Re: What is a "small layout"?
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What is a "Small Layout"?
Perspective is everything and it is nothing....
The late Carl Arndt is credited with the term "Micro Layout" -- And he pegged it at four square feet or less..?
That said, if one were to go through Carl's website one would see that he often took liberties with his own definition!
Prior to Carl Arndt, the French had competitions for what they called "Micro-Resseau" (Micro Layout in French) that used complex calculations of track gauge and scale.? In reality, the concept goes way back to some of the earliest days of the hobby.? One of the first track plans for HO scale in Model Railroader would easily be recognized as an "Inglenook" today even though that plan was from 1934 and Alan Wright did not present "Inglenook Sidings" until 1972.
I noted the comment about the 3-3-5 Inglenook -- A 2-2-4 or even 2-2-3 can be fun to operate and great to introduce others to the hobby... A 2-2-3 easily fits into a box eight inches wide and four feet long for HO Scale with 40 foot cars.? The same layout in the same space works in On30 with 18 foot cars and a Bachmann Heisler...Or fits a 3-3-5 pattern with a Bachmann Porter and scratchbuilt/kitbashed four wheel cars of an industrial pattern.??
Beyond the inglenook there are other suitable and portable layout patterns as well.? John Allen's Time-Saver is a classic that has been adapted many times for more prototypical operation.? Pizza style "roundy-roundy" layouts are another (look like they will fit in a pizza box"!??
I like to think in terms of micro, mini, and small layouts in this fashion...
"Micro" holds to Carl Arndt's general definition and principles...
A "Mini" layout is easily transportable in most vehicles.
A "Small" layout would fit it a "spare room" and yet allow that room to be used as a home office, guest bedroom, or similar alternative use beyond the layout. Hope this helps...
John Reynolds
On Tuesday, October 23, 2018, 7:41:53 PM PDT, Mike Calo <michaelcalo3403@...> wrote:
Hello group -
I may have missed this as an answer to the question at hand, but to me a "small layout" is just that - a small layout.? Not a module (though some of these may be operated as independent layouts in the smaller scales such as N or Z).? To me? a small layout is a permanent structure occupying no more than a small bedroom such as shelf layouts that are 2' deep and which run around the walls of the room, or a physically small layout (hence the name) such as the Oklahoma and Western (4' x 7').
Just my two Lincolns.
Mike Calo
Odenton MD (the town a railroad built)
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