I am currently in the process of building a 3x5 test layout. The givens reflect things that I wanted to cover to prepare myself for the next layout. In some cases, I did things in a way less suitable for a small layout in order to prepare myself for the next layout.
Givens:
- N-Scale
- 11" minimum radius with easements (16" on next layout)
- Utilize existing track
- -Peco code 55 flex track
- -Peco small radius turnouts
- -Kato plate girder bridge
- L-girder benchwork, facia, and valence
- A "scenic" scene to practice water, trees, and other scenic techniques
- A "town" scene to practice structures, roads, and trackwork
- Staging
- Sincere track plan
Druthers
- Good operating potential to explore car cards
- DCC controlled turnouts to explore use of JMRI control planels
- Leverage existing locomotives (B&M, MEC)
- Northern New England theme, preferably NH.
- Signalling and train detection potential for future test bed of electronic projects
- Components mounted in a way to promote future reuse.
After some research I decided to base my layout on Whitefield, NH.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?200310262259575126.jpg
This location features an interchange between the Boston and Maine and the Maine Central railroad. The layout is divided into two scenes. One scene features Whitefield with an added "non-prototype" spur to feature a team track and a few industries. This allows me to have a variety of potential destinations for any local stopping to work Whitefield.
The other scene features a bridge crossing over the Johns river
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?2003110714511910953.jpg
Additionally, the transition between scenes will feature a cut for practicing rock work and so I can play with the "see the train through the trees" which I always think makes such great model photographs.
The plan below was done with XtrkCAD whose only failing is not being able to create fixed length easements. I want to make my easement length based on the maximum car length. I worked around it but it was a pain.
Clockwise is "south" or "Inward" in B&M speak. It heads to Woodsville/Wells River. Counterclockwise is "north" or "Outward" toward Groveton and Berlin NH. The MEC crossing the B&M heads toward St Johnsbury to the left and back over the White Mountains to Portland, ME to the right.
Following are several pictures showing my progress to this point.
This pic shows my completed benchwork and trackwork. I am very pleased with the L-girder benchwork. I highly recommend it for any but portable layouts. I have made two larger benchwork sections for the larger layout I put off to build this one and they went together nicely.Recently I took one apart (the other is serving as a lumber rack) and the use of dry wall screws made it a breeze to take down and stack up for later assembly.
For electricals, I am using a 14 ga. bus with 22 ga feeders to four electrical blocks. These will become detection sections when I get to the "fooling around with completely over the top electronics" part of my test layout. The Turnouts are controlled by digitrax DS44 and Tortoise switch machines. I had them already so there was no new cost, and they will let me play around with computer dispatching down the line.
Rather then cassette storage I originally planned for the staging, I instead built a drop leaf. It was quick and easy. Ironically, I have never actually needed it.. the lead to the drop leaf has been more then enough for the short trains my layout demands.
This is my backdrop. It needs improvement, I will go for a more 3d effect on my next layout by making the clouds smaller near the bottom and the hills hazier. I had worked on a temp board for a while and did a better job with the effect. When I went to do the layout I found that when I scaled up the clouds I also lost some of my effect. I decided to "move forward" since I was almost out of sky blue paint.
The facia and valence are complete except spackle and paint. The right hand picture is a non-flash exposure to show how the lighting looks. I am using 20Watt 6000K bulbs, one at each end of each side more due to the way the framing is then out of a great desire to position them that way. Seems to work out ok. My next layout will have less facia. This is a little 'thick". I have some paint thats a "close enough" of pullman green that will get splashed on after I spackle and prime.
I am currently working on scenery (finally!) and will post up more as I make progress! I am also hoping to scratch build that ball signal..
Regards,
Chris
References:
XtrkCAD: http://www.xtrkcad.org/Wikka/HomePage
New England Rail Photos: http://photos.nerail.org/
"How To Build Model Railroad Benchwork", Linn Wescott
“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.” My modest progress Blog
