Probably out of my league, but...

[completenewbie]

Hello all - First time poster and oh so impressed with the layouts I've seen here...

First, as the name says I'm a complete newbie at this but have always wanted to create a train layout.

Please forgive my ignorance as well as this post (being my first) being too long. I'm not sure of the protocol on this board yet.

Here are my dilemmas:

• I have 0 artistic ability and visualization skills so I have to rely on what I've seen others do (and I've looked at quite a lot of amazing layouts).
• I have a vision in my head of what I want to accomplish and doubt I have the skills to finish. However, I still want to try it.
• I've purchased a modular scenery kit that says "anyone can do it" but they haven't met me yet LOL, which I will start this weekend to get my hands dirty with creating a scenic diorama.
• Another reason I selected the modular set up, is I may want to add/remove sections over time as (if) I get more adept at creating these things.

My vision involves 2 multi-scale layouts:

• I have an old lionel set I think is from the 70's given to me by my father in law - I guess its a kinda diesel train (Lionel -great plains express set) - O scale with O 27 track (pretty sure its O27)
• I also have 2 HO sets - the DeWitt and another diesel set which I may or may not use based on the feed back I receive.
• I have created a few track layouts which I think will work (I can post them if need be) with a free software product I found (the tracks don't join completely but I think I can find the right "joiner" tracks to make it fit together)

What my vision entails is this:

I want to make a kind of "fantasy" layout. I have O scale figurines such as ogres, draqons, skeletons etc. as well as some buildings.

I'm thinking that I want to create an "upper" and "Lower" type of layout -

The lower layout would be either the O or the HO diesel. The scenery layout would be fashioned along the lines of 1800's but only from a wooden run down building perspective with a mountainous/hilly scene where the diesel would disappear into a tunnel under the mountain. I'm thinking a small mining town such as might have been found in the old west and now abandoned would be layed out at the base of the mountains/hills.

The upper layout I envision as the HO dewitt riding along the mountain/hill tops and the scenery would be of the ogres, skeletons etc in their fantasy domain - complete with burning village, graveyard etc.

My problem (besides my lack of talent and know how) is how do I create such a 2 tiered layout and should I use the O gauge for the lower level or keep it all uniform with both upper and lower being HO?

The area I have is at least 8'x4' with possibly adding more to make it sort of an 'L' shape if need be

I read somewhere that mixing the scales like that give a better field of view from a reality perspective.

I realize this is not a traditional layout and I may not be able to create my complete vision, but I do at least want to create one of the 2 scenes - most likely the fantasy scene first.

Any and all suggestions are more than welcome

Thanks for taking the time to read this long winded post and thanks for providing such a great resource for someone like myself who is so lost and confused

 

[Rico]

Off the top of my head and with only one cup of coffee so far, I would think 0 scale on the bottom with HO on top. You could stack styrofoam for the elevations.
If you had a road or trail going across just make it narrower as it goes to the back.
There's a couple guys here that did something similar, you'll have to dig.
Start with sketching things, laying them out on tables or plywood and see what developes.
I'll have to reread this when I'm more awake!

 

[completenewbie]

Thanks for the reply Rico... The path/trail going up to the second tier is something I'd not thought about and a great idea. It lends itself to all kinds of visual scenarios. I searched for other posts regarding the 2 tier concept but didn't find anything relevant - I must have missed something or searched with the wrong terms. I'll try again.

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Welcome to the hobby and the forum! You've started the right way and that's with lots of reading. Don't be afraid of trying things just to see if they work or not. Odds are that you will redo half of what you try! Your concept of a two tiered layout is not totally impossible. One thing you may have problems with is doing it with the traditional 4x8 platform. Unless you have a very shallow lower section(can't reach the middle), it will be hard to use all of both levels. Most two level layouts I've seen are around the room designs. They are around two feet deep and mounted to the walls or freestanding if you like. That way you can have a decent separation between the levels and not have it feel like you're working in a subterranean cavern.

