| There are a few things to remember when designing | | | | Another important guideline is the maximum grade, |
| custom layouts for HO scale model railroad trains. First | | | | which for HO scale model trains is 4%. What this |
| - enjoy yourself! There is lots of room for creativity, | | | | means is that you should take 100 horizontal inches to |
| just stay with in a few basic guidelines. | | | | rise 4 vertical inches. And that's a maximum. Try to |
| Some very useful online tools including free software | | | | keep hills somewhat less steep than that. And test |
| to design your own railroad model layout; search for it | | | | your engines to find out what they can handle and |
| - it is even fun to use. You can also do it the "old | | | | how many cars they can pull up that grade you're |
| fashioned" way, using pencil and paper with a | | | | creating. |
| compass for curves and a ruler for straight-aways. | | | | To simulate greater height, instead of creating a steep |
| Keep in mind that no matter how exact you are in | | | | climb for the rails themselves, drop the ground level |
| your design, when it comes to laying the materials, | | | | underneath. You can create some breathtaking gorge |
| some adjustments will always be necessary. | | | | and valley scenery, or even just send a road or |
| You can also design your layout right on location, | | | | another track underneath. |
| placing track pieces and switches loosely in place to | | | | For getting started with your first layout, it's probably |
| get a feel for what it will look like. You can move | | | | best to stick with sectional track, which is fairly easy to |
| things around until you have it exactly the way you | | | | snap together. More advanced modelers of HO scale |
| want it. This is known as "going free-lance." | | | | model trains prefer to construct their layout from flex |
| It is helpful to deliberately leave openings for later | | | | track. It comes in bundles, so it's generally cheaper, and, |
| changes and additions. Leave some space for a train | | | | as its name implies, it is a very versatile option, with |
| yard you might be able to add later, or other details | | | | greater opportunity for customization. It will make your |
| you might not have the time or money for in your | | | | railroad model look good. You can create small, brief |
| railroad model right now. This makes for a rewarding, | | | | curves with more natural lead-ins as opposed to being |
| multi-stage project, growing in complexity over time. | | | | restricted to standard radii and straightaways in the |
| There are several different types of yards you can | | | | snap-together sets. |
| add. A "hump" yard has a gentle slope with an | | | | A final point to consider in your design is to be sure |
| uncoupler, allowing uncoupled cars to gently roll away | | | | you will be able to get to all parts of the finished layout |
| from the mainline. A staging yard is a section of track | | | | for maintenance purposes. Some advanced modelers |
| deliberately hidden from view, where you send your | | | | constructing larger layouts will even make "access |
| trains to wait. It is useful to simulate long-distance runs, | | | | hatches", large holes covered by a movable portion of |
| or simply for storage purposes. | | | | scenery, where they can come up from beneath and |
| One important guideline to keep in mind is the minimum | | | | actually stand in the middle to work on those less |
| radius for your turns, which in HO scale model trains is | | | | accessible portions. Be sure the opening is large |
| 18 inches for 4 axle diesels and 22 inches for 6 axle | | | | enough to comfortably stand and move around in. The |
| diesels. As a general rule, things will look and work best | | | | scenery on the removable section should be light and |
| with 24 inch radius turns. For a full circle, this means 48 | | | | durable for ease of handling. You may also want to |
| inches diameter, so you will need slightly more than a 4 | | | | create a screen of trees or some other visual |
| foot wide space for such a layout. | | | | obstruction in front of the removable section. |