3 Buildable On30 Track Plans | Workbench Wednesday

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

From someone that can't draw a straight with a straight ruler, watching you is like Science Fiction.

[@whatalansaid]

Would love to see you cover a few of your other plans, especially some of your HoN3 maps!

[@Jerrod247]

A thunder mesa modular railroad group could be cool.

[@Jregidor1961]

Muchas gracias, aqui en España no esta demasiado extendida la escala On30 pero algunos tenemos y disfrutamos mucho, gracias, un saludo desde Madrid, España

[@ponderingpops]

Another great video! I, too, love layout planning. It's probably my favorite part of model railroading. I use AnyRail, and have produced more than two hundred plans, including some for fellow club members and friends. This hobby has something for everyone!

[@FunAtDisney]

One more comment - watching you dray took me back to my high school drafting and architecture designs classes in the early 1970’s. No computers for the average person back then!

[@RobertGoslin]

Great short video Dave. I love looking at track plans. Have read all the ones that MR have put out over the years. And looked at all yours on your site. I would certainly like to see other ones you have done that you have not published online as yet. i find studying them is very relaxing. Keep Moving Forward. Cheers Rob.

[@jeffreyholmes4287]

Yes please keep sharing these! I’m so inspired

[@vincenthuying98]

Dear Dave, awesome track plans! Love how you’ve shared these plans on your website. The availability of ON30 out here in the Netherlands lacks significantly. Definitely will take a further look at your plans. Or, for that matter will take the several examples you’ve shown here and over time, to start hand drawing the track plan(s) for my layout. If only for the comprehension of the translation from either software based plan to drawing and baseboards, it’s a magnificent way to further the design. Cheerio

[@allenlandis4504]

another great show

[@eqlibrium854]

Very fascinating story from your childhood. This was a great episode. You and Thunder Mesa are a huge inspiration for the layout that I would like to create one day. Looking forward to TM2.0! 🍿🧈😎🚂💨👍

[@Jblk9695]

Thanks Dave for including my layout, still deciding on structures and scenery. Keep the videos coming.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thanks for building it! Looks great so far

[@zacharysimon2952]

Very much enjoyed this! Your artistic skills are always a pleasure to see. Thank you for sharing your track plans, I'd be interested to see more.

[@dekon70]

My son and I are actually building the Rimfire and Latigo right now. We found the plans on your site a few months back. The issue we are having is Peco track is back ordered everywhere.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Awesome. I used to order mine from Hatton's in the UK but they are closing up shop! That just leaves Ebay and sometimes I can find what I need there.

[@westernnewyorkrailfan]

This video was fantastic. A few weeks ago I went and looked through all of the track plans. They’re all gorgeous, and I’d love to see more of them appear in the spotlight like these three!

[@jonglass]

Yes! There were a few that I thought could use this treatment! In particular, I liked the Coyote Canyon Ry (probably because it looks a bit like a modification of the Gumstump and Snowshoe)

[@markdeschane4467]

Good Idea using the Bachmann 2-6-0 as it is still one of the Steamers being sold by Bachmann!

[@fjs_forfjun1107]

Would love to see more of these, Dave! Thanks!!!

[@markswiatly9613]

I thoroughly enjoyed that. I love looking at track plans as well. Plus when I'm not running my railroad I like to draw up plans using track software, terrible artist, but it's fun to dream what if. Wouldn't mind seeing more of them just as you did here with this video. Thanks.

[@scottrobertson56]

Three of my favorite track plans of yours. I have recommended these to others as they consider building a railroad, especially when they have a large space but little experience. I always recommend starting small to gain knowledge and confidence before diving into a large layout. Unfortunately, most have not headed this advice and quickly become overwhelmed. Please, more postings from your track plan archives.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

My next WBW video is going to be all about starting small with mini and micro layouts!

[@jerrysmith1929]

The Gold Tooth easily could be stretched to fit a small bedroom or a Tuff Shed for those with backyard space, but no basement..

[@WheresJoseToday-im1gr]

Have you considered making a book of your plans, with a section on "How to", tips, etc.? That would be a nice little book to have! Thanks for these plans! I am wanting to create a layout but can;t right now, so studying plans is a good way to get ideas.

[@waynehamilton2350]

Great video. Reminds me also of Malcolm Furlow and some of his G scale work.

[@solarbrother8886]

The turn table side of the Fickle Creek doesn't have to be against a wall if the room is big enough.

[@Seanmmvi]

I think I've mentioned to you before, but we were very seriously considering the rimfire and latigo trackplan for the Wandering Spruce. I don't think you will be too upset getting edged out by none other than the great Iian Rice.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Truly great company to be in!

