12-16-2011, 10:56 PM
As I read Justin, he seemingly wants to cut down on the area to scenic, since he feels he has bitten off more than he can chew with 2-3 hollow core doors - 30" of depth and 3 x 80" of length in N scale represents a strip of land about 3200 feet long and 400 feet deep.
So he wants to cut down the depth of his layout. At the same time he also still wants a spread out and sparse track plan - longish run, more space between more or less parallel tracks - and preferably no more than a 3 tracks between aisle and backdrop at any point. And he wants more foreground scenery again - in the form of bump-out industries. Which again works out to a track plan which still has a relatively high scenery to track ratio.
One possible way of turning what he already has into a narrower layout with less area to scenic would be to cut down on the depth. In principle, all that takes is an electric jigsaw (or a hand saw and patience), some clamps and a some straight pieces of wood to use as cutting guides. Easy enough to make the front angular instead of straight (for some variety), inserting pieces of wood between the door skins for stability, and then fastening a Masonite strip over the front for looks.
Of course - he might have to take up and move some track before cutting. Might be smart to take up some track so he can take out the doors one at a time and cut em somewhere else, too.
Grin,
Stein
So he wants to cut down the depth of his layout. At the same time he also still wants a spread out and sparse track plan - longish run, more space between more or less parallel tracks - and preferably no more than a 3 tracks between aisle and backdrop at any point. And he wants more foreground scenery again - in the form of bump-out industries. Which again works out to a track plan which still has a relatively high scenery to track ratio.
One possible way of turning what he already has into a narrower layout with less area to scenic would be to cut down on the depth. In principle, all that takes is an electric jigsaw (or a hand saw and patience), some clamps and a some straight pieces of wood to use as cutting guides. Easy enough to make the front angular instead of straight (for some variety), inserting pieces of wood between the door skins for stability, and then fastening a Masonite strip over the front for looks.
Of course - he might have to take up and move some track before cutting. Might be smart to take up some track so he can take out the doors one at a time and cut em somewhere else, too.
Grin,
Stein