I've been getting increasingly disgusted with Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman: it seems that they increasingly feature layouts that are 10 x 12, 15 x 20 and larger. It's great to see someone who's still working with the old 4x8 size and still making it work and packed with opportunities for scenery, structures and operations. Great job.
I love those big layouts but those are unachievable by most readers, and it would be better to feature the classic smaller track plans featured in the old Atlas, Fleishmann and Marklin catalogs and show how they can be achieved with 18 and 22 radius curves if needed, those huge layouts can be intimidating
Hello my friend, I'll have to say that your track plan is quite unique by making the best use of your space without it being crowded. Good job ! Once you paint the plywood s light tan to simulate earth and maybe spray the divider with a lite grey or tan wash it will give the layout a different look and feel.
I love how this layout is coming along. I particularly like the double track section coming from the coal mine. I imagine operations on this layout will be quite fun for the size. Might copy this layout, although widen it slightly to accommodate 22” radius curves minimum and a #4 turnout minimum for running larger locomotives. I look forward to see where this project goes!
Look awsome for a 4x8. I am doing 4x8 and I recently decided to give N scale a shot. I have always thought 4x8 is kinda small for H.O. but you made a lot of a small area.
Cool, man. That 4X8 sheet is worth nearly a hundred bucks now. Lol. If I ever get to build a layout it'll be DC. That being a dream I go on and and dream of both DC and DCC because I have too much 40+ year old engines that I would like to run.
My first HO layout I did it small to get a feel it was 4x6. I used a 4x8 sheet and cut some of it off and used the excess wood to help build my mountain and tunnel section. I had a dual turn on one side an inside turn around the town and an out side turn that went into the mountain. One siding for the train station and two turn outs for a woodworking industry and a metal factory. I could have gone bigger but I want to go small to start with so I could get a feel for the hobby. I built everything with Bachman products and it was just DC not DCC.
I built a 4x6 as well a few years back. For the same reason. My construction wasn't great at all. When I had to move it fell apart. Lesson learned the hard way. I've only ever modeled DC for my layouts. I'm a lone operator and don't see the need for DCC. I have tried DCC and just didn't like it at all. So it's DC for me. Thanks for the comment.
Nice work so far! IMHO ONLY......I''d raise the company houses and church up off level as it seems these were always built on land not good for much else! Are they kits??? Whose? I have a Gloorcraft C&O Marlinton station kit I'll build someday!
I have been playing around with the thought of elevating that section. The houses are City Classics kits. The church is an older Life Like kit. Thank you for commenting on the channel.
Thank you. I couldn't fit what I wanted on the layout without doing the divider the way I did. Its definitely a space saving technique that really does work. Now to just do it up right.
Great looking layout. However, I strongly suggest replacing the Atlas Snap turnouts. The Snap turnouts have a sharper diverging route because of their #3.5 frog angle. Atlas Mark IV Custom Line has a #4 and #6 frog angles. You can cut down a #6 to the 9-inch length of a #4 to fit in place of the other turnouts. The snap turnouts have plastic frogs that wear down quickly over time and can not be powered. Hope this helps.
A very nice layout. I've been to West Virginia, though it was nearly twenty years ago and I didn't see any of the coal mines or fields when I was there. I'll also have a coal industry on my (DCC-controlled) layout, though it likely won't be as complex as yours.
I couldn't agree more. Running 6 car trains max is a bit of a let down. However working with what I have to work with I cant really complain too much. Thank you for your comment.
That's why i do n scale my layout is 8 feet long 4 feet another 8 feet and 4 feet apart you can stand in the middle can run 25 to 30 cars .and a 7 car freight yard holds 50 cars
Just finished my layout and I like yours really well....Thanks for showing your video.
thanks for sharing, nice layout,i love 4x8 ho trains....and operating, makes it even better.very nice....mark
I've been getting increasingly disgusted with Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman: it seems that they increasingly feature layouts that are 10 x 12, 15 x 20 and larger. It's great to see someone who's still working with the old 4x8 size and still making it work and packed with opportunities for scenery, structures and operations. Great job.
I love those big layouts but those are unachievable by most readers, and it would be better to feature the classic smaller track plans featured in the old Atlas, Fleishmann and Marklin catalogs and show how they can be achieved with 18 and 22 radius curves if needed, those huge layouts can be intimidating
Great design, I might use a couple of things from it.thankyou.
Hello my friend, I'll have to say that your track plan is quite unique by making the best use of your space without it being crowded. Good job !
Once you paint the plywood s light tan to simulate earth and maybe spray the divider with a lite grey or tan wash it will give the layout a different look and feel.
Nice layout, great start. Can't wait to see it finished....
Thank you.
