Hi all. I have been here on Trainboard a while, and it's time for me to jump in. I purchased a house in August of last year, and after taking care of other things around the house it's time to start working on a layout. The layout will be in the extended side area of the garage. As family CFO, I agreed this house based on the available space for a layout besides being able to park the family van INSIDE. So far the area above is open framing, but that will eventually be covered. I am looking at options for doing that, i.e drop ceiling, or sheetrock. There are other things that will have to be finished in my area, but planning has commenced. I have an area roughly 11' x 15'. I am not confident of my own planning ability, so I have been searching published plans and designs. I have found a plan that suits my space and most of my operation desires. I will make some modifications to fit my space, but mostly it fits correctly. I want to try to fit in a second level, or a couple areas where I can add switching areas at a lower elevation. I have found that Plan 90 from Model Railroader 102 Realistic Track Plans fits my needs. It's the C&O's Allegheny Subdivision layout. I won't put it up here, but if you want to see the plan, a google (or other) search will take you to it quickly. What's better, the magazine shows how to convert a plan to use with another scale. And it's exactly my situation: HO plan for use with N scale. I have the same amount of space as the converted plan. I will move the "branchline" from the right to run on the front wall of the garage. As shown, the garage door is on top of plan 7 feet from top/left corner, water heater will be bottom left corner with entry to house to right of that. I will have approximately 5 feet of walking space between layout and front wall. I'd like to show a drawing, but don't have the ability currently. I am using 3rdPlanIt as a planning tool. I have found that the 3D option of this program gives me the ability to see my space before I start cutting lumber. As progress continues, I hope to be able to show my ideas here. I look forward to making progress and sharing pics of my build.
hi David, Keep in mind aisles don't shrink with scale. With 3 of them lengthwise I doubt if the width of your plan can be reduced to less then 15. Have fun Paul
According to the article about converting for a different scale, the space needed for N scale is 14 x 14. It also shows where to extend for aisle space. With the removal (or relocation) of the Raleigh branch, this will reduce the width further. By changing grid lines from 12in for HO to 6in for N, and extending some at places marked, I can fit the area shown as Prince no farther than 11' 6" from wall. I have measured out floor space in my garage, and marked with tape to see where edges are going to be located. Some tightening of curve radii will also make a difference. I plan to build at near eye level (for me 61") so tighter curves will not "be seen" as much. I am mostly going to be building, and later operating solo. I am by no means skinny, but aisles that shrink down to 18" don't bother me. I have had them before. I would LOVE wider aisles everywhere, but I cannot take more space. It is a compromise (druther) that I will accept. As I said before, my designing abilities don't give me much confidence. I design BY BUILDING, meaning I lay track to see what looks good/ right. I don't want to do that for this layout, that's why I found a plan that is SHOWN to fit my space and that I can tweak to fit my operating desires.
18" might not be bad for you, but imagine someone following a train on the main to the same town that you are switching....
As previously stated, "I am mostly going to be building, and later operating solo". Again, I am working with a plan that can fit my space available. I'll continue to look at ways to improve it.
A suggestion for planning. I and a few others have utilized a different form of planning; you may or may not like it. You don't need to start with a layout plan, but you do need to start with a plan. 1. The mission statement I highly recommend you begin with a one sentence mission statement. For example (my mission statement) "to build a layout that suggests a long mainline with a distinct here to there feeling, moving from a yard to a city." Your mission statement might only require a one level layout with heavy emphasis on switching (I wish to build a switching layout), or it may be railfan inclined (I wish to build a layout that features mountains and prairie regions to watch my trains roll), or it may be Ops oriented (I wish to build a layout that provides many switching locations just off the main), to maximizing space for long running (I wish to build a layout that maximizes space so I can move long freights across the country). Notice these mission statements almost determine your benchwork answering questions as to one level or two, emphasis on visually appealing scenery versus operations, or a one level layout to ensure more space for operators to access the layout. 2. Shape of the mainline After you have your mission statement, you have a guide as to your mainline and how it will run. So plan a mainline for your layout which will dictate your benchwork. 3. Determine how specific areas will be defined So you have your mainline planned and you know in one area will be a smaller yard, another area a rural scene with a siding, another area a small town. Defining your areas helps with track work planning, so a mining area over there requires a short lead to access the cars and gets the action off the main ("Thou shall not plug the main"). 4. Create a track plan for each independent area Each area then requires its own track plan, really you are breaking the layout down and instead of searching for one whole plan that works for your space, you are creating your own plan, stemming from your mission statement, as defined by the main line run and space available. What you can do is look for parts of a track plan that will work in your area, or give inspiration for what will work in your area. 5. You don't need an entire track plan done to get going The idea you don't need an entire track plan done is almost heresy in layout planning groups, but if you are newer to the hobby, you are best to begin with a main, lay part of this track at a specific area. Laying track in just one area of your layout gives you experience as to what works and what doesn't. In other words, by building in one area is providing you with much needed experience to build in another area. I have 2/3's or my track work in on my layout, probably more than that, but I am just now planning my final top level. I'm glad I wait as over time I gained experience and priorities changed ever so slightly so that what I will design now isn't what I would have designed when I began my process of design and construction.
