PLAN YOUR OWN LAYOUT • CHOOSE A MAINLINE SCHEME

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Workshop tips
Design concepts for
your next layout

• Preview your railroad with a 3-D model

• Choose a layout shape that works
• Ease the pain of sharp model curves 618168
Layout
schematics
This N scale table layout has a
continuous main line, but one side of
the oval is out of sight behind the
scenery, where a hidden storage
siding is also concealed. Model
Railroader photo
How to think of your track plan as a railroad
Most of us start out in model railroading with one of the varieties, and none is, in itself, better than any other. The
most basic layout schematics, an oval or continuous loop. value of a schematic lies in whether or not it lets your model
That’s a great place to start, but it’s not much like a real railroad accomplish whatever it is that you want it to do.
railroad. A railroad is a business, and outside of amuse- This brief overview can touch on only a few of the useful
ment parks and some subway lines, there’s not much layout schematics. For more detail on this and several of
money to be made by running trains around in circles. the other topics in this booklet, see Track Planning for
So among the first considerations in planning a layout is Realistic Operation, by John Armstrong, published by
devising an arrangement that lets your model main line look Kalmbach Books. – Andy Sperandeo
and act more like a real railroad. That arrangement is what
we call a layout schematic. These schematics come in several

Point-to-point Point-to-point schematics

Point-to-point
A railroad, some people insist, runs Yard Yard
trains from Point A to Point B, then
has to turn them around to head them Station – can be any number
back to Point A. That’s reality and
that’s the way they want a model
railroad to work too. If you find Point-to-loop
Reverse loop
yourself agreeing with that stance, with storage
Yard track
then a point-to-point schematic may
make the most sense to you. Station
Loop-to-loop
Using a point-to-point schematic,
trains run across your layout from one
terminal to another, passing through Storage
such stations or towns along the way track Storage
Yard
track
as the layout’s size allows. When a Station
train reaches the end of the line, it
needs to be turned around to return Illustrations by Rick Johnson and Theo Cobb
the way it came, and probably to be line, the share of time spent in switch- trains can run continuously, just as on an
switched as well. Freight trains, ing will be appropriate. If you aim for a oval. Storage tracks on the loops will
especially, won’t usually carry the busier tempo, however, a true point-to- support a greater variety of trains.
same cars both ways. point will be too slow. Just as continuous loops are good
The complaint that comes up with One solution is to replace the stub for open-top-traffic, loop-to-loop
true point-to-point layouts is that it terminal at one or both ends with a schematics favor the operation of
takes much longer to turn trains in an reverse loop for faster turning. The point- passenger trains. The same model
end-of-the-line stub terminal than to to-loop schematic lets a train travel the consist can represent the east- and
run the length of the main line, even main line once in each direction before westbound versions of the same
at scale speeds. If the layout repre- having to be turned in the yard. With loops passenger train more convincingly than
sents a slow-paced branch or short at both ends, a loop-to loop schematic, is usually the case with freight runs.

