The prospect of starting from scratch has been a bit daunting but after moping around for a few months I’ve finally started to build the new layout. This time round I’ve tried to use my experience to make improvements on my original efforts. First off has been to use SCARM software to help me plan my new layout and give me an early idea of the general design. Here is my basic design. I was very disheartened at the prospect of losing my original HD layout as we embarked in relocating to Scotland. I attach a pic to give some idea of my layout.

I don’t think the moisture travels along the nails. I think the moisture in the air, greater than usual concentrations if you’ve been up there for an hour or two, is attracted to the cold nails which have conducted the cold from outside to inside and condenses on the metal. The sharp tip provides a good collecting point – a droplet forms and then drips when the weight overcomes the surface tension. What’s more, he’s got busy with a theme in mind. I think that’s important because over the years the layouts that turn out the best always have a theme in mind from day one. Well, I thought things were going well with my layout design finally settled and I’d begun to get all enthusiastic. However, an unexpected challenge has arisen. In a nutshell it seems that in a very hard frost – some little mositure droplets can form around the nails that hold our roof tils on. This moisture can then run along the nail shaft and onto the layout. It’s a bit odd as the roof is watertight in the worst possible storms.So, I need to move the layout and sheet up the roof space above the layout. What a pain. But, thank goodness I learnt from experience and built the baseboard in modules. (baseboards.jpg)By the way I attach a painful picture of what happens to a biggish layout if you can’t get it out of your attic ! (layout sawing.jpg)Work still in progress ! Post No 4 However if you mirror image the plan the sidings become trailing problem solved, and if you put two extra sidings on the fan of three and remove the return loop sidings it removes one electrical complication. as you can put in a diamond crossing and have the loop going from outer main to inner main and not actually forming a loop, Well, my initial enthusiasm for building my new layout continues but I’d forgotten a couple of key issues since I built my first layout. Probably most important is the sensible display of HD buildings. They need to be spread out across the layout and in a way that maximises their display value. So, I want the turntable with its shed (and extension) to invite the eye to look at the parked locos within. I’ve attached a picture from my old layout which, hopefully, shows the look I’m after.

Hornby R8156

A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. There's another oddity that you will discover if you try different sizes. No matter what alternative material you try, the maximum size that doesn't twist or bend is between six feet and four feet along its longest side and between three and six inches deep. This is why large exhibition layouts are made up of so many small boards, they resist bending, even if six foot long sections are so heavy that they require two men to lift. Putting the second station above the first means that you can make the branch station a little bigger than shown, with perhaps a small goods yard as well as David's carriage siding. You could make some model loco shed faces and hide the actual locos under the upper board for example. Over-all the layout needs to be fun; doesn't need to be real-world - and is for my kids also - one is 4 1/2 , the other will soon grow up at 1 1/2.

I think David & Jon (jon_1066) have offered a great plan that interprets your original idea and the suggestions of others very well. I think they have a gift for that! I know that the reversing loops create electrical problems, but if you go full DCC then this can be taken care of. The running opportunities probably out way the difficulty/cost. Is the gradient going to be too steep and if so- how can I raise the top platform a little to extend the run - i.e. I have 3 tiers of height. One of Powercab's strongest points is its modularity. The Powercab is essentially a very good starter set. If your layout grows beyond it, you can buy all the components separately to upgrade it to whatever you want. Not quite. Please take another look at the Scarm diagram. There are 2 diamond crossings. The return loop in the centre needs to leave the outer line at the bottom and cross the inner line via a diamond. Hence the train moves from the outer line to the inner line when reversing. Trains drive on the left. The return to the upper level (to be prototypical which is not essential) needs to leave the inner line and cross the outer line via a diamond crossing again. That crossover you have put in is facing the direction of travel of a train. Not so much these days, but in the past on real railways facing crossovers were avoided. BUT its your railway! The outer to inner crossing on your reversing loop would make the electrics simpler for DC too. Looks like you have a train set controller this is not the best have a talk to a hobby shop about a better quality one, unfortunately it is common to all brands train set controllers they are not adequate once you start expanding the set.If space is an issue, consider instead an end-to-end layout, which can be built along one or two walls of a room and need not take up much floor space. Additional temporary sections could be deployed to extend the layout into a circuit if wished, and stored away under the fixed section when not in use. Alternatively, N gauge is very good for smaller portable layouts as it's half the size of 00. Two 4x2 sections hinged in the middle would give you a 8x2 layout when unfolded- enough for a decent continuous circuit in N but only a small end-to-end layout in 00. A huge collection of plans, apparently 400 designs, categorised by size and type (oval, double oval, branch line etc) and location (for prototyping) although these plans are mainly focused on the London Midland region.