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Hi, my dad deciding to get back into his HO modeling inspired me to want a layout of my own. Due to my space restrictions, I decided N scale was the way for me to go. Below is a picture of my layout so far. I still have to get the money together to purchase the turnouts i still need to build a yard, which I'm still unsure what i plan on doing for it yet. comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
I currently have the layout on some pieces of sheet rock until i have my final design, in which case i will be building its final resting place. also piers will most likely be replaced by foam inclines.
You'll want (for various reasons) to get that off the ground as soon as possible! I'm sure that's in your plans without everyone advising that!
I like that you want to plunge right in and get going, but as everyone's advised me (because well, I asked...) you need to:
Have an operating plan of some kind: What are you interested in? Switching, Just watching trains? Etc
Have a plausible theme for your railroad - coal hauling, logging, transporting rotting fish heads, etc
start out with a temp track plan (like you're doing) before proceeding with the major build. Nothing worse than having benchwork that makes it difficult to get a good track plan!
Decide on what kind of industries you're going to model (although I think for the most part I proved my case that in most cases... it almost doesn't matter when you're planning. The one exception is any industry that uses a lot of layout space, such as elaborate metalworking plants, etc
Just some things to get you thinking. I like the piers, but you're right... it's more plausible in many cases to just elevate with scenery. keep everything under a 67% incline and you should be good!
obviously you still working out the rail solution but i'll join the above poster in saying that you need proper surface to work with as soon as you can.
As stated above, a layout is a lot more enjoyable when raised off the floor, the height is up to you but as the layout is raised up closer to eye things become a lot more enjoyable to view with greater realism. Some 7/16" of thicker OSB board makes a good solid base and fairly reasonable. Also you'll want to consider the fact you will need access to at least two of the long sides and one of the shorter ends if your going to keep it a solid center as the reach over factor can get to be a bit trying for doing all the things that will be involved. I have to admit that I thinking your using a 4'x8' sheet of whatever in building your layout.
Maybe consider an around the wall [ L or U ] shape design so you can have easy reach over for the most part as it make layout work a lot more enjoyable to have easy access to most everything.
Oh, in one of the above posts I'm sure he meant 6 to 7% grades although many regard a 4% grade as fairly steep.
Well i think i have my track layout pretty much figured out. Im gonna be adding two spurs into the center for industry. Ill alsp be uploading a picture of what im planning on for mty yard which will come off of the spur that you see that is curver into a dead end in the back.
Actually, it was a joke. You'd need about 80 helpers to get up a 67% grade - if at all. 4% is the max grade I'd try, and many here will tell you even 3% is too steep. I think 2.3% is the steepest I'll have on my railroad.
The joke was motivated by the incline in Polar Express...
So in the mean time as I wait for the delivery of the final pieces of track for my layout, i figured, no better time to build my bench then now. So a trip to my local home depot I took. And here was the result.
the result was the track plan temporarily sharpied on. i will be painting the board white, with the layout in color coded blocks of 1/4" electrical tape.
been doing some more work. started on laying out the mountain and the climb up to the girder bridges. the more I've been working with the foam, the easier its getting to work with.
I have one more feeder to run then i will be starting to glue the foam inlines down. Then its spackle time. Im gonna be using to get the inclines much smoother and such.
Ok, so joint compound and its drying time is killing me, would have so much more progress done if i wasn't constantly waiting for it to dry, sand, Spackle, dry sand spackle. In all though it is turning out pretty good. just another learning experience for me.
It suddenly occurred to me a couple of days ago, another way to go would be lightweight hydrocal instead of spackle... just because spackle fumes give me a headache
So I am way overdue for an update. Since my last post, there has been a bit of work done. Unfortunately between work and school, i have had a hard time budgeting the time and money to spend working on my layout, so it isn't where I would like it to be, but that's why the call it a hobby now isn't it.
Below is after I learned of Plaster cloth from my dad. He just tried it on his layout and man did it make mountains and such so easy to form. View attachment 27843 View attachment 27844 View attachment 27845
And here it begins. a little lead up into the monster that will be my mountain. Now all I need is about a week and half's worth of newspapers to continue on up to the begging of the mountain. View attachment 27846
What else have i done?
Well I did a little bit of experimenting with my electrical work on the track. It works....however DC and only one power cab will only get me so far. As I don't really have but about $60 bucks invested in a couple of cheap-o trains, still debating on going to DCC.
What's in the works?
-I have been fooling around with some ideas on how I want to set up my control panel (If i stay with DC as my layout currently is).
-Begging my mountain. As You see i have begun a little lead up, up to the mountain.
-With in the next month or two I will be begging to acquire buildings, and begin landscaping the layout (YAY).
