HOn3 Rio Grande Southern First District 1938-1945

[Chris333]

You didn't start building this thing yet? 

[Dave V]

You didn't start building this thing yet? 

LOL, nope.  Stockpiling track, trains, and structures.  I like to have most of the structures done before I build.

[Spades]

Dave

The less is more  In all of the RGS photos I've ever seen it's track an occasional structure/s and always vast horizons with no signs of civilization. Your plan captures that.

[Point353]

I don't really want a helix.  Simple as that.  Not trying to be a jerk about it...just not interested.

OK, fine.

And yes, it would in fact change the footprint because these curves are already pretty sharp (around 19-20") and to drop a helix in the middle of that requires either a tighter inner radius (no-go) or fatter peninsulas (also no go given the space).

Hypothetically, why would the radius of the curve necessarily have to change?
Right now, at the end of each peninsula, you have a 180° curve.
With the helix, you would simply extend the existing 180° curve by an extra 360° (or, maybe, 720°) along with some vertical rise/drop - but no extra horizontal space is required. This does assume that the amount of vertical rise/drop achievable in a 360° circle will provide sufficient clearance for a train.
Agreed that this approach would require some sort of tunnel or piercing of a backdrop - but a change in footprint isn't a given.

[Dave V]

[eric220]

So, have you started building that helix yet?

[OldEastRR]

What kind of materials are you planning for the benchwork and scenery base? Wood, steel, shelf-mounted, floor supports? And for fascia? What about lighting -- a valence or rack lighting or LED strings? For Colorado I assume it's open grid benchwork but there are other options. Planning a good structure for the layout is important. Seeing as you are an HCD man and this layout definitely is not, it's something to think about.

[Dave V]

What kind of materials are you planning for the benchwork and scenery base? Wood, steel, shelf-mounted, floor supports? And for fascia? What about lighting -- a valence or rack lighting or LED strings? For Colorado I assume it's open grid benchwork but there are other options. Planning a good structure for the layout is important. Seeing as you are an HCD man and this layout definitely is not, it's something to think about.

Standard wood open grid benchwork with 1/8" Masonite hardboard fascia.  Lighting is already provided by can lights in the alcove.  This ain't my first rodeo...  Before switching to N scale I'd built several HO layouts using traditional benchwork methods.

[Dave V]

The alcove space dedicated to the RGS turns out to be 2' narrower than I originally thought.  I'm essentially working with a 12 x 12 space with one wall having 14 feet.  I'm torn between a partial island-like layout like the last plan I posted (which included a much longer run but many tight turns) or a more open around-the-walls cockpit style (which would give me no difficult-to-access trackage, tons of photo backddrop expanse, broader curves, but a shorter run and a duckunder).

I still have to ensure that I can orient Rico and Ophir correctly relative to one another.  However Rico is postured, northbound (toward Ophir) must always be to the left.

This is why I don't start construction...   

[wazzou]

Well, crap.  There goes the Helix.   

[nuno81291]

If it's any consolation a duck under can be as convenient or inconvenient as the builder decides to make it. My 90* 24" radius sectional track that I built to be hinged has been wonderful. Reliable, no derailments and easy access to the "pit" which was a design criteria for my build as I have had multiple back injuries. If you can live with less run I vote around the walls. I am not sure if it would work for your space but if my similar (11x13) sized room was just a train room and not serving as our living room I would have built around the walls with a peninsula. Need to watch aisle width but with careful planning could be perhaps a workable compromise (and still not create any difficult to access trackage)

I realize this is standard gauge HO but something like this gentlemans layout should be able to fit comfortably and perhaps be the best compromise in terms of general shape or design of bench work/layout.

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/rtw3rd/RRR_Lance3-720w.jpg

[Dave V]

If it's any consolation a duck under can be as convenient or inconvenient as the builder decides to make it. My 90* 24" radius sectional track that I built to be hinged has been wonderful. Reliable, no derailments and easy access to the "pit" which was a design criteria for my build as I have had multiple back injuries. If you can live with less run I vote around the walls. I am not sure if it would work for your space but if my similar (11x13) sized room was just a train room and not serving as our living room I would have built around the walls with a peninsula. Need to watch aisle width but with careful planning could be perhaps a workable compromise (and still not create any difficult to access trackage)

I realize this is standard gauge HO but something like this gentlemans layout should be able to fit comfortably and perhaps be the best compromise in terms of general shape or design of bench work/layout.

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/sites/model-railroad-hobbyist.com/files/users/rtw3rd/RRR_Lance3-720w.jpg

I'm a bad back guy too (L5/S1 fusion) so I would be very interested to learn more about your duckunder section.

[pdx1955]

Given the size restrictions, I think a cockpit style will give you the scenes and vistas that you are aiming for but with swing gate access. this way there is no duckunder issues. If you do the duckunder, then the layout should be high enough to minimize bending (but sometime you're going to whack your head no matter how you try not to) or set up so you can sit down on a rolling chair and scoot under without bending your neck. I'd plan on well padding the duckunder "roof" regardless.

[Dave V]

Given the size restrictions, I think a cockpit style will give you the scenes and vistas that you are aiming for but with swing gate access. this way there is no duckunder issues. If you do the duckunder, then the layout should be high enough to minimize bending (but sometime you're going to whack your head no matter how you try not to) or set up so you can sit down on a rolling chair and scoot under without bending your neck. I'd plan on well padding the duckunder "roof" regardless.

I'm amenable to a swing gate or lift-out also.  Just sketchy on the engineering (alignment, power, safety stops, etc.).  I would actually prefer that to a simple duckunder.

[pdx1955]

I'm amenable to a swing gate or lift-out also.  Just sketchy on the engineering (alignment, power, safety stops, etc.).  I would actually prefer that to a simple duckunder.

Here's a web page describing construction and other details to give you some ideas: http://piedmontdivision.rymocs.com/swinggate.html. One advantage of a gate is that it doesn't have to be just as wide as the track. I've seen some that contain a good portion of scenery on each side.