Have you ever built a layout straight from a book?

[Steve Cook]

Having posted on the Layout Design book thread, I went upstairs to count how many layout plan books I'd actually got. Now I know I'm a sucker for these kind of books, but if you include the Peco offerings (booklets, Setrack plan books etc), I'm up into the 30's 

I had been thinking that despite looking through what must be hundreds of plans, I've never actually built one as the author intended (mind you, I haven't built a lot of layouts either!). Some have served as inspiration, but they seem to exist on my shelf for 'digestion and rumination' rather than as motivation.

Plans are afoot to change this, but my question is has anyone here seen a plan in a plan book, and just built it? If so, care to share?

Steve

 

[Graham Powell]

Hi Steve,
I built one of C J Freezers OO plans in Gauge O. Once all the track was down, wiring completed and all working I did my usual trick with layouts and ripped it all up again. My wife will tell you - layouts and me don't get on. I'd rather be bashing hell out of some piece of metal in the workshop. I've been tempted by CJF MInories
plans but the layout I have now is another CJF one only no room for extra sidings or engine sheds.
rgds
Graham Powell

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

... my question is has anyone here seen a plan in a plan book, and just built it? If so, care to share?

Yes... well, very nearly... :scratch:
Twice I've closely copied trackplans published in magazine articles, both in N scale, and quite successful layouts they were, too. Will have to elaborate later.

 

[Steve Cook]

Cheers gents, thats two more than I thought  ;D

Hope the current layout is doing better than the last one Graham..

Steve

 

[Graham Powell]

Progress is very slow Steve. Layouts and I just don't get on.  Thats the beauty of the garden , just lay the track and play trains. Well I would if it wasn't so wet down there. I used to say run it the summer, built the trains in the winter. Maybe thats the answer.
rgds
Graham Powell

 

[Steve Cook]

Progress is very slow Steve. Layouts and I just don't get on. 

Thats a shame Graham, but I guess its one of the downsides in modelling in the larger scales. Building baseboards and laying track is barely 25% of the job, maybe thats why I like dioramas so much.

Thats the beauty of the garden , just lay the track and play trains. Well I would if it wasn't so wet down there. I used to say run it the summer, built the trains in the winter. Maybe thats the answer.

Absolutely, although I didn't use mine enough this year. Still, with winter coming up, there are plenty of projects (large and small) to be getting on with to make next year more of a success...do wonder whether I should have built a snow plough for this year though  :scratch:

Steve

 

[Neil]

I think I'm far too bloody minded to build from published plans. Before I reached the spotty teenager phase of life I do remember being consciously more influenced by other peples layouts than I did by plans even though I had all three of the CJF/Peco layout plan books. However it would be unfair to claim total originality of thought these days as I'm sure that all the books, magazines and layouts i've seen have had a part to play as well as photos and visitis to the prototype.

Perhaps this proves my brain is a jumbled mush of everything, incapable of focussing on just one thing at a time.

 

[Graham Powell]

Many years ago I saw in the Railway Modeller a layout of the Highland Railway built by the late Gavin Wilson.  I just wondered if anybody else remembers seeing it?.
To my mind , it was the finest layout I've ever seen though probably not by todays standards. It was 00 and stud contact. Everything was scratchbuilt. Just recently I was given a copy of one of Edward Beal's books and there is a track plan of the layout in there. It also says that building the baseboards and laying the track took 2 -1/2 years.  I'm lucky in that I know Ken Payne with his LMS layout and also another chap who has a brilliant 00 model of Chippenham which is operated to a timetable by three operators.  I think my one big regret is getting into 7mm because I could never get 4mm to work. I'm also very sorry I never built a model of the Festiniog Railway which is by far my favourite. Still, too old to change now so its back to metal bashing in the workshop.
regards
Graham Powell 8) :wave:

 

[iploffy]

I dont think I have ever completed a full layout wired sceneified there was always something to do something not quite right looks unprototypical so I stole a full size plan and adapted it

Ian

 

[28ten]

I have just been looking at Barry Normans book, there are a couple in there that tickle my fancy  Overall I could build a couple of his designs as they are very much in line with my ideas. mind you the chances of me building a layout are rapidly diminishing, as despite having space available time for such things is in short supply.

 

[Phill Dyson]

  so I stole a full size plan and adapted it

Ian

That approach worked for me with Ilfracombe too, I also found it helped with getting the overall look of the layout right too 

 

[Phill Dyson]

Hi Graham :wave:

More shared interests!

I have corresponded with Ken and he has very kindly sent me brick papers etc in the past. Ive always loved Kendale - although a million miles away from what I model - also a fan of Jack Ray's and David Jenkinson's work too

I love timetable working too it gives a model purpose.

Cheers,

CME :wave:

Another David Jenkinson & Ken Payne fan here too :wave: I agree that a proper working timetable creates & more importantly sustains  interest in a layout too 

Cheers Phill

 

[Graham Powell]

My friends Chippenham layout I think is one of the best in the country. It is run on the 1948 WTT and trains run from Paddington to Bristol and vice versa.  I think in the years I've been going there I've only ever seen one derailment. Bit like Ken's where you just don't get derailments!. Rigid chassis, Mashima motors and it runs for hours.
Not all the latest ideas are that good. Two brilliant modellers and delightful hosts into the bargain.
rgds
Graham Powell

 

[D6331]

Despite a head and a small book full of layout ideas - tricky thinking of something original tho - I did once part build a layout from a book. After track laying, wiring and testing, I donned my Beeching hat (looks quite dashing at a certain angle) and removed it all. This has happened on more than one occasion with other ideas.  :-[

I currently have a lump of pinky/orange insulation foam, some code 75 & points and no idea what to do!
I'm also trying to "finish" off my micro in O.

Where's me hat  :scratch:

Roger

 

[Graham Powell]

Hi, I 've laid, wired up, got working at least four layouts in my spare bedroom upstairs and then ripped them all up again. Proper little Beeching I am. Now however my wife says she wants to do the scenery which really likes doing . She did the scenery on my broad gauge layout Gatcombe. By the way, if you want to see pictures of Gatcombe go to the Broad Gauge Society website, click on exhibitions, Swindon and Gatcombe is listed.  Anyway, as I said, she is doing the scenery so I might end up with a nice layout!.
regards
Graham Powell ;D :wave:

 

[Alan]

Several of my layouts have been heavily based on CJF's designs but only the first one I built some 35+ years ago was exactly as he designed. My present one (Wencombe) is based on one of his (Yarlington Junction) but there are a couple of sidings missing and the shed area has been made smaller.

 

[bogusman]

Hello guys
Having read this thread I hope you can help with my dilemma. Next year I will finally start to build my layout I have looked at various track plans in  MRJs and books by Barry Norman and Ian Rice. I have looked at loco depots, junction stations (Chacewater and a modified Bourne end) even terminus stations as I have always had a soft spot for Borchester market. I have now decided on the Redruth track plan in Barry Normans book as it has an urban feel about it and it will be a roundy roundy type and I do like watching trains run by, I may even add a dairy depot and do away with the goods shed as I like milk traffic. I hope I have not hijacked this thread but since this was about track plans from a book I thought this would be an ideal place to ask for your thoughts on my dilemma and any suggestions.

Pete       

 

[Alan]

I must admit that I do like that particular track plan. Go for it and Good Luck