I have very limited space for a layout myself. I am returning to the hobby after being gone for many years. I did however checkout Model Railroader's web storeand purchased a couple of downloadable pdf's for inspiration. one is called "visit compact railroads" or something to that effect. the other is more or less called "shelf layouts you can build". the shelf layout one has some very creative ideas for layouts of exteremly limited space. there is a layout that fits on top of bookshelf and folds out to almost 6 feet in length. even if you don't want to adapt one of those plans it is very useful reading and well worth the small cost ( less than $10)
1' x 3' n scale layout idea
- Thread starter FictionalCharacter
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i have to admit, after actually setting up a large portion of the track for that last plan... this does look like a rather pointless collection of switchbacks.
Oh, I dunno, maybe the track plans other folks posted in the first and second pages of this thread?
Sorry, didn't realize anyone would take a good-natured smilie personally. Since you didn't say much about any of those designs when they were posted, I wasn't sure you had noticed them.
Do carry on.
The Switchman's Nightmare (at minimum size) is about 10 inches by 40 inches long in N scale. Isn't that smaller than what you have been talking about? Didn't you say you had 1'X4' in N scale?
The Timesaver (even though I don't recommend it) would be the same size or less in N scale.
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nephthyr
Member
Try this for some inspiration, 1' x 4' in N scale with operation to boot: http://dawson-station.blogspot.com/2009/10/welcome-to-dawson-station.html
Please not I have absolutely no affiliation to the owner of that layout, I'm merely posting it here so that others might gain inspiration and ideas.
Please not I have absolutely no affiliation to the owner of that layout, I'm merely posting it here so that others might gain inspiration and ideas.
vato loco
Just a Foolish Saint!
Im not sure if you can fit a 26x48" layout. but mine might give you Ideas...... http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/album.php?albumid=53
FictionalCharacter
New Member
hey all.
i think i'm finally narrowing things down here. my gal and i went to a train show yesterday (she's just as excited as i am to get started, if not moreso). she got a great northern kato f7a, which blew our minds, since the engines i've been using are an old life like and a bargain bin bachmann. between us we gathered up over a dozen pieces of rolling stock, and we got a copy of n scale model railroading, some scenery-building kits, and some track accessories.
with that, i figure i can devote all of my atlas code 80 to this little switching layout (my tentative plan is to get an atlas trainman set and use true-track for our bigger layout when we start it, depending on whether or not the budget allows for unitrak). this is the more solidified switcher plan i'm working with now:
i have four right hand #4 turnouts, one left hand #4 turnout, and three left hand #6 turnouts to work with. random, i know. i'm still working on the best way to incorporate most or all of them without things getting cluttered, which i think they are a little bit with this plan.
i think i'm finally narrowing things down here. my gal and i went to a train show yesterday (she's just as excited as i am to get started, if not moreso). she got a great northern kato f7a, which blew our minds, since the engines i've been using are an old life like and a bargain bin bachmann. between us we gathered up over a dozen pieces of rolling stock, and we got a copy of n scale model railroading, some scenery-building kits, and some track accessories.
with that, i figure i can devote all of my atlas code 80 to this little switching layout (my tentative plan is to get an atlas trainman set and use true-track for our bigger layout when we start it, depending on whether or not the budget allows for unitrak). this is the more solidified switcher plan i'm working with now:
i have four right hand #4 turnouts, one left hand #4 turnout, and three left hand #6 turnouts to work with. random, i know. i'm still working on the best way to incorporate most or all of them without things getting cluttered, which i think they are a little bit with this plan.
FictionalCharacter
New Member
ok, so... i know i've gone through like a billion ideas here, but i think i may finally have figured most of it out. i haven't been able to decide between a 1' x 3' or a 1' x 4' separated into two sections. space is at quite a premium, but i'd still like a healthy amount of operations. i've come to a compromise with a 10" x 42" plan that seems to pack a whole lot in there for around 3 square feet. it will be divided into two sections.
the bottom left spur is really only there because i have the turnout lying around. i should probably reduce it (and some of the others) to just one track section to make room for an industries.
one added bonus... if i put insulated rail joiners in the long crossover right smack in the middle of the plan when i put the two halves together, and provide for a second set of wiring, i can effectively divide the layout into to DC halves. one will be the inglenook, and the other will be... all the stuff below the inglenook. i can challenge a friend to the inglenook while i fiddle around on the other half.
what do you think?
the bottom left spur is really only there because i have the turnout lying around. i should probably reduce it (and some of the others) to just one track section to make room for an industries.
one added bonus... if i put insulated rail joiners in the long crossover right smack in the middle of the plan when i put the two halves together, and provide for a second set of wiring, i can effectively divide the layout into to DC halves. one will be the inglenook, and the other will be... all the stuff below the inglenook. i can challenge a friend to the inglenook while i fiddle around on the other half.
what do you think?
FictionalCharacter
New Member
it's entirely possible. what would you suggest as an alternative for a similar amount of space?
FictionalCharacter
New Member
i have to admit, after actually setting up a large portion of the track for that last plan... this does look like a rather pointless collection of switchbacks.
Oh, I dunno, maybe the track plans other folks posted in the first and second pages of this thread?
FictionalCharacter
New Member
no need to be smug. i'm just trying to learn.
Sorry, didn't realize anyone would take a good-natured smilie personally. Since you didn't say much about any of those designs when they were posted, I wasn't sure you had noticed them.
Do carry on.
FictionalCharacter
New Member
the timesaver and switchman's nightmare won't fit into my ideal size restrictions, but i think that's more the fault of my size limits than anything else.
back to the drawing board.
plus, i haven't been here long enough yet to know which smilies are goodnatured and which club noobs to death. rhetorically, of course. i hope.
back to the drawing board.
plus, i haven't been here long enough yet to know which smilies are goodnatured and which club noobs to death. rhetorically, of course. i hope.
The Switchman's Nightmare (at minimum size) is about 10 inches by 40 inches long in N scale. Isn't that smaller than what you have been talking about? Didn't you say you had 1'X4' in N scale?
The Timesaver (even though I don't recommend it) would be the same size or less in N scale.
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And there are dozens of small layouts here, if it hasn't been mentioned:
http://carendt.com/microplans/index.html
Bear in mind that many of those are for HO scale and they will be smaller for N scale.
Although it's not exact, you can roughly decrease HO scale dimensions by about half for the N scale equivalent.
(Strictly speaking, N scale is 87.1/160 or .54 of HO scale size.)
http://carendt.com/microplans/index.html
Bear in mind that many of those are for HO scale and they will be smaller for N scale.
Although it's not exact, you can roughly decrease HO scale dimensions by about half for the N scale equivalent.
(Strictly speaking, N scale is 87.1/160 or .54 of HO scale size.)
Had a long message that was erased.
Kato SD40-2 runs around 8" radius with body mounted couplers on 50' to 72' cars. An Exactrail Vertipac I own has truck mounted couplers to make the curve, whilst being coupled to other cars. Now the Kato does slow down on the curve but it makes it.
Kato SD40-2 runs around 8" radius with body mounted couplers on 50' to 72' cars. An Exactrail Vertipac I own has truck mounted couplers to make the curve, whilst being coupled to other cars. Now the Kato does slow down on the curve but it makes it.
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