1st Layout help

[Brighty]

Hi all

I'm new to all this, but having just got my first little santa express set running round the xmas tree, i'm now looking forward to getting my sons xmas present, Pennine Express set R1158, up and running in the new year.

I've done my research and know what i'm planning to do in terms of base board, but am now wondering what to do in terms of layout?

Thinking about what i'm looking for it to do, i want a 6'x4 base with a double oval setup, so i can leave 2 locos whizzing round to keep my young 6yr old boy entertained for now, but also with plenty of sidings etc to keep him/me interested as he gets older. Plan is to run the setup with a controller for each oval, as i have the extra one i can borrow from the santa express when it's not in use as an xmas decoration.

My initial thought was to just go with the trackmat layout, but i understand that the 1st radius bends in the middle are a problem, plus i read there are more interesting layouts out therehttp://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/Brighty123_photos/trackmat.jpg

So i took myself off to freetrackplans.com and had a good look through some layouts and spotted what i thought was a good looking layout, simply called 'double oval'

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/Brighty123_photos/double%20oval.jpg

Looks good i thought, so downloaded it into anyrail, only to see the inner oval is 1st rad, so no good.

I then had a play with trying to increase it to a 2nd&3rd rad oval, within my 6x4 base. Had a bit of bother with the top left corner, due to points being 2nd rad, so wouldn't match up, so i ended up with this

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/Brighty123_photos/double%20oval%20mod.jpg

Looks ok, but perhaps a little boring? So, how about combing the above central sidings into the trackmat layout, this is what that ended up like

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/Brighty123_photos/trackmat%20mod.jpg

Or how about adding a level crossing into it?

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/Brighty123_photos/trackmat%20mod%20lvl%20xing.jpg

 

What do people think of the above 3 homemade layouts? Any problems with any of them? Any comments to improve? Which would you build?

Any feedback appreciated

Thanks

Brighty

[mjb1961]

Hi Brighty ,,,,don't use 1st radius curves ,,,,on the 6x4 board you can have a double oval ,2nd and 3rd radius ,,,,if you went with the top plan I would do away with the siding at the very top ,that way you could have a through station with a footbridge spanning the double tracks ,I can't tell you anything about controlling the layout with 2controllers because I run dcc ,someone else will though ,,,I had a 6 x4 board when I first started out and had a double oval ,through station ,a tunnel at one end ,a small goods yard ,I would also try to reconfigure the siding on the inside to something like the very bottom layout ,you could also use the siding from the top and add this to the reconfigured internal siding ,that is where you could store some rolling stock ,,by doing that it will give you adequate space in the middle to add a road and some buildings ,,,,hope I've made some sense ,,,,,sorry I can't upload a picture of what I'm suggesting but I'm to thick to be able to upload them,,,Martin 

[2e0dtoeric]

Have a look at the posting called -

Getting Started with Track Extension Packs

 

in the yellow band at the top of the headings page. You will find a lot of advice in there which is what you are looking for.

[Brighty]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I've read that extension pack post, brilliant little document. Now have a handle on how to wire up my double oval with 2 controllers.

 

Anyone got any other comments on my bottom 2 custom layouts? Any obvious flaws i'm not spotting? Any other layout suggestions for an interesting double oval 6x4 setup?

 

Thanks

 

Brighty

[2e0dtoeric]

Just bear in mind that first and second radius curves are too tight for anything bigger than a little shunting engine. So when you get more ambitious, and get a big 'express' type engine, you will find it won't go round anything less than a third rad!

[Jimbo1707820979]

From your bottom suggested layout I would certainly recommend including a level crossing. Our 5-6 year old Little Controller loves opening and closing the gates and it also gives you the option of adding some model lorries or cars, of which I am sure your son already has plenty. 😆  (but make sure they are the right scale of course).  Also adding signal to operate.  Hope this suggestion is useful.