I did this 3.5 X 6 track plan with Atlas Track Plans. I am not sure if this plan will come to light but thinking hard on it. Any suggestions?
That could make for some interesting switching moves between the two spurs. One could be a supplier's track, and the other a customer's track. Mine-to-power plant comes to mind, or mine-to-steel mill, lumber processor to furniture factory, etc. Along with a roundy-round to just enjoy having a train running. It's pretty close to the second layout of my younger years, where my Dad crammed a lot of track, buildings and scenery into a 4 x 6.5 foot space (as a comparison, my current layout is about double that at 6 x 8). I had a lot of fun with that!
On one side track I was thinking of parking an engine with a couple of cars. That way I could run a train and have one waiting, than back that train into the other side track and run the second one.
I'm working on similar thing. Only mine is in N. The HOs will have to wait. It's got to be far better than just reading about it.
There is a lot of potential in that layout for as simple as it is. Some close detail work can make that really shine! The 3D render looks very cool
I am looking at this for my 3.5 x 6 foot layout. I have never used this strand board before. What do you guys think? Regular plywood is a lot more dollars. https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-2-4-ft-x-8-ft-Oriented-Strand-Board-660663/100072564
I used strand board on some modules, years back. It did not have, at least that lumber I had purchased, as smooth a surface as plywood. Otherwise all seemed to work as well as plywood. I do not recall if there were different surface qualities available, such as with plywood, or if it was just that one type?
It is heavier and it will easily separate if humidity is high. Also it doesn't hold screws very well. It's meant to just lay flat and not be as laterally supportive as plywood. But if you have a sturdy support to lay it on it should be good.
Might I offer a suggestion that will sound quite odd, but worked for me? Several years ago, I lived in Alaska, and didn't have space for a model railroad layout. I happened upon a compromise idea with my wife. I went to a hardware/lumber store, and picked up two kitchen sink cabinets, each 5 feet long. I placed them end to end in the family room. On top of them, I built an HO scale switching layout. Under that my wife got storage for household items. It worked magnificently until her passing and my selling it upon leaving Alaska.
It's a start. Plywood is 63" X 43". Two track layouts plans with 18" curves. The one with the inside loop uses 15" curves which I have only a few but I do have a number of pieces of flex track. We'll see what happens.
Here is one I just did with a 30 degree crossing. If I do this one I will need to learn to cut and lay down flex track.
I like that last one. There's a lot of potential for switching action, with plenty of distance because of the loopback plan. Flex track isn't hard to lay. Just have plenty of nails and glue, and plan ahead.
This is what I have so far. I will keep it simple. I might cut the plywood under the bridge for some kind of water feature if I leave it on the layout. I might make some kind of tunnel where the corner hill is. Man the track is dirty - will have to do some cleaning once it is laid down.
Dug up a photo from my first "cliff" during the early construction phase of my layout: Up to the brown dirt line is the part I molded in plaster with crinkled aluminum foil (I got that idea after unwrapping some food I did in the oven...). Over the top, sheets of paper towels soaked in plaster. Art paints of various earth tones put some color. Those are my first tree kits. Did a test run to check the clearances with the sharknose and a short train of different length cars. The wow moment came when I had the blinds open and the sun shone in just at the right angle to bring out the shapes.