 Design concepts for your next layout • modelrailroader.com

 Continuous schematics Continuous with storage sidings
Continuous loops Storage

Simple oval
View block, high scenery or backdrop
The simple continuous loop or oval
shouldn’t be an object of scorn just
because it’s so basic. Many outstand-
ing model railroads have been built on Storage Station C
its foundation, and there are a lot of
ways to put it to good use. Figure 8
View block
First let’s recognize that any
schematic that lets a train run continu- Station B
ously in the same direction fits this
definition. It doesn’t matter if the track
crosses over itself like a figure eight or
Twice-around
is otherwise stretched and folded. If it
Station A
supports continuous running in the
same direction, it’s a loop.
One way to overcome the loopiness
of a loop schematic is to hide part of it.
The N scale loop layout shown on the
opposite page is a good example. The
scenic ridge along the back of the other direction. Time passes, and then a of trains running over our railroad. You
table hides the far side of the loop. different train goes the other way. That’s can see where this is going.
That ridge also conceals a double- how a loop schematic can give the A continuous loop is great for repre-
ended siding or passing track, and impression of real railroading. senting traffic like coal or ore in open-top
both the hidden siding and the hidden Of course, with just one scene to run cars, because the loaded cars can always
section of the main line can be used through, this trick might get old fast. be going one way, toward tidewater, the
as storage tracks. Still, if we had room to make our layout steel mills, or wherever, and the empties
Suppose a freight train appears larger we could run trains through two can always be going the other way back
from the right end of the layout running or more scenes. We might even pass to the mines. If you can run your continu-
clockwise. To start with, let’s stop through a freight yard or big-city ous main line along the walls of a base-
using terms that refer to circular passenger station. As long as we’re ment or other large space, you have the
motion and say this train is west- expanding, let’s add more storage popular and effective around-the-walls
bound. It stops, sets out a car at the tracks so we can have a greater variety type of layout.
lumberyard, and picks up some others
from the interchange track. When it’s
Continuous as point-to-point
back together it proceeds west to the Storage yard
siding hidden behind the ridge.
Instead of letting that first train run,
let’s stop it in the storage track and
start an eastbound train that’s been Yard
Double-faced backdrop
waiting on the hidden part of the main separates opposite
line. It comes through the foreground sides of continuous loop
scene in the opposite direction.
Now our simple loop layout takes on Station C
the linear characteristics of a railroad.
We see a train come from somewhere Station A
off in one direction, pass by the place
we’re watching, and go away in the
Station B
Continuous with turning loops
Combination schematics
There are many other possible layout Turning loop Turning loop
Storage yard
schematics, and some of the most
popular combine features of the basic
continuous and point-to-point types.
Just because your main line is Station B
Double-faced backdrop
continuous doesn’t mean you can’t
operate it as if it ran point-to-point. Yard
And you can add reversing loops to a Station A
continuous schematic. That way you
can run coal or ore trains in the Station C
continuous pattern and passenger
trains loop-to-loop. The key is to
choose a schematic that supports the
kind of operations you want to model.

Design concepts for your next layout 

 David Barrow switches cars on his
18"-wide HO shelf switching layout,
the South Plains District. Such a
model railroad can easily extend all
the way around the walls of a room.
Tommy Holt photo

Layout shapes Many of our first model rail-

roads get built on the common
For effective and efficient use of space 4 x 8-foot sheet of plywood, and
especially in the smaller scales
Table to shelf that can allow plenty of scope
4x8
One of the problems with the for newcomers to learn about
4 x 8 is that our effective Around the walls
reach-in distance is about 27" the hobby. Experienced model
to 30". That means you need
8 x 10 L
access to at least the two Wall railroaders usually
Open
want to
long sides and one end of the Wall
layout. The other end can move beyond such rectangular
usually be shoved against a
wall, but that still means the tabletops, Door,
both needsto use their
drop
leaf or duckunder
layout table is going to take up a pretty big portion of a small train room.
A popular alternative is the shelf layout. If you split the 4 x 8 material train-room space more effi-
lengthwise you can build an 8 x 10-foot L-shaped shelf layout 24" deep along
two walls. A shelf of that width takes you out of the continuous-running ciently and to build larger
business in scales larger than N, but it does give plenty of room for an HO
scale switching or terminal railroad. layouts. We’ll look at some
A shelf layout of that size takes up exactly the same square footage as the
4 x 8, but it leaves a bigger piece of open floorspace and gives the room a other ways model railroads can
less-crowded feel. A shelf along the wall can use a backdrop to give a
greater impression of depth to its scenes, and it’s a good format for repre- be shaped and consider some of
senting something as generally long and narrow as a railroad.
(For more on shelf layouts, see IainWalk-in/ Aisle
Rice’s article, “Tips for shelf layout the advantages of these configu-
walkaround
design,” in the 2007 edition of Model Railroad Planning.)
rations. – Andy
Pad underside of Sperandeo
layout at duckunder
 Design concepts for your next layout • modelrailroader.com
Double-faced
backdrop Rolling chair can be
 Around the walls

