VJM Posted March 11, 2015 Some of you may have seen glimpses of my layout. Now that it is largely finished, I'll post a few progressive pictures. The trackplan is a modified version of the one found in Vol 61 (Dec 2011) of Japan Nine Scale World Magazine. The layout measures 4m x 1.2m. I was also lucky enough to have a brilliant artist as a friend who did the scenery. Track part check and layout sanity testing 1 Quote Share this post Link to post
VJM Posted March 11, 2015 The finished layout And the night view... 22 1 Quote Share this post Link to post
enodenlover Posted March 11, 2015 Absolutely gorgeous. I'm eight different shades of green with envy. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post
JR 500系 Posted March 11, 2015 Beautiful! I liked the mountain a lot! I see 4 tracks and 4 controllers, that's nice! The lighted up city sure looks like a real city, very nice effect! Just one humble suggestion, Perhaps some lighting between the city region and the mountain region will be nice, like along a vehicular road or something. Right now it looks detached without the lights in the middle ~ :) Quote Share this post Link to post
stevenh Posted March 12, 2015 I.. can't... the photos are beautiful, let alone the layout. Well done and amazing work! Quote Share this post Link to post
Bernard Posted March 12, 2015 Beautiful layout! and you have one talented friend! Quote Share this post Link to post
cteno4 Posted March 12, 2015 Vjm Great work! Really lovely layout! Kudos! Jeff 1 Quote Share this post Link to post
VJM Posted March 12, 2015 A Kato Taisetsu cruising up the mainline 2 Quote Share this post Link to post
kvp Posted March 12, 2015 Great layout! If i couldn't view the first picture, i would have a very hard time guessing which track is going where. Nice idea to combine a double track 8 with a single track loop and something like a single track branchline, that actually looks part of a quad track mainline at some points. This is very unique. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post
zartan Posted March 12, 2015 Spectacular! Congratulations. Could you post dimensions and a track plan? Quote Share this post Link to post
zartan Posted March 12, 2015 never mind, I see the dimensions now - but would like to see a track plan if you have one. Quote Share this post Link to post
katoftw Posted March 12, 2015 I love the track plan. 2 inner tracks are figure of 8s, and the outside tracks are one big giant loop around with a link/block under the mountain to allow direction change. Quote Share this post Link to post
kvp Posted March 12, 2015 2 inner tracks are figure of 8s, and the outside tracks are one big giant loop around with a link/block under the mountain to allow direction change. Not quite. The two middle tracks are the figure 8, while the outer single track loop has a branch, that optically reverses direction, then joins the outer loop in the same direction. It works as a very tricky long siding, so no polarity reversal is required. It looks to run in the opposing direction since it runs parallel with the other side of the same loop like a folded dogbone stuffed into a figure 8. The effect is that a train can be sent around the outside loop only or half way on the outside, then on the the inside loop and back to the outside loop. It would pass the quad track section in both directions on the outer tracks without changing direction or running through the same track twice. This is a really good idea! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post
JR 500系 Posted March 13, 2015 Not quite. The two middle tracks are the figure 8, while the outer single track loop has a branch, that optically reverses direction, then joins the outer loop in the same direction. It works as a very tricky long siding, so no polarity reversal is required. It looks to run in the opposing direction since it runs parallel with the other side of the same loop like a folded dogbone stuffed into a figure 8. The effect is that a train can be sent around the outside loop only or half way on the outside, then on the the inside loop and back to the outside loop. It would pass the quad track section in both directions on the outer tracks without changing direction or running through the same track twice. This is a really good idea! That sounds confusing... Sorry i'm lost. A video would be a very nice illustration. :) But I do agree it's a really nice track plan! Quote Share this post Link to post
stevenh Posted March 13, 2015 Can you please take closer photos of the two derelict carriages? One seems to be abandoned in the cut off track... the other you've added lights to? Restaurant? Quote Share this post Link to post
Mudkip Orange Posted March 13, 2015 Figure 8 inside of a folded dogbone with an "idiot running" oval bypass. I like it. Quote Share this post Link to post
tossedman Posted March 13, 2015 Yeah! What he said! Great layout. Nice use of space. Quote Share this post Link to post
westfalen Posted March 13, 2015 What else can I say, that's a very nice layout. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post
VJM Posted March 13, 2015 Not quite. The two middle tracks are the figure 8, while the outer single track loop has a branch, that optically reverses direction, then joins the outer loop in the same direction. It works as a very tricky long siding, so no polarity reversal is required. It looks to run in the opposing direction since it runs parallel with the other side of the same loop like a folded dogbone stuffed into a figure 8. The effect is that a train can be sent around the outside loop only or half way on the outside, then on the the inside loop and back to the outside loop. It would pass the quad track section in both directions on the outer tracks without changing direction or running through the same track twice. This is a really good idea! kvp has correctly identified and described the track plan. The effect is the appearance of 4 tracks, when there are in fact only 3, which is why I have only 3 speed controllers. The 4th is the turntable controller. I have one more speed controller coming, as we have isolated the tracks coming off the turntable to allow for some shunting type movements. There is a reason why I wrote "sanity testing" in the first post for the layout. Basically what happens is that the outside track runs either as a plain oval, or is sent via the inside by the points near the overhead bridge. As this track leaves the mountain it follows the inside of the high-speed pair, goes through the station and then joins back up to the original outer oval near the level crossing. The only other bit of trackwork not present in the first photo, but added as a bit of greedy megalomania, is a very steep spur line that runs to the onsen resort station at the top of the mountain. You can just make out this track leaving the outer mainline over the red girder bridge at the back. Quote Share this post Link to post
JohnD Posted March 13, 2015 What a beautiful layout! The landscape definitly looks japanese, and the track plan seems to be very clever, though simple. I am deeply impressed! Thanks for sharing! Quote Share this post Link to post