In the Beginning...

While I still love Free-moN, I've given away all my modules except Shoofly, meaning my only "home layout" is my 1'x6' Alameda Belt-in-a-Box shelf switching layout.
I really miss my 23"x41" Mt. Coffin & Columbia River layout:



& the fact that I could just fire it up & zone out or work while watching trains roll round through scenes.
[Crappy trackwork subverted the rolling, thus the scrapping]

A year ago or so, inspired by the small layouts of David K Smith & Chris333, I built some 10"x29" module sections that could be paired back to back to create a table-top roundy round layout:



Or end to end to create a linear switching layout:



Why 10"x29"? Because most important, I designed & built them so they could "stack" & fit into a standard IKEA shelving unit:





Because I know two certainties in life: 
1) I will be moving (again) at some point, & 
2) at least 1 of the kabillion IKEA shelving products my kids' mom has had me assemble over the last 15 years will probably make the move with me.

So here's the rough design I came up with:



Am currently building only the far left pair, but planning for expansion.
Each pairing would fit on another IKEA shelf.
The far right pieces would allow for a longer roundy round layout, an "L", or an interchange option, along with two clamp-on staging/tail tracks.
And here's the long switching shelf option:



Will be DCC:



[plate will be mounted from the interior to reduce profile]

And somewhat modular, being connected with alignment nails & 1/4" bolts:



spaced by this high-tech jig:



Next: Handlaid curved 3-way turnout? Why not?

3-way Par-tay

Gorilla Glued  GapMasters at the boundaries:



Two ties on each side is probably enough, so I can cut them in half.

Put down some cardstock to layout the turnouts:



Will need one 3-way turnout with two curved diverging routes, so I mocked it up on AnyRail using 8 1/2" radii & then "easementing" the section through the frogs a bit to create a template:



For the other side I darkened the rail tops with marker, turned it upside down, & pressed into position to create the diverging route.
In between used Fast Tracks templates:



Building this as all one unit:



Got the ties secured with spray adhesive, then started with the long, straight common rail.
Filed & grinded down the point rail notches before installing--you can see two notches for back-to-back point rails here (between the dark-grey bars indicating where the throwbars will go):



Am tackling the tough 3-way first, and starting from the through rail "up":





Then filling in the mess in the middle:





Trucks run through fine, though I'll probably replace the top guard rail with one that extends right another tie.

The fun part will be cutting the iso gaps & wiring the slide switches not to short stuff out.
Should be fine (I had a 3-way on Mt. Coffin & Columbia River that worked relatively great), though I might have to use a jeweler's saw instead of a Dedeco cutting disc (too big & cuts into neighboring rail).
And the fact that a 3-way turnout has some very short point rails, so the AdaFruit slide switches might throw too far.
Might need to do the z-bend, or cut a channel in the throwbar to take up the travel.
We'll see.

Fun to work on own project again, & outside comfort zone.
Thanks for looking.

Neat idea M.C.

Wow.  Really cool that this can be set up into continuous run or linear switching configurations.  I am assuming most of your locos will handle the 9-3/4" radius curves OK?  I have been musing with doing a pseudo Freemo-esque modular layout with four 5' long sections that would stand vertically in one of those Ikea wardrobe units.  I tell myself that it would be for Grandpa and grandkids to play with when they come over, but who am I kidding?

  It will have to wait until I get a few more Freemo projects finished up....

That's some seriously awesome

That's some seriously awesome handiwork...

Curvy curves

Thanks for the kind words.

Curves will be more like 8 3/4"-9" radius.

Thinking 44T, NW2, S2, S4, Mogul, Ten Wheeler (maybe), some scratched Kato kritter boxcabs.

Neat plan!

Model Railroader used this concept for their Milwaukee Road Beer Line project layout a few years back. I think it's a concept that more people could use.

Great design work

Excellent design and fantastic craftsmanship!

Love this.

Nice to see

you building layouts again MC.  Your pictures and videos are always inspiring to all of us.

Cool

Glad to see you on another project, MC.  Always look forward to seeing what you're up to and learning something.

Clever idea MC! Really love

Clever idea MC! Really love the track work, that turnout with multiple routes will be a focal point all by itself. Have you ever considered going into the track planning and layout design business?

I know you have and I have been to your site. It really shows with this design not only clever in and of itself but even more so when on considers it was designed to fit into a piece of ready made furniture. Fantastic work MC and it is so for many reasons.

Thanks for sharing.

Love it!  I'll be following

Love it!  I'll be following along!  Love your work!

Turning out turnouts

After the curved 3-way, the next two "normal" turnouts turned out to take less time than Curry & the Warriors to defeat OKC:





Still have one more turnout to go on this fixture, at the far left:



Once everything is done I'll do the iso cuts.
The fixture on the opposite module should be relatively easy, with the most difficult aspect a crossing very close to the main coming off facing turnouts.
But already messing up one crossing on my Alameda Belt layout should help me mess this on up a little less, or at least in new ways