[@brianscott9749]

I’ve actually started on one of your Carolwood and Grizzly Flats track plans - I plan to change up the structures a little bit incorporating some Disney buildings, some recreations of buildings in my hometown of Bethlehem, PA and maybe a kit or two. Not sure if I’ll stick with HO scale or On30 yet. (BTW, Santa Fe and Saint Nick was a HUGE hit with my nieces and nephews… and my dad and grandfather as well!!)

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Awesome!

[@MrTimb56]

as former crew of the Georgetown Loop, I love the mention of the devil gate bridge.

[@donaldraver]

A great video today, it was nice to have you explain your different track plans. I have no space for a layout in the present home. I been thinking about using a Grand Valley Layout as a base for a four piece module with the Rimfire track plan using Peco track. I have a couple of 0-4-2 Porters and some ore cars plus some bigger On30

[@FunAtDisney]

This was great to see and very good of you to give these plans out. It really shows what you can do on a small area. I do have a question I have been meaning to ask you - I was a kid in the 1960’s and for me it was the passenger “stream liners” that I really took to. That probably came from family trips taking both the Santa Fe Super Chief and the legendary original California Zephyr from the San Francisco area out to Chicago my grandfather. So I wanted to know if you ever had the desire to have a mid-century sleek passenger train layout? Of course the problems that is you really need a huge area to give it a realistic look and scenery. Myself, I have some HO ones that have been in boxes for years and never seem to have the space to create a layout that can handle them.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you. You are right that such a layout would take up a lot of space - unlike the narrow gauge and short line plans I'm showing here. Mainline passenger runs need long straights and broad curves to look "right." I live not too far from the Santa Fe mainline through Arizona, where it parallels old Rout 66 for many, many miles. I've always been attracted to the idea of a Super Chief/Route 66 themed layout set in the mid to late 1950's. The Warbonnets! The classic cars! The funky roadside attractions! Canyon Diablo bridge!! That would be great fun. N scale might be a good option for that but it would still require some serious real estate to do right.

[@FunAtDisney]

@@ThunderMesaStudio The Warbonnets! Yes. That would be a neat layout!

[@RyanGallagher-LostRoadbed]

Your R&LRR track plan was a close runner up for the basis of the layout I just started last week...had this come out 3 days earlier it probably would have been selected. I think the GT&FC and my layout have a similar concept (I chose a cockpit style based on a Iain Rice design). Love track plans as an art, really appreciate sharing yours...would love to see some more studio-ish videos.

[@jeffreyeash9720]

I like looking at track plans count me among those asking for more

[@martytaylor2004]

Thank you for this Dave. I think I’m heading to your website to have a peek.

[@davevan8864]

This is a little strange. After your teardown video and loco roster video I pulled out some of my On30 stuff and started thinking. I thought you had some plans on your site (maybe from Disney RR website days?) I found them and were looking at them yesterday!! Not sure I'll use them, Rimfire is close to what I have room and time for....but who knows!!! Thanks

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

You are very welcome

[@Slushiebop]

Will there be a new engine to mark the opening of the new version of the layout? If so then it could be the "face" of sorts

[@jeffreyholmes4287]

I think a video that would be cool is “how to draw a track plan”

[@Jeremiaha284]

Dave, great presentation of your track plan maps. I'm building trackplan #98 The Butte Annachonda and Pacific RR in the Linn Westcott 101 Trackplans for Model Railroaders Book. The 3D maplike style and the operation potential sold me on the plan. Of course, some modifications for my space and 1980"s heavy electrics will be made. Even though the book is from the late 50's I'm drawn to its illistration style. Do you have this book in your collection and have you drawn inspiration from some of the model railroaders of the past like Linn Westcott, John Armstrong,, and Bill Barron?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

I do have that book. Fantastic resource

[@Boobear83]

Love your videos and your abilities! Have you ever built real water into any models? Like a small pump and basin under the bench work? I feel like that would be amazing, but not seeing it so far anywhere so wondering if there’s a reason for that or if people just don’t do that period.

[@randybourque3327]

Hey Dave came across your video and clicked on the links you provided and they came up 404 it looks like you didn't put in the hiphen between thunder and mesa thunder-mesa so therefore it doesn't work.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

It should redirect. If you are getting the 404 error there's a good chance you have an older version cached in your browser.

[@randybourque3327]

@@ThunderMesaStudio It does the same thing in Chrome or Edge even after empting the cache. Oh well it is a good video love your talent.

[@rickywynn9571]

Cool show love 2 c more

[@cllines604]

I wish I had a track plan every one want's to much money

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

My plans are free

[@cllines604]

yes but there 4x8 you said mine is around the roomin a 9.9x12.9 but thanks@@ThunderMesaStudio