Where can I find a good source of smaller shelf track plans?

[renniks]

Ray,

Have not seen Iain Rice's latest book on Shelf Layouts. Suggest that you also look at his previous "Small,Smart and Practical Track Plans", especially the piece on "Industrial Switching Lines". All plans are round the wall type with some having individual "scenes"which could be lifted.

Eric UK

[CNE Runner]

John - Why didn't I think of checking out modeling books from Europe? Most of the micro layouts on Carl Arendt's website come from 'across the pond". Excellent suggestion.

Eric - I will definitely check out Iain Rice's book on shelf layouts. Usually I go to our [only] semi-local hobby shop and look through the rather extensive selection of layout books offered. Almost 100% of the time 'shelf layout' equates to a 'shelf' that extends around (and sometimes through) a whole room! Frankly, I don't have space for that sort of thing and probably wouldn't want it if I did. Your idea of 'lifting' a small section of a much larger plan has merit...I'll have to think about that one.

Thanks all,
Ray

[renniks]

Ray,

The S,S and P book I mentioned has a layout that may interest you if you have 12ft. length.
 
It has two scenic sections and a 'table' to carry cassettes measuring 9'3" oal. The centre section and table are fixed while there are 3 alternative themed end sections. One has various industries, one is single heavy engineering company and last is a harbour terminal with warehouse,pier and carfloat.
You could lengthen the 7' long scenic sections slightly and replace cassette table with a longer 3 or 4 track staging/fiddle yard.

Eric UK

[CNE Runner]

Eric, you whet my interest in the Iain Rice book Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans. A quick search for the item in Amazon left me speechless. This book sells used for prices beginning at $48.81USD and new beginning at $89.88USD!! While I do think a useful resource is priceless...this is over the top.

Please don't misunderstand me: I appreciate your suggestion and effort - only this type of expenditure (especially when I can't review it in person) is way, way out of my budget.

On another topic: I plan to look closely at cassettes and possibly a sector plate to work one difficult part of the lower yard - ala Carl Arendt. If I were a lot more talented than I am, I would consider incorporating a traverser in the plan...that would be neat!

Ray

[Atlantic Central]

Ray, the Iain Rice book was only $19.95 when still in print from Kalmbach, I'm sure if you search around a little you will find a copy for that price or less, as opposed to the theives on Amazon.

I agree, those prices are outrageous.

Sheldon

[Atlantic Central]

Ray, in fact a quick search of the web found it a www.modeltrains.com for the orginal price, which is only $18.95 not $19.95.

Sheldon

[CNE Runner]

Sheldon - I followed your advice and checked out the CMT website...yep, they had the Rice book for $18.95 - which I ordered. After singing a couple of verses of "Oh Canada", I commenced to wonder how those other booksellers can charge over $40 for a $20 book?

Thanks,
Ray

[Atlantic Central]

Ray,

At the risk of being politicaly incorrect I will just say this, the socialists have yet to completely outlaw the free economy. So the price of ANYTHING is only determined by how badly you want it and how badly the other guy wants to be rid of it.

Those Amazon clowns are people who know what books are out of print from the publishers, they aquire good used or "new old stock" from distressed businesses and othe sources, then they put it on Amazon and hope to make the big markup.

They of cource have to pay Amazon, and leads to even higher prices.

Regular chains of distribution in our hobby, shops or mailorder, will hang on to old stock of anything, for a while at least, and are generally happy to just get the regular price. So with some searching, almost anything can be found, especailly now with many shops, large or small, listing their inventories on the web to broaden their market exposure.

Sheldon

[buzz]

Hi ray
If you can get a look at it and are using small stock.
The Peco loco lift may be of some use to you as small cassette type things
It will mean you can drive in and pick up locos and stock without knocking off those fiddly bits that break.
don't forget to slide the ends in to stop the stock falling out
regards John

[jbsmith]

this site has a number of plans if you dig around enough,,not difficult to find.

here is a 2x12 from the site
http://www.thortrains.net/4holayg.html

main site,,Lots of plans,,
http://www.thortrains.net/index.html

some even have 3-D views like these
http://www.thortrains.net/marx/kdlayhoa.html

[renniks]

The Peco Loco Lift is only 12"long and is only really useful when used as intended--adding to or removing locos from track.  Saves me much squinting and fiddling.

Ray,
Glad that you found a copy: you have a couple of hours interesting reading to come, especially the 16 page 'preamble' before you get to a plan. You may not agree with some of it ,but it will get you thinking---possibly out of the box in some ways.

Eric UK

[CNE Runner]

Well, there goes another idea...the Peco Loco-Lift. I had planned to use John's idea and use the Lift as an easy cassette (which will be a major component of my future layout). Eric, thanks for the heads up as it will be too short. Someone over on the MR forum sent me the plans for simple cassettes using aluminum channel. Now all I have to add to the 'to do' list is find aluminum channel.

Jbsmith - I had already discovered that website and am amazed at the amount of material contained within. Thanks for the suggestion.

I took some bulletin board paper and made a 1:1 track plan for the Port Kelsey Ry that was featured in MR some years ago. Using Peco Code 75 templates, I got everything to fit AND still had room for a good number of structures. The dimensions of the layout would be an 'L' measuring 6'x 10' x 2' wide. This allows me to 'fiddle' on one end of the layout (from cassettes) as well as the end of the long side (leaving me 2' from the end of the layout to the room wall

At this point, nothing is cast in stone...so any suggestions are appreciated.

Regards,
Ray