4x8 8 x 10 L
Around the walls Wall
Wall
Around-the-walls
Open

A logical step from the starting Around the walls with peninsula
point of a shelf layout is to Walk-in/ Door, needs drop Aisle
continue the shelf all8 xthe 10 way
L For larger leaf
walkaround or duckunder
layouts the around-
Wall around the room. That gets us Open the-walls shape may be com-
Wall Pa
back to the possibility of a bined with a free-standing lay
continuous run and extends the peninsula. This extends the
Double-faced
linear arrangement of our railroad Door, needs drop railroad into what would other-
backdrop
scenes. Another advantage of this leaf or duckunder wise be empty space in the Wall
layout shape is that you’re inside middle of the layout room.
the corner curves looking out, When the width of the room
which tends to camouflage the allows, you might think of using
unrealistic sharpness of model railroad curves. two parallel peninsulas. This can
You can build a model railroad around the walls of any size space, from a work, but it requires what master
small bedroom to a two-car garage or aWalk-in/ large basement. Aisle Backdrop John
layout designer can Armstrong
continue across
If the entrance to the room is through a door in one of the walls, either a
walkaround called “blobs”
opening for turnback curves
hinged layout section or a “duckunder” passage under the layout is required. at the end of each layout arm.
Pad underside of
The second illustration, from the book Basic Model Railroad Benchwork, by Since blobs can be hard to scenic
layout at duckunder
Keep layout
Jeff Wilson,
Aroundshows
the wallsa good way to ease the pain of a duckunder entry.
Double-faced realisticallynarrow
and athard to reach into,
duckunder
Building the layout asAisle high as you think practical
backdrop also makes the entry easier he argued forchair
Rolling keeping
can be them to a
Walk-in/
and pays off in realistic viewing angles close to eye level. (See Tony Koester’s
walkaround Wall minimum. usedInstead of a second
to scoot under
0L
article "Layout height:
Open shoulder high to bird’s-eye,” in the 2007 edition of peninsula, bending one back on
Model Railroad Planning.) Pad underside of itself, as shown in the second
layout at duckunder
The ideal entry for an around-the-walls layout is by stairway from another
Double-faced illustration, is often preferable.
level of the house, as down into a basement or up
backdrop into an upper floor or attic.
Rolling chair can be
Door, needs drop Peninsulas
Even if the stairs are along the
Wall
leaf or duckunder basement wall, determined
used model railroaders
to scoot under
have been tunneling their main lines through stair risers for about as long as
they’ve known about that big hole under the house. Coming down or up
inside a railroad around the walls is about as good as it gets. Aisle St
or
“Blob” Peninsula
Backdrop can
continue across Stairs up
opening Aisle or down

Keep layout
narrow at duckunder 4x8
e
Peninsulas

Aro
Pad underside of Aisle
layout at duckunder Aisle Stairs up
or down 8 x 10 L
“Blob”
Wall
Peninsulas Rolling chair can be “Blob” Peninsula Wall
Wall used to scoot under Aisle

Aisle
Stairs up Folded peninsula
Aisle Stairs up Aisle or down
or down “Blob” Aisle
“Blob” Peninsula
Aisle

Stairs up Folded peninsula

Aisle or down
Walk-in/walkaround Aisle

If your layout can’t go around the walls of a room, you can have many of the
same benefits by using a walk-in layout shape. The roughly “G”-shaped design
in the illustration allows the same kind of ready access to all the layout’s
scenes as you’d enjoy in an around-the-walls layout. If the main line is ar- Walk-in/ Aisle
ranged so you can follow trains along the edges of the layout, you have a walkaround
walkaround design: You can walk around with the train you’re running. Pad
You can even get some of the effects of a shelf layout by using a double- lay
faced backdrop to divide the free-standing arm of the layout into two long, Double-faced
backdrop
narrow scenes. In larger Aisle
versions, the aisles can turn back on themselves, and
Wall
because the backdrops don’t let you see across the layout, you get the
Stairs up
impression
or downof traveling a long distance as you follow a train.
“Blob”

Aisle
Design concepts for your next layout 
Folded peninsula
 Bob Madison’s HO shelf layout is against two walls of a
spare bedroom. We're looking though a window that opens
into Bob’s workshop. Paul Dolkos photo

Layout locations
Living areas may
not be the biggest but
they are the nicest
Anyone can tell you that a giant carpeted, and with the same lighting, about 24" wide. That leaves plenty of
basement or a wide-open attic would heating, and air-conditioning as the floor space available for other uses,
make a great place to build a model rest of your home. If you want to even for other people’s hobbies.
railroad. That’s almost too easy. Here spend a lot of time on your hobby, why A layout this size can be completed
I’d like to make a case for some less not spend it in a really nice place? and detailed to a high standard in
expansive locations you might overlook. Above we see an L-shaped HO much less time than a larger model
Spare bedrooms and other rela- layout in a spare room. Bob Madison’s railroad. And it’s large enough for
tively unused kinds of living space New Haven Ninigret Cove Branch enjoyable operation, as Bob showed in
have many advantages. They usually extends 11 feet along one wall and 15 his September 2004 Model Railroader
come already finished, maybe even feet along the other, and is mostly article. – Andy Sperandeo

Doug Nelson built this scenic N

scale Pennsylvania RR layout in a
closet across one end of a 10-
foot-wide room. Doug Nelson photo
 An 11 x 13 foot bedroom was enough room for Mike Hamer to built this HO
Boston & Maine layout featuring mainline operation and New England
scenery. This is the view in through the doorway. Peter Nesbitt photo

