My year plus long search has ended for me, successfully. I've hemmed and hawed over various plans but did not make a decision. One of the plans I kept coming back to was Richard Balassaitis's "The Perfect 4'x8' track plan." I saw it in N-Scale Magazine's Sept.-Oct. 2012 issue. I contacted Rich and he offered to help me with it. I ran several modifications by him and he assisted me in adding them to the track-plan. He is a terrific and e-mailed me with suggistions and additional information so I could complete it. After the Christmas and New year holidays I' start building it. Meanwhile, I'll be working on some kits and structures for it, Buying the lumber a little at (My CFO restricts my access to funds during the holidays :crying at a time. Here's a thumbnail if you wish to check it out. See ya Ron
Layout looks great. You have worked a lot to do in there! I see that You have a Sleeping Giant Mountain. We had one in the town that I grew up in. Hamden CT. http://www.sgpa.org/ Pretty cool. Hiked it a bunch of times back in the day. Is this the one that you were thinking about or are there others (suppose there HAS to be) Have fun with that awesome layout, Stew
Stew, My daughter went to Quinnipiac and I have hiked up the Sleeping Giant a few times myself. Beautiful area.
Very cool Paul! Quinnipiac is a great school. Back in high school I used to detail cars for $$ and used to do two different cars for the guy in charge of grounds keeping there. Stew
The only potential problem I can see is some of the sidings and turnouts in the center of the layout, you have a 2 foot or more reach to some of them which might not seem like much until you get scenery and structures in the way.
I got the name for one of my mountains from an Alabama Indian legend. There is supposed to be a Sleeping Giant Mountain, in Talladega County, AL. Here is a link to info regarding the Indian legend. http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2011/06/the-sleeping-giant-an-indian-legend-from-al.html The other names of scenic areas, towns, legends, and history were obtained from the book "Dead Towns of Alabama." by W Stuart Harris. See ya Ron AKA - Switchman
I too am from Hamden went to Hamden high till 86, moved out of town around 07 ,practically grew up on the Giant,if i was not hiking the giant i was walking the Canal line rail bed. yes i am old i remember seeing Penn central running on that line.
