Hey yall, It was suggested I put what I am planning on-line for review and suggestions.So Thats just what I have done. Its a very basic page at this point.It has a brief history of what I am wanting to model.A wishlist of what I want to include.and the best becnhwork diagram I have come up with for my space.It also has the best track plan I have so far for that bench work. Construction at this point has not even come close to beginning, so there is still LOTS of room for suggestions and advice.As well as complete changes if one of you gurus come up with something for the space I have.I am not the best at design and will gladly accept any and all help or advice.Anything that I recieve that ends up being used will be given credit on the page.As well as when the layout gets ppublished in Model RAilroader magazine =-)Theres more details on the page. The page kinda rambles on like I do here,but hey thats just me.But it is a very quick effort so I can start some feedback and will be cleaned up as I go along. Please take a look see and offer any feed back you have.This will be an ongoing sight and as I start construction I will borrow my brothers digital camera and post photos along the way. Either use the email link on the page or post it here to share the info with others as well. I hope this turns out to be better than any of my past efforts and really appreciate the forum here for all the advice I have recieved so far. Thanx to the webmasters here for a great page.And to all who have offered help so far. I am not 100 percent sure how to post the URL with the UBB codes so I will type it here as well as trying to use that below.First here it is typed.... http://thelayout.homestead.com/layoutindex.html Okay thats it now I will try the code buttons.... Thanx again for all the help gents. Greg Hanes The Layout well I hope that worked Please respond here over e-mail but I will accept e-mail as well.
Hey Greg! The links work fine for me and I enjoyed reading the descriptions of your freelance railroad. I won't comment on your layout plans as I will defer to the more experienced on the board. I am interested in following what suggestions you receive and please do keep us posted on your progress. As a footnote, by asking for info before you start you can't go wrong. You'll avoid a jillion problems this way! Rich Rush Run River Logging Company [ 29 March 2001: Message edited by: RPMorgan ]
Looks like a great plan to me, and it sounds like you have thought out the layout very well. Good luck, and keep us updated!! Happy Modeling!! John
I have printed out your manuscript...lol and will look it over. I will give you some suggestions, but bear in mind I just literally blew through most of your site with reading only about 10% of it. But suggestions so far: 1. Try to limit your thoughts about track plan to just the basics for a while...that doesn't mean stop dreaming and planning but you will want to play with the benchwork first. 2. I didn't see it, but if I missed it I apologise. Your "dream layout" is prime for a double decker, and you have the room to do it. That is why I am suggesting you hold off on track plan except for the basic mainline and rough idea of what goes where...eg. the yard will be on the first deck here....over here on the second deck will be the granary with serving tracks...my staging will be here...my helix will be here. Real basic stuff. (I will play with your room sketch and see what I come up with but I will have to mail you my suggestions - which I don't mind doing as I am CAD illiterate and don't know how to do a bench design and put it on the net). 3. You sort of described this room before, but if door isn't important do one of three things.. a) remove it completely b) install folding doors c) install a pocket door. This will give you some more room. 4. Is there a closet in the room? If there is, could it be liberated for your layout; your diagram doesn't show one. 5. Try to force yourself away from straight lines on the benchwork as you look down. Flowing curves will make it feel more relaxing, create more interesting track work, and give it a contemporary feel. 6. Are there any windows? Your plan doesn't show any...important to know especially on a double decker. 7. Are you a lone wolf? Build it and they will come. Plan on how many will operate your layout with you, thinking ailse width in this equation...more is better, less is a pain. 8. You show a walk in plan...that is good. 9. Air circulation could be a problem...now is the time to at least think about it...I have a smaller room than yours 7 by 13...and with lights and three operating...I know I have a tiger by the tail...so think about how you will cool the room down...especially with your new double decker and all those lights. 10. For lower level, think of rope lights now available at home depot and Revee. Paint underside of top layout white to reflect back light. Well enough for now...my son wants the computer.
well for more clarification the room is a spare bedroom at this point.We have no children so its to be emptied out.The closet is along the left side with two doors and a wall that runs the widht of the room.This wall is going to be removed up to the top of the doors and will make for a built in light valance on this end of the room.It will also make putting in sliding doors easy if I should ever move to return it to closet duty. The door is a needed to keep cats out.The hallway to it is quite small but I have considered having it open outwards,but it seems i will still need aisle width entry there so I am not sure if the added work will free up enough space to make it worth while. and the window would be along the top edge but is to be closed off.It faces the front of the house but the mrs says she can make it look good from the street.And in Texas we have way too much humidity to open it the week or two its cool enought too anyway.So I didnt note it as it will be more or less a wall when enclosed. I like your terminology of the manuscript lol...but i always feel more info is better than not enough. Wish I had opened another window to re read your post before I post this but I think I got all the responses in you needed. Thanx again gents Greg Hanes
Mopartex - I can get to your site now dodgy aussie net connections I guess.. BTW - when you type a reply message the original message is in a window just below where you type. It has a sroll bar and you can read - or even copy and quote from it. Or - you can hold the Ctrl key and press 'n' to open a new window (this will be a duplicate of what you are typing) then press the 'back' botton in that window. Now you can see the orig in that window too.) Back on topic -- wow - 40 hits already - lots of folks are checkin it out - so far I don't have much to add that hasn't been said already - love your comments on the window - lol! edit - added "on topic" info [ 30 March 2001: Message edited by: yankinoz ]
My 2 cents (ok 3) 1 cent: Don't be married to that sectional track. Flex track looks so much better and will be smoother. In the long run I think you will be glad you spent the money. 1 cent: Double-stacks arn't very common in the 80's - mostly due to height restrictions. That said - the SP was the original stack user in the late 70's (almost all the 'bulkhead' style until 1988) - but I don't know if they ran them in Texas. This brings me to my third cent: It's your RR! Take full advantage of freelancing and freelance! You are completely on the right track to ask as many people as you can for advice, input etc. but when it comes right down to it do what you want - and don't forget - it's fun
Seeing the original SP Main runs through Texas, yes the SP had Stacks running through there from the very start. I personally can't think of any tunnels in Texas on the SP, but I could be wrong...
I have drawn up a bench work plan that I can fax to you. Can you email me: nicholson1318@home.com with a fax number, it can be yours, or your brother law's or whomever. Don't forget area code..lol. What I have drawn up doesn't include the closet area. Could you modify the first diagram you have of your layout including the closet area..don't use the door measurement for width, but from wall to wall in the interior...and include depth. The closet area could be valuable space. But I will still fax you the first plan I have drawn up to see if it is the "direction" you would like to head in.