Empire in a bedroom
When you can devote an entire room to a layout, you may be surprised at how
much you can achieve. In the example shown here, Mike Hamer built an HO
scale Boston & Maine layout complete enough to be featured as the cover story
in Great Model Railroads 2004. In 11 x 13 feet, Mike’s layout features mainline
operations, plenty of local switching, a live interchange with the Maine Central,
and realistic New England town and country scenery. Mike left space between his
Mike’s B&M can support a variety of train operations because of its wrap- scenery and the wall for “surround
around staging arrangement, with storage tracks out of sight behind low staging” tracks that wrap around
scenery and backdrops all the way around the room. This ingenious and space- the room out of sight of layout
saving system merited special attention in an article, “Surround staging,” in operators in the center of the room.
Model Railroad Planning 2001. Peter Nesbitt photo

Can you spare a closet?

Maybe you can’t devote even the walls of
a room to a model railroad, but what
about a closet? There’s no end to the
ingenuity of model railroaders in search of
layout sites, and using one of the smaller
scales can open up opportunities.
As the photos here show, Doug
Nelson built a 32"-deep closet across
the end of a 10-foot-wide room. That
gave him room for a busy Pennsylvania
RR layout in N scale. A layout height of
53" leaves room for in-closet storage
above and below the railroad, and even
for a small workbench at one end.
When it’s time to use the room for
other purposes, the folding closet doors
conceal the model railroad and hobby
paraphernalia. And if the family moves, Doug’s layout extends the width of the closet, but its 54" elevation from the
closet space is a good selling point. floor leaves plenty of room for storage and a small workbench. Doug Nelson photo

Design concepts for your next layout 

Sectional
This scene of mainline action on the
HO scale portable layout of the
Midwest Valley Modelers shows that
scenic effects don’t have to suffer
because of sectional construction.
There’s no reason a sectional home

layouts
layout couldn’t look just as good. Ken
Patterson photo

Build your railroad so you can take it with you

A friend of mine was hosting an expansion and redevelopment. You With sections you don’t have to
operating session, and as we were can even take advantage of sectional follow any standard track pattern
about to get started he apologized to construction to perform tasks such as because the pieces need to fit together
the group. “Sorry, but this layout is wiring and switch motor installation only one way. The scenery can main-
only temporary,” he said. Someone with the layout sections standing on tain its continuity from section to
else pointed out that all model their sides or ends instead of always section following the theme of your
railroads are temporary, it’s just that having to work up from below. model railroad. Assuming you’re not
some are around longer than others. If planning to take your show on the road
you know you’ll have to relocate in the Think sections, not modules. To some very often, you don’t even have to leave
future, or even if you just want to be extent Ntrak and other modular layout breaks in the track and scenery at
prepared for that possibility, you can groups offer great examples of section joints. When its time to move,
build your layout in sections that you sectional construction, but there’s an simply cut the rails and slice through
can dismantle, move, and reassemble. important distinction between the terrain at each joint. As long as you
When it’s time to move house, a modular and sectional layouts. have some extra track and scenery
sectional layout will let you save much Modules all have to fit together with materials on hand, you’ll be able to
of the time, skill, and money you standard track connections at the “heal” the scars at the section joints
invest in your model railroad. With ends of each unit, but each builder can when reassembling your railroad.
sectional flexibility you should be able construct any kind of scene on a given Here are two ways to build layouts
to adapt much of what you’ve previ- module. This leads to stereotyped in sections. They don't exhaust the
ously built to a new layout space, and track arrangements and frequent possibilities, but they're enough to get
sectional construction lends itself to mismatches between adjacent scenes. you started. – Andy Sperandeo

