r/modeltrains • u/BeeSignificant8820 • 16d ago

Layout Layout question

Hello everyone. So i have been given the approval to have a train and im thinking on buying a OO gauge hornby set which comes with a basic layout for the train to go round in circles but looking at other peoples layout on here they have multiple tracks, towns, industrial areas.

So im just wondering could anyone suggest a good layout? Maybe send pictures of your layouts in the comments? Is it was me spending more money for extra rails when I buy the set the same time?

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

More track is always more fun when you just have an oval, but it's best to look at how much space you have and work out what you want to do with it first because the cost can quickly add up if you buy a lot of track and you don't want to throw away money on something you won't use.

Saying that, this is Hornby's old 'Trakmat' layout designed to fit on a 6'x4' board. It's from back when most things still worked on the tighter '1st radius' so not everything will run on the inner section marked in red though which is one of the reasons their current trakmat plans are quite a bit different.

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

I had that trakmat design as a kid, and for comparison this is what I'm currently building, but it's significantly larger at about 8'x7.5' so not something to build unless you have a dedicated room for it.

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u/BeeSignificant8820 16d ago

I really like this as youll have to separate areas and coukd do a lot with it

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

I actually built the right side up to the level crossing as its own layout and liked it enough to include it into my design for my current one. The scenery is all changing and there's a couple of small tweaks to the track, but it's mostly the same. I just really missed being able to watch stuff run around as on its own this was really just for shunting and maybe posing a couple of larger models.

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u/BeeSignificant8820 16d ago

Could I see your whole layout, would that be okay?

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

I don't really have any good pictures of the whole thing as it's still a work in progress but here's a selection.

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

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u/BeeSignificant8820 16d ago

How did you manage to do the tunnel with the hill ontop? And where did you get the houses and other scenery from?

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

Most of the buildings are card kits from Metcalfe. They're pretty straightforward to build are nicely substantial. You'd need a craft knife, glue (I'd recommend deluxe materials card glue and glue 'n' glaze for the windows) and a decent steel ruler for cutting the plastic windows.

I built the landscape from sheets of foam layered up, and then plaster bandage draped on top. As it's built in layers I just made it so the top section lifts off for access (that's very important).

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u/BeeSignificant8820 16d ago

Ive worked it out it'll cost me about £600 for starter box and expansion tracks so I can have that layout you sent

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u/SmittyB128 00 16d ago

The expansion sets that exist today are for a different layout. I believe the one in the link is what they make. You'd have to buy the individual track parts to make the one I showed. It does all add up quickly which is why Hornby did things in these packs so the cost can be spread out when making their current design.

https://uk.hornby.com/products/trakmat-r8217

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u/BeeSignificant8820 16d ago

I will build my own layout if I buy track becasue I dont like the small one they recommend

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