NASG Dispatch Articles: Layout Design

2000 #1 February

13

Vic Cherven, Jr. & Vic Cherven, Sr.

The authors describe their plan to add a hump yard to their layout. Includes a proposed track plan, and several layout photos.

2016 #1 January

11

Bill Winans

After introducing his model railroading hobby history, the author describes his current 20'x20' S and Sn3, two-level layout. Includes photos of the current layout, still under construction.

1993 #6 December

18

Jeff Madden

Try a different way of setting up a Christmas train in the livingroom.

2004 #3 June

22

Richard Snook

The track plan for a small, standard- and narrow-gauge layout initially intended as the B.T.S. display layout, and designed to fit within the space of a show booth, while still allowing walk-around space.

1988 #3 August

10

Silas Kayle

The idea is for a 45-degree wedges between two back-to-back layout levels. Includes a diagram to show the concept.

2019 #4 July

15

Jeff Madden

The author proposes modelers look at the Winchester & Western Railroad located in rural northwestern Virginia. Includes prototype photos, a description of their history, and a suggested S-scale track plan to fit a 12'x18' space.

1994 #2 April

20

Jeff Madden

The author shares a design of an S-scale layout that could fit in a 12'x13' spare bedroom. The article provides switching suggestions, construction methods, and covers control and scenery topics.

1995 #2 April

10

Jeff Madden

This article presents the modular concept for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Horseshoe Curve in S-scale. Includes a proposed track plan.

2022 #1 January

8

Joe Kimber

The author proposes a 12'x13' layout based on the Lewisburg & Buffalo Valley Railroad, which was a 42-inch narrow-gauge logging railroad in central Pennsylvania, but using standard-gauge track components. Includes a detailed track plan, and prototype information.

2020 #1 January

15

Steve Monson

The author describes the key features an engine yard typically holds, and how to model that in as small of a space as possible.

2001 #6 December

12

Paul Raham

A track plan design idea for a 4'x8' layout using AF-compatible track.

2005 #3 June

2

Keith Thompson

Some Sn3 track plan ideas.

2008 #3 June

24

Jeff Madden

Erv Rahr sent in his proposed track plan, and Jeff offers his design ideas to improve the plan.

2005 #3 June

10

Gary McCullah

The author describes unfolding some basic rectangular track plans to create walk-in layouts.

1995 #3 June

5

Jeff Madden

The author introduces the article on the BC&G and why it is an excellent shortline to model in S-scale.

2001 #3 June

5

Jeff Madden

For those who just switched to S-scale, here is a reality-check, and a prioritized list of how to go about getting started in designing and building a layout in S-scale.

2003 #2 April

5

Jeff Madden

Using the rough lengths of a 10-car train in S-scale, one can figure what will and what won't fit in a layout space before beginning the benchwork.

2003 #6 December

5

Jeff Madden

The author makes the case that good track planning is a skillset lacking in the world of S-scale modeling. He lists some good designs, why some designs are bad, and tips on how to improve a design.

2004 #2 April

5

Jeff Madden

How to decide which prototype railroad to model in your layout.

2005 #3 June

5

Jeff Madden

The editor explains why this issues is focused on track planning for S-scale layouts.

2008 #2 April

5

Jeff Madden

The author urges everyone to start considering getting away from the 4'x8' layout and the extremely-tight curves that such a shape requires in S-scale. He makes the point that even HO-scale modelers no longer use that default layout style.

2010 #2 April

5

Jeff Madden

The editor opines on what it might take to switch from a steam-era layout to a 1970s/80s-era layout in S-scale.

2016 #4 July

6

Jeff Madden

The author proposes six ways to model railroading history, listing the positives and the negatives of modeling each, and how it might appeal to people new to model railroading or new to S-scale.

2020 #2 March

21

Joe Kimber

The author proposes a design and a construction method for modeling the Pennsylvania L&BVRR, which was narrow-gauge in the real world, as a standard-gauge U-shaped layout that might fit in a spare bedroom.

2020 #3 May

4

Joe Kimber

The author introduces the prototype West Jersey Short Line railroad, and offers an around-the-room, shelf-style S-scale track plan for modeling this line in a spare bedroom. Includes two prototype photos.

1983 #2 Spring

7

Douglas Gurin

A busy trackplan with two competing railroads are discussed, with suggestions on how to model them.

2021 #2 March

20

Jeff Madden

The author comes up with a design that is an improved version of Frank Titman's original Delaware and Western layout. Both are shown in the article.

2021 #5 September

18

Joe Kimber

The author describes a stand-alone logging layout's design that fits in a 4' x 8' space utilizing Sn3 track and equipment.

1989 #6 December

5

Paul Riley

The author describes his fictional model railroad history such that it fits the available equipment in S-scale, while still maintaining true to a prototype. A could-have-been, or might-have-been idea. Includes a track plan for his 25'x46' layout.