 Design concepts for your next layout • modelrailroader.com

Dominoes Domino construction
Subroadbed: two layers of 1⁄4" lauan plywood
or one layer of 1⁄2" lauan or Homasote
David Barrow devised a sectional 3⁄4" 12", 18", or 24"
plywood
construction system using standard- edge boards 3⁄4" birch plywood top
ized rectangular layout segments. He 3⁄4"x 31⁄2" birch in towns and yards 48"
likes to lay out track plans by fitting plywood track board Layout height
as desired
these sections together end to end 3⁄4"x 31⁄2" plywood
and forming 90-degree corners, so risers to suit layout
height and grades
the comparison to the game of 391⁄2" to top
dominoes was obvious. He’s de- of lower framing If extra height
(recommended), 48" isn’t needed,
scribed his domino method in articles or height as plywood top and
in both Model Railroader and Model desired if subroadbed can
Railroad Planning. The illustration single level be attached to
shows the basic form of domino lower framing
layout sections.
David likes a section two feet wide
by four feet long but doesn’t mind
2" x 2" pine legs
building them narrower, in widths with one flathead
down to 18" or even 12" when the bolt into end Yards and towns: If two layers
framing of plywood, top layer may be
situation calls for it. He sticks to a 24" cut away for drainage ditches,
maximum width to maintain a 3⁄4"x 31⁄2" brace contours, and other features
comfortable reach-in distance. He’s 6" from floor
tried building sections six and eight Legs may be set back 6" if skirt is desired
3⁄16"x 3"
feet long, but prefers the four-foot
roundhead
length for its ease in handling. bolts for height Open country: contoured side boards
The concept calls for four legs adjustment vary up and down to suit terrain
supporting each section, and that
adds up to a lot of legs for a layout of space for power supplies, switch scenery extending below track level.
any size. David finds the legs motors, and electronic gear inside the This also allows track to be built on
convenient both for rearranging framework. As the drawing indicates, grades for hilly or mountain railroads.
sections and for supporting a the upper framing could be dispensed For more on domino construction,
plywood or hardboard skirt. with if not needed. see David's “Domino planning basics,”
The two levels of framing shown The section at the left in the in Model Railroad Planning 1999, on
at the right in the illustration allow illustration shows a domino frame for sale at www.modelrailroader.com.

Frame to support layout sections

Grids on girders
Some find standardized sections like
dominoes too confining and look for Nothing projects above girder tops
greater freedom in planning and
building sectional home layouts. A
solution that’s often overlooked is Carriage bolts used to
included in Linn Westcott’s landmark attach legs to girders
book, How To Build Model Railroad
Benchwork (Kalmbach Books).
As shown at right, Linn’s idea was
to use L-girder framing to support a
series of layout sections constructed
Permanent keeper
of simple box grids. The width and joist below girders
length of the sections can vary, as
long as they have a reasonable Layout section
chance of fitting through the door-
ways of both the current and any
future layout rooms. Box grid framing
Linn showed lengthwise cleats
under the sections to fit along the Lengthwise
L-girder cleat under
girder flanges, but I’m not sure these frame layout
would be necessary. The sections section
could simply be secured with screws
up through the flanges from below. Legs and braces
The L-girder framing itself could be detach for moving
unbolted for easy transportation and All legs have lag
later reassembled at the new site. bolts for height
adjustment

Design concepts for your next layout 

 Lee Nicholas uses through staging
behind the scenes on his HO Utah
Colorado Western as a “fiddle yard.”
One or two crewmen make up trains
here for other operators. Lou Sassi

Staging tracks
How trains can come
and go “beyond the
layout”
In any layout planning discussion, staging tracks are bound to to that question. What matters is to understand the
come up, and sooner rather than later. More and more advantages and disadvantages of each of the many ways of
hobbyists recognize the value of these out-of-scene storage arranging staging tracks.
yards that can represent main lines to distant cities, links with Here we’ll examine three of the most common staging
other railroads, and other kinds of “offstage” destinations. yard arrangements, so you can pick whichever one or any
One question that often comes up is “Which is the ‘best’ combination that suits the way you want to run your model
kind of staging?” Of course, there’s really no single answer railroad. – Andy Sperandeo

Stub staging
Stub staging
The simplest and most straightfor- Except when used as a fiddle yard –
ward kind of staging yard is a group where trains are “fiddled” by hand to be To layout
of stub-ended storage tracks. Stub turned and perhaps rearranged – stub
staging takes the least space for a staging is a one-way affair. Trains can
given length of train, and that’s leave and other trains can arrive, but That can be an advantage, if you
always an important advantage. It’s generally a train that enters a stub want locomotives and cars to go
also likely to be the easiest to add to staging yard is stuck there until backed away and not come back in the same
an existing layout or track plan. out and turned between operating session, to help build the impression
Remember, sometimes a useful sessions. (Push-pull trains, self- that they’re traveling a long way.
staging “yard” can be just one or two propelled cars like RDCs, and other Because those trains can’t return,
tracks. That can be enough to allow kinds of double-ended passenger trains however, you’ll need more engines
trains to come and go from a con- are among the more notable exceptions and cars to maintain a given train
necting line or an offstage industry. to that statement.) frequency in your operation.

10 Design concepts for your next layout • modelrailroader.com

Through staging
Through
A double-ended yard with ladders at that they keep going in the same staging
both ends can do the work of two direction. This can be an advantage for To layout
stub-ended yards by representing open-top traffic, making it easy to have a
both ends of a point-to-point line (see parade of eastbound coal drags headed
“Layout schematics” on page 2). That for tidewater and a similar succession of through arrangment can be conve-
can save lots of space. The double- westbound hopper empties going back nient. For examples, see Jack
ended yard will be longer for any to the mines. Through staging also Ozanich’s Atlantic Great Eastern and
given train length, but you need only supports continuous running when Lee Nichols’s Utah Colorado West-
one of them. you’re in the mood for it. ern, two HO scale systems featured
Trains can be re-used in an If you want to have a fiddle yard in Great Model Railroads 2006
operating session, if you don’t mind where you conduct active staging, a (available at www.modelrailroader.com).

Loop staging
Reverse loops with staging tracks may not necessarily be unrealistic
take the most space because depending on the geographic location Loop staging
minimum radius becomes a limiting of your railroad. Reusing trains is
factor. However, loops can often be appealing when you consider the time,
built under layout turnback “blobs” effort, and expense you put into them. To
(see “Layout shapes,” page 4) that For that reason, loop staging can be layout
you may have anyway. Reverse loops especially desirable if your operations
let you turn trains easily to send them include a busy schedule of locomotive-
back the way they came, and that hauled passenger trains.

Open staging
Many layout designers take it for
granted that staging tracks of any
kind should be hidden so that the
trains going to or coming from
someplace else will be out of sight. If
we compare the scenicked portion of
our layouts to a stage where the
drama of railroading takes place,
hidden staging is like the wings of the
stage. Here the actors – our trains –
wait for their cues to enter, or come
back to when it’s their turn to exit the
onstage action.
All well and good, some experi-
enced operators say, but running
trains when they’re out of sight
always introduces a degree of
difficulty. That’s true even with high-
tech control equipment, and opera-
tors have to deal with an unrealistic
model railroad situation that has no
parallel on the prototype. Better to let David Barrow, a proponent of open staging, built this double-ended open
the staging sit out in the open, they staging yard on his HO Cat Mountain & Santa Fe Ry. The near end represents
argue, where it can represent some the east end of the line as East Hill. The other end is called West Mesa to
kind of holding yard or fueling point represent the western end of the railroad. Tommy Holt photo
where crews might normally change.
Open staging makes the operation A workable compromise, for those of the time the staging – and its
as easy as can be but has the draw- who have the space for it, can be to collection of stationary trains – is out
back that the trains not in use are put the staging yard (or yards) in a of sight. Jim Richards’ Athabaska RR
right there in front of us. Doesn’t that separate room of its own adjacent to track plan and Tommy Holt’s Western
make it harder to imagine that they’re the main layout room. Operators can Pacific First Subdivision layout are two
traveling farther across country to and enter the staging room when they examples of this approach featured in
from their destinations? need to run a train in or out, but most Model Railroad Planning 2007.

Design concepts for your next layout 11

Test-fitting
your
model
railroad
Time to expand the layout? That’s
what I’ve been contemplating with my
Naugatuck Valley N scale model
railroad. When I’d originally sketched plans for a Soo Line layout, I’ve been
it on paper, the Naugatuck was to be playing with options for building Photos by David Popp
built in three easy-to-manage phases. phase III of the Naugatuck. Before
Though I’d really only ever intended to getting started, however, I wanted to finished model is good for bringing to
finish phase I, after completing it, I make sure the new section of the light all those design and construction
decided I could hold some nice operat- layout would fit comfortably in my considerations that just don’t show up
ing sessions for three or four people if available basement space. on a paper-and-pencil track plan –
I also built phase II. The theory was A good way to do this is to “test-fit” considerations which are much easier
that running trains on the Naugatuck the model railroad by building a scale to fix if you haven’t actually started to
would tide me over while I started my three dimensional (3-D) model, a build them yet!
new HO scale layout. At least it seemed technique I learned from my brother Follow along as I explain how you
like a good idea at the time. who is an architectural illustrator. can build a 3-D model to help with
With phase II nearing completion, Building a 3-D layout model is an easy planning your next layout or adding
once again instead of digging into one- or two-evening project, and the on to your current one. – David Popp

