Modelling outdoors in a small space for live steam
Posted: Fri May 30, 2014 10:07 am
Following on from a thread in the loco topic, the conversation has turned into a modelling question, hence this post.
I'm planning an outdoor railway in a *very* small space: 5 metres by 3.5 metres. The space is on a sharp slope and hence is suitable for some cutting/bridge interest so I will be digging the entire area up to make the layout. I have only one requirement otherwise: it must able to run a live steam 56xx series 0-6-2T loco. I am not particularly interested in scale accuracy or great complexity (not much more than an oval of track and a siding) as I reckon the interest of the terrain will occupy the eye.
My problem then is turn radius: my assumption had been 45 mm gauge track and I'm obviously asking to run a standard gauge loco yet my turn radius can't be much more than 1 metre. What compromises must I make for this all to fit? Should I go to a smaller scale (bearing in mind this is outside, will be there in all seasons and must run a live steam loco). The loco can be custom built, could it run with narrow gauge chassis somehow? Happy to compromise to get my result.
Advice welcomed, as long as the advice isn't "it's not possible"
.
Rod said:
I'm planning an outdoor railway in a *very* small space: 5 metres by 3.5 metres. The space is on a sharp slope and hence is suitable for some cutting/bridge interest so I will be digging the entire area up to make the layout. I have only one requirement otherwise: it must able to run a live steam 56xx series 0-6-2T loco. I am not particularly interested in scale accuracy or great complexity (not much more than an oval of track and a siding) as I reckon the interest of the terrain will occupy the eye.
My problem then is turn radius: my assumption had been 45 mm gauge track and I'm obviously asking to run a standard gauge loco yet my turn radius can't be much more than 1 metre. What compromises must I make for this all to fit? Should I go to a smaller scale (bearing in mind this is outside, will be there in all seasons and must run a live steam loco). The loco can be custom built, could it run with narrow gauge chassis somehow? Happy to compromise to get my result.
Advice welcomed, as long as the advice isn't "it's not possible"
.Rod said:
RobThis what the Gauge One society says on minimum radii:
"The generous model proportions of Gauge One compared to N, OO/HO and O gauges requires a different approach. Space is usually at a premium, especially for an indoor continuous loop to suit live steam. The usual minimum radius is 10 feet (3 metres), although be assured that many models will make it round a 2 metre radius and note both radii are very tight by full-size standards."