Crazy layout, LA Area

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T

tundradude69

New Member
Alright guys, I am getting ready to do a huge layout in N scale, first one too. Living the dream of go big or go home, but only one problem. I am having an extremely hard time finding plans. And that is, does anyone know, where I can get plans from San Pedro harbor, to the say victorville area. Wanna try to do the whole L.A. Scene. Thanks everyone!!
 


Don't think anyone has ever modeled all that distance in any scale. Actual distance is 100-130 miles depending on which RR you're modeling. So you'd need a layout that had about 0.6-0.8 actual miles of track to do it in N scale. Don't think you have that much room in any house. You're best bet would be to do small scenes of the places you'd like to include in your layout. If you're not doing modern have a look at historicaerials.com.
 
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cajon said:
Don't think anyone has ever modeled all that distance in any scale. Actual distance is 100-130 miles depending on which RR you're modeling. So you'd need a layout that had about 0.6-0.8 actual miles of track to do it in N scale. Don't think you have that much room in any house. You're best bet would be to do small scenes of the places you'd like to include in your layout. If you're not doing modern have a look at historicaerials.com.
Click to expand...

Selective compression ;) Turn the miles of 'boring' into a few feet of 'less boring' :)

There is a layout at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry that models Chicago to Seattle in a few hundred feet. Massive compression across the open flat spaces of the real railroads.
________
THE CIGAR BOSS
 
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your right, i wanna do the alamenda corridor mostly, to about say whitter, because all the industry around there, would look good to show, any idea about that? let me know what you guys think
 
First of all, how big is this "Huge N scale" layout you're talking about?

I would start by picking out industries you want to model in that area. And then work on a track plan where you can model those industries without it looking to cramped with all kinds of industries everywhere.

Like the guys said, start using google earth and figure out what you can appropriately model with attainable results.

Let's say the intermodal yard has 10 tracks. Then you design yours with like 2-3 shorter tracks. Whatever fits reasonably.

Then post your track plan up here and so the experts can critique it for you.
 
well right now, i am just trying to see if anyone has some reasonable plans that are good, and i can make the adjustments from there, for u.p. i should say.
 
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There are all kinds of track plans out there, just not necessarily what you are looking for.
You have about three choices:
1} google earth it to get an overview and selectively compress to the areas you really want to model to be "prototypically" accurate and create your own layout plan from the real thing
2} adapt someone elses track plan for your use to represent what you want to portray- "proto-lancing" your area or desired modelling.
3} Create a whole track plan of your own liking that includeds only what you want to portray based solely on your desires and not necessarily the real thing..."freelancing".

There most likely will not be a "ready-made track plan" for you to copy that has the areas you want to model.
As mentioned there may be knowlegeable models representing the area you are trying to model, but even he may not have a ready made plan for you to copy.

You would need a warehouse to model the LA area In Z scale {really tiny scale} to represent the total area...WITH selective compression still built in.

Even the "All ready made plans" that ARE based on reality have "selective compression" built in. That is the long boring mileage between scenes is taken out or shortened; the areas more accurately portrayed are shortened or condensed; or the important operations parts the modeler wants to work with are only represented {such as the local yard for for yard consisting or an engine servicing facility, or the local RR-utilizing business is built}

Good luck in your planning or of finding a trackplan that works for you!;)
________
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD
 
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