Preparing the track plan Original

drawing

A 3-D layout model is handy to take to your friends’ houses or

club meetings for design input, so you don’t want it to be so big
that you can’t use it effectively. For this reason I built mine in Colored pencils
½" scale – my finished model (shown in the photos) is roughly
12" x 16", making it easy to transport.
Part of what makes this a quick-and-easy project is that
you’ve probably already drawn your track plan. If you need more
information about drawing track plans, pick up a copy of John Color basic
scenic features Photocopy
Armstrong’s book, Track Planning for Realistic Operation
(Kalmbach Books). Since you’ll need to cut up the plan for this
project, it’s best to make a photocopy of it. Also, if you’ve drawn Plan cemented to foam core
your track plan in a scale larger than ½", you can have it
reduced at a copy shop such as Kinkos.
As shown in the upper photo, you can give your track plan a
little more definition by using colored pencils or markers to fill in
features such as water, roads, tree lines, and fields. Then mount
the plan on a piece of common foam-core craft construction
board using a quick-drying adhesive, such as a glue stick.
Next, cut the track plan from the foam-core sheet with a
sharp hobby knife and a metal straightedge, as shown in the
lower right-hand photo. Sharp, new
knife blade

Metal straightedge
to aid cutting

12 Design concepts for your next layout • modelrailroader.com

 Cement legs with Thin, glossy
white glue cardboard from
a shirt package
Legs and braces
made from scrap Wrap cardboard around
foam core knife blade to form
smooth curves

Two pieces
cemented back-
to-back for rigid
scene divider
Legs cut to set layout at the correct height

Legs and backdrops on which the track plan is mounted. Because backdrops are often
My layout’s base height is 42" (in ½" curved, thin cardboard is a good
The next step is to add the layout’s scale my model layout is 13 ⁄4" tall), so material to use for this part of the
support structure and backdrops. As the foam-core legs are 117 ⁄32" tall. project. To form smooth curves in the
shown in the left-hand photo, you can This is also a good time to add any backdrop, try wrapping the cardboard
make a network of legs and braces backdrops, especially if you’re using around a tube or rod, such as the
from strips of scrap foam core. To get them as scene dividers as I have. hobby-knife handle shown in the
the proper 3-D effect, you need to Backdrops are an important detail to photo above. Once the curve is
make sure that the layout’s base include since they will give the proper formed, cement the backdrop to the
height is correct, taking into account sight lines when the 3-D model is track plan using white glue. I left my
the thickness of the foam core (7 ⁄32") viewed from eye-level. backdrops plain white.

Build your room doors. Also, be sure to take into lished the design you plan to build,
account the 7 ⁄32" thickness of the floor reinforcing the corners with tape is a
With the model layout finished it’s when measuring the model’s wall good idea.
time to build the layout room itself. height. My basement walls are 96" At this point you should add any
You’ll need the dimensions of your tall; in ½" scale that’s 4". I added the obstructions in the room. For me they
room for this part, though you’ve thickness of the foam-core floor to included the stairwell, water-service
probably already taken them to draw that dimension, making my model’s pipe, support post, and soil stack, all
your track plan. Build the room in a walls 47 ⁄32" tall. of which are marked on the right-hand
contrasting color of foam core to make Cement the walls to the floor with photo. I made the pipes and the post
the layout model easier to view. white glue, and then reinforce the joint from 1 ⁄16" and 3 ⁄16" white Plastruct
Start your room construction by with 2" masking tape, as shown in the rods. I built the stairwell from more
cutting out the floor, following the left-hand photo. Since the model of foam core but made it removable to
dimensions of your room. Next cut the your layout room can be used over get a better operator’s-eye view of the
walls, and include any windows or and over again until you’ve estab- finished model.

Window
White glue

Make sure walls

meet the floor at
90-degree angles
Soil stack

Water-service
pipe
Support post

Masking tape
reinforces joint Removable stairway
(for clear sight lines)

Design concepts for your next layout 13

 Good body-to-pipe View block effectively
clearance hides staging yard

Average
6-foot-tall
human

Plenty of space to walk

between post and layout

people approximately 2½" to 3" tall crowded your aisles are going to be.
Plastic bases are included
in this set (5½ to 6 feet in ½" scale). Cement the Figures are also helpful in determining
images to some foam core scraps, cut clearance trouble points for people
them out, and stand them up in the between the layout and objects in the
3-D model. room. The photo shows how my layout
Adding the human As an alternative you can do what I room will look with an operating crew.
element did and purchase a package of no.
57820 unpainted 1:24 proportion (½"
This is really just the beginning of
what you can do with a 3-D layout
scale) Preiser figures. The plastic model. Once you’ve settled on a track
Now comes the fun part – putting it figures in this set include a good plan and are happy with how the
all together. With the room complete, selection of fairly typical-sized people, layout will fit in your room, you can
you can add the layout model, ranging from a scale 5½ to 6 feet tall. take the project a step further by
positioning it to get the best fit if your And the figures come with their own adding modeling-clay scenery
plan allows for some wiggle room. clear-plastic bases, so you can position contours. You can also add structures
The next step is to add a human them around the model at will. to the model, making them from
element to your model by placing Adding figures to your 3-D model pieces of stripwood or styrene. For
some scale figures in the room. You lets you see what your layout room will me, however, completing the steps
can make simple figures by sketching look like full of operators, giving you a shown here was enough to determine
stick people or using photos of realistic idea of how comfortable or that my track plan will work.

