"Update"
Ha - you thought this site was just mouldering away, gathering dust, didn’t you? Admit it!
Well, there’s life in the old dog yet. We’re back, so dust off those designs and send in your plans for publication!
I aim to update weekly, subject to there being content available.
We welcome your views on the plans published here - click on the 'leave a response' link below to join in on the discussions.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 10th, 2005 at 10:28 pm
Don’t mind me - this is just here to (a) test that comments work and (b) to point out that you can post comments on any design.
September 20th, 2005 at 7:52 pm
It appears that everything is slow these days. I hope is just that hobbyists have put down the pencil and picked up the modeling knife.
Carl Arendt’s site has done a lot to get people building layouts. A lot of talent went into designing layouts with under 4 square feet of space. I am not truly a fan of these layout. I did enjoy them.
Now I would like to see some designing in a larger venue. I would like to see the squarefoot parameters of small radius, small loco, small cars move onto a larger area. A door size layout.
I would hope designers refrain using the maximum radius possible for the width of the door. Typical (US) doors come in 30, 32, and thirty six inch widths with other sizes available. Think of how many 6″ radius turns there can be in a 32″ width.
Trains would not have to be just shuttling back and forth. Tracks could meander between buildings of an industrial complex. Or follow several ridge lines enroute to the other end.
The typical door is 78-80″ long, but can be easily shortened with common hand tools. Shortened, it can be stood on end and slid in the closet for storage. Mine was hung on the back of the bedroom door.
A door can also be slid under a single bed. The outside frame will take screws to attach castors. Cross-pieces need to be added the full width for mounting folding leg sets.
Glenn Hazel
March 3rd, 2006 at 5:17 am
Glenn,
A 24″ door is a great size for a switching layout in HO or On30 — it’s a fantastic size for a Gumstump and Snowshoe or similar operation. While short on horizontal curves, it’s high on vertical curves.
Years ago, MR published a couple of plans for N scale layouts on 30″ doors. One was featured in one of the Kalmbach books. A super nice N scale layout can be built on a 36″ door.
I think a 36″ door would be perfect for Gn15 or Hn15, or 3/8n40 industrial layout with a “standard gauge” interchange.
Fun stuff!
March 12th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
I just discovered this website and I must say it looks very nice. The comment posting comes in very handy.
I’m also working on a layout. It’s a shelf layout on an IKEA shelf from the BILLY series based on a narrow gauge passenger line. It’s in Japanese style. In a few weeks I will update my site with some pictures on the progress etc.
Good luck with your layout!
August 20th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Toni Helm gave me a great idea, a bookcase layout. Many bookcases have several adjustable shelves. Being adjustable means they are also removeable to build a sectional layout. The shelves can be laid end to end in any order on a table or other support. With a small enough radius there could also be corners.
The bookcase provides storage and display. Shelves should be sceniked to be seen from both side so when stored the viewers can see different scenes. A fixed shelf could be used to store trains when not in use.
There goes a excuse for not having a layout: where to store it. (I am my own worst enemy)
September 23rd, 2006 at 5:45 am
WOW! The comments from Glenn Hazel are of great interest to me. Good thinking Glenn.
I am currently buildling a modified version of the Snowshoe.
To save space in the bottom yard I have a used a Peco 3 way turnout. I am also using 15″ R curves. All flex track from Peco
The locos of couse need to be small. The critter from Roundhouse is great.
September 23rd, 2006 at 6:25 pm
GREAT! Another site of clever plans for the space starved. The question is; how small can a layout become before the `operational’ side of the plan becomes compromised by the lack of space? My guess is that the `A3 Challange’ -sized baseboard is about the limit before you are just limited to shuttling locos back and forth. That being said, i`m in the process of building one that features 3 points, a mine, tippler and loco shed in Hoe! When it`s built i`ll send some pictures if you`re intrersted. I`ve also planned (but not yet built) a `pointless’ inglenook, fed by a traverser in N which i reckon can be built in about 18″ x 4″. The only problem being my inability to construct the traverser.
January 26th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Thought you said Emrys that this site was making a comeback! That post was dated 2005 !
Would love to see this great stuff on layouts updated.
Go for it.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Traffic seems to be low all over. I hope it is because modelers have put away the keyboards and picked up the hobby knife.
Although he internet is a wonderful thing, it can be time consuming. Personally I spend 30 minutes a day surfing eBay for MRR items. I have set up specific searches and for awhile had the results emailed to me. I found it quicker to go on with my morning coffee.
Tahta’s another time consumer email, more specifically email groups like Yahoo. I checked my group email for the first time in two weeks. I had over 157 legitimate emails, not spam. And I only get mail from five of the 20 groups I belong to. I read about 3/4 of them.
I have drastically cut down my online time. Unfortuneately the savings has been consumed by two kids erolled in Philadelphia colleges. They commute. The station is about a 35 minute round trip twice a day. The enjoyable part is I get to see the Acela and Metroliners flyby and I cross over the old B&O main on the way.
I have noted over the past year online activity runs in spurts. Some groups are more active at certain times of the year than others. Some groups lay dormant then experience a short rebirth.
Carl Arendt’s micro layout site grew quickly but appears to dormant. Yes he has bi-monthy updates, but when was the last new layout added. We may have burned out in that department or gleefully built some layouts. The latter must be the case for the Scrapbook to become bi-monthly.
What we don’t see hear, hopefully is being spent on other hobby stuff.
Glenn
February 24th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Where is the comeback?
Like to see the updates as I am looking for a layout to start
June 18th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Note to Tom Baxter (and others re: “Traversers/Transfer Tables”): Carl Arendt has a short FAQ in his Articles Section (carendt.com) with some links to other inexpensive option for construction. (It is a good start anyway)
I seem to remember [from 1,000 years ago?
] that Model railroader had an article about a fellow who used one interior door, plus 1/2, to create an ‘L’ shaped layout in 027 gauge! I thought that was a great use and gives hope to the rest of us.
The biggest complaint I have encountered is running lo-o-o-ong passenger cars and the “unusual” overhang on shorter radius curves. Oh well…I run Marklin M-Track Industry Radius curves [22″ (approx) radius] as my main line , but then I just run short stock with short tank engines. But I am a happy boy. My layout is basically over-under in 2′x6′. And with a pair of switches sandwiched in, I have an Inglenook game. It might be different if I had a barn…LOL!
Surprisingly (or not!) I find something here that I missed the last time through, so let us keep on keepin’ on!
Jim
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:32 am
Thanks for leaving these designs on the site.
There are some good ideas and tips here regardless of lack of updates.
cheers
Stuart