I know its a familiar story but I'm looking to get back into the hobby 30+ years after having a train set as young kid.
My requirements/constraints are :
1. Very small budget so DC
2. Small space but should have enough room for a just over 8x4 layout in quite a large (multi-user) room/office. For instance I'm planning to keep it a corner and pull it slightly away from the walls when in use.
3. Want to scratchbuild buldings, learn electronics/electrics, build scenary
4. We now live in France so HO (also to gain a bit of space)
5. Fun for me and my young son: mix of roundy-roundy and simple shunting
6. Since we live in France thought it would be fun to model TGV in the Alps (at least in a very loose artistic licence type of way) - the dream though would be something like here :
As a result I came up with this first draft of a plan:
Notes:
1. The layout is multilevel (not shown in plan) - The outer level (top) is the highest point which descends to the level of the middle loop at the crossover (bottom). The outer loop ascends back up to the top while the middle loop descends down to the meet the inner level at the crossover (top). The inner loop continues round with an entry into the sidings and station according to space available.
2. The idea is therefore to have the possibility of running a tgv for example on the outer loop with the possibility of bringing it down via the different levels into a terminus station.
3. Likewise a freight train could run around the middle and inner loops and do some shunting in the sidings
4. The space inner right would used to put something in like a small village built arouhnd a small rocky river
5. Outer loop is R4, for the 'straight' sections I'm planning on using flex track so that they contain some slight bends.
I would be very interested in hearing any comments and ideas.
I've a couple of questions though relating to the multi levels.
I'm not bothered about having a big difference between the heights of the different levels - just enough to create interest (I aim to rely on the scenary to enhance the alpine look) - and erred on the side of caution by not having any loop pass under any other. I'm a bit concerned though that its going to a look a bit silly - for instance how could I give the impression that a road serving the station and the village 'leaves' the scene and doesn't just stop in a dead end?
Also what do you think the maximum height difference between the outer and inner loop could be?
Thanks
Tom
