First layout

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J

julienjj

Noodle is good
Well, i finaly decided to give a permanent home to my loco, it few years old and works on DC, i own a lot of bachman ez-track, 2 DC controller, 2 left railroad swith and 1 righ, around 40 curved track , about 6 inch long and 6 straith 6 inch long. here are my objective

does it worth the upgrade to DCC ?

-i want to build a two floor city, 1 street level circuit going trought an industrial zone and a classification yard, and an underground circuit, both would loop so the trains will keep running all around
-buy an AMTRAK passenger train
max size approx 7' by 12' (2.5M X 4M)


budget :
wood & rought matrials = no real limit
switches and all that stuff = 100$
rolling stuff = 150$
track = 200$
building = 100$
this is the start budged, i do intend to invest more money with time
i dont have any experience doing a layout, still im quite good to built thing using wood

what should i do ? does someone has any layout exemple that fit my cryteria ? or is there any layout planificator software on the internet ?

sorry my english aint really good :o

update :
track name : Canadian National ( CN )
environnement settings : great lakes and st-laurent river -like : valley with low denivelation ,milk factories, car factory, aluminium foundry
i will keep posting my progress
im going to buy presswood today to get a visual representation of my prototype layout
 
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no mames, i'm not telling u what to do but if i was u i'd try to get rid of the ez track and get atlas flex track
 
it was knowwing it might be a risk when i decided to start this projet
you atlas flex track, what that flex mean ? you can twist them or just adjust the level ? because when i do imagine my completed layout i do whant that the track look natural
not with perfect circle or straith line

after a quick look on the atlas page -
whoooaa, these look **** great, i better get rid of those ez track or give them to my litle cousin !!!
 
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this is a nice prototype found on the internet, it seem to fit all my need
ChipContest.jpg
 
This is exactly the plan I would use. It's really a modification of your first plan with the problem areas fixed. You still have the double track main line you wanted and a lot more operations and scenery possibilities. As long as you can get to your layout from all four sides, this is an almost perfect 4x8.
 
I would take out the yard track closest to the backdrop, and put an industry flat or 2 against the backdrop to give you more locations to spot cars.

Just my 2 cents.

Kerry
 


I like that plan as well. It would be way to busy looking if the center backdrop wasnt there. But it lends itself to some nice operation possibilities. I can see that Midstates Recovery Systems business in the other thread would be a good one for this layout.
 
julienjj said:
hummm.....
maybe give a sample ?
Click to expand...

OK, print out the layout plan. Those two straight sections, one the left and right hand side of the loop, are eight actual inches. Measure the size on on the track plan. Now measure all the other track as it is in the layout, marking off the eight inch section measurement as you go. Add up all the sections and multiply by 8 and you'll have the actual number of inches in track. As a WAG, I'd say it's closer to 45 feet than 30, not counting the switches.
 
Bonjour Julien. I hope you do not mind my reply


Well, i finaly decided to give a permanent home to my loco, it few years old and works on DC, i own a lot of bachman ez-track, 2 DC controller, 2 left railroad swith and 1 righ, around 40 curved track , about 6 inch long and 6 straith 6 inch long. here are my objective

does it worth the upgrade to DCC ?
Click to expand...

DC would be the cheapest wya to go with a limited amount of rolling stock, locomotive and industry to serve (if into operation)

DCC would be more expensive initially but would give you more flexibility in the future. ALso if you are into Model RR for the long haul DCC may be something to consider.

-i want to build a two floor city, 1 street level circuit going trought an industrial zone and a classification yard, and an underground circuit, both would loop so the trains will keep running all around
-buy an AMTRAK passenger train
max size approx 7' by 12' (2.5M X 4M)
Click to expand...

That's a lot for a smaller size pike. You will need to compress your "area" or scene, to make it all fit.

budget :
wood & rought matrials = no real limit
switches and all that stuff = 100$
rolling stuff = 150$
track = 200$
building = 100$
this is the start budged, i do intend to invest more money with time
i dont have any experience doing a layout, still im quite good to built thing using wood
Click to expand...

Perfect! Start small, get experience, see what you like and don't like, devellop your own technique etc.

what should i do ? does someone has any layout exemple that fit my cryteria ? or is there any layout planificator software on the internet ?
Click to expand...

You already found one. You can use the old and trusty sytem of "a pen and eraser" :D

sorry my english aint really good
Click to expand...
Way better then my Russian:eek:


update :
track name : Canadian National ( CN )
environnement settings : great lakes and st-laurent river -like : valley with low denivelation ,milk factories, car factory, aluminium foundry
i will keep posting my progress
im going to buy presswood today to get a visual representation of my prototype layout
Click to expand...


That will be quite the layout. Keep us posted.




:)
 
Bought all wooden pieces necessary to begin construction:

-4x8 3/4
-4x8 1/2
-two 4x8 of styrofoam (blue)
-a pair of foldable table legs
-4 little wheel (ill explain that later)
-two 2x4 to make the table more rigid
-kind of homosote, noise dampener similar to cork but... different

Work started :)
 
there it is! the photo was taken before the last side where put on, i just putted on my train to test if the sound dampener effectively reduce track noise, and yes it more quiet than on a table or on the floor
benchx.jpg


you can see the thickness of the table when the side is pulled of
 
Nice start.
I would nix the Bachmann track and use flex track, like others have said. It gives you infinite more possibilities. Plus it would be cheaper in the long run. I would really consider switching to DCC, it makes a world of difference.
 
it was for only for testing, im aint keeping those cheap tracks, they conduct electricity as much as plastic, the train stop everywhere
im looking towards PECO flex track SL-100, are they good ? i have to keep code 100 track due to my older loco

UP2CSX said:
OK, print out the layout plan. Those two straight sections, one the left and right hand side of the loop, are eight actual inches. Measure the size on on the track plan. Now measure all the other track as it is in the layout, marking off the eight inch section measurement as you go. Add up all the sections and multiply by 8 and you'll have the actual number of inches in track. As a WAG, I'd say it's closer to 45 feet than 30, not counting the switches.
Click to expand...

Sorry but i dont understand wich track measure 8 inch...

i tried in centimeters( im really bad using imperial) and it give me around 55 feet plus 19 switch because i will remove 3 lane in the yard
 
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