09-09-2009, 06:17 PM
nachoman Wrote:I think the closest I can think of to what you are describing (if I understand you correctly) is a weird octagon layout featured in Model Railroader back in the early 1990s. It was N scale, based on conrail, and had a big mountain in the center. I thought it was quite creative. I have seen several others that are up against only one wall but otherwise protrude into the room, basically just one penninsula (sometimes an irregularly shaped penninsula).
Many, many people will tell you the shelf layout is the way to go. But I think that layout style has drawbacks for rooms that have many windows and doors. The shelf works best in a basement. Personally, I refuse to block any door or window, even a closet door (claustrophobia speaking). I also think that shelves are too narrow to represent mountainous scenery. Sure, you can get that feel a little bit in the corners or on any penninsulas, but along a 24" wide shelf, it is pretty difficult to create the illusion of an extensive mountian range. Sure, there are some talented backdrop painters, but a backdrop is still a 2-d backdrop.
I am curious what you come up with here.
My problem, exactly. The room has a standard door, a double patio door, a sliding pocket door and a walk-in closet door. In the middle of the remaining wall, the best one, too, there is a window. If I were to use the long wall with the window, I would have trouble laying out the curves I would need to best utilize the space by doubling back and so forth, so I'm looking at a sort of free-form layout that allows me to work around the perimeter, eliminate some of the switchbacks, and use the mountain(s) as a means of controlling the view at any given moment. I'm also thinking that it might allow better access all around to under-the-table staging yards.
I'm curious what I will come with, too!
