Well guys I've gone and done it this time, I've started a blog http://hootersvillelayout.blogspot.com
At a friends urging, well at least after he quit laughing he suggested that I start a blog on my adventures in building a layout. I commented on this earlier that I have never built a layout before but instead of putting together the traditional 4' X 8' oval layout, this layout is only going to be only 2' wide by 8' long but is not going to be a "timesaver/inglenook" puzzle layout. It is my goal to operate this small layout as a you would a larger layout meaning this railroad will have a purpose/ a reason for being. This will be a scenic'd layout using (you guessed it) cardstock buildings, I will be using Clever Model Kits, Scratch built cardstock (from my own mind) and Clever Model Kit bashed designs.

I do hope that you guys will follow me on this adventure and feel free to comment on What I'm doing and How I'm doing it. My biggest problem is that I have so many ideas floating around in my head that I'm both excited and flustered at the same time. I set up the blog as to not use this web site for my personal ramblings ( like I'm doing now.... sorry) on building my layout. Thanks in advance.

Steven,

I like the track plan.

John

Well being in the snow sure does help in the planning, I've gone from just a track plan to more of a layout plan. Now that I have identified possible operational areas, I can progress on to what do I see on the layout. This is fun!

Well golly ge, time to start cutten and a gluen. :) By the way, some time back I visited a train museum that has the original Hottersvile water tank. Took a couple of photos. You interested Steven?

Absolutely John, I'm sure that I can find a place for the Hootersville Water Tank. Send the pic to tulsadutch@yahoo.com

Another thing I was thinking last night, if you look at my layout pic on the blog I have places marked A thru F. I'm thinking spots:
(A) might be a small industrial business
(B) might be a Larger Commerical or Freight building
(C) Business district like the new 1st Street Collection from Clever Models
(D) I'm completely stumped as to what goes there yet
(E) I'm thinking Industrial or Housing
(F) Maybe some sort of Oil Field Supply here or maybe Housing (then diffently industrial in area E

I guess this is what makes modeling fun, ideas!

In the rightmost corner of area F, I think you might want to consider Plant #2, or maybe the Mercantile kits. They are interesting building shapes and might fit well within the track angle.

David Morrow
Knoxville, TN

You are quite right there, area "F" is a strange shape Plant #2 would be a good choice. I'm trying to keep that area in single story buildings as well.

lol you're trying to get me to buy another kit arn't you! btw, do you have any additional pictures of the Cream City Tool Works? I've been looking at that building the last few days. btw, I've posted a video to my blog showing the buildings that I've constructed over the last 4 months. I'm thinking that I have a 5 ft. long stretch along the back and I can't decide whether to put several industries there or put like a downtown industry in that area. I guess its a nice problem to have, this is what makes it fun to model.

Dang Thom your ploy worked! I kept looking at the "Cream City Tool" and saying to myself you know that would work in that place.................... Guess what ( I know you know but others don't ) I had to get the kit !! lol

I look forward to the build

I wanted you guys to know that I've made another post to the hootersville blog. Due to my lack of employment I've had to scale back my orginal layout for one that I have enough track for. I'm not sure how to Operate it.......... ( Yes I know I can hook power to it lol ). Is there a way to run operations on this layout? I asking for your suggestions.

Thanks in advance

Steven,

In looking at your new track plan, if you are to do any switching, a run around would be most helpfull. This would require 2 more turnouts.

John

Steven,

From your revised track layout I see that you have three switches to play with. I agree with John Humes - you really should incorporate a run-around. Think of this as a passing siding. That's two switches. Then add the third switch off the passing track. Add curves to vary the viewing perspectives. That will at least give you at least three stubs with three industries to switch. If you can add two more switches you could move up to John Allen's famous timesaver track plan. That could be used for puzzle solving and with modification go into a layout later. Here's the link: http://www.gdlines.com/Timesaver.html. Of course, Allen made the puzzle with limited siding lengths for puzzle purposes - I wouldn't necessarily do that. But I think you get the idea.

David

Here's the link. The period at the end of the prior post messes it up.

http://www.gdlines.com/Timesaver.html

David

my problem is that I only have 3 switches at this time so its kind of a bummer unless I want to live with a Skyhook. I thought about a Timesaver but that takes 5 switches. I never been much of a track designer I think my orginal Hootersville layout idea was a fluke but I'll take it. I'm just trying to find something fun to work with until I have the funding to do my orginal design. If anyone can design a layout that has only three switches I'd sure like to see it.

Steven,

If you are positively stuck with only three switches I still advise, as well as John Humes, that you have a run-around track. Here's my suggestion. Let use your Hootersville diagram. You have two tracks on the left and three on the right. Here's my suggestion. Remove the bottom left track and its switch. Remove the middle track on the right and its switch. You now have two switches. Connect the top right stub to the remaining left stub using the two switches. You now have a run around, a stub on the left, and two on the right. put industries there and hiide some of the track with structures.

It's not much but you are limiting yourself to only three switches.

Steven,

Sorry ...use your Hootersville II track plan.

David

Well I made another post on the Hootersville blog today, the design is still simple but I'm seeing it become more real. I found a real version of it close to my house being used by the Bama Pie company and I figure if it works for them surely it can work for me.