This probably hasn't helped you much, but I thought I'd voice my concern with your plan so far. Whatever you decide to do will work out one way or another. Just have fun while you're doing it. Don't be afraid to ask more questions. Just know that you may get babbling responses like mine!

 

[completenewbie]

LOL - Thanks for the response Corey and don't worry about the babbling, it's a favorite past time of mine as well as you can see from my post. I found a few pictures of multi-tiered layouts in the forum and they look fabulous. I see what you mean about the 4x8 layout and it makes perfect sense specially after I looked at the other layouts. So, instead of the 4x8, I'm thinking more along the lines of a 3' or less width modular layout. This should allow me to "reach" items easily enough. Thanks again for the reply - all replies no matter how silly or babbling are always taken as constructive and are much appreciated.

 

[ICG/SOU]

I did what you're talking about (well, some of it) by putting O on bottom and HO on top. It hasn't worked out as well as I wanted, though.

My room is 9.5'x15.5'. I've got two doors to deal with (soon going away to just one, and in a good place). Bottom level is a simple loop around the room, with a small stub yard and a runaround track/passing siding. I went with Fasttrack, 1" of Dow Square Edge foam (blue). I have Lionel TMCC to power it. I was able to do O72 mainline curves and turnouts, and 060 on the passing siding.

On the upper level I have a folded over figure eight with interchange tracks and yard, and several industries. I am running Atlas Code 100, Caboose Industries ground throws, #6 Mk IV turnouts. I've got a Digitrax Zephyr, and have 5 UP5 panels (one per long side, and an extra in the kitchen). I have a PM42 and four power districts (with four buses). My radii are roughly 24" minimum (though I've got one that is more like 22"). The track is level, yet sits on 2x 2" layers of blue foam.

I'm removing the O scale portion and hope to go modular with that, since I like the engines and rolling stock I have. In the room, I had two options, either a loop around the room (what I did) or a decent switching layout. O scale deserves (especially the O I have) to have room.

My redesign will be two level, with HO on both.

My current benchwork is the same on the bottom as it is the top. Unfortunately, I've got a lot of wasted space.

Anything I can help with, let me know.

 

[completenewbie]

Hi Trey - and thanks for the response.

I have no idea what you said in your response except the part about O on bottom and HO on top LOL... but I will learn - slowly.

When you did your 2 tier set up, what is the width of your track at the narrowest?

I'm thinking I need to do something like an elongated sideways U to be able to access everything on the upper level.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[ICG/SOU]

The benchwork is a U along 3 walls, and has an single section on the fourth wall, connected via lift out bridges.

The width of the benchwork is 36" and 32", with a small section of 24" wide, both levels. I used 2x4s and legs, and essentially built table tops or shelves (free standing, not on the walls). I did so for ease of construction, but found a couple of problems.

The lower level is dark. A way to solve or mitigate that problem is to make it deeper (wider) than the top level, so more overhead light can get to it. Another way is better lighting (I used rope lights). However, the deeper the lower benchwork is, the higher the upper level needs to be so that you can reach to the back easily. I didn't build enough space between levels (14") to be able to reach the back. A full 24" would have been better.

The track level (O scale) from the floor is 33". The upper level is 54". However, under the 54" is 2x 2" layers of foam, 3/4" plywood, and 1x4s on their sides, so that's 9" right there.

 

[flh80]

Don't worry about your level of knowlege, pick up some magazines read and learn. As you see already people are willing to help. In this hobby people are at all levels of modeling. You'll find your better at somethings than others. Good luck and enjoy the hobby.

 

[completenewbie]

Thanks Trey and Bill for the quick responses.

Trey - I'm think my levels are going to more seemless and built into the scenery as opposed to being an upper and lower level shelving type of layout. Sounds like you've learned quite a bit with that layout that I can capitalize on with your great advice. Thanks

Bill

I'm reading as much as I can, but I have an itch and I need it scratched lol

Gotta post another problem I'm having with my O track in another thread - the connection from the transformer seems to be working as the lights on the train go on and the train sounds like it's trying to move but doesnt...