Anyone think a similar shape could be done in Unitrack of this layout? I'm wondering if their curves could be used like this. I really like the industry being on the outside of the track.
Absolutely. Let us know what size you'd like it and I'm sure one of us could come up with a track plan.
you can also download the free version of AnyRail and use the Kato library, design it piece by piece and it will generate a parts list of how many of each section you'll need. I spent a long time making Unitrack layouts in AnyRail before I was satisfied with a design. It's pretty handy.
here's where it gets tricky 2x4 I've been toying with some of the curves I have and it seems like the ones I have too sharp and I looked at their list and it looks like they don't make a softer curve. https://katousa.com/PDF/N-Unitrack.pdf BUT if it can be done that would appreciated.
To add to what Pfunk said, there is also SCARM (Simple Computer Aided Railway Modeler) and XTrackCad. XTrackCad is completely free for the full version, but it also has the largest learning curve. Both SCARM and AnyRail are much easier for most people to use and have limited free versions. AnyRail is more limited than SCARM (as far as piece count in the free versions), but still would let you do enough for a layout like that.
Good point, AnyRail caps you at 50 sections then you have to pay to build beyond that. For what you're looking at, though, it would work fine. Have never played around with either of the other two.
That's a very nice looking layout! XTrackCAD is a free track planning program, and what I use. Any such software is recommended, if not required, for designing reliable layouts. The reason is that sectional track joints can be fudged a little to make track ends meet (e.g. in closing a loop), but are not reliable if fudged too far (they can cause derailments, poor electrical connections, etc. A track planning program will ensure that pieces properly fit and connect together. Some (at least XTrackCAD) will also let you make up trains and run them on you virtual layout. I've 'built' and run many more layouts than I'll ever actually construct, and running trains on them gives you ideas for where running gets tedious, or congested, etc. I have not used AnyRail, so I cannot tell you which one (if either) is better. But at $0 (at least for the demo version of AnyRail), download them both and try them out. Sometimes different ways of accomplishing something in an app like that suit different users best. And experimenting with a good track planning program is much less expensive than buying and trying sectional track pieces to see if they fit together in your layout. If you want to know a little more about how railroads work, to help plan your layout, I strongly recommend the small book "Track Planning for Realistic Operation". It goes through some basic guidelines for model railroads, illustrates different ways trains serve industries (dropping off and/or picking up railcars), and provides lots of other useful information. It does not, however go into scenery and construction techniques for your model railroad.
Putzing around. I'm skeptical I can do this hour glass shape in 2x4 which isn't the end of the world, but I like this shape. -This tells me the layout is 196" long I think - that's 16ft. -Closing the loop isn't easy heh.
@BigJake Yeah I like it a lot I like how the main road flows through the entire layout. I think I can get everything I want into it, if I can get the track plan. The strip club (Paradice) can be in the front left corner. My lighted mobile park trailer in the bottom right corner on that gravel road. Residential along the top of the main road where that industry is. My shell station on the far left that intersection. I would run another road over to the bottom industry and probably all the way to the top of the layout.
I played around with it some, and to really get the feel for the layout (at least to me) and keep the industry on the outside, I had to drop down to the 8.5" curves. Honestly, though, if I was going to do a 2 x 4 I would probably use them any way. As long as you stick to 4 axle diesels and short freight cars I think they do fine.
I used the Kato bridge pieces because they are in the SCARM library, bur I feel the one towards the front kind of dominates the scene. You could use the Atlas Warren truss bridge there and I think it would look better.
Personally, I've never been a fan of the Atlas through-truss bridge, but is does suite the size better. There are unitrack deck- and plate-girder bridges in shorter lengths, or you could angle the river more sideways, thus calling for the longer bridge. To work with that longer bridge, you could make the river flow from the curved bridge at right, to the left, toward the road more, left of where it turns to the front now, and then bend more sharply, and angle back to the right as it passes under the bridge, and exits the front closer to the corner at an angle. This would increase the land area for the industry at front center, while making the longer bridge fit the scene better since it would be crossing the river at an angle and needing the extra length.
Yes, the blue outline is 2' x 4'. One thing I did forget is I didn't include the beveled pieces for the turnouts. The diverging legs are so close on the #4 turnouts that one of them has to be beveled for them to fit. On the backside it's not a big deal, on one leg of each turnout shorten what's there and and add the beveled piece, but on the front one I had a curve coming off each leg so there's no room for the beveled piece; however, you could trim one of the curves if needed. Anyway, it was bothering me so I made a modification that allows for the beveled piece: Note that as drawn some of the pieces don't match up perfectly around the reverse curve at the front of the layout, but I think they are close enough that the slight slack in the Unitrack would allow them to be brought together.
Which bridge is that on the far right? I'm Googling and the only one I saw close to that was a double track bridge... https://katousa.com/PDF/N-Unitrack.pdf thanks again!
It would work with short, 4 axle diesel locomotives, and 40' railcars. Longer equipment may suffer. The longer, 6 axle Kato diesels are designed to negotiate 9.75R curves, not 8.5R curves. At the least, I would sub 9.75R pieces adjacent to the straight tracks at the entrances and exits of the curves, since it is the transition from curve to straight which are most severe on rolling stock and locomotives. The #4 swiches require a straight piece with trimmed roadbed (included) on either diverging or through route, or you can trim the roadbed of a regular unitrack piece yourself. I would also have the highway cross the track at upper right in the curve, and extend the top siding to the left by that 62mm straight piece's length. I think it would look and run better in 2.5 x 5 or longer space. But if you don't have the room for more than 2x4, then so be it
Thanks for all the advice - I don't think I'm going to run dual industries so that upper leg may just be a straight run to the right hand back corner. I'm trying not to start over completely, so that's why I'm trying to stay in my 2x4 foot print. I don't mind buying more track than what I have now, b/c it will get used on another project or sold. The road may change slightly - I'm thinking of maybe a mountain or hill in that top right corner with a short tunnel. The short road on the far left will probably go all the way to the top of the layout to allow for more structures.
All of the curves I currently have are R249-45 so this would save me money if they can be used and run those locos with 6 axels - and that's fine with me if I can stay in the foot print.
The curved bridge on the right is Kato Curved Deck Girder Bridge, Gray - 481mm (19") Radius 15ยบ, #20-472. Also available in Red or Green.
