5-3-21 N scale layout thoughts started 4-21-21

After much thought and many starts & stops, I have decided to change my focus in scale and the size of my goal layout.  

The biggest issue is that the place I have is not conducive to what I can come up with in HO scale.  Probably the main issue is that the room is small & any layout will have to share the space.  

Ok, that probably means a smaller scale.  The assortment of supplies in N scale is more than adequate, yes not as much detail, but that is all right..  

In researching the possibilities, the N-Trak concepts came to the surface.  Previously I thought this idea was to confining and more focused on developing a module to take to a remote location to run trains with others.  

This time the T-Trak idea sunk in.  The light weight & size nature is very appealing.  Because of the room limitations, both will be important.  

The Layout in its finished form will be around the walls.  The bottom of the module will rest on the top of the door & window moldings.  Most of the train running there will likely be continuous.  Although there will be layout features, like engine facilities with a possible turn table, yard & staging as well as industries.

The module construction from start to completely finished will be done on a work bench.  It is anticipated that several modules can be brought together on the bench for point to point or switching activities.  

In some ways the high layout provides a storage/static display area as well as potential dynamic train activities.  

Considering the space limits, that is my appears to be the best option.  
Below is a first cut at the overall layout:

After playing with Any Rail. the challenge is to stick to the T-Trak standards.  Will need to tweak some stuff as I go. 

4-22-21

More thoughts:

• The max depth for the modules is 14 inches.  
  • That would allow more action than I have shown.  
• The staging could go behind the T-track modules.
  • This could allow an incline to a lower level that is under the modules
  • Will require some unique module aspects
• Develop the scenes That will add some rational to the track structure & the module character.
• Decided how to keep the T-Trak standards
• In this process, a decision about Unitrack sections will be made
  • Is it to confining?
  • Is it better to use a more conventional track system with transition pieces?

It seems appropriate to work the track plan & scenes now.  The details of the modules will come as things progress.

Many questions keep surfacing:

• How are the modules mobile?
• How are they connected?
• How are the attached to the wall
• How many are actually mobile?
• Are two levels possible? 
• ……

My goal in the near term is to refine the layout plan.  Then identify two or three modules to build.  At that point the details will be worked through, along with a number of others that I haven’t thought of.

4/22/21 PM

Revised the plan.

• Basically focused on more precise T-track module sizes.  
  • The single length is universally 12 .25 inches.
  • The depth seems to vary.
    • Most of the initial numbers I saw were 8.25 inches
    • The standard indicates not to be greater than 14 inches.
    • Master piece models offers them in 6.5, 13, 14, 14.36 & 20.9 inches
    • I will use 8.25 & 14
  • The modules along the top wall are a hybrid, basically the 8.25 modules installed on a 14 inch depth.  This allows for some staging tracks hidden beyond the view block.  The 8.25 portion in mobile.  The rest is fixed.
• This plan has a first cut at two staging tracks.  The left side return is limited by my interpretation of available unitrack sections.
• Because of the addition of the staging, one of the yard tracks was removed, it was questionable in length.
• The addition of the staging took away  6 inches of main line on either side.
  • The scene tracks need to be worked
  • Actual scene features
  • Actual space between scenes

This cut is shown below:

The next steps will be:

• some scene development.  
• This will refine the track placement & actual T-track module locations.
• Received my first samples of Unitrack, will do some experimenting to see how to use it.
• Hopefully, a decision can be made about what track system to use
• That will impact the layout configuration.

Ideas for third cut:

1. Put a mountain in the upper right corner
   1. Either ditch the front siding or move it forward
   2. Maybe a saw mill scene with a spur to support it
2. Put some roads around, don’t go overboard mainly to service the city & industries
3. Evolve the city scene on the lower right.  Move away from the double track flair, increase the length, more width. Perhaps a siding for a station & a town.  
4. The town can wind around the lower right corner, with a river through the corner module.  
5. Embellish the industry spurs on the lower wall, perhaps move it left a bit
6. Question the yard length, size & function.
   1. Specifically the location & number of crossovers
   2. Unless there are reasons, the yard leads should be compressed.  The inner siding maybe should lead to passenger car facility.  That would take space close to the front.
7. Work on the turn table area. Examine what is needed to get a small four stall round house.
8. Embellish the top industrial area.  Consider something like was shown on MRH.

