Will J Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 I like the sound of this challenge, as I had been pondering a very simple, small T gauge layout but had been unsure of just how small. The 20x11" rule cuts out all that counterproductive thinking and gives me a nudge to get on with it. But there is yet more thinking to come. As yet I am undecided on how to fill the space. Standard gauge T, or 2' gauge modelled to somewhere around Z scale? Whatever happens it will use some form of rapid prototyping to populate the layout with stock (pending the success of my N gauge attempts being printed at the moment). But, to start off with, I guess a few people have wondered just how much 'T' fits into the space envelope. Allow me to demonstrate in an entirely unscientific fashion. Here is a set of standard T gauge stuff (the tightest radius of 'set-track') sat in a 20x11" patch. The mountains and tunnel, for now, come courtesy of the fruit bowl. Whatever happens I may well use the sectional track semi circles at either end, as they are a useful radius, joined by some more flowing flexible track. Now I just need to fathom out something to model! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will J Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 Thinking a little more (PS.. thank you to whoever removed the duplicate thread I created for some reason!) I am wondering about doing something a little different from the norm. T gauge layouts tend to be continuous run tail chasers, much like my fruit bowl sketch shown above. One reason for this is that T gauge stock tends to prefer zooming around at a scale 50mph+ than any sort of carefully controlled stopping and starting, however as others have mentioned, the application of either a) money or b ) a soldering iron can create a control device capable of much finer slow speed control. With this in mind (and remembering that if all else fails, squeaky clean track can lead to slow-ish running with the standard battery controller), my proposal is: -A small preserved railway, with a terminus at one end and a temporary terminus at the other (with maybe a cameo scene of the track being extended) arranged in a horseshoe shape on the board. This would provide the mini spectacle of an entire self contained railway, going from some place to some place else, on the 20x11" board. -British outline steam, though as T has its limitations in terms of pointwork and more importantly, coupling, this will probably take the form of a tank engine and autocoach! The only question is where to locate it... most likely Cornwall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will J Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share Posted May 30, 2011 Part 1: In which Will describes the 'concept' then promises that things can only get more interesting from here! Right, things are coming together, I think. I am determined to do something a little different with the whole T gauge thing. As yet, many T gauge layouts tend to be oval affairs with trains zooming around at a rate of knots. I want to see if something more sedate and branchline-ish can be created. I also want to see what can be done with the traditional T gauge starter set, an oval of sectional track, to make it into more of a model railway. Stage one, take one 20" x 11" chunk of insulation foam.... Variously attack with a breadknife to suggest the beginnings of a road and some scenery.... As for the eventual model, I want to create an end to end layout, with the impression of going from somewhere to somewhere else. Complications include: T gauge pointwork, to be honest, through experimentation, they are not especially useful. OK as a point where a train approaches them at speed (especially a long train with lots of electrical pickups!)and can be crossed with sheer momentum! For a little country station, with locomotives running around trains, they will just not work. The answer seems to be to model a very simple railway, end to end with no points. The line will be an embryonic preserved railway, set in the present day, with very simple operations using a scratchbuilt 'bubble car' or similar. I will include some pointwork at one end, but this will be purely 'scenic'! Here is a rough idea.. a built up area in the middle, with trees, will visually seperate the two stations. Location wise, I am going to base it vaguely on the line through the Wyre Forest, now a footpath.. with station architecture based on remains along the line. The preserved line idea will hopefully explain a railway going from nowhere, to pretty much nowhere, through some pretty forest scenery! It will be a simple affair, but will try to squeeze a railway (though a tiny one) in its entirety, into the small space! More updates soon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 if it's any help for 'hiding extra stock' Lakeside and Haverswaite use the tunnel at the haverswaite end to store some of their coaching stock, simple to add to your layout, a point just before the tunnel (station used to be two lines and this is part of the crossover) and a tunnel mouth to give the impression of it's existence. your actual train never need try and cross the point and nothing ever need come out of the tunnel (it's physically a scenic break really) the only difference i can think of between cornwall and haverswaite is there is no actual tunnel mouth at haverswaite, it's just a hole cut out of the slate that forms the lake district - not sure what ground is in cornwall, but i'm sure you'll be able to model a tunnel mouth that looks right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will J Posted June 2, 2011 Author Share Posted June 2, 2011 Thank you Mr. Sheep, that might well be a useful way to finish the 'main' station end. Oh, and I forgot to mention.. I still have ideas to make an epic T gauge layout set in Cornwall, but this will be a much bigger affair using gently curving 'T flex' track and a flotilla of model boats. However, for the challenge 20x11 layout I will be sticking closer to home, based on the Bewdley-Tenbury line through the Wyre Forest which will let me research the scenery by bike, so it will be set in the midlands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will J Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 A while since I last posted, but in small ways, progress is happening. Scenery wise, the foam is being given a tough shell of bandage and PVA glue, ready for the addition of a rocky, earthy layer of 'stuff' which will be concocted from sand, thick acrylic paint and grit, to give a base for varying degrees of foliage, dense forestry and other scenic fluff. There will be a fair covering of trees, which will help visually break up what is otherwise a very 'train-set-shaped' er... train set Scenically, the road has been hollowed out a little and has gained an overbridge, which needs a short length of straight track procuring, which will make the curve around the end of the layout that little bit less like a hairpin bend! You will note the solitary little railcar trundling around the top, this at the moment is a standard T gauge '19m' chassis, I have just had word from UPS that a Shapeways printed body to my design in on the way in fined Frosted Ultra Detail. It will soon begin to resemble that 'bubble car' I have been promising... the question is, what colour to paint it? I fear a nice subtle green one might appear lost among the trees, maybe blue & grey might stand out a little better! (for those who havent seen a T gauge carriage yet, imagine an inch and a half chopped off a standard chopstick, painted in the livery of your choice) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scanman Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 (for those who havent seen a T gauge carriage yet, imagine an inch and a half chopped off a standard chopstick, painted in the livery of your choice) Hi Will - The photo is nearly life-size then! (BTW been following the new '3D printing' group with interest..) Regs Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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