I have nearly completed my "practice layout" , a simple 6x1 "test layout" to see if I had the patience and enjoyment for the hobby. I'm addicted !
Finally at my old age (45) I have both time and money ... a rare window of opportunity that may slip from me any day ... But mostly I've discovered I like building more then running ... I did a full hand-laid track setup including hand laid switches ... god I love that !
Well with the "practice layout" mostly done I've got the "wifely buyin" to take over 1/2 my basement to do a REAL layout ... I need to change into my brown pants I'm so excited ... So I'm looking (well DREWLING) at about 300" x 200" to do with what I want. and honestly I want it to take a long time.
My "practice layout" I put together with a frame of 1x3s' with 1/2" plywood top. On top of that I used standard cork bevled roadbed and hand laid the track/switches. It worked prety well. But looking at a bigger layout I want some *depth* ... so I'm looking at an 'empty' type frame so I can get vertical action ... I'm playing with extruded foam and love it. Cheep and plyable and has the ability to do 3D layouts.. So many options ! What do people do ?
Considering I want 100% hand laid track (spikes) I know I need some kind of solid roadbed. The guys at handlaidtracks.com seem to do this with a thin plywood OVER foam. I've also seen foam over plywood then cork over the foam. I dont think my spkikes are long enough to make it through the ties AND the cork ... so I suspect I could do cork over foam, or Plywood over foam or Cork over plywood over foam. OR ... plywood over frame covered by cork and just foam around to do the 'hills and stuff'.
I know this is really vague and there are a lot of oppinions and nothing is "right" but I'd love any suggestions. I'm really excited about starting a project I hope will take a few years at minimum and want to plan it out right ... I learned a lot from my practice layout enough to know I'll love doing this but ... not sure which way to go.
Ideas ? Contra-Ideas (what NOT to do ?) ? thanks all !
Finally at my old age (45) I have both time and money ... a rare window of opportunity that may slip from me any day ... But mostly I've discovered I like building more then running ... I did a full hand-laid track setup including hand laid switches ... god I love that !
Well with the "practice layout" mostly done I've got the "wifely buyin" to take over 1/2 my basement to do a REAL layout ... I need to change into my brown pants I'm so excited ... So I'm looking (well DREWLING) at about 300" x 200" to do with what I want. and honestly I want it to take a long time.
My "practice layout" I put together with a frame of 1x3s' with 1/2" plywood top. On top of that I used standard cork bevled roadbed and hand laid the track/switches. It worked prety well. But looking at a bigger layout I want some *depth* ... so I'm looking at an 'empty' type frame so I can get vertical action ... I'm playing with extruded foam and love it. Cheep and plyable and has the ability to do 3D layouts.. So many options ! What do people do ?
Considering I want 100% hand laid track (spikes) I know I need some kind of solid roadbed. The guys at handlaidtracks.com seem to do this with a thin plywood OVER foam. I've also seen foam over plywood then cork over the foam. I dont think my spkikes are long enough to make it through the ties AND the cork ... so I suspect I could do cork over foam, or Plywood over foam or Cork over plywood over foam. OR ... plywood over frame covered by cork and just foam around to do the 'hills and stuff'.
I know this is really vague and there are a lot of oppinions and nothing is "right" but I'd love any suggestions. I'm really excited about starting a project I hope will take a few years at minimum and want to plan it out right ... I learned a lot from my practice layout enough to know I'll love doing this but ... not sure which way to go.
Ideas ? Contra-Ideas (what NOT to do ?) ? thanks all !