开云体育

Hi Peter,

Like you, I'm suprised at the idea of 12' by 7' being "small"....I'm looking at a 7' shelf to put some New Zealand 9mm to the foot on (1.33.4 on 32mm gauge to represent 3' 6").

Can I suggest you think about what it is that initially drew you into the hobby (Tony Kester wrote that a lot of people model what was happening in their teens, as that was when they first became active in the hobby) and then look at what scale recreates the feelings you are trying to convey??

I'd also look at that 6' shelf as a start to a later layout, so dont feel boxed in by a scale this early. I think that even in 6', O gauge is practical for a shelf diorama if you want to recreate the weight of a shunting locomotive slowly drawing the slack out of a rack of ballast hoppers from under a loading facility. And in a layout (shelf?) that size, you can still superdetail everything in sight. However, if you like the idea of little trains in big scenery (Like "Chee Tor") then N is definitely the way to go.

If you havent already, see if you can track down a copy of Iain Rice's "An approach to Model Railway Layout Design - Finescale in small spaces". His smallest layout is 6' 6" by 1' 9" and includes a full station served from a single road sector plate with a fiddle track at the back with a cassette for stock loading in 4mm.

Hope this helps??

Ev. :-)
Nelson, New Zealand.