Comments on: Mallory Needs Advice Setting Up ON30 Bachmann Train Sets

By: laser hair removal nyc

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By: jonathan

jonathan — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 11:11:04 +0000

I don’t know if sky blue paint on the posts will make them “vanish” to the viewers. Experiment with a mirror parallel to the longer runs of the layout, only on a post or several posts. If the mirror runs up to eye-level, some viewers might set up photo shots where they see both the trains and themselves — documentation that they “were actually there”.

I agree with the suggestion of slight inclines to enable crossovers without train slowdowns.
If you accomplish that, you might even set up a nearly parallel route with a different train. Two trains might run alongside one another at one stretch, and “oppose” one another in a second stretch. How about one train for passengers and another for freight, running at very different speeds.

In showplace layouts I’ve seen, one of the most entertaining features is the surprise of a train emerging from a very long underground run, because the train’s entrance is unobserved. Definitely make those underground runs as straight as possible so you don’t have to open a mountain to fix a derailment.

You mention needing more than one power supply — I suppose because of power loss along the track. Try, instead, running stranded (not solid core) wire from the power supply to additional power-tapped tracks at large intervals. Stranded is the usual for appliance cord. So you don’t accidentally cross the wires, use wire with a stripe along one conductor.

If you have model stations and your train(s) naturally slow at some point due to power-loss, position the power-feeds so that the train(s) slow at the stations.

Another idea: If you have some control over local illumination, put the lighting on a timer, with the usual brightness of shopping lights alternating over about an hour with dimmed lighting to bring out lighted scenery, lighted passenger cars, and engine headlights.

When you’re done, post some pictures, preferably with enchanted kids looking on.

Jonathan

By: Lloyd Miller

Lloyd Miller — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:02:12 +0000

What I have done in a situation as you have is to build two seperate layouts. What I mean by this is build your visual layout on the top level, and your return or twist section of layout on the bottom level. You were talking about a dogbone configuration, but were concerned about using up a lot of space.
Visually in your mind picture how you want your train to appear to visitors. Now on the lower level, ( which is out of view by means of side covers ) you can run cross-overs or what ever to bring the track back to the top level on a parell track or in the opposite direction. This works very well with tunnels as the train is out of view for such a long time. The incline can be of 2 – 3 degrees drop and not affect the performance of the engine. Hope this helps and gives you a few ideas of your own. Good Luck

By: Mallory

Mallory — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:55:30 +0000

Unfortunately not a permanent layout. Exhibit runs 2 weeks, plus an extra weekend.

I thought of using a background divider but visitors really need to be able to see across the village to the decorated trees on either side.

Yes, I just ignore the posts… screen them off with trees. I’ve thought of putting a background scene on the posts, such as a bridge going into a park.

My main question is for ideas on how to lay out the track, avoiding the posts and leaving ample space for the village.

Thanks!

Mallory

By: Tom Blanchard

Tom Blanchard — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:00:55 +0000

I have a couple of comments. First a question: Is this a permanent layout? First: Consentrate on your layout and forget the posts in the middle. You need to focus the attention of the observers on the layout and not the posts. Second: paint the posts sky blue and put some clouds on them. Third: You can also put backdrops between the posts made of 1/4 plywood about 2′ high and paint the backdrops and the posts with scenery.