ShuntShed Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 Hi Everyone I have a 8x2 piece of wood that I would like to make into a 00 gauge layout but i have no idea where to begin. The layout will be will be made from two pieces of 4x2 MDF that fold over each other. I am open to any ideas that you may have in the design of the layout but it would be nice to have a station on the plan. I would also like to stick to this plan of the fiddle yard location Thanks for reading Daniel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_1066 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 What era and what trains would you like to run? This makes a huge difference. Eg you could have a neat 2 car DMU shuttle in the space with the DMUs shuttling between the fiddleyard station and carriage sidings in front of the fiddleyard. Alternatively a steam era BLT would fit with a kick back to an industry in front of the fiddlyard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 What era and what trains would you like to run? This makes a huge difference. Eg you could have a neat 2 car DMU shuttle in the space with the DMUs shuttling between the fiddleyard station and carriage sidings in front of the fiddleyard. Alternatively a steam era BLT would fit with a kick back to an industry in front of the fiddlyard. Steam era branch line would be a good idea. Also the cut between the two pieces of MDF has to be removeable so no points or buildings crossing the cut line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_1066 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Start with what length of train you can run. I would suggest that 2 coaches plus a van would be a good goal hauled by a tank engine. If you use a three way point you can have a three road fiddleyard that will take three such trains. Next is to see if you can fit in a run around loop for that length of train. If it is angled and you use Peco short points then you can just about. Fill in some basic BLT items such as a goods siding and a bay platform Then finally squeeze in a kick back siding to give access to the view blocking industry Voila: A shunting layout with station and half relief backscene Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 Start with what length of train you can run. I would suggest that 2 coaches plus a van would be a good goal hauled by a tank engine. If you use a three way point you can have a three road fiddleyard that will take three such trains. Next is to see if you can fit in a run around loop for that length of train. If it is angled and you use Peco short points then you can just about. Fill in some basic BLT items such as a goods siding and a bay platform Then finally squeeze in a kick back siding to give access to the view blocking industry Voila: A shunting layout with station and half relief backscene 8 by 2 v10.jpg Thanks for the design however i only have set track at the moment and want to use it for my design Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_1066 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Just follow a similar approach then - see what train length you can fit using the set track points. To be honest I would recommend getting rid of them and using electrofrog points - these will get you much better running. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 How about this layout Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_1066 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 I think the fiddle yard is too short - this reduces your max train length. If you like that type of plan then this may be better: By introducing a curve on the station you ease all the angles, lengthen the roads and it gives a better appearance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMay Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Have you considered presentation? this design of layout is best operated and viewed from different positions, viz: If you operate from the front you'll be leaning over your scenery hiding the FY to get to the FY itself. It's not particularly ergonomically designed. It is OK for an exhibition layout kept at home which can be operated "properly" at an exhibition, but I am sceptical if the back of the layout is against a wall and it has to be operated from the front. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 Have you considered presentation? this design of layout is best operated and viewed from different positions, viz: operator position.jpg If you operate from the front you'll be leaning over your scenery hiding the FY to get to the FY itself. It's not particularly ergonomically designed. It is OK for an exhibition layout kept at home which can be operated "properly" at an exhibition, but I am sceptical if the back of the layout is against a wall and it has to be operated from the front. The layout will be used in the middle of the room not against the wall. This layout will also be for home use only so will be operated from the end where the fiddle yard is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_1066 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 If you can slide cassettes in and out then that would increase the variety of trains you can run and save a couple of points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 If you can slide cassettes in and out then that would increase the variety of trains you can run and save a couple of points. Yeah that would be an idea. I also have the wood now so i can start marking out where track goes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ray H Posted October 28, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 28, 2014 Is the 8ft length the maximum you have? Are you agreeable to using cassettes? Would you consider (if space permits) adding any further boards to the end? I just wondered whether you could consider the cassettes as an extension of the length you have available which may give you scope for longer trains and more space for either the station and to add further scenery. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 28, 2014 Author Share Posted October 28, 2014 Is the 8ft length the maximum you have? Are you agreeable to using cassettes? Would you consider (if space permits) adding any further boards to the end? I just wondered whether you could consider the cassettes as an extension of the length you have available which may give you scope for longer trains and more space for either the station and to add further scenery. 8 ft is the maximum length i will have for the layout due to the space i have available. I'm about 50/50 on using cassettes at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_1066 Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Cassettes allow you to shorten the fiddleyard so allows more space for the scenic element. A longer station would look better and less cramped. It would also help balance the layout better. Previously the sidings were a bit too long compared to the station. eg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Lee Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 If you do go for a steam-age branch-line terminus, and want to use set-track points, may I suggest that you avoid using 0-6-0T locomotives? My first layout was an 8' by 18" set track BLT to fiddle yard. I used Hornby Terriers and M7s. Part of the fun of operating a BLT to fiddle yard is, in my opinion, being able to shunt slowly. Although the the Terriers have a lot to commend themselves, for slow movement over the set-track points the M7s (0-4-4T locomotives) did a lot better. Have to say that having used set-track points once, I don't feel inclined to go back to them. Electrofrogs are a lot nicer to use, and not that difficult to wire. If you haven't got the track yet, you might want to consider the price difference between set track and Peco Streamline. The Streamline points tend to be a couple of pounds dearer each, but the plain track works out cheaper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Following this as working to a similar size. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Smith Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Cassettes allow you to shorten the fiddleyard so allows more space for the scenic element. A longer station would look better and less cramped. It would also help balance the layout better. Previously the sidings were a bit too long compared to the station. eg8 by 2 v11.jpg You could even squeeze in a short kick-back siding from the Industry line towards the yellow wall - this could be used to drop a guards van in while shunting or stable a loco. Ie. coal train arrives in the lower loop, past the industry siding, sets back to drop off guards van, pulls forward, runs round, drops coal wagons into coal siding. Pulls back to shunt the industry and goods yard sidings to make up goods train. Pulls forward light engine, sets back to pick up guards van and pulls forward to loop, runs round guards van and then pushes it back to the lower loop headshunt. Sets back to pick up goods train, pulls forward to loop, runs around then backs goods train onto guards van then departs.....a lot of movements but isn't that what its all about and i'm sure you could do that several ways. You could save a few movements (and use of the kick-back siding) if you run round the coal train with the guards van still at the back, drop off the coal wagons then pull back with the van and deposit in the headshunt. Autocouplings would be useful for all this play. However with the above cassette design you would need to keep part of a track available for running round.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Hello again I have decided to follow Jon_1066 layout design without the Cassette idea. What do you think? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Smith Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 Looks good to me but remember you will have to use part of the fiddle yard for running round. Also size your release headshunt to fit your longest envisaged loco to ensure it will clear the point blades. You could curve the industry sidings towards the front to improve the appearance and even angle the low relief back scene to get away from everything being parallel to the board edges..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 Looks good to me but remember you will have to use part of the fiddle yard for running round. Also size your release headshunt to fit your longest envisaged loco to ensure it will clear the point blades. You could curve the industry sidings towards the front to improve the appearance and even angle the low relief back scene to get away from everything being parallel to the board edges..... My biggest loco the class 50 just about fits the runaround loop so it should be ok. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyMay Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 what's a class 50 doing at a steam-age BLT? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuntShed Posted November 3, 2014 Author Share Posted November 3, 2014 what's a class 50 doing at a steam-age BLT? It is my longest loco so it acts as just a reference point. If that will fit anything will. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Smith Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Lets hope you don't have Evening Star on your layout as the loco alone is nearly as long as a Class 50..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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