Model Railway Forum

Twinwoods & Bedford - 01 - Layout Design

Together with hobby friend Nico the plan is to build a new layout in a spare bedroom. In this thread we like to post progress from time to time. We’ll go through all the steps, from first ideas, to design, to (3D) simulation, to woodwork, to track laying, mount point servo’s, add train feedback and create computer control. The plan is to add some videos along the way too.

No scenery in that list? Well … to be honest, creating beautiful scenery is not our forte. To us the emphasis of the hobby lies on the design, woodwork, track laing and then the automation. We’ll probably drive around with too many trains on too much track to make it look like anything ‘real’.

This is a link to video 01 - Layout Design

These were our criteria:
Available space: 4040 x 3700 mm
Scale: HO
Rail: Peco OO 75
Minimum radius: 600 mm
No need for much scenery
We like to have a lot of rails
It doesn’t have to resemble real world
We like to be able to drive around on a loop
We also like to drive dead end to dead end
We like to have a train viaduct, it enables a longer available track in the same space

This is the end result of our design efforts:

Will you be able to reach every square cm of the layout easily?

It doesn't show on the drawing, but the inverse C shaped area around the Twinwoods & Bletchley peninsula is the walking area.

So you can stand in the centre more or less. Will you have enough length for the gradients?

Indeed, the walking area is inside the layout as it were, maximum arm reach needed is less than 60 cm all around.

The gradients are the yellow tracks on the image. The peninsula gradient is 3%, the outer loop gradient is 2%. Should run fine.

In that case it looks very interesting.

Twinwoods & Bedford - 02 - Table Design

The track layout has round shapes. We like the tables to follow these rounds. This means a lot of saw work, with good accuracy.

The plan is to first draw the table lines on the wooden plates such that it’s easy to follow them with a jigsaw. We’ll first make a drawing with the correct dimensions in Fusion 360. Using a 10 cm grid we can transfer the table coordinates at the grid intersections to the wooden plates, on which we first also place the grid dots. Then we play ‘connect the dots' and we'll have the real size drawing on the wood.

The plus of using Fusion 360 is that once we have a drawing we can simply turn it into 3D shapes and get a good feel for how it’s going to look.

Another option could be to print the layout in real size via SCARM. But then to accurately place all A4 sheets on the wood and transfer them to saw lines is still a challenge.

We’re curious what other methods have been used to transfer the layout to the table and create accurate saw lines?

This is a link to video Twinwoods & Bedford - 02 - Table Design

Astonishing endeavor. Again, North American layout planning more often that not has passenger termini as more of an afterthought than a centerpiece of design. Most engaging.

Twinwoods & Bedford - 03 - Widen the Aisle

We had performed tests to investigate if we’d be able to pass through a narrow space of 30 cm. The tests were performed with two desks spaced 30 cm apart. The tests were positive, as in ‘it’s doable’, but deks are only 74 cm haigh, which means you pass them below your bum, with your legs. Yesterday we were able to perform similar tests with tables at the intended height of 110 cm … that’s a whole other matter. Now you pass the tables above your bum, with your belly. How come that does not fit nicely anymore? I have no idea.

Conclusion of the test was that we need to modify the layout. To create more aisle space we had to give up our criterion of a minimum curve diameter of 120 cm, we made the inner curve around Bletchley station 100 cm and we also created a small bend just after the turnouts into Bletchley. This had the desired result … we now have a 50 cm aisle width.

In the process the idea popped up to extend Bletchley station over the curve, creating a tunnel. This helps make the layout somewhat more interesting. It’s not decided yet … let’s say this has an 80% probability.

This is a link to video Twinwoods & Bedford - 03 - Widen the Aisle

Track is very close to the edge of the board. What will you use to prevent a loco falling off?