Hi everyone and welcome to my thread following the building of an HO exhibition layout! First some background to bring you all up to speed on things so far. A couple of weeks before Christmas 2015, Steve (my partner) asked if I was interested in making the switch to DCC control. This was quite out of the blue as, while he supports and encourages me in this hobby, it's not really his thing. Anyway, we talked about it and decided it would be good so we promptly went out and purchased an NCE Powercab system. I got this setup with some help from SMR Chris, chipped a couple of locos and found out just how enjoyable DCC could be even on micro layouts. Then Christmas came along and I found a Bachmann Santa Fe GP30 DCC loco and a light up Noch motorbike and sidecar under the tree. These started some ideas brewing. Then we went to a model shop to pick up a better chip for the GP30 and I saw a Woodland Scenics 'Built-up' model of a motorcycle garage along with a few other great looking kits so that sent the ideas rolling further along. I dug out a much read copy of Model Railroad Planning 2003 and found the last inspiration I needed in an article about a little 3'x1' plan called 'The Minimalist'. I came up with a basic plan using track salvaged from an old layout and have been tweeking it for the last couple of weeks. I have also collected some US rolling stock over the past few weeks so now is the time to get started. I hope you all enjoy following along with me over the new few months or however long it takes. Ian The engine and motorbike & sidecar that started it al The motorcycle garage that kept it rolling along. The trackplan as it stands right now - 4'x2' (the small shaded rectangles are 40' cars and the larger ones are engines - there will only be 5-6 cars and 1 engine on the layout at a time)
Hi Ian, The extra spacing is caused by your internet browser. One of the mods should be along shortly to edit them out for you. Try downloading Firefox and editing your posts in that. Or the new Microsoft Edge or Mac Safari. Nice looking little layout, love the motorcycle and side car. Looking forward to the progress reports. Cheers Marty
Extremely impressed with the bike shop, if that is an example of the standard of your work I reckon we are going to be getting some treats to come . Pete.
That's a great little Cameo Ian ! looking forward to seeing this develop ( If you have the same problem with spacing again Ian, go into edit post and try clicking the left mouse button with the cursor just before the First letter of your post . . . in this case 'T' when you see the flashing edit line hit backspace to move the text up the page line by line until its where you want it . . . use the same principle if you find you haven't left enough space between your pictures only this time hitting 'return' to add in more line spaces ? but shout out again anytime your struggling and we can sort it for you no probs Just out of interest which browser are you using ? ) Cheers Matt
Hi Ian Quite a nice track plan, but I think you will need the second loco available, as if the arriving train is longer than 2 wagons you wont be able to run round to release the loco and shunt. A second loco could release the wagons (looks like upto 4) from the arriving train, freeing the loco to either shunt or leave for the fiddle yard off layout, the local shunter could then do all the work. Love the bike shed. Paul
Hi Ian this is a great plan for a shunting layout you have fitted a huge amount in a small space. Like the idea of only a loco length at each end of the loop making sure each movement is considered before the next to make sure you get each car in the right location I had a arrival at my door early this morning. And these were in it along with a few cars that I got in the bulk buy. 3 cars for Ian's New layout by CHRIS, on Flickr The blue Box NP + B&O high Cube box cars have what looks like Atlas wheels and bogies and Kadee's that's a great bonus and the Atlas Lehigh Valley hopper in red is a stand out from the crowd car.
Hi everyone. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I suspect the problem was Windows 10 related as it never happened when I was on 8.1 - I hate Microsoft! I'm using Android on my pc for this reply for we'll see how that goes. Anyway.... Toto - thanks for fixing the spacing. Jakesdad13 - I wish I could say that the bike shop was my modeling but that is how it comes out of the box from Woodland Scenics. Paul - I'll try to put together some pics to show how this will work with one engine (there will be lots of shunting moves). Chris - I start at 10.30 tomorrow so I'll call in on my way to work to pick them up if thats ok. I'll try to post some more later today. Ian
Hi Ian, No problem with the thread fix .... Anytime. Some fantastic pictures there. I also like the bike shop. List of little details. You'll need to try Steve to get involved ........ He comes up with some great ideas. I also have a NCE power cab and a Pro cab. I am getting used to them and would recommend them to anybody. I am still at the early stages with them myself but they are relatively easy to get used to. I'll look forward to seeing some of your shunting activity when the time comes. Cheers for now Toto
Time for an update. Steve and I spent a lot of time today organizing our holiday in March so I didn't have much time to spend on the trains. I did manage to print out the trackplan, pin it to some high density foam and put some rolling stock on it - very happy with how it looks. I'm back at work for the next 5 days so might not make much progress until next Tuesday. Ian.
That's come out a treat Ian gives a great perspective on how it will work esp with the stock positioned. The foam board will make it really light and easy to transport to shows are you going to bond some mdf to the side of the foam following the curve or are you making up a slightly beefier sub structure?? What is the blue section going to be where the track goes through the back scene. You could use the very edge of an over pass "concrete style" across the corner as running the engine into a warehouse would not be prototypical.
Thanks Chris - the structure will have to be more than just mdf as I want this to have a built-in lighting unit like Moonan Flat that follows the curve about 3" in front of the facia. I was going to have the end of a small metal engine shed where the track goes through the backscene but I'm liking the overpass idea now - maybe it could follow the curve all the way round the layout and the road to the bike shop could come from under it too. Ian.
Hi Ian, Great mock up. I looked at HO gauge a bit closer lately. There are some great models available and at very attractive prices as well. ....... One day maybe. Hope the holiday plans are coming on. Somewhere special ? Cheers Toto
Toto wrote: Thanks Toto. The US stuff is nicely priced and they have lots of bright colours too. The holiday is all planned now - 5 nights in Auckland New Zealand including a visit to Hobbiton. I've never been overseas before so I'm really looking forward to it. Ian
I'm off to Cyprus in June. ....... Feels like a life time away. Another target to head towards. Until then ...... Back to the grind. Cheers Toto
leadie69 wrote: I wouldn't think going to NZ as going overseas, you're only leaving the mainland ! Great looking shunting layout Ian, excellent track plan. It should offer plenty of shunting opportunities. Are you going to use it as a puzzle, with cards dictating wagon and their final destination ?? Looking forward to the developement of this layout and looking forward to seeing it at an exhibition. Cheers, Gary.
Thanks Gary. I'm thinking some sort of shunting puzzle but will have to work on that side of it as I go. Ian