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bodmin65
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32 minutes ago, bodmin65 said:

Just wondering what could be done in a space of 1720mm *440mm either oo gauge or n gauge as I can't quite make up my mind? 

 

In 00 your looking at a shunting plank. Could easily be done with an industrial theme or perhaps an MPD if you prefer locomotives to Shunting.

 

In N you could comfortably do a BLT or something similar to a minories style layout.

 

Either way your looking at end to end running due to how narrow the board is.

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Not a bad size for N gauge, continuous run or BLt should fit.   Bit cramped for 00, shunting puzzle or TMD maybe, lots of fun if you like building buildings and the like, too tedious for me, then again N is too small for my fingers.  Get a bigger space?.   Do you need a kitchen when so many take aways deliver?  Just a thought.

7.7" 1st Radius and peco streamline points in my West Highland style doode.

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Edited by DavidCBroad
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On 14/01/2020 at 12:24, bodmin65 said:

Just wondering what could be done in a space of 1720mm *440mm either oo gauge or n gauge as I can't quite make up my mind? 

 

If you have a look at the latest issue of Railway Modeller (Feb 2020) there is a neat 00 layout called "An Urban Goods Yard" that is pretty close to your overall board dimensions (5' 6" x 1' 9", so a bit wider than yours?), the article has a plan of the layout which helps show what's possible for operations. It's an LNER late 1920s layout setting but could be transferred to other locations and time-frames easily enough, it's a perennial theme.

 

cheers,

 

Keith

 

 

Edited by tractionman
typo
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11 hours ago, DavidCBroad said:

Not a bad size for N gauge, continuous run or BLt should fit

 

440mm is too narrow even for a first radius loop in N.  While tighter curves can be achieved with flexitrack, they need great care in laying and not all models will run over them.  End to end is a safer bet here, as Aire Head noted above, unless the width can be increased somewhat.

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If you do end to end having a thicker board can work to your advantage.

 

Rather than having a straight line from end to end it allows you to introduce curvature to the lines which help make something look for prototypical

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On 16/01/2020 at 10:45, Flying Pig said:

 

440mm is too narrow even for a first radius loop in N.  While tighter curves can be achieved with flexitrack, they need great care in laying and not all models will run over them.  End to end is a safer bet here, as Aire Head noted above, unless the width can be increased somewhat.

Be very careful of forcing flexi into sub first radius curves.  In N it is more fragile than in 00 and you have a very high risk of the rails pulling out of gauge and ripping out of the plastic chairs.  Moreover you may have problems with anything other than the shortest wheelbase stock, and run in to buffer locking problems.  Flexi is best used for achieving larger, more realistic, curves than are possible with set track.

 

Like many of us. you are restricted for space and need to work within it's limitations.  I'd say continuous loop running is not feasible even in N, and whatever you decide to model, you will need short trains  and probably smaller locos.  This need not be a drawback, but it does need a different approach to what you might have been considering  Have you had any thoughts about what sort of era or location you want to represent?  This, once decided upon, will focus your research and will mean that suitable prototypes or inspirations suggest themeselves, and the layout and stock follow on in a natural progression.  You are not going to be able to replicate anything like Tony Wright's 'Little Bytham', about which nothing is little, or 'Copenhagen Fields'.  Check out Rob Gunton's 'sheep' layouts on Layout Topics to see what can be achieved in a space not unlike yours, and perhaps transpose that concept to different eras or areas.  If big engines and main line stock are needed, how about the parcels platforms of some big station, separate by a wall from the main area but attracting all sorts of locos and NPCCS, maybe used during peak times for commuter traffic or at quiet times to stand locos awaiting the next part of their duties out of the way...

 

Ask yourself what you want the railway to do for you, in the sense of modelling trains, or of operating them, shunting to break and make up trains, changing points, clearing signals.  Or do you want to just watch trains passing through a realistic countryside, but doing little else (I'm not knocking this, but it wouldn't be for me...).  These sorts of decisions are best made early, so need careful thought.  Your space lends itself to a Guntonesque track plan in 00, and a simple terminus for short trains with a kick back type of fiddle yard in N; maybe these are not the sort of thing you want.

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