Josef2000

Here is a simple track plan that I've quickly made. I'm not interested in operating it with a small loco. However, it might be nice at the end to take some pics for my 201 locos that I've yet to even take out of the boxes.

Progress is slow but I suppose it is still progress nevertheless. 

Purchased a small diorama 'shelf' like board from ScaleModelScenery, (not sure if I'm allowed to post links to businesses or anything) but I got a micro board from them.

My plan for this is to practice the fundamentals of creating a model railway, I'm hoping that this will help me develop my (lack of) skills.
Effectively, this should make me more confident in track laying, ballasting, soldering, wiring and wiring management as well as electronics as I plan to add 2 point motors and add a signal.

This should keep me busy as a small side project as some folk have mentioned.
 

Thank you for your suggestion @Colin_McLeod, I feel as though I'd love to have them connected. It seems as though this can be achieved however I don't think I'm quite comfortable for that yet with my current skillset.

Thanks for your comment too @Galteemore. I'm currently doing this with a small 'shelf' layout. I'll link my current thread instead of posting here, hopefully it helps to keep the forum tidy!

Joe's Junction

I think I’m going to mark this question as answered. Each and every one of you has provided me with a massive amount of valuable information. And so I thank you all for taking the time out of your day to provide me with your thoughts/experiences and insight.

I feel as though, this would be the best layout ever. It may not be possible with my current experience or skills and for that reason I'm  going to create a single level 12x7 layout.

It is unfortunate but I believe it’s the more reasonable and realistic choice.

Time to start planning, I’d say back to the drawing board but we haven’t left that stage lol.

Thanks again to everyone, it’s a lovely community here.

Currently planning and researching more about how I'm going to go about achieving my double deck layout.
Definitely a lot of interesting points that have been brought up.

Linking the thread here for those reading this at a later date.

These are all very interesting and helpful points, Thank you@Horsetan, @David Holman, @Mol_PMB & @Warbonnet!

I will definitely reconsider and do some more measuring, testing and planning! I think my next step is to work out the maximum gradient to find my limitations and go from there.

It might be worth noting that I plan to use a mix of 3D-printed resin stock as well as MM and Bachmann diesels. The longest train I plan to run is the Enterprise; however, I may shorten it to a maximum of 8 cars, consisting of a DVT, 1st, Buffet, 3 Standard, EGV, and Loco. The rest of my rolling stock consists of 3 and 6-car DMUs.

51 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

I have a long-term project with a multi-level layout in my garage, in Swiss Om scale. 
There are challenges in achieving a satisfactory vertical spacing between levels - once you have considered the thickness of the board, support, point motors, scenery and space to view it etc then you need a good 400-500mm between scenic levels. 
Helixes have a large footprint regardless of gradient but become even bigger for more gentle gradients. 
It’s all possible but needs careful planning! 

Thankyou for this, I'm going to plan this very carefully and do some research, rather than wasting timber and time.

 

17 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

Alternatively, instead of the merry-go-round ovals shown in the original plans, if he builds it as a relaxed spiral end-to-end, the eventual route would be more realistic whilst making his stock actually work for its living.

It would be a bit like having FREMO modules all running together at home.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean here mate, please do correct me if I'm wrong but do you mean as though the 3 entire plans would be a 'large 14x7ft' scale helix? If so, that sounds challenging but I could see that being a lot of fun to operate.

1 hour ago, Horsetan said:

If you do a search on YouTube for BBM Berliner Anhalter Bahnhof, the creator of this quite frankly massive HO layout has built the thing on at least two, possibly three, levels to portray some of the 1930s route between Berlin and Basel, plus an extension to represent the journey to Milan (I think), so the locomotives really do have to work up the gradients.

Looks like at least half a lifetime's work.

Wow.. That fella has an impressive layout! My layout looks more like a 3x1 diorama compared to his
Thank you for the recommendation!

I was hoping to have two baseboards/layouts connected by a helix.

Both layouts are a double loop but I was more concerned about the height. I'm quite happy for one layout to be 1 or 2ft off the ground, I'm 24 and relatively fit so no issues with the back (yet). I'm sure I could fit both layouts one above the other but the main concern with the height is if this will severely limit the amount of scenery I can do on the bottom layout.

I know that people make these layouts and have a helix connecting to a fiddle yard but if I remember correctly, they're just tall enough to allow the trains, disregarding buildings and that.

Note: I've attached 3 track plans that are still in progress but I think they show what I'm trying to say (hopefully).

If it's not feasible, I will probably stick to one of the track plans.

On 10/04/2025 at 13:18, Newtoncork said:

Have you thought about 3D printing the Mk4's?

To be honest, it's not something I've thought about. However, if the DDs turn out well, then I'm sure I could create the MK4s, too!

23 hours ago, Flying Snail said:

Please do post a few images once you have them printed - the renders look very impressive!!

Thank you! I hope to have the 'bare plastic' within the next few weeks.

8 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Totally clueless regarding 3D printing, but do you mean that you bought a file from Cults3D that you then feed into your own printer to print the model?

Yeah so I created the enterprise myself, and bought the 80 Class from Cults3D. They're both of the same format that you send to the printer, which then prints the model.

