OK - there are a few threads in other forums about layout design. As there are a few of us who are very interested in this aspect of the hobby, how about a layout design forum that is not scale specific? What do you guys think?
Rob, It seems like a good idea but you need to determine what topics would be discussed? Would it be just layout design or other aspects. i would not like to see a new forum created at the expense of another e.g "The Inspection Pit" This forum would need to be very specific. I do see a possible advantage for those members wanting to have there layout designs discussed in this forum rather than in there prospective scales
I wouldn't want to take away from 'the pit' but is seems then when someone wants to post layout designs for critique, they often post in the scale specific forum rather than a general forum. I would suggest the layout design forum be primarily for that purpose and have a very narrow focus. "I have a plan... I am extending... this is my yard... what do you think?" In addition, if anyone has a plan that they have built and are just tickled to death at how great it operates now that it is built, I think this would be a good place to post it. I would want to keep construction questions to 'the pit' or to scale forums when appropriate, however questions like "is this enough staging?" would fit into a design forum. Questions like "what size timber should I use for legs?" would be better off in the pit. Heck, designers design. Engineers have to figure out how to build the thing
We might have something here. I feel a forum for trackplans and alternate track plans might e useful. I know I am right now struggling with an around the walls straightaway that I am trying to make interesting.(four lines are going through the area, HO, )
Hey guys, and no I'm not a new member, it's Will Clark, I switched screen names under a different email address. So anyways I have a book about track layouts, that's what I'm gonna use for my 7 1/2 x 10 1/2 layout.
there's nothing wrong with using a published track plan - that's what I should have done with my first layout. it would have saved me much grief. Some errors I made in that track plan I think contibuted to my long absence from the hobby.
There is a lot of layout design aspects discussed in the freelancers forum. Even some prototype modeling from time to time! SCot
I have been just trying to come up with one sentence to define layout design and I find I am having a hard time. And so I have before me the Layout Design Journal (many issues) and Layout Design News (many issues). So first I will start with looking at the table of contents for "catagories." The catagories included are: Yard, industrial, urban, rural design considerations. Design specialities including intermodal, unit trains, etc. Short line, mainline, narrow gauge issues. Operator considerations including defining jobs, training, handbooks. Issues of curve design, easements, alignments, and math (our favourite...lol). Feedback on design progression...(how to stay on the straight and narrow - are you accomplishing what you want to accomplish - are you getting it done) Expenses in model railroading..eg. how to compute how much a layout costs (this can get really depressing and discouraging). Reviewing books and publications of layout design. The art of modeling a layout. Designing layouts for others. Controls, signaling, and communications. Prototype vs freelance, representational vs realistic. Naming of railroads, heralds. Helix design and Issues (by the way the spring 1996 issue of Layout Design Journal is an excellent resource for helix concerns - I might do an "article" here on helix's and borrow heavily from this issue to help those who don't have access to this excellent resource - also Layout Design Journal Summer 1997). Directional running (north south east west) and orientation issues Designing for time of day, season, year. Fascia design considerations. Aisle design criteria. Multiple deck design considerations and criteria. Designing a room for a layout. Lighting and valances. Internet resources for layout design. Layouts for the beginner (this is seperated out from other layout specialities). Staging (how could I forget). Researching. Yard design (I mentioned yard also above but I wanted to mention another issue of Layout Design Journal..June 1992 that is dedicated to this one speciality - excellent issue). If we do a seperate forum for layout design, I am not necessarily suggesting all this go in there, but... a conscious decision should be made as to what went into it. Also, I purposely held back in responding to this thread while I thought the issue through of a seperate forum for layout design. I don't frequent any other scales other than N anymore. So if some one posts a layout in the HO forum, I don't see it. By creating a seperate forum area, more people will see more designs and thus create more feedback. Also I don't know much about Z scale, or the larger scales when it comes to design issues. But I have toyed with a garden layout, and maybe seeing designs along this area might encourage me. I think it is worth a try. In the worst case scenario, it won't work, either because no one posts there - in which case cancel the forum - or, that it robs from to many other forums, in which case it might be better to go back to old ways. But I think it warrants a 6 months trial run.
I'll add my 2 cents to this as well. I think its a great idea!!!!! It would help the new memebers to the board. And even the younger ones as well.
As a new member (this is my first ever post) and someone new to the hobby, let me second this. I have learned a lot from people posting plans and the constructive comments/critiques offered by more experienced modellers. There's a lot of collective experience here, that reading books and MR can't match. Because I'm interested primarily in N-scale due to space limitations, I only see the layout critiques there, but many of the issues are the same. I think this is a tremendous idea. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by 7600EM_1: I'll add my 2 cents to this as well. I think its a great idea!!!!! It would help the new memebers to the board. And even the younger ones as well. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
A Layout Design Forum, I think would encompass trackplans in space issues, basically be the overall layout of the room and everything in it. Scenery, stock, and other questions about the technical stuff of the construction, I think would still be in the Pit. I Believe this forum, would just be very specific on layout designs and how to improve them in the space available.
I think a forum for layout design is quite appropriate. Layout design dosen't have to be scale specific, it generally is, but it dosen't have to be. 2slim
Lethbridge. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by rsn48: Welcome doctor, Where in Alberta?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Welcome Doctor] to Trainboard. Lethbridge eh! home of the great big viaduct and a shopping center on the site of the old roundhouse. It has been a year or two since I was there to visit a friend of mine who managed the Eaton store which is now defunct due to a disinterested family. There is credence to an all scale forum for trackplans so will support that idea. Something like that would have been very helpful to me in days gone by.
Welcome Doctor to Trainboard it's always great tp see new members. I beleive that a layout forum definately has merit
OK, I am convinced I have built many layouts, mainly by trial and error, but never realised just how much went into them until I saw it listed by Rick. Sounds like it could be a good, and busy forum.
Another 2 cents worth here... YOu might want to look for my thread on TRain Room basics for some interesting info as well about the room half of the layout design process. I got some excellent feedback from quite a few of the members here for the room readying process before I actually start on the layout itself. Thanx again Gents. Later Greg
Doctor, Welcome to our family of model railroaders. Feel free to ask what ever you may wish and have on your mind about the hobby and most of all HAVE FUN DOING IT! welcome again!
I have been in this Hobby since 1947 (NO, it ain't a hobby, it's an ADDICTION!!! ), and I have yet to understand how to design a layout. I look at Iain's beautiful designs (he's a Brit, and he's very talented, but I forgot his last name ), they make a lot of sense, but I don't have a clue why he does what he does, and what makes his designs work PLEASE start a separate Forum for DESIGN Hank [ 28 April 2001: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
