Looking to start a small layout

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C

ckblum

New Member
Hey my name is Cam, I'm new to the forums here. I just wanna get some ideas and maybe some advice on possibly starting a new layout. I had a 3x6 N scale layout when I was living with my parents that I never finished. It got chopped up when we moved and now I am out on my own. I still have all the rolling stock, buildings, some track, switches etc. I've been wanting to do something with it instead of just leaving it all boxed up and I don't wanna wait till I have kids before it gets opened up again haha.

My idea was to buy a cheap Ikea coffee table or something small. I have real limited space, I store a bike, snowboard, computer and TV in my small room. I might be able to get away with a 2x4 but I'm thinking 2x3. I've been looking around for some small layout plans, or any ideas for making use of small spaces. Just wondering if anyone else has any input or has possibly seen something out of the ordinary?
 
2x4' would give you a small but very workable layout in N. 2x3' would still be doable, but you wouldn't have as much (or any) straight on your loop. If you don't want a loop at all then a longer L-shaped layout might be better suited to you.

Personally I would make a real attempt to squeeze in 2x4'. This site has same fantastic track ideas for a layout of that size. Every time I pull up and redo my test track it's usually one of those layouts blown up to a larger size. :)
 


Hello and welcome aboard. Though I do not model in N scale, I do agree with going with a 2x4 or L shape shelf layout design. There are lots of friendly guys people here with a wealth of knowledge so I am sure one or more of them will be able to help you out. Good luck
 
Thanks for the replies! I will get out the tape and see what I can realistically fit. My room just feels so small with all the boxes in it right now, just recently moved in.

I wanna have a few loops preferably, just so it doesn't seem to repetitive. I'm not huge into switches or big yards, but a few would be neat. I'm more into the scenery and details, so room for that is what I'm looking for as opposed to a yard with industries.
 
I am sure with a 2x4 either shelf style or not, you can fit in a loop of some sort and a couple of sidings. And you would have lots of room for scenery.
 
Welcome back to the hobby, glad you didn't wait like I did til you were old and gray. Hope you never loose your joy of the hobby.


Small layout site was listed in the other posting, here is another for small layouts of all sizes and all scales with amazing results, though some are only dioramas:

http://carendt.us/

Good luck
have fun
:)
 
I like the idea of those micro layouts. Is something like that possible with N scale? Are the corners too tight for a small 3-4 car train to run on? It would be great if I could get away with a 2x3 layout for now. Maybe make it multilevel with 2 loops. I'd like to make a really "deep" layout, scenery wise, not just flat with a mountain or hill. A large mountain/ravine or something dramatic.
 
You should be able to get an N scale layout in a 2x3 foot space with at least smaller 40 to 50 footer cars {not full length passenger 85 footer cars or 80-90 foot deep well intermodal cars} and the 4 and smaller 6 axel locos on the smaller radii curves if nothing else!!!. You might have to stratch the 2 foot a bit to say 2' 4 inches..can you do that? if you want double loops? 3 foot is a decent length.

I personally have a 3.5 foot x 5.1 foot HO scale layuot that has 2 interconnected loops and a 4 spur inner yar adn a 2 spur inner engine servicing facility. Only problen is that the inner loop is only 15"R HO loop too short for more than 4 axle locos and 40foot cars really.

In N scale you should be able to get two loops of 10"r track available here {new}:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200420427
surrounded by 11.75 track here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200420429
Or just stick witht eh standard of the 11.75 and for the outter loop use smaller straight pieces to expand the outter loop or use 12.5"r track:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200420431

Your better be is the inner 11.75 and outter 12.5 but you will definitely need a table that is 2 feet 27" wide. You CAN take a 2foot wide table and add some 1x2s or 1x4s as a "frame" tacked around the perimeter to expand it a little just be sure your trains are NOT running too close to the edge...!!!

You can crat a hilly looking terrain and have a FLAT run of track going aroun over bridges and in and out of tunnels if you like. Nothing says it has to be flat...but 2x3 is not enough to really chage the elevation of the tack without causing your locos problems you want track grades to BE NO MORE THAN 2% EVER. That would be barely discernable in a 2x3 space But if you build a deep vaelly for a village and raise the FLAT track over a tressle bridge in the valle and through a mountian you won't have the flat look. If you have two tracks..you could use a 2% WOodland Scenics incline/risers systems here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?Scale=None&Item=WDSSUB&ID=20010639
and whole page of options here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/HOProducts2.asp?Scale=None&Item=WDSSUB and alternate that "high end of the tracks so that the inner track is high on the left, but he outer track is high on the rihgt?
got it? may be tacky a bit as the tweo parallel tracks should share the ellevation but hey, its your railroad.