I decided to use an online 3d print service as they have access to bigger 'industrial' size printers, so that allows me to print the models in a much better quality.

Not an affiliate or anything but I managed to pick up this 80 Class from Cults3D.

I also managed to grab a brass kit of the 80 Class from some Irish company that I don't think are around. Anyways here is the 3d print version!

Many thanks @DJ Dangerous,

For anyone reading, it's worth noting that the layout looks promising however I have little time for the layout, as I'm currently in uni and trying to navigate around my mental health problems, not to mention that while I'm familiar with model railways, I haven't any skills besides 3d modelling and so I can see myself getting frustrated, having to do things over again etc.

Suppose as long as I meet my objectives, I'll be sucking diesel as they say!

@DJ Dangerous I was hoping to source more from him however I suppose God had other plans. R.I.P Chris.

I do believe a close friend of his will be taking the stock, no doubt that it's understandably not a priority amongst the family.

Very excited to finish printing the enterprise set. Here are some renders.

However, I think I may start smaller as I've never painted/airbrushed so I'm thinking of creating a sign or even just printing some resin and having a go first.

Just thought I'd make a thread to post progress, it's more so for me but feel free to read/reply or ignore.

Currently in the process of creating a track plan however, I feel that it is a stage in which I could spend countless hours on. I've attached two images of the track plan so far, Connolly should be a basic loop outside of the station, similar to Belfast in the first image.

Project Overview: Joe’s Junction

Scale: OO (1:76)

Size: 14ft x 7ft

Theme: Irish Railway Layout

Era: Modern Irish Rail / IE 2000s–Present

Control System: DCC – DCC-EX CSB1 Command Station

Key Features

• Double-track mainline - Hoping to create two baseboards as a 'double-deck' layout.

• Connolly Station - With my take on it and with size limitations.

• Belfast Central/Lanyon Station - Again with my take on it and with size limitations.

• Freight sidings - Mainly for storing locos, not really into the whole shunting side of things. Love to just watch the trains go around.

• Scenery including busy high streets, level crossings, tunnels and my take on the 18 Arches, more like 8 in my case.

Planned Stock

• Irish Rail 201 Class locomotives

• De Dietrich Enterprise Set (currently printing)

• 80 Class DEMU (brass kit) & (3D Print)

• 3x 22000 ICR (awaiting release from IRM)

• 450 Class 2-car (respray from Chris Dyer)

• Freight stock: Minimal, atypical wagons used from old Hornby sets.

• MPV (respray from Chris Dyer)

• Class 3000/4000 CAFs & IE Class 29000s.

Objectives

• Create a layout as a side hobby to distract myself from the old mental illness.

• Reminisce.

• Learn new skills including carpentry, electronic wiring, painting and a lot more.

• Have a layout that I can sit back and watch 'in my own wee world'.

Yeah, this is just a wee update. I got back in touch with Des. My email was hidden among the spam/junk mail.

All is good.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and for Des getting in touch with me.

I have no issue with time, but I was scammed in the past, so it was just in the back of my mind.

Thanks for the reassurance lads!

I contacted Des Sullivan from Studio Scale Models and purchased a kit on the 1st of February.

I understand these kits may take some time or something I don't really know. However, I haven't heard anything since then and I'm wondering if I got scammed or not.

Update: @MartinRS from RMWeb has provided me with the links.
Thought i'd leave this here just incase anyone it looking them in the future.

1 hour ago, MartinRS said:

They can be found at the Irish Railway Modeller site in 2012 and appear to have been uploaded by the member 201bhoy. See the links below.

https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/gallery/image/79-rural-location-possibly-tullamore/

https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/gallery/image/77-belfast-central-layout/

https://irishrailwaymodeller.com/profile/10-201bhoy/content/?type=gallery_image

I have very little knowledge on Irish steam engines but the No85 Merlin would be nice. Just while I mention Merlin, what would be the class name for it? 

If my eyes serve me right, it seems like these are track plans of Connolly & I think the other one is Belfast Lanyon or something quite similar. I'm not sure what the other station is, however, I'd love to know who made them.

Thank you, Eoin and Blaine, for your answers!

Say if I were to create a coach in a blender that is 20m long.
To find the scale length, I would do 20000mm × 0.0131 = 262 mm (26.2 cm)
As you had mentioned, Blaine the scale is 1:76.2. Would this mean that I should use 1:76.2 for the calculations, which (using the same 20m coach example) should be: 20000mm × 0.01312 = 262.4 mm (26.24cm)

Would this be correct? Again many thanks.

On 10/03/2023 at 20:14, 228RiverOwenboy said:

Where?

I'm extremely sorry in replying so late buddy. However if you're still interested, here's the link: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/copies_of_the_technical_drawings#incoming-2021877

I do apologise if I'm in the wrong place! Also sorry if this message is hard to follow. English is my first language but I'm somewhat slow haha.

I'm hoping to create some 3D models of various rolling stock, signs and other miscellaneous pieces however I'm not sure how to accurately measure the model so it fits the appropriate OO scale.
Does anyone have any tips for 3D printing? I noticed that the smaller details can be tricky.
I'm hoping to create a standard coach first, and print out various sections such as the 'shell' and interior seating.

Many thanks,

Joe

Nevermind, found complete set of diagrams