Or one could do what I did when I built the sawmill on my club layout. I was confined to a particular space, so I made some small structures that I wanted included in the mill complex. I then figured out how my track arrangement would be configured. I then after those were all set up made a cardboard mockup of the sawmill building. What this did was allowed me to figure out the maximum size of the sawmill building. Just a thought
Yeah, it all looks good on paper and then you lay the track and realize maybe the buildings aren't gonna fit. he he he Now how do I know this? *groan*
I have a Walthers ADM grain elevator, and was planning on learning how to scratch build, so, cardstock mock-ups will be the first step....one of the industries will be a small shack and tanks.....
Tanks can be made easily in N scale with a variety of items. I have seen people use wooden dowels. I have also heard of PVC pipe, brass tube, styrene tube, and of course 35mm film tubes as well.
For tanks- The last time I needed some PVC pipe, it was found at a building materials re-use store. Not sure if it was Habitat For Humanity, but this was about a six foot long scrap, brand new, of 2" ID. Price was a dollar something- Less than two dollars.
Hey, great to hear a positive statement about switchbacks !! Please read my post regarding this a few days back or so....Yes ! adds alot of welcome work to operate..And I am not a logging-narrow gauge either...Standard gauge HO branch line...
Inviting all critique, I fail to see how this tiny plan is an industrial portrayal..This track could be in the Mojave Desert or on the NYC RR main line, no ?. ..No flaming meant, but must its length be this short ? Might you have a little more room for a couple sharp-curved plant, factory, warehouse, dock tracks ? Or, at least a long main line track passing north or south of these, a source from where cars come from/go to...Will you spot cars and then unspot cars and then spot them again ? If no other room then ,yes, a cassett could/would serve as a 'main' onto and off of ..And it's N scale..Is it what, 8"x 24" ? That's my honest, up-front, well meaning thought.
I'm sorry, but I seem to be missing your point. Start from the beginning of the thread. The size is 10" x 72".
Sorry, I did miss the 72" length statement ...I don't mean in a criticizing way. I only mean that , to me, I don't see why this is an industrial track design any more than trackage say, in the Eastern Corridor where all kinds of complex crossovers and sidings appear all up and down the line , yet it's mostly commuter trains.. What I see in yours is maybe a street running scene, in concrete pavement , large industrial structures/cafes bordering it, cars and trucks and curved spur tracks radiating out from yours, curving say, 65-90% into loading docks on either side of the avenue. Secondly, some track connecting to this, angling in, representing a main line which gives the appearance of your industrial area connecting to the outside world..But, maybe I am not understanding your intentions as to what it is you are seeing in your mind's eye...Just honest thoughts. No sarcasm meant at all....
OK, so, it will be 14"x84", lumber is bought, benchwork will be built tomorrow, still leaning towards the first two plans. Again, this is going to be south central AZ, in the Sonoran Desert, mid 1980's using SP locos (a GP35R and a U25B will be the main power unless I want to run a U30C or tunnels). all DC, and ground throws. I am really thinking about what can be built using MRH mag's idea of a $500 layout.
I went out and bought three 8 ft long 1x4 furring stips which were better than anything at Home Depot. I used the sides of a broken Ikea dresser for a surface. I will make the modifications to the track plan like thesecond one that was posted. There will be 2ft of lead room on both sides of the outer switches
From my blog (http://sopacincg.com) So, Model Railroad Hobbyist E-Zine had a track planning contest to design and build a layout for $500. The $500 includes track, a power pack, motive power, cars, buildings and scenery. I went to Lowes and I bought three 1x4 furring strips, trimmed them down to size, used a pair of sides from a broken Ikea dresser for a surface. The benchwork is a pair of 14"x37" boxes, the layout is now about 14x 86, the benchwork cost me a whopping $13.00 including the hardware. With my GP35R that was purchased used for $55.00, and has $14.00 worth of detail parts and a $35.00 power pack, I have already blown through $117.00 of the budget. Five #6 Atlas code 80 switches and Caboose Hobby ground throws brings the total up an additional $77.00, add in another $22.00 in flex track, and $11.00 in 18 gauge wire (Wal-Mart sells 40 ft of 18ga wire in the auto section, only in red and black, for about $5.50) brings me up to $227.00, add in my bay window caboose, and I am up to $257.00. I have now used 51.4% of my total budget. Now, if we look at the rolling stock that I have picked up, we are adding in an additional $169.00, meaning that I have $74.00 to add structures, paint, scenery and ballast my track. My house walls are already a tan, and must of the layout is going to be dirt (free and free). While I have ballast and ground foam, I have not removed them from my budget YET. I also bought a Walthers ADM grain elevator for $30.00 on a Walthers special will bring me down to $37.00......will I be able to build a warehouse and a liquid feeds plant, convert a pair of OLD Atlas tank cars to Micro Trains couplers for under $37.00? Time will tell, and I still need to buy a little more paint for the fascia, I plan to paint that Southern Pacific Lark Gray. Hopefully, someone out there would send me an O Scale Southern Pacific loco decal.
You say you like wide open western, not coagulated eastern city type..what about one long main line snaking a tad,,western flavor,, a barn here,,rock there,,if this is N scale could have main high up and a branch off that which goes down and under this to a couple spurs with industry/mid-west grain elevator, olden-days copper mine....Could use cassetts with pre-made up trains witch plug into either end ...Just kookie thoughts....
Mark, I am working on a switching layout, I don't have the room for a long run. As for the next section, I was thinking about building a longer than the puzzle nook to useas a yard/staging.
Lots of good discussion of track plan. I just hope you model the tipped over porta potty! (see below)
I have started a new thread on the build at http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...-500-Southern-Pacific-layout-WORK-STARTED!!!! I was thinking about your suggestion, and I might do that. I was already thinking about hiding a T.A.R.D.I.S. in the rear
