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Active Member 41 posts FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Hi from Argentina. I live in a small house with my family, and due to lack of space, found this way for have a layout. Is a floating shelf that contains a small switching layout and serves to store other house stuff. I made it taking into account the available space and it was carefully designed to aestetically fit with the existing furniture in my dining room. It works as a decorative piece when not in use, which means 99,9% of the time. For me, is very rewarding to watch my trains when I´m home, and furthermore is like to have a 3D picture in the middle of the room.
The layout is DCC and the structures was  made with wood sticks and commercially available doors and windows, except the warehouse wich is a freebie from Scale Scenes. The depot is based on a Tony Thompson article from november 2012, and since I read it I wanted to build it. Is a work in progress and altough not perfect, I´m having a great time doing it and learning from it.layout.jpg 
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jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,977 posts
jeffshultz

Nice idea!

It appears that you've used the floating shelf as your subroadbed, and built a box around it to provide storage on top, is that correct? 

Nice way to get a little railroad in a limited space. 

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Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

construction progress

The progress step by step.First. a picture of the entertainment center in the same room.

room.jpg  

My idea was to create a shelf that matches the room.

GEDC1041.JPG 

GEDC1042.JPG 

GEDC1054.JPG GEDC1056.JPG GEDC1078.JPG 

Making the benchwork

GEDC1081.JPG 

benchwork in place with a sheet of MDF on top.

GEDC1084.JPG 

the base is foamboard. It seems a good idea to have one feeder for each piece of track. In a small layout is not a big deal. 

GEDC1097.JPG 

 
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Yes Jeff, I believe the

Yes Jeff, I believe the second post shows it Thanks for the reply.
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Very nice!

A great way to have a model railroad that you can enjoy more often!

Rick

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The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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musgrovejb Prolific poster 1,712 posts
musgrovejb

Nice

Lack of room "be damned".  If you want a model railroad there is always a way. 

Joe

Modeling Missouri Pacific Railroad's Central Division, Fort Smith, Arkansas

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENIMVXBDQCrKbhMvsed6kBC8p40GwtxQ

 
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Rich_S Prolific poster 1,011 posts
Rich_S

Mini Shelf Layout

Fernando, Your Inglenook switching layout fits into your room beautifully. Thank you for sharing the photos of your layout, very nice. This proves once again you do not need a lot of space to have a nice model railroad. 

 

 

Cheers,

Rich S.
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Nick Santo amsnick MRH Advertiser and MRH Author 2,806 posts
Nick Santo amsnick

Like it a lot!

Bringing good high quality Italian craftsmanship to Argentina!!!  ( ;> ) )  !!!

Nice job!

Nick Santo

Nick

https://nixtrainz.com/ Home of the Decoder Buddy

Full disclosure: I am the inventor of the Decoder Buddy and I sell it via the link above.
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Thanks for the words

Thank you for the answers. Inspires me to keep working. I took a couple of pictures of the layout as it is today. Typical operation could be spotting one or two cars, maybe respotting one and pick another. Takes me about 20 minutes working at prototypical speed. For me is more than ok. 

The cardboard clouds are the next thing to improve.

leds.jpg leds%202.jpg The two led strips eliminate the shadows. Another thing to do is to use different resistances to control the luminosity and achieve a better balance.
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DaleMierzwik Frequent poster 897 posts
DaleMierzwik

where there is a will there is a model railroad

Another fine example of finding a spot for trains when there really isn't any room. Great Job. Just goes to show once again....where there is a Will there is a Model Railroad!!

Dale
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Ace Regular poster 149 posts
Ace

Nice work!

Very practical, looks great, nice work!
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Wendell1976 Regular poster 412 posts
Wendell1976

Your layout

Fernando, you have a very nice Inglenook-like layout. What size and scale is your layout? What locale is your layout based on? Wendell
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Layout specs

Hi Wendell. The scale is HO and the track is Peco streamline code 100, just 3 turnouts and 4 flex tracks. I really wanted to use code 83 but here is very hard to find.  The layout measures 200cmx23cm which is 6´ 7´´ long and 9´´ wide. It doesn´t have an specific location, but represents somewhere southwest in the 70´s. The backdrop is a panoramic picture of a place called Black Mountain in California stretched in photoshop and I added to the image the road, the river and the barn. Somewhere I have the trackplan. I´ll post it when I find it.
I´ll be pleased to answer any further questions.
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Wendell1976 Regular poster 412 posts
Wendell1976

Your layout

Fernando, thank you for the information about your miniature sized layout. When you get a track plan, feel free to share it on my following post: http://www.model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/30394 Wendell
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Merry Christmas from Argentina

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For everyone!!!!
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Rich_S Prolific poster 1,011 posts
Rich_S

@ Fernando Bellini

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. 

 

 

Cheers,

Rich S.
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Track plan

This is the track plan. Very simple and designed to operate at a slow pace.. The left spur is intended to hold a local switcher. The center track is the main track and can be used only for switching. The street crossing, if possible, must be kept clear between moves.

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tcmiller New member 1 post
tcmiller

Thanks

Thanks for sharing this, really neat!
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

A simple switching video

It´s been a long time since my last post. I made some improvements in the layout and made this video to show some. .
The structures were lighted with LEDs, RR crossing and station signs were added.
Sorry for the flaws, not the best camera and not the best filmmaker. Thanks for watching.
 
 

 

 
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Jon_PDX New member 8 posts
Jon_PDX

Thanks for posting the video

Thanks for posting the video update.

As others have said, you did a nice job putting together a layout in a limited space.

Jon...

 
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kcsphil1 Prolific poster 1,233 posts
kcsphil1

Thats a better video

then some prototype railfanning stuff that's out here.  And the sound decoder really adds to the experience.  Thanks.

Philip H. Chief Everything Officer Baton Rouge Southern Railroad, Mount Rainier Div.

"You can't just "Field of Dreams" it... not matter how James Earl Jones your voice is..." ~ my wife

My Blog Index
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FernandoBellini Active Member 41 posts
FernandoBellini

Thanks

Jon and Philip for your kind words.
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