My "new layout" thread

I am starting a new layout as some of you may know. If you have ever seen any pictures of my layout before, that one is at one of my family member's house in Vermont. I tore it up over the summer, keeping all of it to use the scenery. But because I live in Texas now, I have "Layout Fever."

So, I have gone to the library and got some books to study up on. I am moving in two weeks or so, and can start it at the new house. I will post progress pictures. I have some pictures of things that will be added on to sections. I am currently making track plans using the Atlas RTS Freeware. I get a one car part of the garage for my needs and wants, there-fore, a layout, work tables, bike shop(BMX), etc. I figured making a 1x2 frame and a masonite top. I will then put foam on top of that.

I thought about this, maybe not a much track at the bottom, but with a tunnel.

KEY:blue represents approx. space of garage
red represents table boundry.

it is 6x17. at the top will be a couple of tables, my bike, and whatever else.

the black represents tables

 

I stop at Home Depot last night after going to Best Buy to get the movie Hot Fuzz.(which is a really funny movie) I went there to look at the price of wood and w/e else. I bought some nails and I looked at what are called "handy panels". They are 2' x 4'. they had some hard wood for like $4.37 each and some like masonite material which was smooth on one side and rough on the other side- almost like cardboard which runs for 2.95 each or so. I figured of getting some which would be about 11 for the table, but don't know which is better.

here is the plan. on the top right, I didn't want to have a little section all by itself, so I will have extra.

I thought maybe they could cut the 2 with the 45 degree cuts.

I also had a plan which is just a rough scratch so the pieces wouldn't bend in with the weight. the black lines are 1x2 pieces of lumber

 

make sure to use a at least two layers of 2 inch thick foam this will give you a good base( about 24 bucks for a 2 X 8 sheet.) Liquid nails for projects is amazing as well. If Home Depot is close by look around the paint department they have some good tools as well that you might need in the future.

There are a few areas on your layout you might want to fix. I need to go back to work right now I will post again either tonight or tomorrow with my suggestions.

 

I have a 1"x2" frame and have a cross member every 2 feet. My top is 1" blue foam insulation - 2" would have been better because I cracked through it while working on the layout. I don't think that you would need to use the Masonite top if you plan to use a foam top - plus its a lot easier to drill holes in foam insulation - and Masonite does tend to expand and contract with heat and humidity changes. Your second drawing is probably more frame work than you need - but it would be strong!
For legs I used 2"x2" pine with 1/4" carriage bolts in the bottom to allow for leveling - plus I think it's best not to have bare wood on a concrete floor because of moisture issues.
I think you'll be pleased with a track plan that allows for continious running. It's a great idea to plan it all out like you're doing - and don't be in too much of a rush.

 

I will second the choice to use masonite - it makes a very sturdy decking. And as for foam, the first 2" could be the polybead, and if you are good, you can use white polybed all around. the only problem with it is it does not have the fire proofing the pink or blue has, once you put the coark down, the cork is what will hold your track pins.

 

One other thing i forgot to mention, just use the foam the pink stuff as your table nothing under it, it will make the table much lighter and easier to do wiring. If you wouldnt mind emailing me your plan I could show you what edits i suggest in a new plan. PM me let me know

 

what about this plan? Better?
purple is a mountain. dark blue is water. black is road. light blue building. green-turf.

 

ok. over the past couple of days, I got to get some soldering done on the track. I still need to file it down, but at least the track is stiff. I also soldered some wire to it. It is Model Power rainbow line. Here are some pictures.(sorry about the fuzzy pics.)

 

I recently took a trip to Massachusetts/ Vermont (like right on the border) to visit old friends and family members.(about a year and a half ago I moved from Massachusetts to Texas) anyways, I visited my dad and he showed me this spot that he hangs out at with his buddies that he calls "Under the Bridge" It is located in Pittsfield Mass. It is actually near the tracks. there is 2 old fashioned bridges that is made for two trains on each, but a set of tracks were taken off each. then there is one bridge, which is the one they hang out under, that is abandoned. the rails were never removed though. He was telling me that he and his buddy threw some rails in the river below, in which one landed straight up and down. I started modeling the abandoned bridge. it actually had a turnout on it, so it "splits" It is located by a river with water fall. in the summer the water doesn't go over the falls, it goes through a chute just before the fall that brings it out at the bottom of the fall.

here is picture of the area i am gonna model.


here are some pics of the bridge- the one I have started.






more pics in next post.

 

i was planning on doing this after I moved, but I was looking on this guy's website and saw the bridge.
site- Stephens Website - Stephen's WebsiteÂ*
page- ModelRailroading - A Small Bridge

i mentioned that the abandoned bridge is made for a turnout. here it is.






I still need to weather it.

 

here is the bridge that will be in service.
it still needs some weathering and some other details.






here is both side by side.

 

Is there just 3 rails across the bridge where trains both directions share the center rail? There was one like that years ago in Colorado I think.

There was a turnout at each end of the bridge. One train had to wait while the other crossed. It would make for some interesting action!

 

You bride work is quite impressive. Your soldering work....I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but you might consider thist o be a lesson learned in soldering, and now is time to start learning about Flex track.

Try to model just that scene, and not a whole layout, and you will be in very good shape when you finish the scene and go to build the entire rest of the layout!

 

I believe a gauntlet (or gantlet) track refers to a sort of 4-rail track that can only be traversed by one train at once. One line is rails 1 and 3, the other is rail 2 and 4.

 

Yes, Gauntlet was what I was trying to remember!

There were several different kinds.