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Post by g3750 on Jul 2, 2020 2:32:24 GMT
Josef, Great topic. I planned both Panhandles using goals: - Construction goals
- Electrical goals
- Operational goals
But I also created a list of scenes, buildings, and / or towns that were musts (or givens). Panhandle 1 was too small to accommodate them. Fortunately, I have more room for Panhandle 2. I let those scenes, buildings, structures and / or towns drive the track plan. For example, my double track bridge across the Ohio River is the centerpiece of the layout. I also recommend looking at lots of track plans. And borrowing heavily. If you are modeling a specific area, the best thing you can do is " Look at the prototype". And take lots of photos. George
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Post by Adam on Jul 2, 2020 16:26:12 GMT
Josef, Great topic. I planned both Panhandles using goals: - Construction goals
- Electrical goals
- Operational goals
But I also created a list of scenes, buildings, and / or towns that were musts (or givens). Panhandle 1 was too small to accommodate them. Fortunately, I have more room for Panhandle 2. I let those scenes, buildings, structures and / or towns drive the track plan. For example, my double track bridge across the Ohio River is the centerpiece of the layout. I also recommend looking at lots of track plans. And borrowing heavily. If you are modeling a specific area, the best thing you can do is " Look at the prototype". And take lots of photos. George That's a great strategy. I especially like your common sense advice to "Look at the prototype".
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2020 21:17:52 GMT
I have always loved looking at track plans. Just love to do that. So I had several Kalmbach track plan books to study over the years and when I admitted "failure to complete" on my HO layout and tore it down I got those old magazines and books out and looked again. Then I saw an article in CTT that was working with a Lionel layout from the 50's. I looked at that one in detail and said: this will keep me happy. And it has. It just barely fit in the space I have. So the plan was set but how to place scenery and buildings was just a slow working of things. Built my first Lionel building kit and some AHM row houses and played with them. My daughter got me a Plasticville church kit that I spent hours painting and then was moved around until it found a home. I tell you this layout has sort of arranged itself over the years. My one mistake was forgetting that I would get older and not want to crawl under the table for servicing things. My access hatches are small and tough to use. That would be a recommendation on new layouts. Put those access points in so they can be used easily. I know placing the table itself out in a room works great too. Just wish I had a little more room to do that. The layout is about 12 years in the making. It is sort of done but one never knows. I will have to share some photos and maybe that track plan if I can figure out how to post it. That CTT issue is long gone. Train ON! Jim K Jim, That is a lot like my experience. Looked at all those track plans, read a lot from the famous Frank Ellison, joined the forums and slowly made progress. Got ya beat by 1 year, 13 for me. During that period I met and made friends with a lot of modelers and learned so much from them. It just got better and better. Is it ever done? I don't thing so. Please share some pictures, that would be fun for everyone. I was always a afraid to post pictures until someone shared with me, "nothing is bad"! Our layouts are ours and we all have something we love. Welcome to the forum.
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Post by jimk on Jul 3, 2020 23:27:34 GMT
Howdy. I hope to be able to attach a few items on the layout that with a plan sort of grew to itself.... with help from yours truly. I was surprised to see that it is 14 years in the making. Wow, that first photo was tagged from 2006! Anyhow you will get the idea. I had to cull through a lot of pictures for these.. and kept running into a very special cat that would cause a pause (get it?) and some reflection. Still miss that old boy. You can see the two inadequately sized access holes in that first photo too. Don't do that! Train ON! Jim K
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2020 2:10:26 GMT
Jim that's a nice looking layout!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2020 12:14:42 GMT
WELL DONE JIM!! NICE PROGRESSION PHOTOS! Gary.
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Post by jimk on Jul 4, 2020 23:04:22 GMT
WELL DONE JIM!! NICE PROGRESSION PHOTOS! Gary. Thanks Gary and RJ3Rail. Going through the old photos was a trip for sure. The track plan allows for a lot of flexibility, most of which I don't use, but it is pretty cool. One comment I received from an NMRA guru who sent some folks over to the house saying: Take a look at Jim's; it is just a FUN layout. Hey, mission accomplished; it is FUN. That's what it is all about. Train ON! Jim K
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2020 0:21:05 GMT
Howdy. I hope to be able to attach a few items on the layout that with a plan sort of grew to itself.... with help from yours truly. I was surprised to see that it is 14 years in the making. Wow, that first photo was tagged from 2006! Anyhow you will get the idea. I had to cull through a lot of pictures for these.. and kept running into a very special cat that would cause a pause (get it?) and some reflection. Still miss that old boy. You can see the two inadequately sized access holes in that first photo too. Don't do that! Train ON! Jim K Jim, What you have done looks terrific. Nice work. I do have one question. How do your reverse the direction of the train from a counter clock wise direction to a clock wise direction. I can see the clock wise to counter but can not see a way to reverse direction. The track plan may be old and you have already figured this out. It only takes one more spur and switch. Ps Did you cushion the top of the layout for reading CCT.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2020 14:32:44 GMT
Jim we like what you have done. It looks great and gives hope to those of us who are still in the track install stages.
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Post by jimk on Jul 5, 2020 15:14:56 GMT
Howdy. I hope to be able to attach a few items on the layout that with a plan sort of grew to itself.... with help from yours truly. I was surprised to see that it is 14 years in the making. Wow, that first photo was tagged from 2006! Anyhow you will get the idea. I had to cull through a lot of pictures for these.. and kept running into a very special cat that would cause a pause (get it?) and some reflection. Still miss that old boy. You can see the two inadequately sized access holes in that first photo too. Don't do that! Train ON! Jim K Jim, What you have done looks terrific. Nice work. I do have one question. How do your reverse the direction of the train from a counter clock wise direction to a clock wise direction. I can see the clock wise to counter but can not see a way to reverse direction. The track plan may be old and you have already figured this out. It only takes one more spur and switch. Ps Did you cushion the top of the layout for reading CCT. Wood, I had enough padding myself to accomplish the pose for the photo. There is no problem reversing the train direction in either CW or CCW direction. You have to look but that inner loop has a figure eight with turnouts at the correct places for reversal. Since I wired the turnouts for non-derailing I have a good time throwing one switch and watching the train reverse direction and reset the turnouts by itself.
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Post by ptc on Jul 5, 2020 16:46:42 GMT
You did a wonderful job with your layout, Jim. quite a transformation.
And thanks for being one of our Diamond Members.
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Post by Country Joe on Jul 6, 2020 23:33:55 GMT
Jim, I love your layout. I've loved that trackplan from the first time I saw it almost 50 years ago in Lionel's book, Model Railroading. I remember seeing it reprinted in CTT many years ago. I've never had the space to build it but I've always wanted to. You've done a fabulous job on it. It truly is a fun layout and a connection to Lionel's glory days. 👍
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Post by jdstucks57 on Jul 7, 2020 3:55:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2020 4:06:49 GMT
This really looks good. I like the amount of open space that can be used as you feel led to go. This is going to be fun to watch.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2020 12:37:32 GMT
NICE FLOW TO YOUR DESIGN JASON!! I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF THE REVERSE LOOP RUNNING UNDER THE LAYOUT. AS BILL SAID, "I LIKE THE AMMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE", AS WELL!! Gary.
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