big dreams pretending he owns the house. IMHO lots of folks are in the dreaming phase. Really starting to clean up a room and visiting a hardware store is still miles away.
A drawing of his room, with doors and other obstacles, indicated where his train empire has to be build, is the only good start. Finding the right footprint is the second issue to deal with. Knowing what kind of trains and how he envisions them running over his layout comes first.
And yes, you are so right, 18 inch wide shelves are wide enough. Under-estimating the cost of scenery is a big problem. .Lance Mindheim among others made a very wise remark: do not try to build a layout way to large for your abilities, moneywise, timewise and attentionwise. When I was 14… Or pikes that need a crew to operate.
Smile
Paul
You are trying to put the proverbial cart before the horse.
You need to list your “givens and Druthers”
First you have to know your space limitations, including any obstacles or need for pits or liftouts. This would be a “given”
Then you have to know what you want a layout to DO. {Operations, switching, round and round, scenic, tourist, coal mining, engine servicing, yard switching, point to point, etc}} This would be a “druthers”
You also SHOULD pick a time period {era} as shorter cars ran once and can tolerate tighter curves, some longer steamers ran once requiring larger radii curves, and more modern diesel locos will require larger radius curves over shorter older diesels who can negotiate tighter curves! Your ability to run various equipment WILL be administered to by the tighteness of your curves!! {18"R, 22"R, 30"R curves, etc}
Then you have to plan what will work the two {and more} together.
Go to the right side margin and find the “search our community” feature and search for “givens and druthers” under Model Railroader forums and you should get threads where guys had thoroughly spelled out a list of givens and druthers to aid us in helping to design a layout.
There will be no “stock plan” exactly for a layout to meet your wishes{ unless you want a standard 4x8 or so} and so you will have to craft one. Its nto as easy as “gimme a track plan please”. Ideas can be offered, but…
SO look up givens and druthers, write yours down, make a map of your space,and get back to us about a plan we can really honestly help you with.
[8-|]
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I know he’s only 14, and 14 y/os want what they want and want it now. He wants a layout in that space period. Doesn’t care what era, what it is like or anything. just wanna run trains. Having 24"- 26" curves WIll give him oprtunities to run aobut anything he wants.
BUT, he needs to learn about reseaching projects, reaseach how to execute said project {building framework, laying track on subroad bed, ballasting, wiring it, etc…}, and how to FOLLOW THROUGH with said project and not give up or walk away when tired or exasperated. He will be entering high school and maybe even College where such will be EXPECTED of him. He needs to learn sometime! The only thing he may not learn here is group participation, unless he lets DAd and siblings in on it!
So, off we go. WE cannot be in his head and and w
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hi Svein,
not sure about it. Model railroading is one of the hobbies where you have to learn.
Finding out your steamer can’t go around a curve or through a turnout. The involved woodwork or electronics to name some more.
Anyway putting a drawing on here could be lesson 1. With some help, a knowledge-able teacher at school or a friend or even his parents, this should not be a bridge to far.
The U shaped footprint made me worry. The only thing possible seems a switching layout.
or this: 
Since he is rather new to the hobby, he might prefer a continuous run. The “donut” could do just that, the HOG already presented to him could be done in his space.
Add some staging and he could have a great layout. Though his wish for a turntable might complicate his design.
What he also has to learn is long time planning. One of the first things he asked was about the easiest way. A model railroad is not built overnight. As said before, building the bench is great when doing it with two more hands.
It could be a great family project. And when your parents are involved, you might have a sponsor as well.
Good luck
Paul
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hi Svein,
of course I agree with you, no miscommunication at all. Teenagers should learn a lot, but learning by doing and accepting some coaching. And above all willingness to do new things. Getting a drawing posted on here, not difficult, though you have to know some issues. Willingness to start cleaning up his space and ask for help while building his benchwork.
In the meantime considering layout height could be done, beside reading some real good books.
Track Planning For Realistic Operation by John Armstrong
and How To Design A SMall Switching Layout by Lance Mindheim are among the very best.
Especially the first could be a nice Christmas present.
Smile
Paul
WEll,
Teenagers can changet their minds often. ANd we don’t even know if he is still reading this thread.
He IS a teenager, If he wanted to, he could start with a 4x8 table top and a simple loop of track.
Of course that would get boring fast, but as birthday moneys, Holiday moneys, and allowances saved up happen he can add to the simple loop and expand it AS he can afford it.
Asking for books on wiring, layout designs and plans and such for the holidays will help him to understand the “grunge work” of a layout.
Then he can build/change as he goes along BEFORE “setting a layout in stone” {or in this case HYDROCAL} and can alter it until he is satisfied.
Perhaps THAT is his better way to go for him.
Just a thought.
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Probably not, 4X8 plus aisles on 3 sides won’t fit in 6X10. It requires at least 8X10 for minimal 2 foot aisles.
You didn’t read his statement about the layout area correctly.
He has a SPACE of 6 x 10’ within a larger room that also has a water heater in it. A 4x8’ on wheels can be moved around any way within that larger space!
Besides, I think he has lost interest in what we old codgers have had to say a long time ago. I think we have driven him off with our bickering and differences of opinions.
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If you say so. Here’s what I saw earlier in this thread that he wrote: