| It's not very hard to make a layout if you have a | | | | Another track design is the figure eight, which is |
| plan. Keep in mind that there is no race to | | | | self-explanatory. If you plan to run more than one |
| complete your setup within a certain timeframe. | | | | train simultaneously on this track, watch out for |
| Modeling is an ongoing process, and you may | | | | crashes. |
| never finish the setup completely. This hobby is | | | | One of the most used layouts is the oval track, |
| intended to be therapeutic and fun. It should | | | | and there are many variations of this. You may |
| never become an obsession to reach a "finish line." | | | | want turnouts and switchers for variety and |
| You may have an actual geographical area that | | | | sidetracks to park one engine while another is |
| you want to represent with your benchwork. A | | | | running. |
| scaled map of the area is good to have as a | | | | Flexible track is one of the best inventions ever |
| start, and you need plenty of pictures of the | | | | made for model railroads. It helps to tie track |
| setting to portray it realistically. You may want to | | | | back together when you don't have the exact |
| visit the site and get measurements of the sizes | | | | arch you need or when you just want to create |
| of buildings, distances of signs from the crossing, | | | | something different from the straight or curved |
| and so on. The more information and pictures you | | | | track. These pieces may have to be cut and |
| have, the better you will be able to construct the | | | | soldered together to make everything work |
| scene accurately. | | | | correctly, and it is very important that they |
| The simplest, and dullest, track layout is the circle. | | | | match at the joints. This will keep your train from |
| Not many hobbyists use this, but the point to | | | | wrecking. |
| make is that your benchwork has to be large | | | | As mentioned earlier, you will need to have a plan |
| enough for the diameter of the circle. Similarly, | | | | before you start to construct anything. When you |
| when you have a design for the train to make a | | | | know what your space is and what type |
| full 180 degree turn, you have to know what the | | | | configuration you will have, draw it on paper, and |
| minimum radius is for your train. | | | | draw it to a scale. A plan with no scale won't help |
| Obviously, this depends on the scale of your | | | | you calculate track, or anything else for that |
| model, but it also varies from one train | | | | matter. |
| manufacturer to another. Any design you have | | | | Before you get concerned with the scenery and |
| will need to be a little wider than the diameter of | | | | lighting, be sure you have a track layout that |
| the turn. If the train lists a turning radius, you will | | | | works on your benchwork. Model railroads layouts |
| need to double that for the width of your | | | | can be tricky if you don't preplan your designs. |
| benchwork. | | | | |