Another newbie layout question

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W

Warpiper

Member
Hi All,

I'm just starting and would like to hear your advice and recommendations. I have a small area and want to make the best use of what I have and will be running HO. I have a 9' back wall with a 4' wall on the right and a 6' wall on the left. I was thinking of making an L shape bench using the 6' left wall and the 9' back wall. I was also thinking of making the bench 40" wide because of the 18" radius. The first thing I figured out is that I will not be able to reach into the back left corner. I also considered butting a bench against the right wall as well but would run into the same problem of not being able to reach the back corner. If I narrow the width, I think I run the risk of having a smaller radius and more of a chance of derailing. What do you all think?

Thanks,

Chris
 
CHRIS - Welcome! I'm sure that many others will add comments to this for you. I do have a few ideas, but after spacing away on two football games today - I am drained out. See you tomorrow.
 
The space you describe is a little larger than 4'x8'. Have you considered including an access hole somewhere so you can reach the back of the layout? Can you go wider than 4' on the right side? How about 5'x9'-the size of a ping pong table? You could use wider curves, and have more area for scenery.
 


Chris - You are correct regarding the reach into the back corner. Just reaching 40" will also be a task. But you don't need that deep of a space to run wide radius curves. I have 32" radius curves on 24" wide benchwork, and could go greater. Unless you run a spur into the deep corner, you generally don't have to reach except when you initially do scenery. You will only need the 40" wide for the "turnback" loops at each end.

Willie
 
I kept my shelf three feet wide save at the ends where the lines turn to go back into the layout, the ends widen to 54" to get a 24" turn in there. I run some steam and kept 24"-22" on the outside line, 18" and 15" on the interior lines.
 
Sirfoldalot said:
CHRIS - Welcome! I'm sure that many others will add comments to this for you. I do have a few ideas, but after spacing away on two football games today - I am drained out. See you tomorrow.
Click to expand...

LOL!! Now worries. Got to work today and several of my co workers were still spaced away!!!
 
otiscnj said:
The space you describe is a little larger than 4'x8'. Have you considered including an access hole somewhere so you can reach the back of the layout? Can you go wider than 4' on the right side? How about 5'x9'-the size of a ping pong table? You could use wider curves, and have more area for scenery.
Click to expand...

Hi otiscnj,

Thanks. I thought about an access hole but wasn't sure how it would look. I'm stuck at 4' on the right side. That's where the door frame starts. After 6' on the left, I hit my desk.
 
santafewillie said:
Chris - You are correct regarding the reach into the back corner. Just reaching 40" will also be a task. But you don't need that deep of a space to run wide radius curves. I have 32" radius curves on 24" wide benchwork, and could go greater. Unless you run a spur into the deep corner, you generally don't have to reach except when you initially do scenery. You will only need the 40" wide for the "turnback" loops at each end.

Willie
Click to expand...

Hi Willie,

Thanks. That's and idea. I was thinking 40" because a 18" radius would take up 36" and I wanted a little more room for things or in case something comes off the track. Don't want it hitting the floor.
 


Just keep in mind that 18" radius is the centerline of the track. You need to add another 1 1/2" or so when your planning.
 
flyboy2610 said:
Can you build benchwork to bridge the gap, with a lift out or swing up section? Sort of an around the walls layout with only three actual walls. The benchwork could be 18-24" wide. This would let you reach everything, but still enable enable you to have broader curves.
Kind of like how mine is laid out.
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/...ion-Pacific-Soggy-Bottoms-Division-(HO-scale)
Click to expand...

Hi flyboy,

Thanks. I was just starting to think that way after seeing your build and D&J railroad's build. I think I can get the best of both worlds. A big oval to run on and if I narrow the bench to 18-36" like others have recommended I can reach and still have room for a yard and scenery. I was thinking bridge to crawl under but if I could do a gate, that would be even better. :D
 
Chris, depending on the locale of your layout(mountains, city, farmland, etc), you can always put a 'hatch' on top of the access hole, that you remove when you need to use it. If its inside a mountain (and within a tunnel on the layout), it will be hidden anyway, if your mountain is big enough. That's what I did on my first layout-put it inside a mountain/tunnel. It was large enough that I could fit my shoulders inside of it, and pick up derailed cars. Another idea would be to disguise it as a quarry, or gravel pit of some sort, with a bottom that could drop out. Walther's makes a gravel plant, right?
 
otiscnj said:
Chris, depending on the locale of your layout(mountains, city, farmland, etc), you can always put a 'hatch' on top of the access hole, that you remove when you need to use it. If its inside a mountain (and within a tunnel on the layout), it will be hidden anyway, if your mountain is big enough. That's what I did on my first layout-put it inside a mountain/tunnel. It was large enough that I could fit my shoulders inside of it, and pick up derailed cars. Another idea would be to disguise it as a quarry, or gravel pit of some sort, with a bottom that could drop out. Walther's makes a gravel plant, right?
Click to expand...

Hi stiscni,

Thanks, that's an idea. Didn't think of that. Was just visualizing a big rectangular hole in the middle of the table!!
 
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