big space

[asciibaron]

well, i think i have successfully lobbied for more space for my layout...



now, i just need some help doing up a plan

[John]

That was fast ... so .. what are we modeling?  UP from Chicago to LA?

[asciibaron]

That was fast ... so .. what are we modeling?  UP from Chicago to LA?

it's not a done deal yet...

i need to come up with a plan that does not look like crap to keep the family room from looking like crap. her words.

[davefoxx]

Then I would recommend building a shelf-style layout with a depth of 12-18" maximum depth that minimizes its impact on the floor space of the room.  What are your givens and druthers?

Dave

[central.vermont]

Need some info here. What are your limits where the sump pump room is?
Can you build across that wall. Also was wondering if you can possibly build
a helix under the stairs like I have done on my layout.

Jon

[bambuko]

What happens when you have derailment at the back of the helix (usually lowest track  ;D )
Helix with limited access like this is bound to cause problems sooner or later  :'( ??
and it must be a pig to sort it out?

[central.vermont]

What happens when you have derailment at the back of the helix (usually lowest track  ;D )
Helix with limited access like this is bound to cause problems sooner or later  :'( ??
and it must be a pig to sort it out?

I can actually get inside of it and access all the track. The key to not have derailments is
good track installation. Perfection is what one strives for in there!!! But incase of an actual
derailment I have an employee on the payroll that is just the right size for retrieval.......
my 4 year old grandson!!!!  ;D ;D

Jon

[asciibaron]

only the space shown is available.

[wm3798]

That's not a bad space, really.

I think more important than the style of the layout will be the finish of same.  Your key point will be the open space left of the stairs where the layout area transitions to the family room area.

Let me monkey around with some benchwork configurations that might be helpful...

Lee

[up1950s]

Thats a most excellent N scale size train area . What era and road are you going to model ? 2.5 foot shelves on either side of an walkway affords depth for anything .

[central.vermont]

only the space shown is available.

OK, but what about that sump pump room. Can you build across that opening?

Jon

[wm3798]

Okay, here's a rough look at the space based on the dimensions provided.  The doors are approximated as 2-6 (30").



Here's what Mom will see when she is sitting in the family room watching "Wheel of Fortune."


Here's what you see when you step through the lift out.  The lower level is staging at 40", the main is in the middle at 48", and the upper is at 66"  You can make adjustments and add helix turns as needed.


If you stand with your back between the two doors, here's your view.


A little creative twist on the peninsula.


Here's the staging level, set at 40" or so...


Here's the main layout level, including lift out sections at the doors and room entry  Note that the area in the entry is an open peninsula, visible from inside the layout room, as well as from the family room.


And here's the upper deck.

You could add another short helix between staging and the main deck over in the left end at the peninsula.

Okay.  Smith, the track sketches are up to you...

Lee

[wm3798]

Any thoughts on this yet?...  The silence is deafening...

My thinking was you could do the L&HR main on the main level that takes the full lap around the room, following an expanded version of the plan you were diddling with in these pages a couple weeks ago.

The yard would be on the peninsula that separates the family room from the train room, bending around the corner to gain some length.  Having the yard there would allow two operators to work the yard, one from each side of the peninsula.  You could also slip your dispatch/yard office desk into the family room, asserting yourself for another 10 sq. ft.

Your main could then circle around the room, and at the point of the helix, you'd have your junction that sends the branch line up to the upper level, and the main down to staging.

You could also gradually drop the main as it traverses across the lift outs from the yard, so it also enters staging, rather than simply closing the loop (or it could do both, opening up your continuous run, and maximizing the thru traffic effect of staging on each end.

Lee

[tom mann]

As much as this guy changes his mind, I'm surprised he gets any help at all with planning ;D

[wm3798]

I just like drawing basements...  Since I can't have one myself :-\

Regardless of prototype, it's the room that drives the benchwork, then the available space on the benchwork dictates what LDE's you can and can't include.  This could easily work as a simple single deck as well by eliminating the lower staging and the branch line.  The peninsula can also be shifted one way or the other, or eliminated altogether.  But those two elements add significantly to the operating possibilities.

Lee