Jsut some thoughts and ideas!!
Have fun in the hobby!

:)
 
If space is a restriction during your normal day to day living, but for running trains, a bit more space could be used, how about this......

Make removable extensions on each end of the table to give you a bit more track and scenery space. When not in use, the extensions could unplug and store on the shelf below the coffee table.

I built this two track layout on a 6x2 board.

dreamland2.jpg


dreamland3.jpg


dreamland1.jpg
 


Thanks for all the input guys! Keep it coming if you got it. Share some pics of small layouts too, I just want some ideas.

I think I'm mostly leaning towards getting the Ikea coffee table, the dimensions say 22" x 36". Plus I can tack on some edges to gain an extra 1.5" around. Other than maybe a big more track I think I have almost everything I need. I have a few pieces of flex track, do people still use that or are sections better?
 
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Oh people still use flex track. In fact it is preferred for long expanses of track or very wide curves.
But, since you have such a small space, I would think that sectional would work just as well for you. I mean a section of flex is what 30 inches long and your table is only 36" long???
If you want a switch for a siding or spur or something in there you'd do more cutting to the flex track than its worth.
There are plenty of small sectional pieces that can fit in.
Just my thought and opinion.
:)
 
I was about to say the same thing. Sectional is great, less joints to worry about, but you would have to cut and file the ends so that it would align and meet with the next section of track properly. So I would stay with sectional track and if you want a spur or a siding thrown in it would be easier for you to go that route. Do you have a era or a time period? Prototype or freelance railroad?
 
I would like to see the finished product. It would make a great conversation piece as well if you have guests over.
 
Time period I'm not sure of yet. I have some WWII era stuff, some tanks and buildings. I kinda wanted to do a WWII European post war theme before. But my engine and rolling stock is all modern stuff. I also like modern too though, I could really go both ways. But for sure free lance. As far as sectional track goes, what kind would you guys suggest? Brand, code all that stuff, I don't really remember what a lot of it means haha.
 
A WWII theme would be cool. Though I would model something from the states such as a airplane mfgr and model a aircraft train or a troop train. As for modern, the ideas are endless and that goes for any time period. It will be interesting to see what you come up with. Me, I am modeling the early 50's to the 70's so I can have both steam and diesel, but the towns are going to look like they came from 30's to 50's in a rural/suburban setting. But thats just me.

When it comes to : scale I am not sure of makers of track, but I would imagine all the big names would make some.
 
Here's the deal I do with my layout: I run about 3 eras:
Steam 20s-30s, transition 40s-50s steam diesel, and loosely "older modern" AKA 60s-70s with some CSX thrown in for good measure.
I do that so I don't get bored with any one time period and so if I like a particular loco {like aGP35} or a K4 PRR I don't have to sweat the details.
So you don't have to be locked into one era. I change out locos, some RR cars can crossover, adn some need to be changed,and some buildings and autos and voils, I have "new" layout!!!

I DO stick to the USA as it is readily available here.
My Other Half {MOH} is also into trains and in to N scale { I do HO}. I am lucky that way- we are both into trains. BUT MOH is into European trains and they are EXPENSIVE and HARD TO COME BY here. ANd take MONTHS form Order date TO arrival date to get them here. so it is hard {my MIL is German and MOH spent every other summer growing up in Germany with German G-ma and family there so MOH romanticizes the European trains MOH rode on while over there! ANd so wants to model that} At aobut $500{or more} a pop and waiting for 7-8 months for it to arrive, it is unrealistic. Just a warning if you want N scale European stuff and are in the USA.

Good luck with all that.
:)
 
If you like the idea of a military theme, have a look at my Area 51 layout set in the 1960's - http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24008

area51a.jpg


My 'Kingman, AZ' layout, set at the aircraft scrap yard in late 1945/46 - http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24023 Excuse the diesel in the background, that was just pulling a track cleaning car.

b17k.jpg


Or the 'Somewhere in England, 1943' layout I'm currently working on for a customer - http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24113

quay198.jpg
 


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