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 Posted - September 10 2012 : 7:17:59 PM
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Okay, I've got an idea (uh oh) for a new layout. Who knows, maybe I'll have to build this sometime.
So, in real life, it's rarely the case that only the trains move while everything else stands still, including cars and trucks. Now, it seems that a lot of us on this forum are more into playing with trains for fun rather than for the scale accuracy, which I am just fine with. Now, in the train world, O gauge and HO gauge are the two main gauges/ scales that have just as much, if not more, "toy" grade equipment produced as scale equipment. S gauge also was mainly a toy gauge, but it can be a bit hard to find, and expensive to maintain, so let's stick with HO and O gauge.
What would you think of a multi-gauge layout that included O and HO trains, O & HO slot cars, and O RC cars?
My idea runs like this. Create an around-the-walls layout with two tiers. The O gauge railroad tracks (Lionel. Marx) would be towards the front of the layout, while the HO railroad would be further back, somewhat elevated on a hillside. Next, lay down O gauge slot car track paralleling and crossing over/under the O gauge railroad. The old Artin slot cars, (now sold under the Toys R Us "Fast Lane" name) are about O gauge I think, and are pretty solid vehicles for a very low price.
Halfway up the hillside would be a loop of HO slot car track (remember that HO slot cars are not the same scale as HO trains, even though tracks were made that allowed the HO cars to cross HO railroad track). If you can find/afford it, you could even throw some US-1 trucking in there, and maybe that trolleybus set if you have one. Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars would be also be set up along this road at businesses and parking lots, as they are about the same scale as HO slot cars.
Finally, just for fun, pick up a couple of these: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mini-Racer-Remote-Control-Car-in-a-Can-Black/20667465. I think these mini RC cars are about O scale, and could be driven on the O scale slot car roads, or other O scale roads you build on your layout. To make things more interesting, make a couple O gauge railroad crossings for the RC cars.
As I'm currently at college, I don't see myself building this layout until the perhaps summer break when I may be back at home. Nevertheless, I want to hear your thoughts on this. I think it'd be a great way to merge the many wonderful transportation toys, both old and new, into one great operable display that mimics real life perhaps more realistically than any scale layout to date (except for Miniatur Wunderland in Germany, of course).
Whaddya think? And do you think that a portable version would be successful at train shows?
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader?blend=1&ob=video-mustangbase
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Posted - September 10 2012 : 9:06:45 PM
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Oh, I think that would be well liked at train shows, for sure. That's one thing that's missing from most model railroads is "action", although to be fair, I see a little bit of animation taking hold on some modular layouts. But it is a rare sight. Most railroad modelers are more train-oriented than all-purpose oriented ( they get into the hobby for the trains, not the slot cars ). I think it would be fascinating to see an entire segment of a layout under animation, not just the trains. It's a major undertaking,though, to do both, which is why most Train Guys don't bother. You could be the new John Allen of animation, WER ! He took model railroading to new heights with his super-realistic scenery and weathering techniques, you might could do the same with multi-scale and road-and-track animation. I actually drew up a couple of HO train modules with a slot car switch-back mountain and hair-pin turns to fit it into 2x8 area. It would probably be a hit,but I haven't gotten past the paper-and-quill-pen phase yet.  Ok, actually I HAVE, I DID buy two of those hairpin turns, and had most of the basic track already, so I COULD do the track now, but I still have to build the modules and scenery. Right now I'm on SO-alert, the wife got on me to clean out the basement,it was/is packed tight, I now at least have some pathways after this weekend, and hope to get it "normalized" maybe in a few more weeks of progress. Maybe I can then find the indoor space to actually WORK on my modules instead of dreaming of them. Keep us up to date on what you do with your ideas.
Jerry in Virginia, USA
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - September 10 2012 : 9:32:40 PM
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For O scale and animation, check out the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, Pennsylvania...
Mike
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Posted - September 10 2012 : 10:54:16 PM
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It sounds like a pretty neat idea  The only thing I would say is keep in mind how much space that would need! If you actually got it build though it would look sweet and be hellafun to operate 
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Posted - September 10 2012 : 11:44:52 PM
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neat
On mine I'm gonna have a active volcano & a section of Street Running
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Posted - September 11 2012 : 06:43:30 AM
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This is a GREAT idea! I have seen it done as well!
There was a place in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in the area of "Kernville" that was called the "Hobby Barn" not to be confused with the "Choo Choo" Barn in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. But, anyway it had alot of whats being talked about here.....
Was awesome to see, however it was all HO scale.......And then there was another place that had O scale stuff set up sort of the same, this one was located in Turkey Foot, Pennsylvania, but I don't think the O scale version lasted very long.....
Hell, I'm not sure the Hobby Barn is still in business!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on September 11 2012 07:16:37 AM
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Posted - September 12 2012 : 12:07:00 PM
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if your're ever in Ft Myers, FL check this out. Of all places it's in a very high end assisted living complex. Plenty of animated displays covering every part of FL. There is also a completely furnished wood working shop, artist studio, and pottery shop.
The attention to detail is mind boggling like the first MacDonalds and K F C, Everglades, Ringling Brothers, Cape Canaveral, Miami Beach etc
http://www.shellpoint.org/trainroom/
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