first layout
- Thread starter werner5
- Start date
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Great! These are locos that can take a sharp radius. However, always use the widest radius you can, which in this case would be 22". The curve will be 44" in diameter, leaving you 2" on each edge for a little scenery and a piece of fascia or clear plastic to act as a barrier to prevent any cars or locos from hitting the floor, in case of a derailment.
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jdetray
Well-Known Member
Often, one would have at least a rough idea of the track plan before building the benchwork, so that the benchwork could be optimized for the track plan. But not everybody does it that way, so I'm sure you'll be fine!
Do have some ideas about your goals for your railroad, or the time period, or location, or type of equipment you want to run? For example, some people just enjoy watching trains run round and round the layout, perhaps through a particular type of scenery. Others concentrate on operations: switching cars around to create trains, delivering loads to customers (industries) along the railroad, picking up empties, perhaps running a passenger train or two between towns on their layout.
Some people model a specific railroad in a specific time and place. Others run whatever equipment they like from any and all eras and don't try to model any specific railroad.
What are the "must have" items for your layout?
If you describe what you want to do with your railroad, what scale you want to use (HO, N, etc.), and the dimensions of your table, perhaps some forum members can suggest appropriate track plans.
- Jeff
Do have some ideas about your goals for your railroad, or the time period, or location, or type of equipment you want to run? For example, some people just enjoy watching trains run round and round the layout, perhaps through a particular type of scenery. Others concentrate on operations: switching cars around to create trains, delivering loads to customers (industries) along the railroad, picking up empties, perhaps running a passenger train or two between towns on their layout.
Some people model a specific railroad in a specific time and place. Others run whatever equipment they like from any and all eras and don't try to model any specific railroad.
What are the "must have" items for your layout?
If you describe what you want to do with your railroad, what scale you want to use (HO, N, etc.), and the dimensions of your table, perhaps some forum members can suggest appropriate track plans.
- Jeff
hi thanx for the reply i am modeling in ho i just want a random layout that is based in the mountains and rocky areas and perhaps a small farm town for me its more about the scenery than the actual trains i am gonna have one continuous loop for one train to run on the whole time and the other train will be sitting in a siding the one train is for freight and the other is a passenger train my locos are at the hobby shop at the moment getting their dcc chips installed getting them back in about 2 weeks time
Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
How wide are the tables? The tables will limit the radius's available to you to get a loop from one direction to another. You also have to consider the type of locos that you have, as in what are their minimum radius for curves. On a 4' wide table, the largest radius you can have would be 22". Some types of locos won't run on this radius.
Cjcrescent
Master Mechanic
Great! These are locos that can take a sharp radius. However, always use the widest radius you can, which in this case would be 22". The curve will be 44" in diameter, leaving you 2" on each edge for a little scenery and a piece of fascia or clear plastic to act as a barrier to prevent any cars or locos from hitting the floor, in case of a derailment.
elsner203
Member
werner5, Looks good so far! Is the base wood or foam?
Is there a good resource for turning radius info?
Is there a good resource for turning radius info?
jdetray
Well-Known Member
One of the classic ways to create elevation changes and inclines is the classic L-girder system, illustrated in these two photos:
http://www.csme1959.org/img/construct/AB-IMG_0343.jpg
http://www.homefry.com/mrr/image/WhitefieldProgress-3.jpg
Another way to create elevations with a plywood tabletop is the cookie-cutter method, illustrated in the following photos.
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/Data/200291881857_eastview-cookie.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_gJ99dKn...s1600/n+scale+best+practices+benchwork+12.JPG
The idea is to make cuts in your plywood and raise parts of it on wood risers. By leaving portions of the plywood connected to the main sheet, you naturally get fairly smooth transitions. You can also use the cookie-cutter method with extruded foam, as I did with my layout:
You can also use foam inclines to create elevation. You can make your own foam inclines, but Woodland Scenics makes pre-made inclines such as these:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/ST1410/page/1
As you can see, there are lots of ways to create elevation changes and inclines. Use Google to search for model railroad L-girder, model railroad cookie cutter, and model railroad foam inclines. You'll find lots of information and photos.
- Jeff
http://www.csme1959.org/img/construct/AB-IMG_0343.jpg
http://www.homefry.com/mrr/image/WhitefieldProgress-3.jpg
Another way to create elevations with a plywood tabletop is the cookie-cutter method, illustrated in the following photos.
http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/Data/200291881857_eastview-cookie.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_gJ99dKn...s1600/n+scale+best+practices+benchwork+12.JPG
The idea is to make cuts in your plywood and raise parts of it on wood risers. By leaving portions of the plywood connected to the main sheet, you naturally get fairly smooth transitions. You can also use the cookie-cutter method with extruded foam, as I did with my layout:
You can also use foam inclines to create elevation. You can make your own foam inclines, but Woodland Scenics makes pre-made inclines such as these:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/ST1410/page/1
As you can see, there are lots of ways to create elevation changes and inclines. Use Google to search for model railroad L-girder, model railroad cookie cutter, and model railroad foam inclines. You'll find lots of information and photos.
- Jeff
Last edited by a moderator:
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
Hey,
I've been watching your progress and I am nothing but impressed at how everything is going for you.
later, logandsawman
I've been watching your progress and I am nothing but impressed at how everything is going for you.
later, logandsawman
i am using dcc so not much wiring and wiring is easy for me because i am an auto electrician by trade and i am using an hornby dcc select systym and a hornby reverse module unit for my reverse loop here is video of my train running http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7RCsVIe-Kk&feature=youtu.be
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