ideas for 4'x8' layout

Brodk,

If you have access to a hobby shop, stop by and see if they have any track planning / layout diagram books. I read somewhere that, because of its popularity in the lumber industry, that the venerable 4x8 is the most common size layout built. There are probably hndreds of plans designed for that size.

One suggestion... if you are going to use 15" curves, don't plan on running any really long equipment or bigger locomotives on it. Most of the bigger models today require at least 18" and in some cases, even 22" radius curves to operate. With 15" radius curves, I'd try to stick with smaller, shorter locos and 40' or shorter freight cars.

Good luck!

dlm

The OP didn't specify scale. In N, 15" woiuld not be to constricting.

Oops! Sorry, just re-read post and saw HO. [hangs head shamefully] Carry on.

Your concept is a good one, and has been used as the basis of excellent layouts. But your radii are too small. (See other replies about this.)

Buld a double track oval using 22" radius curves for the outside track, and 18" for the inside track, which you can configure as an over-and-under figure 8 with no trouble. Unless you are OK with backing up a train, you will need two crossovers facing in opposite directions.

The success of the layout will depend on two main factors: a) careful construction, to ensure trouble-free operation; b) addition of scenic and other details to make it look good. This is where you and your son (and his mother!) will have a lot of fun deciding what to do, and later on, how to change it. ;-)

And you will change it. If this becomes a major pastime for you and your son, your notions of what you can and wish to do with the layout will change. So don't consider this is a permanent layout.

HTH

Good point on the 15" Radius... I'm running just an F7 loco, SW-1 loco, all 40' boxes, 34' hoppers, etc... era will be the

You didn't even read the part you quoted...he did say HO Scale! Look at what you quoted above.

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Thor's All Gauge Page has a wealth of valuable information:

These two books are very popular:

This has been my favorite for nearly 40 years..."101 Track Plans for Model Railroaders", by Linn Westcott:

"Big Book of Model Railroad Track Plans", by Robert Schleicher:

Good luck! I'm sure you and your son will derive a lot of pleasure from the model railroad!

Bill Bill's Railroad Empire N Scale Model Railroad:

A 4 x 8 requires at least an 8 x 12 foot space, if you want all around access and even then that is tight which is why a 4 x 8 is just about the worst thing you can build.

Think about going around the wall of the room with perhaps an 18" to 24" wide shelf. You'll find it much more satisfying to build and to operate than a 4 x 8 foot tail chaser

-- Cheers Roger T. See the GER at: -

Bill wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@n33g2000pri.googlegroups.com:

I would also recomend "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" Which will show you why just about every plan in "101 Track Plans" needs some modification.

Hi,

Actually I did think about two smaller layouts right and left of the sofa with a track connection behind the sofa. My space would have been a bit too limited for that, but it might work for you?

Or actually build 2x4 feet "pieces" which connect to each other via hinges or clamps, so you can later add "middle pieces"...

In any case, try to add a few tracks which terminate at the very edge of the layout ("leaving the layout") so you can later expand it in that direction (and meanwhile can tell everybody this is the connection to the "United Global Rail Network" ;-)

Have fun!

The "sofa" idea is great. I'm thinking a 48"x48" on each end of the sofa with a 96"x12" "connector". The 48"x48" would have 18" & 22" radius loops and the connector would be like a mainline with a small switchyard. I'd put my 18" Atlas arched bridge on the connector.

I'm guessing I need to avoid the temptation to go out and buy 3/4" plywood and go with an open grid-style benchwork (correct my terminology please) made of 1"x4" boards about 12" apart, then cutting

I'm guessing I need to avoid the temptation to go out and buy 3/4" plywood and go with an open grid-style benchwork (correct my terminology please) made of 1"x4" boards about 12" apart, then cutting

Brock,

First thing is that you need to try to decide what you want to do. If you just want some trains to run round & round, that will take a different approach than if you want to do intircate switching moves. Usually, most of us settle for something in between.

Second, you need to decide if this is going to be your only layout. I'm on my third one right now. I learned a lot from the first two so you can think of early efforts as learning experiences. As you might guess, you will include skills learned and ideas tested in subsequent projects as you go along.

