Tired benny...but then that's nothing new... Hey! Now that's new!!! A Post!!! And a roof??? A Very Big Roof!!! Whoa!!! Zoom out for a second!!!! Well i'll be! 2x4 of SPACE!!!! Why didn't we see the light earlier????!!!!! Yep, all Done!!! Well, sort of. I have to go over it and finish the paint. I am REALLY glad I painted it, it matches the existing apartment furnishings very nicely. Its sturdy, and judging by the cars on it, level. They aren't moving! You might see the hint towards new Spaces there to the rigth...like, right over my bed....hmmmmmm...I DID get the posts, and side rails too!!! Just...ran out of Wood!!! Now I need to build a 2x4 switching layout...with the idea that it will be connected to a much larger layout that will be up to two levels, maybe three, in dimension, that portion is of unknown size...hehehe...I want at least enough room for a continious loop, and I can go outwards up to 48 inches. Wish I had more, but I don't! A folded Dogbone will pobably get it done. only wish I bought more track when the getting was good. oh well!
Its dangerous...and it all Fluid Dynamic;'s Fault!!! I've been living in bunkbeds my whole life, I have no idea why i didn't see the light sooner!!!! Obviously, I have to do something about lighting, at the least for photography, at the least. time for a track plane...wooo!!!!!
While I could take the easy way out with either N or Z, they are simply too small for my liking. I like the physical size aspect of HO. What this requires is quite a bit of engineering because there isn't much space. But I have a concept done. My main goal over the entire spacve available is continious operation, with more then a simple loop. So I twisted it around a bit, settling on such standards as 22" radius and No.6 turnouts. I might also Add a Town at the top of the righthand Hill, which would be Hollow inside for access to the tunnel tracks/back of layout. Tall pines would dominate the higher elevations, scrub oak (Blue Green in the mid elevations, Desert plants and Round roks (Like near Congress Arizona) would dominate the basin. In fact, conceptually, I might have even ended up with a locality: The Low desert area is near Congress Arizona, the town on the right hill is Prescott AZ and the High mines (On the First Stage, towards the back) would be the likes of Crown King. Very Peavine. the Roundhouse would be the front, the sides, and only the front lip, with the rest of the building having been carved into the mountain...Which is more akin to the Jerome Arizona Scene. Put it there mainly becasue I needed a place to turn locomotives around, though without a reverse loop it really isn't all the necessary. My Main concern is the downgrade, as it is rather steep. The upgrade seems gentle enough, the rails simply have to climb about 3 inches over each other, so the pink level is 0", the blue level is 3", the yellow layer is 6", and the green level is 9 inches...though it could go up to 12", representing a steeper grade. There might even have to be a switchback to get that much elvation. In reevalating things, it is apparent to me that there needs to be an upgrade between the loop switch and the pink Desert area, in order to better accomodate the Blue Track crossing Under the yellow layer. A Slight downgrade in this track would make this possible. As it is, there is simply too much grade between the Blue layer switch and hte yeloow/blue crossover, unless the two line cross at the same elevation, which would be a tricky trackwork resulting in a banked diamond....Disneyland, Anyone??? Plenty of room for smaller stuff, I think! (FYI: Cross listing in Layout Design Forum) [ April 22, 2005, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Benny ]
Back in the 80's I lived in an apartment with a 12 x 22 living/ dining room combo. I put a 5 x 21 dogbone in there, it narrowed to 18" in the middle so I could incorporate the couch & chair w/ coffee table so there was still living space, TV went on one end in the loop, it worked well and was a hit when people came over, they had to run trains. I had a single track w/ a siding and two small yards on either end in the loops. I stained the front of it to match the wood floors so it looked like it fit in. Of course I was single or this would have never happened in an apartment!
Benny, I'm sorry I don't have a possitive comment. iit could be I don't see it properly. Good luck, have fun.
Steve, here's how I see it: At spot 1, Not enough room, the idea is that this is an escape track for Switchers. Road power (Anthing with a tender) will not be able to get out of this spot...unless trackage is all moved right about 3-6 inches, which space is available up by the Switch into the main grades. This adjustment can be made. At point 2a, where the Track is too close together (And painfully close to the wall) I can very well move loop out about 2 inches to the very edge at the most. At Point 2b, I could take care of that by moving the inner loop closer tot eh edge, and increase the length of the outer loop. The gains about 1-2 inches in these locations. Still painfully close, but squezed. I realize the track is still very close togther here. At Point 3, the S Curve: My planes are to run 40 Foot cars at the maximum, with very few 50 footers. Most cars will be kept within the 30 foot length. This, along with proper weight and metals wheels shoudl maintain agreeable operations. I will not be using my heavyweights on this layout, or much late steam era (BIG superpowers) other then as eye candy at the beginning (2x4 area) area. theoretically, the other end would continus off to a point in space...who knows where, but I can't go there!
Benny, was quite interested to see your plans. I am a returning apartment dweller - just got divorced, couldn't afford to hold on to the house. I am considering putting up a shelf layout myself. If I can locate the studs in the walls I am good to go. Interesting to see what creative solutions others find. If you have more pictures, please post. Regards, Clifton Linton