2009 #3 June

10

Jeff Madden

The author suggests the Winfield Railroad as a shortline that could be modeled in S-scale. It covers the purpose of the railroad, what kinds of equipment it used, and it includes prototype photos and a suggested track plan.

2016 #3 May

10

Jeff Madden

The author proposes that we should all be prototype modelers to some extent, and he shares a few ideas to help us in that direction.

2005 #3 June

8

Jeff Madden

Various rough sketches are provided to give ideas on general track designs one could use in a bedroom, garage, or basement.

2006 #1 February

17

Jeff Madden

How to integrate industries that have a purpose into your layout's design. Several track plans for switching areas are included in the article.

2008 #6 December

21

Jeff Madden

The author shares a track plan converted to S-scale of an O-scale layout by draftsman J. Harold Geissel published in the August, 1939 Model Railroader.

2009 #1 February

19

Jeff Madden

The author presents an S-scale version of an O-scale track plan originally published by Model Railroader magazine in the 1940s.

2009 #2 April

21

Jeff Madden

Jeff took an O-scale layout built by Frank Smith of New Jersey in the 1930s, updated the design, and scaled it to fit a 15' by 33' S-scale layout. It is an around-the-walls design intended for a basement. It looks like a point-to-point design, but a single hidden track connects the two ends to allow for continuous running.

2010 #3 June

12

Jeff Madden

The author revisits a design published in 2007 that is currently being implemented with some minor modifications. It is a twice-around loop with yard facilities spread out across two peninsulas.

2006 #3 June

22

Sam Powell

The author helps dissuade negative thoughts that prevent people from building a layout.

2006 #5 October

26

Sam Powell

The author presents the idea of a "train layout" as a 3D sculpture.

2006 #6 December

14

Sam Powell

How to decide which curve sizes your layout needs.

1993 #6 December

24

Jeff Madden

The author proposes ideas that can help you move from the collecting stage to the actual narrowing-down of items that you will really use on your "dream" layout.

2012 #2 April

22

David Heine

The author shares an introspective about the direction of his current layout.

2003 #3 June

20

David Heine

A recent move has prompted the author to start a new narrow-gauge-focused layout. In this column, he reviews the things he learned from his previous layout, and the plans for the new one. A track plan is included.

2003 #6 December

20

David Heine

The author moved again, so the previously-shared layout design is revisited with some new ideas. Includes the new, new track plan.

1995 #3 June

10

Brooks Stover & Jeff Madden

A complete history of the BC&G railroad, a description of Brooks Stover's 32'x28' layout, prototype photos and track plans, and two suggested S-scale track plans for modeling this railroad, are covered in this article.

1996 #6 December

19

Jeff Madden

The hypothetical design and construction of a 12'x13' layout. Includes a track plan.

2018 #2 March

9

Jeff Madden

The author presents the S-scale version of the 1940s Ideal Aeroplane & Supply Company's portable layout to promote their HO-scale structures. Includes the S-scale version track plan.

2011 #5 October

22

Robert Nicholson

The idea and trackplan for the S-scale layout is based on a slightly-modified version of the real 5-mile shortline near Lowell, Illinois. Using a GE 44-tonner as the locomotive, the author describes operation, and the types of equipment that could be used on such a layout.

2017 #1 January

14

Joe Kimber

The author shares his plan and design for his new layout to be built in a 12'x27' space.

1999 #1 February

13

Jeff Madden

The track plan included with this article shows an S-scale layout designed for a 12' x 13'6" spare bedroom, and thoughts on how to build it.

2004 #3 June

8

Jeff Madden

The author continues his layout design ideas for an East Broad Top-based Sn3 layout (see June 2002 Dispatch). Includes a map, several prototype photos, and several track plans.

2001 #6 December

9

Roy Hoffman

A track plan with a bit of accompanying text shows an idea Roy Hoffman has for a Timesaver-based design for a home layout.

2019 #1 January

7

Jeff Madden

The author asks whether or not your layout should be a loop of some kind?

2003 #6 December

12

Sam Powell

The author shares his thoughts about the compromises we all have to make when designing a new layout.

2004 #1 February

10

Sam Powell

The author describes the thoughts he went through developing a design, track plan, and realistic integration of his layout into this available space (he had several options). Includes a sketch of the track plan.

2007 #1 February

13

Jeff Madden

The author shares a track plan he enhanced for Luther Stephens that measures 15'x22'.

2007 #3 June

12

Jeff Madden

The author takes an HO-scale plan and converts it to a 20'x14' S-scale version. He provides a description of what could be used to implement it in S-scale.

2021 #5 September

8

Jeff Madden

The author expands John Allen's initial layout (which he later incorporated into his large layout) such that the design would work on a 6' x 10' layout in S-scale. Includes three different designs for S-scale.

1987 #1 Winter

8

Bob Jackson

A bunch of California S-scale modelers got together to determine the fantasy quotient, which is not about how close your layout matches the prototype, but how close your layout matches your imagined eventual design.