Layout Design Tips
Layout
Design Tips...
Layout Design is critical. If you have a bad design,
or no design at all, your model railroad will fail. My tips here
will be added as I go.
Tip 1: Plan, Plan, Plan. You should spend at least
as much time planning as building. I started planning in 1997 for
my layout and broke ground in 2000. I learned so much in those three
years, I can't imagine have starting any earlier. In those 3 years
I did things that didn't require planning, so that once the track is laid
down progress will go quickly. You can build structures, locomotives,
etc as you plan the layout. Painting people and small details and
storing them until needed makes your layout really progress quickly.
Tip 2: Build in modules. I use 3, 4, or 5 foot sections
of varying width. The modules can then be disconnected and moved
if need be. Below are two sections butted up against each other.
Tip 3: Drill holes in your cross beams. This
will allow you to put wires inside the holes so they don't dangle below
the layout. Below you can see I drill three 3/4 inch holes in the
cross beams.