4-24-21 thoughts:

• Best to “cheat” a little on the height.  The top of the door frame is the highest.  The window is 3 inches lower.  If I set the height at the window, the structure around the door can be trimmed to clear the door. This places the bottom of the shelves at 81 inches. The layout will be roughly 84 in (7 feet).
• The initial construction process should be as follows:
  • Install the brackets & shelves all the way around the room
  • The shelving & brackets may vary in size depending on the side.
  • The first track work to do is the staging.  That is fixed and will never come down.  
  • The first modules to be built are two “temporary” return loops.  
    • One to connect to the left side of the staging.
    • The other to the right side of  what is there.  
    • How temporary these turn out to be remains to be seen
  • The T-track modules will the be discretely selected, but always connected to the right side.
    • There will be times when there will be tracks that come from & go to no where.
  • Corner modules will be required fairly early
    • First T-track module will be the top right, expect it to be a mountain with a scene in front.
  • All of the above will require every aspect of layout building, up to & including running trains to verify that everything is kosher.

4-25-21 initial configuration:

The following shows the initial configuration that looks like a starting point:  

• The turnarounds need to be supported at least on two sides.
  • Keep them simple, use a single track loop fo now.
  • Depending on the sag of the unsupported corner, a ceiling support may be needed
  • A wire attached to the ceiling & corner should suffice
• The staging modules are required.  
  • These are the standard height, 6 inches wide & what ever length is  convenient. 
  • Basically need to cover 13 feet
• Looks like 13 module shells will be required besides the right top corner & the two turnarounds to have the run go to the adjacent corners.
  • Most of the track will be used later
  • Might be able to cut down on the initial modules by supporting 2 corners with wire.
• Still need to finish the staging on the top
  • At least eight module shells are required as a minimum to accomplish that.

4-25-21 pm

Rethinking the initial build.  

• The left return loop could be part of the left staging corner
• Obviously reduce the amount of real estate 
• Also has the room corner support
• Reduces the amount of stuff needed immediately.

The staging plan needs some work

Likely almost double the size by repeating the ladder

Did a quick roll up on cost of the track for the initial build.  

Looks to approach $600.  $100 of this is in the adjustable sections.  
The other problem is in the turnouts.  These come with switch machine & controls.  
Those may be competitive.  

The just track is $177 compared to $146 in atlas code 55 with cork road bed.  
So the savings is $31.  

That can easily be eaten up in the cost of the turnouts.  

Base #6 atlas turnout are higher cost than the Kato, and that does not include the Machines or wiring.  
The costs are best found today, that does not mean that all the track can be purchased for that price.

Based on this, Unitrack is still the choice.  
Need to re-examine the section selections to minimize the used of the expensive adjustable sections.

4-26-21 modified initial build config

worked the staging

• smoothed the transition.
• increased the size.  
• May not have enough room on all segments.  

Modified the corner module track work 

• Passenger station at the foot of the mountains 
• Now capacity for the mountains

Also started tho think about how & what to build the structure out of.  The price of plywood is a factor, so it is appropriate to look into using some alternates:( where possible the cost is for a 4 x 8 x 1/2 sheet)

1. Plywood $61.05 Home Depot
2. MDF  $31.89 Home Depot
3. Particle board $19.00 OFS Lowe’s
4. OSB $40.25 Home Depot
5. HDF(hardboard) $25.98 Lowes

Clearly on cost: (least)

1. Particle board 
2. HDF
3. MDF
4. OSB

However dimensional stability is also important.  Here they rank (best-subjective)

1. Plywood
2. OSB
3. HDF
4. MDF

They are all about the same in compression load

A possible option:

1. either plywood or OSB for the under shelf structure.
2. MDF for the module & staging verticals structure, sides & end pieces
3. Hardboard for the module bottom & tops 
   1. Where modules have tops

5-3-21

Examined the installation

staging wall sections

14 in deep sections

12 in sections

8 in sections

All look ok. Am thinking only use 8 in on staging wall.

Need to look at return loop section, how is that done?

Revised the staging to use #6 turnouts.  This cut requires & S bend on the inside track.  Peculiar.  Wonder if the straight on the turnout stayed on the center & went left or right if the S could be removed.  The spacing is unequal .  A traditional ladder does not seem to work.

With latest configuration:

identified the needed tack to be purchased for the staging & other steps including the first three modules.
Need to work support shelving before I buy any more track.

Made a second cut on the staging track configuration to get rid of the s-curves.  Looks to be workable, a much better plan.  Needed to redefine what Track to buy to complete the staging track portion.

Never to early to decide on how to do various aspects:

1. animation in general
   1. what is going to be automated?
   2. To what detail?
   3. Does it apply for the wall & the table locations?
      
2. What materials are need.
3. Is arduino a player here?

More to come as the layout ideas are developed.