My small tram layout in progress

[jhoops01]

Still waiting for a turnout and a curve. Maybe this year? Anyway, work in progress. Scenery, people and lots of buses to add. I had this as part of my main layout, but decided to split off.

[brill27mcb]

Nice little tram layout! Good idea to split it off - I am a firm believer that trams can and should be the focus of a layout themselves, not just an accessory or gimmick added to a main line railroad layout. The built-up urban effect is also very good. That's the best use of Unitram.

 

Rich K.

[jhoops01]

Thanks! Dumb question. Do trams run really slow? I’ve cleaned the track and wheels, but they’re slow, even at full throttle. 
 

Joe

[MeTheSwede]

The trams are geared for lower running speeds, to allow for smoother running at low speed.

 

Thanks for sharing the photo. I find the layout already very inspirational in this state of progress. I think the overall shape with the three city blocks of high-rise buildings works very well at getting the big city effect, without having to go overboard with the layout sizewise.

 

I think with some people, road vehicles and a backdrop (which doesn't have to be anything more advanced than a skyblue board) it should be possible to rather quickly get to a point where the layout looks a lot more "finished".

[brill27mcb]

They should not run terribly slow, just reasonably slow. Looks like yours are all the Kato Portram/Centram and Hiroshima LEX designs, judging by the fact that they have interior details.

 

From your photo, I've drawn an Anyrail plan of what I think you intend to be your final track design. You will have a few plate overlap areas at the zig-zag curves in the center of the layout do deal with, but I see you have been making pieces to fill in areas.

 

I like the use of the Kato park to fill that space in the middle. Your gray color seems to be a perfect match for Kato's street color. Do you remember the brand and color name that you used?

 

Rich K.

[jhoops01]

10 hours ago, MeTheSwede said:

 

I think with some people, road vehicles and a backdrop (which doesn't have to be anything more advanced than a skyblue board) it should be possible to rather quickly get to a point where the layout looks a lot more "finished".

I’ve got some vehicles to add, just need people. I also have to pickup a piece of Masonite for the backdrop. Thanks for the comments.

[jhoops01]

@brill27mcb Thanks for the anyrail. That’s the plan. I have some black Sinatra board that I use to fill in the gaps. The paint is Apple Barrel 2620e Pewter Grey. I got it at Michael’s. 
 

Joe

[jhoops01]

Update: Added a backdrop, but not happy with the color. Cut some plates to fill in. Put some trim Masonite around the front and side.

[jhoops01]

I finally located my Kato backdrop and added it temporarily for some depth and a better color sky. 

[cteno4]

Nice! coming along getting built up. Backdrops are really tricky, it’s a part of the hobby where my brain does not work so well.

 

if you want some cheap cars to just fill in for now these 1/150 architecture model cars are decent, not Tomytec quality or detail but only like 11 cents each!

 

jeff

[MeTheSwede]

This is a lot of progress in just one week!

 

Maybe cutting out the buildings from the Kato backdrop and attaching them to the backdrop board would work?

[jhoops01]

Thanks! That's a great idea. I'll work on it tonight.

 

Joe

[Robsr]

Could I ask what the off-set is at the S bends in the middle as I’m thinking of putting just one in at the “front” and keeping the “back” side straight.

id like to think it’ll be 62mm, enabling a short straight to be put in the wider end but I’m not 100% sure and would have to do the same as this layout if my original idea doesn’t work. 
thanks

[brill27mcb]

Looks like we're not that lucky. Both the length and offset of the S-bend "zig-zag" are irregular:

 

 

The grid lines in the drawing are spaced at 62 mm.

 

Rich K

[Robsr]

That’s a shame. So it seems that every twist or turn has to be matched exactly although the S-bends won’t have to be opposite each other as long as their is one on each “side” of the layout. 

[bill937ca]

That is the geometry of Unitram. If those curves didn't expand you could do so much more.

[Jeff925]

Just curious, but how big is this layout?