Minimum radius for HO?

[JimInMichigan]

My 02c;

- Having messed with a 4x8 board, you never want to be more than 30" away from reaching "it" (whatever "it" may be!) - Sure, "mountains" & "industries" can go further away in the corners, but you *are* going to to need to reach 'em more than you'd like...... (IME)

Yea, thats why I was shooting for 30", and decided on 27".

If your space is now really about 10x8, with no relevance applied to the "bay window" you mentioned above (?), I'd look at "peninsular" style layouts - A real quick sketch below - Your door moved between posts

If you look at my original layout, you'll see it's " 15 " squares by 10.8. The last diagram I posted is just showing the 8x10.8 I am wanting to work with.

Can you step into the bay window area? - *That* would be awesome!

Cheers,
Ian

No, cant step into the bay window area.

I want my train to be able to run full time ( not just a service line type layout ). Let me draw up a pen. type layout real quick and see how that looks.

 

[JimInMichigan]

Here is what I came up with, that allowed me to make the most of the space available:

That leaves me just about 20" between bed and layout peninsulas. I would need the brigdes, in order to use 22" radius curves for a continuous run layout.

 

[RW&C]

What do you plan to do with the mini-peninsula chunky bits?

 

[steinjr]

You do not have to have run up and down the same bench ...

Smile,
Stein

 

[JimInMichigan]

Thanx for the idea's guys. Peninsular type doesnt do it for me and the chest height wouldn't let me work comfortably.

I think I'm going to have to stick with this layout:

 

[steinjr]

Well, your layout - you get to make the decisions.

So, if I understand you correctly, you want to put your layout into the room like this ? :

Stein

 

[JimInMichigan]

Nice drawing Stein! Yes, thats what I think would work best for me. I liked your idea, but chest high wouldn't be easy to work with. And, I will be sharing this with my grandkid's, so that wouldnt make it practicle for them either. I am hoping to run 2 tracks on the bridge, so I'd imagine 6" would be the least width I'd have to work with there.

I have some track layout in my mind, just got to get working on it now that I'm pretty set on the layout.

Well, your layout - you get to make the decisions.

So, if I understand you correctly, you want to put your layout into the room like this ? :

Stein

 

[steinjr]

Nice drawing Stein! Yes, thats what I think would work best for me. I liked your idea, but chest high wouldn't be easy to work with.

Umm - there is nothing that says that you have to have an around the walls layout at chest height.

If you put it lower, you will have less room for storage below (but more above).

The thing across the door will be impossible to duck under if at sitting height instead of standing height, so it would have to be removed (lifted out, swung up or swung aside to enter or leave the room.

And you would have to do something about the track by the bed - like moving the bed 6" out from the wall and running the tracks on a narrower shelf just over/behind the head end of the bed, instead of far above the bed.

Still - an around the walls design would have made the room a lot less claustrophobic than allowing just a 2 foot aisle on just one side of the bed, and nowhere to put anything else (like a suitcase for a visitor).

Anyways - as I said - your layout, your call.

Edit: I drew the bed wrong size. A queen size is 60 x 80 inches, not 60 x 90 inches. So it is 10" shorter than what I drew.


Smile,
Stein