I'm planning to build a N scale shelf switching layout, in addtion to my HO scale "Beaumont Yard". I'm looking at 1 foot by about 6 feet (Something that can be slid under the bed). I encourage your input in track plans and designs. I'd like to see what others have done. Any helpful suggestions will receive naming credit in online industries.... Thanks for your input.
I would use detailed photo backdrops with pictures of industries. If I can find a link to the company I am thinking of I will edit this post and include it. Then I would use flats to represent your industries. Even though it requires more room, I would look to the "progressive rail" in last months or the past couple of months MR. It requires more room but the track work would be good to copy with some modifications. I found the link to the photo backdrops. They aren't expensive and will give you the detail necessary to add some "busyness" to a narrow shelf layout: http://www.realisticbackgrounds.com/ Click on "On Line Store" then "Realistic Backgrounds" If you build your benchwork and just add these photos before doing anything else, you will be amazed at how well your layout, without track or anything, looks. [ 29 May 2002, 16:44: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Rick, Thanks for the input. I'll check it out in case I change my mind. I doubt I will put a backdrop on it though. The idea I have now is a board that can slide under a bed or something. I have a bigger HO layout. The idea for this littel N scale is something informal that I can play with with my son (7 years) or use it introduce his friends to it. Here's how I envision it.... pull is out and lay it on the living room floor, I sit on one side, my son or someone else on the other side. One person is the brakeman, the other the engineer. The buildings would probably be full modeled fronts with the building cut off where the board ends. What do you think of the idea? Any potential track plan ideas?
I have built Atlas' "Southside Connecting" layout in HO scale and it is a great plan. It would fit easily on a 1' x 6' board in N-scale.
Here is the Atlas link, referred to above: http://www.atlasrr.com/products/fanlayout/holayout/ho26.html
You can still have a backdrop that slides in with a pole at either end of the backdrop. This way you can take the back drop out and slide it unde the bed as well. If you use those printed backdrops, you will find it makes a world of difference for you "small" layout. And the American price is something like $9.00 for around three feet, so it is reasonable.
Beaumomt, if you do use a backdrop, consider mounting it in a picture frame for support by gluing it to artists foam board (1/4" thick paper both sides) then the picture frame provides wood for hinges. Hinge the picture frame so it can fold down flat over the scenery, buildings etc. and rest on small posts at the corners, and maybe two along toward the center to keep it from sagging with time. The advantage is this will help to prevent dust from settling on the rails between running sessions. I had one like this, but instead of a backdrop, I had "the other half" of the layout. When folded out flat it provided more track and curves. When folded "up" (and over), it made a dust cover. Casters were at all four corners and in the middle. Just a thought. [ 31 May 2002, 17:39: Message edited by: watash ]
The layout will not have a back drop. I want it to be assessible from both sides.... There will be building flats on the sides in some locations which will provide a little background when viewed from the opposite side.