This is how David's layout looked

when he started planning for the
addition, which will continue along
the wall in the upper right corner.

14 Design concepts for your next layout • modelrailroader.com

Easements The coefficient of lurch
To study the effect of easements on smoothness of operation, master layout designer John Armstrong superimposed HO
scale drawings of 65-foot passenger cars at various points along the entrance to curves and plotted the relative
displacements of their couplers from the track center line. Not only is the maximum displacment less for the sharper
curve with an easement, but the maximum is reached more gradually. This indicates a reduced lurch upon entering an
eased curve at speed.
How to reduce the pain 65-foot cars
Note: These diagrams correspond to the situation with 35" and 46"
of sharp model curves radii in O scale, 24" and 32" in S scale, or 9" and 12" in N scale

18" curve with short easement

Displacement of center
An easement is a transition of gradu- Value of “Z” at corresponding points on curve. lines at coupler, “Z”
“Z” maximum = 18" (HO scale)
ally decreasing radius at the entry to a
curve. Easements minimize the offset
between the ends of cars entering the
Tangent
curve, and so result in smoother Easement
Offset “X” curve
operation and better appearance. See 24" curve without easement
the “coefficient of lurch” diagram, Value of “Z” at corresponding points on curve.
“Z” maximum = 21" (HO scale)
adapted from Track Planning for
Realistic Operation, by John Arm- 18"-radius
circular curve
strong (Kalmbach Books).
Tangent
24"-radius
Bent-stick method. In practice it circular curve
doesn’t matter if model railroad
easements are mathematically perfect Bent-stick
spirals – the simple “bent-stick” easements
method shown here produces effective Curve Length of
transitions. (For more detail, see the radius Offset easement
Step 1: Mark center line
John Armstrong book just mentioned.) of tangent (straight) track 16" 1⁄4" 10"
30" 1⁄2" 18"
This process for laying out an 42" 5⁄8" 25"
easement can also be used to draw a 54" 3⁄4" 30"
template that can be traced onto your
subgrade material. I use easement Step 2: Mark center line of curve
templates drawn on illustration board using trammel. Leave offset between
and cut to shape with a knife. the lines where tangent is square with
radius. Offset should vary with radius
What matters more than a perfect Offset between and length of easement: 1⁄4" for 16"
spiral is that the easement is longer curve and tangent radius to 3⁄4" for 54" radius (see table)
than the longest cars that will use it,
for example longer than the 85 scale Circular curve
feet of full-length passenger cars. That Tangent
way a car can’t have one end on the Small brads to hold
“tangent,” the straight track, and its stick in place
other on the circular curve.
On my HO scale layout with a 32"
minimum radius, I use easements 18" Tangent
(130.65 scale feet) long.
Circular curve
Leaving room. It’s important to account
for the space easements take in
planning and laying out trackwork. Step 3: Lay flexible stick along Length of easement
divided equally on
That offset between the tangent and the tangent and circular curve, and
both sides of this point
mark easement along stick
circular curve is needed so the radius Easement
can decrease gradually, and half the
length of the easement has to extend Room for easements
into the tangent, again to allow for the Allow for offsets at ends of curve Allow for half of easement extending into tangent
transition from straight to curve.
On my layout I use an offset of 1/2",
so the center line of a tangent is 321/2"
from the center point of a minimum- 301⁄2" from
radius curve. The last 9" (1/2 of 18") of 30" center of curve 30"
the tangent approaching the curve will radius to center radius
line of tangent No turnouts or crossings fit within
begin curving into the easement, so no
1⁄2" offset easement unless specially built
standard turnout can be located in
(exaggerated
that length. Those who handlay their for clarity)
Points of no. 6 turnout
track can build special turnouts Tangent 9"
curving right into or through ease-
ments, which can definitely be an 18"-long easement Tangent
advantage. – Andy Sperandeo

Design concepts for your next layout 15