58 - Six MORE layout design mistakes I made, so you don't have to!

[@benbedothu]

These ones, and the others in the previous video are great practical advices, things you discovered while actually playing on the layout. Extremely helpful, they sound so trivial, but I know I would have overlooked several of them had you not called my attention to them.

[@DubaiTrains]

Well said. Trivial but often overlooked.

[@larrydee8859]

Thank you so much for sharing these design corrections. What I found very interesting with designing the backdrop first. Yes; The short runs after switch tracks and before the tunnels, can be problematic. A major mistake with my own outdoor layout; I made all the curves, to tight a radius.

[@DubaiTrains]

Welcome. I didn't mention it, but don't forget to get the walls drywalled and ceilings dropped as well.

[@larrydee8859]

@@DubaiTrains Thanks again Lad. I'm up in the air whether or not I should include a lowered top. I'm considering possibly a modular construction of a shelf layout

[@DubaiTrains]

That discussion would depend on several factors. I go over a few here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaaleWummMyLa9U

[@davestrains6816]

Nice tips! Thanks for sharing. Dave

[@DubaiTrains]

Welcome

[@frankhellman6879]

Thanks for sharing. That's helpful.

[@DubaiTrains]

Glad it was helpful!

[@EmpireBeltRR]

Very nice recap of the challenges faced in your track planning, layout space available and train operations. I encountered some of the same issues with my own layouts. I don't think any layout is perfect and most if not all face the same issues noted above. I like the looks of your layout and perhaps with a few tweaks taken on one at a time like getting the turntable to lineup you will begin to enjoy operating it even more.

[@DubaiTrains]

Someone (Ken Patterson?) once said that with every next layout you improve 10 mistakes.

[@EmpireBeltRR]

@@DubaiTrains I'm on my third layout and theoretically should have improved 30 mistakes. I have many more layouts to go to fix the rest of them!

[@manderschannel2275]

I’ve learned this the hard way for myself. I think the best solution (and from what others have said) keep it stupid simple. That way there are lesser problems and you can do and enjoy operations on the layout.

[@DubaiTrains]

I follow the same thinking. Fewer components and systems means fewer items to fix and maintain. One of the reasons why my turnouts are all hand thrown.

[@ChicagoMadisonWesternRR]

This is why I am basing my layout on a prototype. Using Sandborn and Google Maps, I can recreate a small town. Freelance layouts just seem like toy layouts to me. I used to like them when I was a kid, but I would like to represent the genuine article so I would not have some of the issues you experienced on this layout.

[@DubaiTrains]

Yes I am shifting more to proto- freelance. My next layout will be very different. I recently designed a layout based on the prototype. Have you seen it? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jna2fZyDaM6mf6M

[@ricardojuricic9027]

Why rush the trains 0:15, 0:18; 0:21 is slower and more accurate (specially on a small layout) whilest meantime can appreciate more the details. Nice video though 👍🤙👏 Learnt a few things Cheers from 🇦🇷 Argentina Richard

[@DubaiTrains]

Thanks Richard. No more speed violations now a days ;-)

[@royreynolds108]

It is always best to have opposing tracks line up with a turntable; less moving the table and additional trackage in case of overshooting the table.

[@DubaiTrains]

Exactly!

[@royreynolds108]

@@DubaiTrains Get a load of the turntable at the beginning of this video; kzbin.info/www/bejne/hobToIGHrdqSh68. This is located at Landquart, Switzerland on the RhB.

[@ErzgebirgsMoBaHO]

Another interesting video. You only notice many things after the model railway is finished. It was the same for me with my first model railway, so I tore it down again very quickly after it was completed. With my current system, I've tried to learn from these mistakes. so far it looks pretty good. I have one question. Why didn't you gravel your tracks? Greetings Tino

[@DubaiTrains]

Hi Tino, Thanks! Before this layout i indeed also had another layout that existed for just a few weeks. With regards to my tracks not being ballasted. This layout was always meant to exist for just 2 to 3 years. The thinking was if i do not ballast the track, that i can reuse most of it. I really want to ballast it all but that will have to wait for my next layout, which i will hopefully start constructing within a few months pending an imminent house move. More on that as it progresses. In the background I have been working on the track plan for almost a year. Good to hear from you! All the best, Bart

[@ErzgebirgsMoBaHO]

@@DubaiTrains Hello Bart. Thanks for the answer. Now I am very excited and look forward to your further videos even more. Greetings Tino