Last Monday, we moved into our new (to us) home. As things are now well on their way to being un-packed, I'm starting to turn my attention towards the new layout.

The basics:

The main are is approximately 25'x25', but some space is lost to the furnace, water heater, stairs, and a closet. There is also a 20'x10' extension. I largely have my trackplan worked out as an around the wall deal with a return loop on the center peninsula (probable helix down to a lower level/staging). The mainline will be a over a scale mile one way, 2+ miles if it is doubledeck.

The prototype will be the Oahu Railway, with a rubber date of 1937-1947. Rubber, as the mainline retain the double track from Honolulu to the Waipahu Jct which was historically removed in 1937...but the route will otherwise be 1945-46. The motive power roster will also receive a little artistic license, with the diesels left off and some of the retired engines still being in service (the 4-4-0s and smaller 0-6-0s).

Construction will begin on just a short stretch of the line, with the partial finishing of the basement to be performed as needed. I'll start with the wall studs and insulation. I'll add the drop ceiling fairly early on, but not right away. There will be flooring in time, but I'm not sure that I'll actually add any paneling/dry wall to the walls, as I'll have backdrops serving in that role.

The layout will probably consist of a foam base reinforced with cheap metal angle stock ($2-3 for a 10' piece...far more rigid and lighter weight than a 2x4). The angle stock will be bolted to corner braces which will be attached to the studs. The leading contenders for these corner braces are 6" braces for around a $1 each. The corner braces will be such that the material is vertical and not horizontal, so that they'll be stronger than the 12" shelf brackets I've seen used by other modelers.

I plan to start something like an 8' section initially...to test it.

Good news Michael.
We will all look forward to your progress reports. No wonder you have been quiet lately. Good luck with the new place, It sounds like a great train building room, with room for expansion.
Charlie

Sounds great! We're looking forward to lots of pics as layout construction begins. Can you give us a sneak preview of the overall area and what you have planned?

Congratulations on the new home and the opportunity to build a new layout! Did you see the Hawaii themed layout in one of the recent issues of MR?

Sounds like an ideal situation, Michael: a new layout room with a house to keep the weather out.

For layout construction, I've heard that steel studs are easy to work with.

Wayne

Good luck in the new house and the opportunity to build a brand new layout from scratch.

Sounds great - congratulations with the new layout room !

Smile,
Stein

Thanks for the congrats! I'll post my basic trackplan, with room dimensions, soon.

Ironically enough, Wayne, a local modeler liked his layout, but not his house...so he had the house demolished and a new one built...over the same basement without harming his layout!

In the meantime, here's a couple Oahu Railway clips to enjoy:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675062970_railroad-station_buildings-along-a-side_train-passing_equipment-loaded-on-train">http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... d-on-train</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675037186_cars-and-trucks_passenger-train_railway-crossing_passengers_pullman-cars">http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... llman-cars</a><!-- m -->

Definitely an interesting prototype. Are the men on the boxcars in the first video armed guards? And no caboose! Also, the passenger train in the second video is interesting. #1 it is LONG and it is FULL. What was the occasion? #2 check out the boxcar doors on the passenger cars! Was there a reason for this?