Another CR layout design study

[Chris333]

Perfect place for the staging tracks that represent Enola, or wherever the origin/destination for traffic to/from West Cressona yard is in your operating scheme.

Plus wash racks.

[coosvalley]

Just to add my 2cents...I have a shelf type layout(2x6), and an island type layout (3 1/2 x 7) . The island style layout usually ends up against the wall anyway. Mine does not have a backdrop down the middle, but I suspect that would've been a better choice.

If you have walls you can use, take advantage of them would be my advice. Not all of us are so lucky to have walls we can build on(I'm a renter, and they all have a window in the way) ...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I was playing with this idea some more because the urge to JFRTM is getting strong.

I don't feel like spending months building benchwork, and I don't want to engage in dozens of engineering challenges.

So here's my next iteration of the "not Ms Right, but Ms Right Now" plan.

[Chris333]

I noticed your inspirational photos are...




around the walls. 


Go get 3 doors and start building.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I noticed your inspirational photos are...

around the walls. 

Hahahahahahah. So true!

Also, where my, and my guests will be (of which you will hopefully one day be).

[Point353]

I was playing with this idea some more because the urge to JFRTM is getting strong.
I don't feel like spending months building benchwork, and I don't want to engage in dozens of engineering challenges.
So here's my next iteration of the "not Ms Right, but Ms Right Now" plan.

Suppose you redrew the plan as an array of T-Trak sized modules (even if the tracks didn't necessarily conform to T-Trak interface standard at the ends of every module) that would fit on three 3'x6' folding "banquet" tables?
That would eliminate the immediate need to construct benchwork and the basic modules are available as kits if you didn't want to do any woodworking.

[basementcalling]

Well if you adhere to any of the principles of Lance Mindheim's layout design philosophy, which I think Ed does in some ways, having a larger layout in the same space isn't essential to enjoying the hobby, and may in fact actually denegrate the overall experience if it leads to a plywood plains layout that is never finished.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Suppose you redrew the plan as an array of T-Trak sized modules (even if the tracks didn't necessarily conform to T-Trak interface standard at the ends of every module) that would fit on three 3'x6' folding "banquet" tables?
That would eliminate the immediate need to construct benchwork and the basic modules are available as kits if you didn't want to do any woodworking.

I've thought about that. I think the geometry of the track options (even if I stray) makes it not work. The other thing is, with THIS project, I want it to be beautiful, so Code 55 or muerte.

[wm3798]

That's been one of the conundrums of the Retro 2.0 HCD project.  While it's specifically designed to provide a race track for my old Rivarossi and Trix stuff, I'm going to put my usual level of attention into the scenic elements... and I just know that at some point the code 80 track will drive me batsh!t.

Lee

[Dave V]

Ed,

Haters gon' hate...  Just do it.  Just go down today to Home Depot, buy three 36" wide hollow core doors, and do it.

My overthinking delayed the Rio Grande Southern by a full year.  I wouldn't mind having that year back. Dreaming about the "big one" is fun to a point...but building something is way better.

There's a lot of truth to the warning about trying to design the perfect layout.  Something I heard throughout my military career--particularly in the field--is that "perfect is the enemy of good."

Even better is a quote from America's combat poet laureate General George S. Patton.  "A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week."

Go violently execute this plan, Ed.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's not quite buying doors, but I DID just order another Conrail MP15DC...

[milw12]

Even better is a quote from America's combat poet laureate General George S. Patton.  "A good plan violently executed right now is far better than a perfect plan executed next week."

Go violently execute this plan, Ed.

Does Patton have a quote about violently executing bad plans immediately?

As much as I'm in the around the walls camp (that's all I say about it, I swear), now I'm with the just do it crowd. The proto scenes sold me. Looking forward to the progress Ed!

Lucas

[mstl 246]

I was playing with this idea some more because the urge to JFRTM is getting strong.

Gotta respect JFRT. I like the layout inspiration, I'm a fan of the anthracite region just not all that familiar with the Reading cluster.

As long as Weigh Scales isn't a actual place and is for weighing cars, Ed would the track scale from Boulder Creek Engineering fit in the ops? I like the idea of adding more for a crew to do with a operating scale. Trying to fit one in the layout idea I'm working on.

Nat

[Dave V]

Gotta respect JFRT. I like the layout inspiration, I'm a fan of the anthracite region just not all that familiar with the Reading cluster.

As long as Weigh Scales isn't a actual place and is for weighing cars, Ed would the track scale from Boulder Creek Engineering fit in the ops? I like the idea of adding more for a crew to do with a operating scale. Trying to fit one in the layout idea I'm working on.

Nat

Nope, Weigh Scales, Pennsylvania is a geographical place just outside of Shamokin.

[mstl 246]

Dang it  thanks Dave. That's what I get for missing the last link Ed has in the first post.

Nat