Re: O scale Layout on 48x32 table? Layout help? Any help?
- From: "Geezer" <gquNOSPAMale@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 08:56:19 -0500
"nanner" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:QcHIf.1$2m3.0@xxxxxxxxxxx
Hi,that
My son has a Thomas table and we are moving on to model railroads now. I
thought, with space being limited we might try making a board that fits on
his table. We also want to try O because we have some of Grandpa's old
trains and would be a good place to start with a 4 year old. Yes, it's the
little guy that's been longing for the bazillion dollar Big Boy engine. I
think he's going to get the Big Boy Model Kit (if I can track it down) and
we 'll get a Lionel starter set for him.
Anyway - I have been poking around online and found some Micro-Layouts
got me interested in trying this. I figured I'd pop in here and ask theand
experts :o) Any ideas? Anyone ever do this? Can I make a continuous layout
in that scale on that size board? Is there a free program or site ewhere I
can use tracks to try creating a layout?
My first plan was to do a fold down board built onto the wall. i got that
idea from this http://www.thetrainshow.com/layouts/billworhle/ this guy's
son works with my husband. cool huh? I thin khe makes all of that (trees
everything) by hand!
But for O or even HO that would be huge right?
Thanks - we are going to jump in with both feet and have no experience at
all!
I would bet that a large part of your son's play with his wooden Thomas
trains is putting the track together into different layouts in addition to
just running the trains on the layout. Be careful not to deny him that kind
of creative play as you step up to electric trains. Lionel trains standup
well to changing the track layouts, and the three rail track avoids all the
potential reverse loop short circuit problems. If he finds an arrangement
he particularly likes, it can be temporarily screwed down while its novelty
lasts and to give more reliable operation and connection for accessories.
But in time, when his interest inevitably shifts to other toys, you can
restart the train interest by un-screwing the track and adding a new track
element or accessory.
Most of the pleasure from micro layouts is that obtained from the building
and doing the super-detailing to create the jewel-like scenes. This patient
work is beyond a four year old's ability and attention span. Even adults
quickly get bored running a short train in circles on a micro layout, unless
they are doing it a show where they can bask in the oooh's and aaah's over
their craftsmanship.
32" by 48" is a little too small to get much layout play even with Lionel
O-27. About the most you can squeeze in is an oval with a single straight
section on its long sides. Putting turnouts in place of the straights gives
a passing track just 2 curved track sections long - barely enough to store a
locomotive. I'd recommend you consider a minimum of 32" by 68" to
accommodate a
simple oval with 4 straight tracks on each long side, as this space will
also accommodate a figure-8 layout. Even better would be to try for about
40" by 68" to allow adding a straight section in the short ends of the oval.
This may get to be too heavy for a child to fold down and lift up. You
might consider a plywood board with boards around the edges on casters that
could roll away under his bed. Geezer
.
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