--- In small-layout-design@y..., Paul/Celine Kossart <kozys@t...>
wrote:
IMO, they are gimmicks and really aren't employed in the real world
on a serious layout. When I see things like track elevators (vertical
switch - been there, read that a L-O-N-G time ago) swivel plates,
train turntables,and other gimmicks, I just move on to more serious
and realistic articles.
Not trying to be difficult, but really people, has anyone ever seen
one of these contraptions in use on a real layout. And if so, I bet
it is only one or two of you on probably just one layout each, if
that. Hardly a ground swell.
Hey there, Paul.
Despite the fact that there's only 10 of us, I wouldn't make that bet.
This is SMALL layout design, where the nature of our
compromises are more prone to be "gimmicky" than in
other designs.
When you think about it, all layouts use gimmicks to satisfy
their creators' need to have operations in limited space. We are
just so used to them that we don't think of them as "gimmicks"
anymore. Rather, they are "solutions" to our lack of space issues.
Examples would include:
1) Hidden staging.
2) Helixes/ multideck layouts
3) Selective compression
In our situations, the space is SO limited, that more drastic steps
may need to be taken. The result: compromises that others perceive to
be gimmicks.
These gimmicks don't exist in an intellectual vacuum. They really
are used. I may have an advantage here as I am a member of the BRMNA
(British Railway Modellers of North America)where most folks are used
to making do with a lot less space. These ideas aren't "new", in fact
I suspect most of them pre-date HO when a lot of Brits were trying to
fit their O scale layouts into considerably smaller abodes. You'd be
hard pressed to look through one of their monthlies without coming
across one or more of these "gimmicks". Just take a look at Paul
Dolkos' 1996 MRP article to see what I'm talking about.
However, if you're looking for examples close to home, you need go
no further than MR:
1) Barrow's South Plains layout revisited (staging on the fly)
2) Dolkos' Tight Yankee/Compact Dixie (sector plate)
3) Ben King's TC&NW (complete train turntable at Grizzly Flats)
4) Paul Scoles (moveable staging via carry ferry)
5) Nick Palette's portable BN switching layout(sector plate)
Also, there is a fellow up here in Vancouver, B.C., who had his layout
on the Trains '96 tour. I think his last name is Green. I know he was
mentioned in some capacity on ldsig not too long ago in connection
with the thread on teenagers and model railroading. If memory serves,
he has a multideck point to point where each terminus is a well
constructed traverser. It's not a small layout either by any stretch!
Summary: These "gimmicks" are used extensively over the pond and in
increasing numbers here as space becomes more of a premium. They are
referred to as solutions because they work. The use of gimmicks will
increase as operational interest increases with a
corresponding decrease in available space. I suspect that is why this
group is called Small Layout Design vs. Nice Diorama Design. Finally,
I'm pretty sure that the above authors would consider their efforts to
be serious and realistic in both their intent and execution. YVMV.
Now, let's see what we can do about that train turning problem....
Jeff
