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Regular poster 285 posts Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes Regular poster 285 posts
Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes

Hi all.

After my last post where e I had some precious help, ideas kept coming at me. Beeing the first time taht I'll be a layout this big, my temptation is to cram as much track I can get in there, BUT... I kept reading and viewing videos, and listening to podcasts. More layout, means more work, means more time, means more money to the hobby, and less time to enjoy running trains.. 

So, I think I'll start by sketching up the benchwork, and decider how big the thing is going to be. I want to have big aisles space (yeap, most of my MR friends have big waist lines...), and I don't want to go deeper than 30cm (40 for a small yard on the far right end) for the layout shelfs.  The 30cms are a bit like Lance Mindheim and James McNab are doing with their own layouts. This way I can make some flats to be put against the backdrop and I think that this will help to hide the vertical / horizontal transition between the the layout top and the back drop.

So this is what I have at the moment.

 

arrecada.jpg rrecada2.jpg rrecada3.jpg 

I have almost 12meters main line (even though this is meant to be a branch line...) I'll try to keep the radius of the curves between 18" and 20" (this means small trains, with 4 axles diesels, and smaller cars)

I have about 70cms of aisle space, which I think it works ok.

Small MEC, D&H trains, in the 70's, on the fall season, one or two trains at each op session...

What do you think?

Luís Daniel Lopes
Lisbon, Portugal
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David Calhoun Frequent poster 820 posts
David Calhoun

Nice

So far, so good. I like the point-to-point as I model one as well. Good portions of straight track; however, my personal prefernce (before putting in sidings) would be to have tom places where the main line held some gentle curves to add interest along with appropriate scenery. 

Interested in seeing what you come up with next - look great for starters.

Chief Operating Officer

The Greater Nickel Plate
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Mycroft Frequent poster (deceased) 783 posts
Mycroft

I'm wondering

The center section in the middle of the room. maybe you can widen that to allow for both a yard and maybe some industries in there?  You can get to it from both sides, so it can be wider without access problems.

James Eager

City of Miami, Panama Limited, and Illinois Central - Mainline of Mid-America

Plant City MRR Club, Home to the Mineral Valley Railroad

NMRA, author, photographer, speaker, scouter (ask about Railroading Merit Badge)

 
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Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes Regular poster 285 posts
Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes

Answering!

Hi all!

Thank you for the ideas.

@David, I really want to give the layout some gentle curves, having Allen Mcclelland's ideias in mind (track laying as if the scenery was already there). This was a schematic track drawing, just to have an ideia how long can the main be.

@James, Still need to figure out the track plan. I am thinking about having a car float there (serving as staging) and some a nice bih harbor industry there, to have an operator busy for while.

Best wishes.

Luís Daniel Lopes
Lisbon, Portugal
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choops New member 23 posts
choops

you can place the staging

you can place the staging yard on the top side of the peninsula behind a backdrop. It would be accessible and the trains can go around a curve and enter the layout at the lower corner of where the peninsula starts. There can be a small interchange yard there to send the freight in either direction. Steve
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Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes Regular poster 285 posts
Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes

1st sketch

Steve, thank for the tip. I'll keep that in mind when I start to reach there.

I would like to show you folks the first scketch for the urban side of the railroad. It is a bit inspired on Paulo Dolkos B&O Harbor district. No particular industries, just some rail clients taht can and will received some box cars with goods.

In the left corner I think I can get a small grain elevator. I got to have one, because I just love 4750 hoppers.

ecada(1).jpg 

cada2(1).jpg 

cada3(1).jpg 

rrecada4.jpg 

The buildings more on the left can be there or not, depending how scenery and the elevator blends in.

Any suggestion or idea is more than welcome.

Best regards.

Luís Daniel Lopes
Lisbon, Portugal
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choops New member 23 posts
choops

That looks great.  Be careful

That looks great.  Be careful you are widening the bench work as you go.  I think you can narrow it back up again and still get what you want.

Steve
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Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes Regular poster 285 posts
Luis Daniel Lopes luis_lopes

You are right, sir!

Hi Steve!, Thank for your comment!

I started to widen the benckwork to 50cm, but I think I can go back to 40 cm, and get a 60cm aisle.

This can be done, I think... and I think It won't look too crowded!...

rrecada5.jpg 

Luís Daniel Lopes
Lisbon, Portugal
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