Third, as to whether or not you want to lay track on 3/4" plywood... that is kind of determined by how many hills / mountains you want in your model. If you were modeling the midwest, you would want to be much more flat than the Rocky Mountains. Even the road that you model won't always determine this... the Union Pacific goes both over the mountains and across the plains; the C&O went through the mountains of Virginia and across the flatlands of Ohio. Decide what you want to do then go from there.

As you have already learned, everyone has an opinion. And, with few exceptions, most all of them are "right" depending on what you want to do. Is a plywood base "right" for you? If you are going to be content to just have a couple of loops of track with some buildings, then probably so. My current layout is built with plywood strips in kind of a gridwork fashion with 1/4" luan plywood on that, topped off with a sheet of 3/4" blue foam insulation. That isn't right for everyone but it suits my needs perfectly.

Finally, and I'll take some real flak here from others: it is YOUR railroad so do what YOU want to do. If you want to haul modern Amtrak passenger cars with old steamers, go for it. It won't be "right" based on what really happened on the railroads, but if it's what you want, do it. If your first building efforts don't look like those that you see in MODEL RAILROADER magazine, don't despair. Keep the building as a measuring stick to judge the improved skills you acquire over time. Take your time, accomplish little things to accomplish the big things and remember that a layout is never done... once you think you are totally done, you will realize that cars may need weathered, buildings may need painted, trees may need improved... this is a lifelong hobby and you will probably have plenty of time to do all of the stuff you want to try. You don't need to do it the first day.

A friend of mine tried model railroading... he went out and bought a very expensive building kit and gave up about a third of the way into it. "Too hard & too expensive..." he says to me. No, he just bit off more than he could chew with that first bite. Start simple but dream big. Most of all, HAVE FUN!

Ask questions here or contact us individually; most of us are willing to share.

dlm

Good concept.

I _strongly_ suggest you acquire one of the following, all by Kalmbach Publishing. Your local public library may have copies, too.

Building Your First Model Railroad ($12.95) Basic Model Railroading ($117.95) HO Scale Model Railroading ($19.95) Project Railroads You Can Build ($16.95)

These will answer your current questions, as well as those you haven't thought of yet. As your experience grows, many of of Kalmbach's other books will be of interest, as well as those published by Railroad Model Craftsman.

Enjoy!

I'd recommend the latter, also. For one thing, when you move, it's a lot easier to transport.

mark, moved with trainset halfway across the country three times

I'm guessing 1/2" smooth plywood cut in the shape of my track would be sturdy enough for mounting to the 1"x4" gridwork? Thinking of using some type of "blue" dense insulating foam to support the in-between areas that will have just landscape, no track.

Also, hypothetically, if I had a 48"x96" (remember this is for a kid so they like a train that goes round and round) grid made of 1"x4" spaced 12" apart could I create a up-and-over figure-8 within this space using 18" or 22" radius track?. That is would the roughly 90" of distance from each end of the figure-8 afford enough linear track length to enable me to use my Atlas 18" arch bridge?

I'm doing the math in my head and for the "over" loop I'm figuring

I'm just trying to figure whether my Athearn F7 or SW-1 switcher with about 9 40' cars could make it up such a grade (?).

I guess you can tell I love my Atlas bridge and want it in this layout somewhere! What would really be nice would be to find room for a separate line using the smaller radius 15" to form some type of oval meandering inside the area formed by the 18" radius figure-8.

I'm going to a huge model rr shop tomorrow to first get some layout books. I'm new to this so I want to make sure of the basics before I start screwing 1"x4" sections together although the idea is great that you mentioned to start by building a few 24"x48" sections to be assembled as modules. This way I could move them around before settling on a design which may well evolve into two 48" square ends with 2 24"x48" "connectors" between the two.

If you can go 1 more foot to 5x9, Atlas had a great plan in one of their books called the Granite Gorge & Northern. I built it as a kid before going to N Scale and it was fun to build and interesting to run.

Also, hypothetically, if I had a 48"x96" (remember this is for a kid so they like a train that goes round and round) grid made of 1"x4" spaced 12" apart could I create a up-and-over figure-8 within this space using 18" or 22" radius track?. That is would the roughly 90" of distance from each end of the figure-8 afford enough linear track length to enable me to use my Atlas 18" arch bridge?

I'm doing the math in my head and for the "over" loop I'm figuring

I'm just trying to figure whether my Athearn F7 or SW-1 switcher with about 9 40' cars could make it up such a grade (?).

dlm