what do you guys think i should do. i have the option to do either of the following:
1) 4x8 layout
2) l shaped layout - 6x8 30 inches wide this would be approximate i might be able to make it alittle longer.
i am looking at doing modern error and smaller to mid size diesels. i would like to have a complete circle and be able to switch but i have come to the realization that its really tough to accomplish that in a 4x8 and try and keep a radius of 22.
I suspect you are meaning modern ERA (time period), not modern "error" (fault, mistake)
If I wanted a continuous run loop with modern (ie longer) cars and engines on a table, I would certainly
not do H0 scale (1:87.1) on a 4x8 foot table.
One option would be N scale (1:160) on a 30" deep x 7 foot long table.
Why N scale and that footprint? For three reasons:
1) Allows wider curves. Turn back loops on a 4 foot (48") deep table means radius < 22". Rule of the thumb for curves : curves should have radius be
at least 3 times length of longest rolling stock.
A 60 foot car or engine is 60 feet x 12 inches/foot = 720 inches long.
In H0 scale that is 720"/87.1 = 8.2" --> Curves should be 24" radius
In N scale that is 720"/160 = 4.5" -> Curves should be 13.5" radius
It gets even worse if you are considering longer rolling stock - like 80 or 89 foot cars - essentially multiply radii above with 1.5 for 90 foot cars, ie 36" radius for H0 scale and 20" radius for N scale.
2) Reach and floor space - you cannot easily reach across 4 feet of layout from one side of the table. So you need more floor space for a 4 foot deep layout - allowing access to the rear end as well - either a 2" aisle down along the back end, or more available floor space in front of the layout, so you can pull it forward to get behind it.
A 4x8 foot layout really needs 8 x 10 feet of floor space, allowing 2 feet aisles on three sides of it. It basically uses all available floor space in a small spare bedroom - not much chance of also using the room for other purposes.
A 3 x 7 foot layout needs an aisle along the front, and that's it - you can reach across 30" of layout if you have too. So floor space need is 4 1/2 feet by 7 feet.
3) You have room for a lot more in terms of buildings, spurs etc - 30" x 7 feet in N scale is the equivalent of about 4.5 x 12.5 feet in H0 scale.
But you also have other options. It all depends on what you want to do. You can do a loop all around the walls of a room (or a doughnut shaped layout on tables surrounding a central operator pit), with yourself operating the layout from inside the pit.
Main advantages :
- only needs a central aisle,
- can have shelves above and below layout for storage etc, maybe a work bench under the layout,
- curves can be _far_ wider - since only quarter circles will be on the corners of the layout, not half circles with the center of the circle on the table
- you will be looking out at curves instead of in at curves (so the overhang of cars on sharp curves won't look as crappy),
- better visual separation of scenes - instead of the train first passing through the scene next to you and then heading back in the opposite direction at the back of the layout seconds later, the train will e.g come into your field of view from the left, go through the scene and go out to a new scene towards the right.
Lots of ways doing things. Normal recommendation for fitting a layout into a room:
- Draw the entire room (not just a rectangle for the layout). You will need to consider how your layout will work in the room - aisles/access, viewblocks etc.
- Start by deciding what you want to model, not by deciding how big your rectangles should be.
Important design considerations is stuff like whether you need/want a continuous run option, long rolling stock, focus on switching or running and quite a few other things.
Once you know what you want to model, you can look at how to fit it into the room in some more or less sensible way.
This is e.g. how I fitted a H0 scale switching layout into the room I had available - a 6.5 x 11.5 foot basement storage room with a chimney base in one corner:
Not a given that this particular configuration (doughnut style layout) will work for you. But it illustrates that it is not a given that the only option for continuous run will be a loop of track on a rectangular table.
The smaller the space you have available, the more creative you will need to get to fit in a layout.
If your layout will replace a ping-pong table in the middle of the floor of a basement den, and you absolutely want H0 scale and continuous run on a table, go 5 x 9 feet instead of 4 x 8. Will take 9 x 11 feet of floor space, but will also give you far much better curve radii.
If it needs to fit into a smaller room - consider narrow shelves around the walls.
But start by describing the room you want to put the layout into, and what you want to be able to
do on your layout. I.e. your givens and wishes.
Smile,
Stein
