1. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    BarstowRick's ideas are good ones though, it looks from those pictures that you share space with Laundry, so I suspect they are unworkable.

    Think about this though, make the changes with an eye toward way you might want to go later.

    Now It's possible when you have more control over your own space that you won't be able to afford to even fit a 4x8, but at the same time, maybe you will and maybe you can fit a little more an add on.

    if nothing else, maybe you can sneak a little unsenicked staging yard somewhere so trains can come on the railroad and leave.

    You need to be sneaky. Annex land when nobody is looking, make it all look like no big deal.
     
  2. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    Can you elaborate more on these two points?
     
  3. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    I wish. It would really help having model railroader friends.
     
  4. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    The big inspiration comes from saying to myself, when i move out of here I'm going to have a huge layout!
     
  5. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks. I'll try and add some sort of extension.
     
  6. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    Can you explain more on how I could make my curves a minimum of 24 inches? All I have to do is add a 2X8 on one side of the layout? I guess I would have to rip up all my tracks?
     
  7. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    A 2X8 doesn't really seem that big so it might not be a problem, but yes I share the basement with Laundry, computer, tv, couch, my dad's layout, musical equipment, work bench, car parts, so yea, the only avaible space is what you see in the picture, and my dad likes to keep as much free space as possible.
     
  8. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rip Track

    Yes sir-ree! Sorry, but it would feel like you were starting all over again. May I suggest? This will be the only workable way you are going to be able to widen your curves. I think you mentioned this when you opened this thread.

    From the "For What It's Worth Department". Just a little history about my layouts:

    I did the same thing as my 4x8 seemed to fill and there was no where to go. I ripped a 4x8 right down the middle and for the first time built a frame under the plywood. I think you've already done that. My mother had given me her old kitchen table and it worked well until I wanted to expand. I might as well tell you I didn't really like the extension but it allowed me to tear up track and put down wider curves. Improving the overall performance of my trains. I might add this was the first time I experimented with a type of flex track. I had to hand cut the gaps on one side and then I laid, it down with the gaps to the outside of the curve.

    Eventually... I tore up the 6x8 layout and tried something totally different. What I ended up with was a partial U shaped layout. I had a 3x12 that ran the length of one wall and added two other sections on each end. I eventually pushed the 3x12 out one more foot to accommodate 24" radius curves. A 4x4 on one end and a 4x8 (the original layout) on the other end (long wise). Leaving me a four foot square in the middle as a control center. I then used the "Cookie Cutter" method and cut my plywood to allow for an up and over layout. I ended up with 24 inch radius curves with the trains moving along dangerously close to the edges of the layout. My four axle diesels and 2-6-2 steamers handled the curves well. My six axle diesels and larger steamers fought the tight curves complaining and derailing causing me nothing but grief. It was on this layout I became an official member of the "Flying Diesel Corps"... Ouch!

    Feeling the need to start my own life...I left home. Leaving the layout with my dad. He never did have the aptitude or know how... to keep it clean or repair it. It didn't take long and I was tagged with the blame, for building a bad layout. I would learn the layout had been torn down and set outside. He said he couldn't run it and half the time he couldn't get a train up the main line. Oh well...all he had to do was turn the correct selector on and the train would run. Every time I came home... it would run almost perfectly. That was after I cleaned the track and wheels and checked the wiring. My sister had a puppy dog with a waggy tail and he had the habit of rearranging the wires. Oh boy! It's no wonder dad had trouble.

    Todays layout under construction, in N Scale underwent similar growth only this time I have it and there's no waggy tailed puppy dog. It started out as a 3x6 up and over with two separate routes. You can do that in N scale....grin!

    I just read that you share the same space with your dad's layout. Hummmm. You guys ought to join forces. Anyway, whatever you decide to do, will renew your interest in your layout. Go have some fun.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 4, 2007
  9. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    His layout is O scale. (lionel) Unfortunately, he's sentimental about it so he doesn't really want to "mess" with this, or expand it. Plus me and him have different modeling preferences. He's into operating, and doesn't pay too much attention to detail and realism. I'm the opposite.

    I just measured the area and a 6X8 wouldn't work. I'm thinking more of a 1X8 extension. Could this hold 24 inch radius curves?
     
  10. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Dad's can be difficult!

    CM and all tuned in,

    The answer is yes. Basically each 1/4 turn needs 2' x 12"=24" or 2 ft. You would be able to push the curves out to improve the appearance of the train.

    No doubt my dad and I had different agenda's although we both liked operating on the same layout. Obviously, your dad can't run O scale on HO. Let me see. A combined layout where the O scale runs in and out of the HO. Do you think? Ok, HO over the top of the O scale... Maybe not! I'l bet you already thought of that.

    I did build an O and S scale layout for a friend of mine. He had the S scale operating on top of the O scale. We pushed the curves out as far as possible.

    Your going to like the way your layout turns out.
     
  11. 92 tempo

    92 tempo TrainBoard Member

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    how did you get that track inside the ihc cement plant i have that same structure and my cars kept rubbing against it
     
  12. Young BNSF Fan

    Young BNSF Fan TrainBoard Member

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    You really need to add elevation. Thats what i did with mine and i have a bit more space but it still does the same thing. Its basically just adding another level but you dont have to do it for the whole layout. Mine leaves the center open and uses woodland senics rises to get up and down. Building this could keep you busy for a while!! Good luck!!
     
  13. CM Coveray

    CM Coveray TrainBoard Member

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    I just hacked off as much plastic as was necessary with a dremel. The whole bottom is gone as well as a little bit of the sides.
     

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