RD's New Start...

Hi All

As money seems to be lacking at the moment, I thought I would spend the time doing proper planning. I have come up with this benchwork "plan" for starters and was looking for opinions on a couple of things.

First, here is the "plan":




The sections outlined in blue would be the actual benchwork. The grid is 10cm squares. Noted on them are the heights from the floor (the big numbers). The area to the right marked "Desk" is my workbench that houses my computers and such. As you see, there is a 28cm difference in height. This section will pass over the top of my 19" monitor and will probably sit on top of a shelves for my computer stuff, I did this so I could use both sides of the room for the RR.

The benchwork will be modular in design (up to 1200x600mm - approx 4ftx2ft)so it can be moved, will also be "freestanding" as I cannot attach anything to the walls.

The widest point of the benchwork will be 600mm (approx 2ft) and the thinnest will be 300mm (approx 1 foot) - that's the bit across the top of my desk. As for the top "layer" I haven't decided on solid or risers.

There is a door in the top left and a window in the right wall.

So thats pretty much my "givens".

A little about where I am going from here (random thoughts):

: Size will be N-Scale

: Era with be early to mid-ish 1950's so I can use steam and diesel.

: The RR will be freelance

: It will be primarily a coal railroad. This said I would like to have at least 3 mines to play with (I liked an example on one of the coal websites I visited )

: Up to 3 operators will probably want to run this.

: I will be using DCC from the outset.

: I will need to design a layout to satisfy both an operational need (adults) and a continuous need (kids aged 3 1/2 and 5 1/2).

Question time:

Is having the section across my desk feasible? I was thinking of a "nolix" type arrangement to get up and down.....

Given what I have penned above, is this area practicle?

Any suggestions on where I go from here - as in design this on paper or use a CAD system? The image above is from the demo version of 3rd Planit (As I said - $$$ is tight ).

Anyway, that'll do for now, I have had all this floating around in my head so it is out now....

Any and all comments appreciated

Cheers
Bruce

 

First, some contemporary designs have curves instead of rectangles giving the layout a more "modern" look (I'm not talking era here).

I'm not sure why you want a nolix, except to have another deck. If you are contemplating two decks - then I would make the upper area on the long side the nolix area. This would mean a reversing loop on each deck, over and under each area at the other end of the layout.

You can have continuous running with reversing loops now, especially with DCC. An auto-reverser automatically changes the current, and an auto-detector throws the turnout.

 

I am not sure why you want the change in elevation. It is a really big change... Why not put the layout all at the same height? The top section by the door will require a climb of 28cm in about 200cm (or about 1 foot in 6 feet). That's really steep.

If you are concerned about the kids being able to see it, why not provide a step stool. Some of the layouts at the last railshow here did - and they were very popular.

Andrew

 

Question, in N scale, can you have removable coal loads or are you better to have empty cars and cars with permanent loads? If it is better to have permanent loads than you may want to consider having mines that have a "empties in-loads out" feature. Most of the time people think that to have an empty in load out mine there has to be a user on the layout to receive the loaded coal cars. But you could do it by having interchange tracks with another railroad tie into the mine tracks. Given the size of N scale coal cars that might be something you want to consider. That would also give you the loop you need to just run a train around. It might look funny to see a train running out form under a tipple, but who cares, it looks funny when the same trains passes the same depot 100 times when it is doing laps around the layout.

 

I believe he said that it needed to be at a different height (higher) to get over his computer and desk....allowing him to use more of the wall space. Of course, I guess you could raise it all up to 128 CM...which, now that I think about it is probably what you were saying. Sorry...I'm a little slow sometimes.

[ 12. November 2003, 21:00: Message edited by: Hoss ]

 

Thanks all

I have taken a number of things onboard as a result of the answers here. I am currently negotiating with the boss to either have this whole room and move my computers out to the lounge room OR have part of the lounge room for the trains (approx 8ft x 8ft) instead. If neither of those negotiations comes through, I will lower the 128cm bit to 110cm and raise the 100cm bit to 110. Then again I could just try moving things around the room to fit better.

