Small layout

[YuG]

I am not a complete novice railroad modeler. Once I built relatively small size HOn3 layout featuring American logging line that I like very much. Later when I moved to new home I had to throw it away.
Seeing many excelent locos, rolling stocks and layout I am unable to resist the attraction of rebuild my layout.
Here one problem is limited space. I must give up to run three track shays or On3 locos.
I am going to build a layout that have 150mm radius curve so that HOn30 Bettsy can pass there.
Size of the layout I am envisioning is approx 20inch by 40inch.

Does somebody know whether small layout pictures are in this site that I can refer to making mine?

Trains I have in hand are in the picture

 

[MasonJar]

Yu,

Sounds like a great layout you had to throw out. Glad to see you saved the engines. What scale are they? 20"x40" is very small, but here are a few good sites to help you plan:

Mike's Small Trackplans Page

Micro/Small Layouts for Model Railroads

Andrew

PS - I have moved your post to the Track Planning forum, where I think you will get more info.

 

[YuG]

Thanks a lot.
I have visited both two sites and saw interersting planning and pictures at micro/small layout. For a certain time, I will enjoy planning micro layout in one way and another.
And thanks to move my post to right place.

 

[nachoman]

this site may help:

Diamond Springs & Western Homepage

By the way, that is a quite nice collection of rolling stock you have there!

Kevin

 

[Russ Bellinis]

I'm not sure what a 155mm radius curve is in inches. If it is small enough to allow an oval on 20 inches x 40 inches, I would do an oval on the base for continous running, build a big mountain so that most of the oval is hidden. Leave some sort of access to rerail trains inside the tunnell, and then build a switch back up the mountain to a logging camp on top. It would seem to me that with a small passing siding to act as a sort of interchange between the oval and the switch back sections, that you could get a lot of operation in a small space that way.

 

[MasonJar]

150mm (millimetres) is about 6 inches. 1 inch = 25mm (approx).

Andrew

 

[Triplex]

6" is one of the most common minimum radii on the Micro Layouts site (mentioned above). "Micro" was originally defined as less than 3 square feet, then less than 4 square feet. The latter has beeen used for most of the time the Micro Layouts site has been around, but now they have many plans larger than that.

 

[YuG]

Thank you everybody for kind help.
Sometimes perhaps I feel like just want to see engines running so I want layout has oval. And sometimes I want to do some operation. Switch back might be interesting.
First, I must decide to make my layout as logging line, mining, dockside or...

 

[YuG]

On30 Bachmann porter is able to pass 6 inch radius curve with the modification of trailing wheel swinging mechanism.
Considering smooth running, On30 might be better.

 

[MasonJar]

Yu,

That's a great looking pair on that tight curve. Very nice! Keep us up to date with your plans...

I think I am tempted to try some On30 stuff myself, especially if it can be done in less than 4 square feet.

Andrew

 

[60103]

YuG:
look at this site: Learn to paint model RR figures black first
Brian is now making very small and portable layouts with much detail and many figures.

 

[YuG]

Thank you guys
With realistically painted figures and details enhance even small layouts!!! Still I can not make up my mind whether to feature mining, logging, port .....

 

[YuG]

Brought out 1 foot x 1 foot HOn30 layout like object from loft that I made about 20 years ago and put saw mill with ground behind it.
Seeing it, I think 1' x 2' layout might be fine

 

[YuG]

Took some more picture changing arrangement

 

[YuG]

these are the candidate of layout planning making use of structures in hand though big water tank looks out of place

 

[MasonJar]

Nice work - looks like it's in great shape for a 20 year old layout!

I agree that the big tank looks out of place - how about a horizontal barrel type on peeled log stilts?

I guess that you have decided to go with the logging theme?

Andrew

 

[YuG]

Thank you Andrew
Horizontal barrel type water tank sound good. I tried to find it out on line shop to buy it's kit but so far was not able to find.
I have not dismissed other themes. The reason I made logging line layout plan was that all structures in hand are for logging theme.
I found out many attractive kits at Builders in Scale and am going to try find out other shops

 

[MasonJar]

Here's a sample of the "logging line" horizontal type.

Walthers Model Railroad Mall -- product information page for 785-241

Andrew

 

[YuG]

Andrew

Thank you. I placed order for it.
Now I decided to go with the logging theme

 

[YuG]

Today horizontal barrel type water tank I ordered was delivered.
Next is to find out how to make conifer.