New MR Project layout

[rsn48]

The Wisconsin Central got me into building a layout; it inspired me.  It taught me you can have a flat layout with no bridges, tunnels or mountains and it works out fine for one thing.

[kalbert]

Just saw the track plan.  Interesting branch line staging.  I get what they were trying to do, and I guess it works but....seems a little Rube  Goldberg to me.

Yea that is kinda unusual but I get why its there. The other option would be a reverse loop back to staging but I don't like that at all, so maybe the separate small staging for the branch is the lesser evil to get the operating opportunity provided by the branch.

[casmmr]

While the plan looks good, I question how it can be considered a starter layout when you need 14 #6 turnouts at a MSRP of $22.00 each and 5 curved turnouts at a retail of $25.00 each.  A certain Baltimore area retailer does not have the curved turnouts listed on their web site.  With the cost of the turnouts, this is not an inexpensive railroad to build.  Also, for an introduction railroad, you want to avoid a lot of turnouts so that the person can get some experience laying track and turnouts.  Just my thoughts.

[Denver Road Doug]

(a) I'm not sure I would peg any of the MR project layouts as "starter layouts" and (b) none of them have been what most would consider "inexpensive".   While there have been a select few that were geared toward taking the starter set a little further down the road, I think most of these would never be considered as entry level/starter projects.   I guess others can chime in but I've never looked at them that way.

[casmmr]

Let me expand my thoughts.  MR starts a layout in the January issue which is in the hobby shops around Dec 1 so that they can catch the casual Christmas purchaser and hopefully get that person to become a full time model railroader.  It also helps to sell the next 3-4-5 issues of the magazine because people will purchase those issues to get the full article, not to mention a book that will be out the next year.  Smart marketing, and good for the hobby as it can bring people into the hobby, which we need.  With those thoughts, I have always looked at these project railroads as an introductory railroad.  Everyone have a great and happy Thanksgiving.

[Kentuckian]

The Carolina Central is what started me on an N scale layout.  I still look to those two issues.

I do agree that this layout does look to be more on the complicated/expensive end of the spectrum for the target audience.

[Wlal13again]

The Carolina Central is what started me on an N scale layout.  I still look to those two issues.

I do agree that this layout does look to be more on the complicated/expensive end of the spectrum for the target audience.

Same here, my layout is based on the CC...

[Ngineer]

It is set in the 1960s with the CB&Q in Iowa.

I wonder where they will get the prototypically correct rolling stock for the CB&Q. Alas, the N scale market doesn't offer it at all.

Rolling stock for the CB&Q are always stand-ins, at least in N scale. I assume the reason ist that the CB&Q built their own rolling stock at the Havelock shops as opposed to buy it from different vendors.

The only prototypical models I know are the Kato passenger models (California Zephyr).

Javier

[Dave V]

While the plan looks good, I question how it can be considered a starter layout when you need 14 #6 turnouts at a MSRP of $22.00 each and 5 curved turnouts at a retail of $25.00 each.  A certain Baltimore area retailer does not have the curved turnouts listed on their web site.  With the cost of the turnouts, this is not an inexpensive railroad to build.  Also, for an introduction railroad, you want to avoid a lot of turnouts so that the person can get some experience laying track and turnouts.  Just my thoughts.

A counterpoint to that is that MR also wants to hang on to the experienced hobbiest segment.  If all they ever did was truly beginner layouts, most of us would completely lose interest.  By doing project layouts for intermediate skill and budget they stay relevant to the majority of the readership.  Model railroading has long been a relatively expensive hobby.  I'm actually interested in buying these issues now, but had it been Unitrack and built-ups on grass mat I would pass.

[kalbert]

My thoughts on size, experience, and cost...

I think we see the small size and automatically write it off as a beginner layout, and expect the small size to be inexpensive. It's a nice looking layout with an interesting theme. It has an interesting if not unusual staging/branch line configuration. I don't know if beginner or inexpensive were necessarily the goals, and at the same time, there isn't any reason a beginner wouldn't do it because of cost or complexity, or a "veteran" wouldn't do it because of size.

[davefoxx]

Same here, my layout is based on the CC...

I'll admit that my first successful N scale layout was based on the Carolina Central.

It doesn't bother me that the CB&Q project layout is advanced.  Let's face it: a true beginner layout would not necessarily make good MR cover shots

[drgw0579]

The Enfield and Ohio layout in December 1966 was also very significant, being the first time many saw N scale.

Bill Kepner

[unittrain]

I'm finally going to purchase these last few issues because they are finally starting to show what can be done in N. There have been way too many simple beginner N scale layouts featured in MR that show it as more toy like than serious prototype modeling like is found on this forum, the work of those frequenting this forum rival anything in HO. So a win for MR for maybe starting to catch on!

[Wlal13again]

We`re forgetting the Holy Grail here..The one MR layout that proved N scale was a viable scale to model in.. The Clinchfield 

[kverdon]

Hmmmm, I'm wondering if you were to do this and expand to a 96" door, you could eliminate the curved turnouts and go with Unitrack?

Thanks,

Kevin