This is my first attempt at designing something with operational abilities. When my Dad and I did it about 25 odd years ago we pretty much just had continous running. What I wanted to accomplish here was to get as much train into this room as I could to open up a few possibilities. See getting back into model railroading was inspired by the notion of getting our boy, Zac, a train set for Christmas. Instead of wasting money on a "set" I suggested to Mum that a full railroad would be better. So we decided to buy train gear that could be used later in a full layout. Of course I am not one to do things by halves - that is why I am now here and asking all these questions. Hopefully I can hone my skills at actually designing layouts and benchwork. I shall return

 

If you can, force yourself to design at least three completely different benchwork styles with a rough idea of a mainline, but forget everything else. In other words, what can you get into the room that will put a smile on your face.

Having been there and done that, it is easy to fall in love with a plan, only 6 months later finding a number of things you don't like about it. Layout tastes do change and usually for the better. For my room, I literally did 7 different plans, none looking like the other until I met my beloved.

If you are doing a multi-decked affair, build the first deck and run it for a couple of years (I'm thinking of your kids height here). You will learn an amazing amount from just building this first deck and you will be more sophisticated when you put the second deck in (and your kids are higher).

 

Another option for the computer, and one you probably havent considered, is 'sell your 19" CRT and replace it with a 17" LCD'. A 17" LCD ahs the same displayable area as a 19" CRT, weighs about 1/10th as much, and is only 2" deep, not 2'.... . Then you can run your rr at your desired height BEHIND you monitor. Besides, LCD screens look seeeeeeexxxy.

 

Hey good point - and you are right, I never thought of that!!! Thankyou disisme, I will now plan on that basis!

Oh BTW, anyone want to buy a 19" monitor? pickup only, Riverstone, NSW, Australia!

Cheers
Bruce

 

Rick (rsn48): Good info - I will definately take that onboard.

I have been sitting here thinking and have got it all wrong. Here I was looking to design the layout around the desk/workbench. It is a given that most of what is on and around my current desk could go under the layout - computers (2), printers (2), network bits and pieces etc. I only need a smallish space to jot down notes and such as the majority of my computer work is web related. Armed with this new found knowledge, and some really great trackwork design by CoalTrain and others, I will have another go at designing benchwork.....

 

make sure to show us what you come up with so we can play with your plan to.

 

I sure will do that - the thinking cap is on!

 

Coaltrain, you sure seem to have the pulse on trackplanning.Where in Minnesota are you?I'm up near Grand Rapids myself.

 

Bruce.... Since your in Oz, I have a recommendation for you on LCD montitors.... The BENQ FP767 LCD monitor is absolutely sensational. I could have gotten Sony LCDs far cheaper, but the quality and speed of the BENQ make the sony's look like cr@p. The image quality and speed of these things is astonishing, and the viewable angles are impressive (ie, you dont have to be sitting right in front of it to see it). The bonus is, you'll be able to pick up TWO of these lcds for the price of one 19" CRT..and while the resolution isnt as high, the image quality sure is.

 

disisme

Thanks for the info. I hadn't heard of BenQ until I bought one of their scanners at Aldi's! I will definately check them out!!

 

I live in the Twin Cities.

 

Seems to me i knew that
The mind is such a terrible thing to waste so i used mine up

 

Ok

Here is a new diagram of my new beginnings:



The dark black outline is the boundries of the benchwork. It will be shaped further into planning. The line running across the top is to be a town at the end of a branchline. The mainline is the circle on the right-top and that descends under the standard benchwork height (48") to a double ended staging yard that will eventually surface again on the other side. The two circles are place markers while I decide what to do. The very left one is 11" radius and the middle one is 12" radius (as are most of the mainline radii). Pieces of this plan as it develops have come from the layout posted by Jeff (Coaltrain) in another thread.

The minor squares are 3" apart (majors 6") and most of the aisles are 24 to 30".

I will update with more as I go along but I am terrible at this track planning thing

Fire away ye bringers of good comments....LOL!

Cheers
Bruce

 

Ahhhhhhhh@! Forget all this - I am tearing my hair out trying to fill in the blanks to no avail - hollow core door here we come!!!