New to hobby and these forums so hope this is in right place. Sometime back I found a layout that I liked for a 4 by 8 area. Was given some unitrack and loosely based my layout on someone else's layout. Pics to show how it turned out. I went for 50-70 era layout. I plan to alternate between UP and Pensys trains. So not a purist by any means. Planning to run DCC and was given a NCE Power Cab starter set. So some questions: 1. Is my layout viable? My plan is initially just to run some trains around. Not too interested in full scale operations. 2. I want to control the turnouts from the NCE. My understanding is that I need decoders in the locos so I can control them and that I need switchkats connected to the turnouts to control them. Is that correct? 3. I would like to put some sort of mountain/tunnel feature. I'm thinking about the end closest shown in the photo? Thanks for any feedback.
1. I can follow a train around on it so it looks viable to me. . 2. A tunnel? A mopuntain? I had one...Once. Just make sure you have access to the inside of it. Lesson Learned.
Hi, I'm an armchair modeler myself, so please take my answer with a grain of salt. But anyway, here it goes: 1. this is your first layout. So go for it and experiment. You will soon find out what you like and hate about it. If you don't make the landscape too permanent Unitrack allows you to make changes as your experience grows. Just one observation. Your plan is basically a spiral having four turns. You wrote, you are mostly interested in running your trains. That is only possible for the first two turns (you can get back from the second to the first track and from the third to the second). If the train was reached the inner track it can only get back by some switching moves. It will also be difficult, to run two trains in opposing directions. 2. for running locos with DCC, they have to be equipped with decoders. Since it's your first layout, you should probably buy them at a hobby-shop. If you prefer e-bay check http://www.spookshow.net/locos.html before you bid. Many engines offered can not easily converted to DCC. Spookshow will tell you, how easy it will be and wether the engine is worth buying or a toad. You should also consider, if you want to have sound in the engines. Some like it, but it seems to roughly double the engines price. I personally can't stand the noise. (I haven't played a computer game with sound turned on in the last 25 years.) Due to avalability issues I can't say much about the brands used in the US. You are not bound to NCE decoders when using an NCE control station. The different brands all work together. I would buy ESU or Zimo decoders which are readily available in Europe. I heard TCS is also liked by many. 3. When you like to implement a tunnel you should provide some possibility for easy access from the side, to be able to clear derailments. Some hinged or screwed on board will do. So your mountain should be either in the front or back of the plan.
1. Your observation is spot on. I'm having a difficult time with that. Like you said they spiral outwards until they start running on the same track with out switching. And I do want to be able to run in both directions. 2. I'm with you on the sound. I immediately down off music in video games. And I don't like all the train sounds as well. Thank you very much for your input!
Looking at it further...it is a death spiral. I didnt follow it close enough the first time. My suggestion...make one complete operational loop first. Then you can add the other lines off that loop. Just make sure you can always get back to the main loop from wherever you go.JMO. If you want 2 trains going opposite directions...make 2 loops but make sure trains can go from one to the other and back...if you make yards or sidings off the outside loop. AND...watch out for 'cornfield meets' if you are on DCC and running 2 trains in opposite directons. When I first did that with mine it was an eyeopener for sure !!
I'm pretty ambivalent about layouts that MTM calls a death spiral . One the one hand, it's not all that hard to wire them so you can run two trains two directions without DCC. If you need tips on doing that, please do ask. On the other hand, I don't like the 3-4 track "boulevard of steel" look so much, those spirals involve some operational headaches, and who notices or cares that this time by, the train's on the next track over? But mostly, those crossovers look short to me, and too close to the curves. Am I the only person who mixes curves and crossovers, to eliminate ess curves? Is everyone but me afraid to run the main line through the curved leg of a switch so a siding or crossover can radiate straight out without a reverse curve?
Well, you can easily get out of the inner spiral, if you don't let it end in a stub, but let it return to turn number three. You only need a right-hand turnout/switch. Maybe the one from the upper left corner. I understood, you used a bunch of tracks "sponsored" to you for your first atempts. As acptulsa said, when you plan to add on new "things", you should consider to buy curved turmouts, to pass from one turn of your spiral to the next. They provide a gliding path for your train not abrupt s-curves following one another. The prototype does prefer normal turnouts, but they are much longer than the typical number 6 turnouts we can get. I heard number 10 turnouts in yards are considerd sharp, mainline turnouts are at least number 20 and I just saw on YouTube BNSF replace a number 30.
A couple of observations. 1. Not just with this layout, but as has been said, it is a square with 90 degree corners. I don't personally care for that look. 2. You have a lot of room to work with and I am not sure if you have access to more track but I would do a double track mainline with the largest curves that you fit and run next to each other. For Unitrack, that would be 15" radius and 13 3/4" radius curves. I wouldn't use any straights on the short end. As someone else mentioned, make a way to go from one loop to the other. Once you have that done and running trains, you can look at sidings, passing sidings, switching tracks, etc.
Ok Lots of great feedback! You all articulated well what I didn't like about the layout. A couple of points: 1. I don't have problem getting more track so will investigate the curved turnouts and the 15 and 13 3/4 radius curves. I was not aware that the 15 existed but will check them out. And I don't like my abrupt curves. 2. I like the idea of creating my mainlines and building from there. Still in the early stages of building this and want to get my layout as dialed in as I can before I start with any features. 3. I don't like the boulevard of steel look either. And I get what you mean about by "and who notices or cares that this time by, the train's on the next track over?" I need to create a purpose for my sidings, etc. Ok again great feedback. Thanks for the information and I will definitely have more questions!
Speedrat...here is a Unitrack radius chart that Mike Fifer of Fifer hobbies made up. Go as wide as you can in the corners. https://www.fiferhobby.com/wp-content/uploads/chart-pic11.jpg
