Dave

Styrene C channel would probably be strong enough if it's only for display.

Mark's sells the Evergreen stuff but it might work out a bit expensive if you need 24ft of it!

Would be mad expensive for 24'! The aluminium channel is €15 for 2 mtr plus it would support the structure better.

The SMD LED strips are very small (some strips are under 1mm thick) and will adhere to the side walls...

 

You can also paint the non LED bits of the strip, to make it look like the inspection pit walls...

The LED strips that I do are very thin with a 3M adhesive backing on it.

The only accurate way to route that out would be on a router table with a decent cutter. Or CNC it.

Hi guys

Really enjoyed the topic, I am in the same situation as joe123. Have limited space 90 inch by 38 inch 00track . going to work on your plan and would like your opinion on it when i can finished it also a price for base and also a system of control

Thanks

Paddy

Hi Paddy,

Welcome to the forum! Send me a PM with your contact details and I will get in touch. I have just completed a track plan for Joe and can do one to suit your needs.

I specialise in baseboards, track laying, wiring and point control systems. A popular option a lot of my customers go for is the baseboards with track wired and point control ready to run trains and they do the scenery.

I do everything Joe, including the Baseboards. You can email me at david@modelrailbaseboards.com

I stock Peco flex track and points Joe. Cheaper than Marks models too. You can contact me directly and I can help you with a plan and take it from there if you like.

It's really personal choice, I prefer to shunt and collect wagons and drop them off again. I'm planning to build a small end to end 8' x 1.5' with a shunting puzzle so you have to work out how to collect a wagon on one siding and get it to another. It's called an inglenook and can be good fun to operate keeping your interest in it.

Great show today, good turn out.

Cool! Post a pic when done.

I have some LED strip light with a good remote dimmer that would work a treat on that.

Hi and thanks for your input. Will have a look a both options if it looks really bad I can start again. As you know I a pure novice at this End to end how do you get the trains back to the start? reverse

Hi Joe,

An end to end layout means locos run forward and backward on the layout. I actually prefer end to end layouts with plenty of shunting rather than watching trains go round and round. It's personal taste and the majority of layouts that I build for customers are loops.

Here's an end to end I designed for a client.

No worries, what are ye making?

Hi Rich,

B&Q do aluminium U channel, I krone they have 15mm x 15mm they may have 8mm. They do them in 2mtr lengths. Worth a try?

I use Anyrail, it's easy to use and there are some great tutorials. It's available free for use of up to 50 pieces of track and the full version is €39 with regular updates. The track library is very good.

Another one is Scarm which is free but not so easy to use, both are ad free with no pop ups.

http://www.anyrail.com

http://www.scarm.com

Incidentally, what type of programme do you use to do that layout plan? What system is -

 

- VERY simple to use

- free

- devoid of any form of pop up ads!

I use Anyrail, very easy to use with good tutorial videos. There is a free version that allows up to 50 pieces of track and the full version is around €40

You can get Scarm free but it's not as user friendly.

http://www.anyrail.com

http://www.scarm.com

Excellent Noel, has such a nice atmosphere to it. With the amount of rolling stock really brings it to life.

That would just about do it and no more, Glenderg. As you say, he needs to watch reaching the back.

At only 3' deep there won't be a problem reaching across to the rear provided the height stays at 3'

Even better. Will have a chat with you about the points control systems when I get set up. If you could let me know were to get the back ground scene and dcc unit ect. cheers

I'D back scenes are good also Gaugemaster do a good range.

How about this, storage sidings at the rear behind the back scene. Small loco yard with a fuel point.

I wouldn't put much more in than this as it will start to look like a train set.

Thanks Dave that looks good. Would I be able to run a murphy loco 071. and 2 mk 2 on that layout. I Would go with that and with a station or two, added. with a tunnel it would look the business Thanks to every one for you help and tips. merry x mass.

Yes Joe, pretty much everything will run on that, and as Glenderg said if it's broken up with a back scene board it will add an extra dimension to the layout.

You still have room in the centre for a loco yard or goods yard.

I carry Peco flex track and points in stock and I do an awesome point control system if your interested!

Something like this.

Hi Joe,

Welcome to the forum. As suggested and end to end layout would be better as first and second radius don't look right in my opinion.

I have built a layout for a client that features an upper level that is very tight, he wanted a twin loop and using flex track I could get it slightly bigger than radius 2 and 1.

I have attached a couple of photos to put it into perspective for you. Most stock will run on radius 1 but won't look right and you will get an odd derailment.

One option would be to have a single line to give you the loop with inner sidings for trains to pass.

I'll be there with my new range of scenery and layout lighting.

Hi Martin, Your very welcome to the site. Good to see you took the plunge and dived in.

Not bad, except for the wheels. They look like they came off a hot wheels car!

Wow! Stunning, nice work.