I have a 2'x3' board using the mtl expansion pack track. I'm using one of their suggested layouts. I'd like to have a more natural scene. I plan on maybe one paved road and a dirt road leading to an old house or barn. But the main theme will be natural features. Maybe a stream or small body of water and trees and bushes. I plan on having one-level since this will be in the Midwest and through the country which is relatively flat in the Midwest. So what do you think? Any ideas? How would you do it and what would you have?
Ralph, John Cubbin has some great 2'x3' layouts on his Ztrains.com website. Check out: Ztrains: Z Scale Basics: Three Notch Railroad John
Ralph, Here are some more of John's 2'x3' plans: Ztrains: Z Scale Basics: MTL Expansion Set Ztrains: Z Scale Basics: Harbor Valley Layout John
Prior to any planning this is what I should do: considering to lay track on risers (ex, Woodlands Scenics). That means that even if you keep a no grade profile, you can have your track running either on bridges, fills or cuts. Dom
I've though about elevating the track on risers and keeping it one grade. I've also thought about building a mountain in one corner and having a tunnel. I have a question about having risers and a grade on a 2'x3' layout. Wouldn't the grade be way too steep given the small layout size?
Hi, when speaking of riser I'm meaning the stuff on the link below. If you want to add grades you should use inclines (from Woodlands Scenics as well), available with 1%, 2% or 3% slopes. Provided your layout is due to be small you won't have big height differences but I guess your goal is more to have a flattened "roller coaster" profile such as every prototype railroad even on flat areas, isn't it? I should recommend to avoid crossovers as on a small layout that should imply 5% or more slopes, not compatible with motive power's performance. But even with only risers allowing what I spoke of earlier, I guess the result should be far better than laying your track on plywood's elevation 0. Dom
I have a question about having risers and a grade on a 2'x3' layout. Wouldn't the grade be way too steep given the small layout size?[/QUOTE] A 2'x3' is too small to have any track grades. You could get a 20"x30" 1/2" piece of foamboard at HL or Michael's. Then you can build a tunnel over/around the track. You can also make a view block. You could also check out a WS sceneArama set that may give you just enough product to learn & create other scenery effects. They do make inexpensive kits with water, rocks & other scenes.
2'x3'....you can run z gauge Big Boys on that piece of real estate! (if there was a Big Boy) how about a mine with miners, a farm, barn, outhouse, cow, mountain, tunnel, waterfall, and a lake with swimmers...in 16x12.5x4 inches. oops! no road. sorry. The storal of the morey is your layout options are unlimited; Z scale can do more than you can imagine!
Here's a photo of my 2X3 layout: It's a simple design built on foam board. It's used for displaying my wares at shows. It only weighs about 7lbs. It allows for some simple switching. Of course everyone HAS to see the train go through the tunnel!