Sorry it's taken so long for me to get back after your latest posts. Work and other home projects have kept me from doing much planning on the layout, or even spending much time on the forums. Now that I installed Tapatalk2 I should be able to keep up to date with things while on the road. Rick.....you gave me a lot to think about. Lots of miles out here for me to ponder your 5 points. I'll work on a mission statement. That idea never really crossed my mind, but it's a good idea that may keep me more focused as I get farther with design and construction I should clarify an earlier statement. This layout will be in our NEW house. We moved from old/ too small, to new for us with more available space. This planned layout WILL NOT be my 1st. I have had 3 or 4 other layouts (all incomplete-then abandoned). Some benchwork can be reused. I have tried most methods of construction and hope to get proficient with spline roadbed. I know the kinds of things I want on my next layout, but incorporating them is going to be a challenge. I haven't really caught the "Ops bug" yet. I know later it will be more important for me to have things to do on my rairoad other than just watching trains roll past, but that's important too. So how do I make it ops enjoyable AND have it mindless rollbys? The plan I mentioned before seems to have both possibilities drawn in already. I also realized that "reversing or flipping" the plan may fit my space better. I'll look into that as I sketch and plan with 3PlanIt. As I will be building and operating "mostly" alone, I think I'll be able to tweek the published plan to fit my needs and space to my liking. More to follow as progress is made. Hopefully that will be soon. I'm getting ansty about not getting anything done. David Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
David, You might find some ideas for your layout space here http://appalachianrailroadmodeling.com/trackplans.html
Dwyane....thanks for that link. I've that site before. I better bookmark it as I'll probably get some good ideas from it. Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
Should have said "I've visited that site before". I'm working on a paper drawing of my available space so I can get a pic of it with my phone so I can show you. Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
Okay, I drew out a basic plan of my available space. I always carry graph paper with me when/ if I get design ideas. I think I also need to find my copy of "Layout Design for Realistic Operation" by John Allen so I can re-re-reread it. That's my progress for the day. Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
Wow, too much road dirt in my brain today..... Or maybe the 90 degree temps in AZ got to me today.... John ARMSTRONG's book, not John Allen Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
Found my copy of "Track Planning for Realistic Operation". I can't count how many times I've read it, but I seem to learn something new from it each time. Also, is it wrong for me to only look at the pictures? Some of the diagrams and drawings give more "explanation" than the many long paragraphs used for the same reason. Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
I have been able to make some progress on planning for my layout. A recent post had a pic of drawing of my available space. I have made another drawing that includes a rough outline of proposed benchwork edge. As there were concerns (which were very logical) that I wouldn't be able to fit published plan in my space, I used my copier to enlarge drawing to my scale. I made lines to be 1/4" apart to coincide with the 1/4" lines on my graph paper. I then cut out plan, and cut in areas suggested for scale change between HO to N. Graph paper lines represent 6". I want to have absolute minimum walkway widths to be 20". Most aisles as drawn are 24", except for upper left (bottom of page being where step/ water heater are) corner where it goes down to 18" at the "dead end". I did go over to "No track area" a little, but if I narrow aisles and/ or tighten radii a little it will bring me in bounds. I am still looking at ways to make the published plan "mine". As I plan on paper, and then by doing mock-ups in the actual space I think I'll be able to customize it for my needs and desires. My progress for the day. More to come. Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
David, I think you will find 24" aisles very tight and 20" aisles to be painful. As you mentioned 3rdplanit, why don't you layout the room and the proposed benchwork in it?
Paul, I've been working on 3rdPlanIt while on the road. I have learning to do with some of the additions to the program from when I first had it many years ago. I want to keep changes/ corrections to a minimum so I'm taking my time getting it "just right". I'm also looking at my plan. I have some decisions to make about shape and size. I want to be able to use my space to its full advantage, which I think means that an open center is a lot of wasted space. If I can come up with a plan that gives me the ability to double level it, but without the need for a duckunder, I will look seriously at that as an option. At this point, the tighter 20"-24" aisles of this plan are workable. If after doing some mock-ups I decide it it too tight for continuous passage, I will focus on something different. No lumber has been cut/ glued/ screwed yet so all options are open. I THINK I can handle the 24" average aisle space, but I'll definitely continue to look into it. Photos of progress as I make it.
Is this an attached garage or under part of the living quarters? If attached with its own roof, what is the size of the "attic" area, and how high is it?
It's an expanded two car garage. It's in the "extra" space on one side of the garage which is approx 7' wide. I am taking over 4 feet (+/- a little) from parking area. There will be enough room to park the family van. Rafter space is open above at 110". Sent from my SCH-I405 using Tapatalk 2