Awesome layout for a 4÷8 ,,,one of the best i seen so far ,,,cant wait till its finished ,,,,thanks for sharing i just subscribed ,,,,Ken
Thank you for subscribing to the channel. Thank you for the kind compliment as well.
Beautiful start bud. The scenery is going to be stellar! Keep it up!
Thank you. Hopefully here soon I will be able to get some scenery going. If i can get past the road building phase.
I love how this layout is coming along. I particularly like the double track section coming from the coal mine. I imagine operations on this layout will be quite fun for the size. Might copy this layout, although widen it slightly to accommodate 22” radius curves minimum and a #4 turnout minimum for running larger locomotives. I look forward to see where this project goes!
I love small layouts.
Look awsome for a 4x8.
I am doing 4x8 and I recently decided to give N scale a shot. I have always thought 4x8 is kinda small for H.O. but you made a lot of a small area.
Fantastic layout.
Great use of space!!!!
Thank you.
Nice layout. I like the old school dc.
Thank you. I do enjoy running DC. As I only build small layouts I can't justify converting to DCC. Not that the thought hasn't crossed my mind.
Cool, man. That 4X8 sheet is worth nearly a hundred bucks now. Lol. If I ever get to build a layout it'll be DC. That being a dream I go on and and dream of both DC and DCC because I have too much 40+ year old engines that I would like to run.
My first HO layout I did it small to get a feel it was 4x6. I used a 4x8 sheet and cut some of it off and used the excess wood to help build my mountain and tunnel section. I had a dual turn on one side an inside turn around the town and an out side turn that went into the mountain. One siding for the train station and two turn outs for a woodworking industry and a metal factory. I could have gone bigger but I want to go small to start with so I could get a feel for the hobby. I built everything with Bachman products and it was just DC not DCC.
I built a 4x6 as well a few years back. For the same reason. My construction wasn't great at all. When I had to move it fell apart. Lesson learned the hard way. I've only ever modeled DC for my layouts. I'm a lone operator and don't see the need for DCC. I have tried DCC and just didn't like it at all. So it's DC for me. Thanks for the comment.
Nice setup. Thank you for sharing.
Nice!
Looks the basis of a great little layout. Just subbed. Cheers,jim
Thank you for subscribing to the channel.
That's the size I want to do 4x8 Plywood 😊 Thanks
Looks great so far!
I'm building the same size since I'm N scale on a 2x4' layout...
Nice work so far! IMHO ONLY......I''d raise the company houses and church up off level as it seems these were always built on land not good for much else! Are they kits??? Whose? I have a Gloorcraft C&O Marlinton station kit I'll build someday!
I have been playing around with the thought of elevating that section. The houses are City Classics kits. The church is an older Life Like kit. Thank you for commenting on the channel.
Nice job👍A lot in a small space .
Thank you
Great start to a awesome layout I'll subscribe ! Look great already !
Love the the divider I just started mine not long ago and put up a couple of videos myself .
Thank you. I couldn't fit what I wanted on the layout without doing the divider the way I did. Its definitely a space saving technique that really does work. Now to just do it up right.
looks like a nice start......
Thank you.
Looks Great !
Looks good. Keep er moving.
Great looking layout. However, I strongly suggest replacing the Atlas Snap turnouts. The Snap turnouts have a sharper diverging route because of their #3.5 frog angle. Atlas Mark IV Custom Line has a #4 and #6 frog angles. You can cut down a #6 to the 9-inch length of a #4 to fit in place of the other turnouts. The snap turnouts have plastic frogs that wear down quickly over time and can not be powered. Hope this helps.
A very nice layout. I've been to West Virginia, though it was nearly twenty years ago and I didn't see any of the coal mines or fields when I was there. I'll also have a coal industry on my (DCC-controlled) layout, though it likely won't be as complex as yours.
I Still think it’s gonna Look Great when Done.
Great layout! Really coming along nicely! I have a dogbone style layout on two 4x8 sheets! I am a new subscriber to your channel! Cheers Brian
Thank you. I know I'm a month behind on this. However I do appreciate your support of the channel.
Hope your Layout works out for ya.
Looks great....
Thank you
On a 4x8 Table it’s Hard to Run A Large Train Looks Good.
I couldn't agree more. Running 6 car trains max is a bit of a let down. However working with what I have to work with I cant really complain too much. Thank you for your comment.
That's why i do n scale my layout is 8 feet long 4 feet another 8 feet and 4 feet apart you can stand in the middle can run 25 to 30 cars .and a 7 car freight yard holds 50 cars
Nice work
This is coming along great!
Thank you
good deal, you managed t make the most of that 4x8' size...i got the trains bug again after 30yrs hiatus
Thank you and welcome back to the hobby.
That Table is Gonna Get Bigger.
nice
Looks great!
Thank you.