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    New around the walls layout

    Guys, I've been without a layout for quite some time now. The last one was a tabletop affair, and was never that happy with it. I'm planning on an around the walls shelf layout in a spare bedroom, and just wanted to bounce some ideas around here, as track planning is not my forte. The room...
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    Benchwork: Plywood, foamboard or both?

    It isn't as nearly as widely available as it used to be, but can still be found. And Homabed still seems to have a bit of a following! I actually think that foam by itself as a sub base would be louder than plywood as a sub base. The foam, to my ears, doesn't deaden sound like you would...
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    Benchwork: Plywood, foamboard or both?

    I'm sorry for not providing more information. The only thing I have to base it on is my old layout, which was homasote over ply in a carpeted room. So maybe since the visited layout was in a basement with a concrete floor that didn't help. It just seemed that the noise of the trains running...
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    Benchwork: Plywood, foamboard or both?

    I'm considering using foam on top of ply for the new layout, but am concerned about the noise factor. I visited a layout once that was foam over ply, and the noise of the trains running, especially at speed, was irritating. It has me thinking about just sticking with good old wood and cork...
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    102 plans book question

    Sorry for the late reply. I recognize that layout as the Carolina Central, which doesn't appear to be included in the track plans in the book. A Google search should turn up something!
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    Weather locos assembled?

    Thanks for the replies. I weathered 2 GP-7s today basically fully assembled, and am very happy with the results. It sure does make sense to do it this way, I guess I was doing it in "parts" since the loco was already disassembled. I was concerned about how much paint would get on the wheelsets...
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    Weather locos assembled?

    Just a random thought/question...I typically weather locos in sub assemblies, and weather the truck sideframes off the trucks. I've seen articles or videos where folks weather a completely assembled loco, and maybe just tape off the cab windows. The only problem I've had doing it my way is...
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    Help with Kato HO SD40-2 Assembly

    I have very little experience with Kato locomotives, mostly work with Atlas and Athearn. I recently was asked to paint a Kato SD40-2 (mid production) loco. I had one problem on disassembly, I broke the light bar going to the front headlights (cab, not nose). The two "lenses" for the headlights...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    UP2CSX, many thanks for posting the photos, the layout looks great! It's given me some scenic ideas if I do go the dogbone route. But yeah, still deciding dogbone vs HOG. I like the idea of being able to squeeze in a small yard with a long enough lead so even if I'm by myself I can putz around...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Kerry, Thanks for taking the time to sketch your thoughts! I have not dismissed a HOG type layout yet, am currently drawing plans for both types and seeing what comes together the best. I would be afraid to build it exactly to the dimensions of the current room, it might not fit the available...
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    "Notching" a Cannon Nose

    Thanks guys, I think I'll go with backfilling with styrene and filing the notch in.
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Jim, Any track plans or photos you can share as inspiration? Sounds like you're a much better "planner" than me! Thanks..
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    "Notching" a Cannon Nose

    I'm working on an NYS&W SD40-2 project, and need to put a notch in the nose as seen here: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1385615 I'm thinking about two different ways of doing this. First thought: Glue styrene layers behind the nose, then file the notch into the nose...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Excellent advice Beachbum, thanks. I'll post some more detailed drawings as I go along..
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Thanks again for the feedback. I definitely want this to me movable, with the turmoil in my career right now I can't be certain how long we will remain in this house. Good point about the 4' reach, I could pull everything in a little to provide access. I don't know, I'm not so sure about the...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Very good thought, I have to get the basic configuration figured out... So I doodled a couple of rough dogbone layouts. These are by no means a "track plan". So I'll stare at these as well as the HOG type plans and see what I think is more to my liking. The benchwork sections were...
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    Messing around till I move with a 4x8

    That's great, even if it's temporary it's great to be able to run trains. I recognize it as the Red Wing layout from MR magazine...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Rico, Ha, I married a cat lover, it's okay but I do have to keep the trains isolated. I suppose I could rehang the door to swing out, wouldn't be the worse thing in the world... And that hex shaped layout...no, not if it's N scale. There was an HO layout built by Lionel Strang, Pacific...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    Thanks for all the feedback guys. I have to leave the door up to keep the cats out. I experimented once with cats and a layout, didn't go so well... :( Since I also need to put a small worktable in this room I'm essentially looking at using everything to the left of the door as layout...
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    Doughnut shaped layout?

    UP2CSX, thanks for taking the time to respond and sketch out your thoughts! I had thought of something along the lines of what you're proposing, but when scaled it doesn't work out...the grid on my plans are 12', so 4' square blobs would look like the first image below. Cutting them down to 3x4...




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