Iowa Layout

This layout may be of some interest to you. Many of you know I also build layouts for people. This is number 8 I think. The challenge with this one is to see how much MTL Micro Track I could get on a 3'x4' board. Some of you will see this and be reminded of the Original CCRR layout, a 2'x3' layout using flextrack. This is the same plan. Using Micro Track added some turns here and there and eliminated some as well. I think this mainline is about 21 feet long. Not really too bad in a 3'x4' space. The smallest radius is the standard 195 mm curve with many 490 mm curves as well. This layout will be a modern diesel era layout. I left the Micron Arts Pratt bridge alone this time to accommodate modern rolling stock. The small village will have buildings by Karin Snyder and Lionel Gazeau. I will be shortening the new smooth side passenger cars to about 65feet to look a bit better on a layout this size. The bridge that shows some white plastic will be scratch built by me. When finished I'm looking for a Northern Washington/Southern British Columbia terrain look. Cheers, Jim CCRR

Jim,
I thought Iowa was phlat! I get it-- the terrain is upper west and you are building it for Iowans. That's a lot of track cosidering how many acres are actually represented.
Fred

Thanks Fred, Yes, I like to challenge myself from time to time. When it came to a 3'x4' layout figuring out different mainlines was fun. It took some time but this is the most mainline I could come up with in 12sq ft. When you figure the customer wanted mountain, town, bridges, a tunnel, and a creek this seems right for him. Now everyone knows the probable longest mainline layout in this size. Cheers, Jim CCRR:)

Brad, You can't trick me. I've seen your work. On the other hand buying the Woodland Scenics books may give you the same hints they gave me. In fact the Iowa Layout is off the cover of one of the books. Cheers, Jim CCRR:laugh: