I'm building my first layout and I wondered how many of you have drawn up detailed & scaled plans of your layout before even purchasing a single piece of track or base?
I've seen a lot of (helpful) YouTube videos that have suggested drawing the layout on the baseboard, but none that have put together separate drawings or any electrical wiring plans which can be referred back to after.
My layout is going to be mobile for shows but a little on the large side (roughly 8ft x 3ft) with lights, sensors and turnout controls - and drawing the whole thing up was one of the first things I thought about doing.
Much to the annoyance of my girlfriend (who just wants me to get on and build the thing so she can do the scenery), I've built a little test circuit to test various parts (electronics, turnout motors etc) - but I messed up with this.  Unknowingly I located a set of turnouts above a baseboard strengthening strut, which meant I couldn't locate the motor underneath it. It's something relatively minor now and was easily fixed on my test layout, but got me thinking, maybe I need to draw up my base and overlay the other plans as well. I'll need to consider how I'm going to split my layout for transportation too, and how to put it back together quickly too.

I always say fail to prepare, prepare to fail, but are we all too eager and excited to get started that we overlook the simple details which could be highlighted through planning and drawing? This is a hobby if course - what's the rush?

Yes, I have planned my layouts thoroughly before starting, using the AnyRail programme, including the major aspects of scenery, buildings and wiring.  This is probably my favourite part of modelling - I have many plans of layouts that I will never build, but I get some of the pleasure just from looking at the plan (and in some cases a Google Sketchup 3-D model of the layout).  Incidentally, I have found that AnyRail plans are exactly right when you come to build the real thing.

I think that a test circuit is exactly the way to go.  8x3 is a big layout for one person to build and will take years to finish. As your first layout you will probably find that during this time you will realise what you really wanted to build, or that some aspect of construction is less than perfect and doesn't meet your rising standards.  Many first time layouts get dismantled before they are finished for this reason.

I would suggest you work up your test circuit into a working mini layout and get your girlfriend to practice scenery on this. This will take a few weeks, during which time you can plan your larger layout.

Cheers Jon 

I always plan my layout with Anyrail, I find it really important as I use Kato Unitrack, Even though I have gone through about 3 changes on The layout the modifications are always done on Anyrail to make sure I have no cuts to make.

My layout will take a couple of years to finish ie scenery, but the enjoyment of the finished layout will give me more years of enjoyment when I retire.

Likewise - I have used AnyRail to plan my layout and spent some months working out the electrical control system (in my head but not on paper) considering things like point operation and indication, using one or two controllers, how to eliminate connections between baseboards etc. etc.
Once I had something physical in front of me, like the baseboards, I went back to the track plan several times to adjust for such things as positioning of point motors so as to avoid parts of the wood work.

I think there can be a point though, a point I have reached I'm afraid, where you keep making minor adjustments to the plan and don't actually lay any track!! There always seems to be something else to consider before you start.

Good luck with your planning and layout.

I'm an AnyRail fan as well and have spent many an hour 'designing' various layouts.

I printed out the one I'm actually building full size (buy spare ink and a ream of paper!) and laid it on the boards. Inevitably once seen as a full size plan I wanted to adjust a few areas. Mainly to hopefully improve scenic rather than operational ideas but that may well change again as the build go on.

For me, remote point control will be by wire in tube but that part is a long way off yet.

Good luck with the build and have fun. Will look out for your updates.

Dave G

Looks like I'm an odd one out as my plan, such as it was, remained in my head until I knew exactly what I wanted from the layout i.e. double track main line loops for watching trains go by and a single bi-directional branch line with goods and loco facilities. This was then built using the maximum radii curves possible and Peco turnout templates. Tracksettas were used (including a straight one).
However, the yard was rehashed several times to get what I wanted, and I was aware (from bitter experience) not to put cross braces into the baseboard until the point positions were fixed.
No planning software or drawings were harmed in the creation of this layout.

For my second, smaller layout, I did resort to the SCARM track planning system - not from necessity but more a wish to get to grips with the system itself.

Maybe to keep your girlfriend happy you could place a bent (looks better than straight) piece of flexitrack on a raised piece of baseboard and let her create a small diorama that could (a) hone her scenic skills and (b) act as somewhere to photograph any loco/rolling stock purchases.

I am a big fan of SCARM, like Mick. My first layout didn't take into account point motors, so I had to do some butchery with my pull saw underneath. Fortunately not to much. Then I decided to raise the inner loop up so it was about 2" above the outer folder 8. So more butchery. This time I'm using Kato track, so no butchery required. I designed using SCARM, had a look at the 3D view, altered slightly then printed off the full sized plan and stuck it down to the board with tape.

Definitely Plan Ahead...

In fact in the clubrooms we currently have a section of an OS map blown up to full size for N gauge, which we are in the process of chopping up and rearranging to make it a manageable size but keeping the key features and feel of the original location...

Watch this space to see what it is or if you visit the show next week you might get a sneaky preview!

http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=27742.msg303559#msg303559

Another SCARM user here... in fact I've designed 7 layouts with it so far (note I said "designed", not "built" ).

My design process goes something like:

1) come up with idea in head, possibly inspired from other layouts
2) sketch it out on paper
3) lay out some track to see if it works in principle
4) refine the design with SCARM
5) lay out more track, modifying as I go along
6) run trains to see if it "works".

At some point in this decade I envisage doing:

7) fixing the track, wiring it up and adding scenery'n'stuff.

Mind you I've only been at this for less than a year, and I'm glad I didn't go with my first design, which would have been an uninspiring roundy-roundy.

I must also add that I'm kind of "cheating" by using Kato Unitrack and Tomix Finetrack, which make it easy to put together provisionally working layouts without actually fixing track down, which makes operational "debugging" much easier. If I were modelling an actual prototype, my approach would be somewhat more systematic, but at this point all I want is a) something very Rule 1 vaguely set in Japan, and b) trains running round and round in interesting ways. The current setup (folded dogbone) is already enough to keep a 4-month old baby fascinated for up to 20 minutes so I must be on the right line, so to speak.

My layout I am building was designed using SCARM after drawing up a list of what I wanted. I considered the splits in my baseboards as I designed but as just spread strengthening braces fairly evenly rather than exactly I didn't consider these... This has meant as I started placing points I had to move the points to fit in around beams etc. I have also used my plan as a guide rather than fixed plan as once I started laying out the track I would change the curves to be more pleasing to the eye and also my whole layout has changed dramatically as I laid track as I found the original plan "didn't work". I know everyone is different but I personally believe you need some form of dynamic/adaptable plan.

With regards to wiring I am DCC and this is quite complex and again I have found this has evolved as the layout grew but I have basic principles I have stuck to with wire colouring and blocks etc. I hope that makes sense. Also not fully decided what I am using for lighting etc so again will develop as it progresses.

Quote from: Vonk on May 29, 2015, 05:55:52 PM
My layout I am building was designed using SCARM after drawing up a list of what I wanted. I considered the splits in my baseboards as I designed but as just spread strengthening braces fairly evenly rather than exactly I didn't consider these... This has meant as I started placing points I had to move the points to fit in around beams etc. I have also used my plan as a guide rather than fixed plan as once I started laying out the track I would change the curves to be more pleasing to the eye and also my whole layout has changed dramatically as I laid track as I found the original plan "didn't work". I know everyone is different but I personally believe you need some form of dynamic/adaptable plan.

With regards to wiring I am DCC and this is quite complex and again I have found this has evolved as the layout grew but I have basic principles I have stuck to with wire colouring and blocks etc. I hope that makes sense. Also not fully decided what I am using for lighting etc so again will develop as it progresses.

This point placing issue is a problem and I'm sure that even after trying to figure out where they go in relation to the baseboard bracing I'm going to have to bodge things somewhere. With this in mind I have only screwed rather than glued the braces so I can take them out and modify them if need be. What a palaver ehhh?

After a long day on the road (stupid half term holiday traffic), I finally managed to get 15mins to read the replies. Thanks for them all.
I've just had a quick look at both bits of software which look great and will be a really useful tool for laying down the track and scenery plan. I'll print these out to scale and then draw over electrical wiring routes and baseboard details on tracing over-lay.

After the advice on letting the girlfriend practice scenery on the test layout - I might gift this one to her (how lucky is she!)

Quote from: newportnobby on May 29, 2015, 10:28:07 AM
Looks like I'm an odd one out as my plan, such as it was, remained in my head until I knew exactly what I wanted from the layout i.e. double track main line loops for watching trains go by and a single bi-directional branch line with goods and loco facilities.

Im with Nobby on this (not actually 'with' him as I live in Da Souf and he inhabits the tundra I believe)
Ruleoneshire started life as a bare 7ft X3ft board and evolved till it started to take   shape of something I had in the back of my brain cell. Many errors were made and that's probably going to be an on going situation but my satisfaction comes from solving the problems and correcting them to my satisfaction 

I'm probably a lone voice here but yes, by all means plan, plan and plan again. However I use anything but a computer programme; much easier just to draw a rough 12" square grid pattern on the back of an envelope and draw the plan onto that.
I find it works, can be done anywhere and is far more flexible and quicker than computers!
But, as I say, I am probably almost alone in this these days.
But however much I plan, on paper or computer, I usually change something when it comes to track laying, such as adding an extra siding or moving the goods shed to a better location.

Quote from: D1042 Western Princess on May 30, 2015, 11:12:24 AM
I'm probably a lone voice here but yes, by all means plan, plan and plan again. However I use anything but a computer programme; much easier just to draw a rough 12" square grid pattern on the back of an envelope and draw the plan onto that.
I find it works, can be done anywhere and is far more flexible and quicker than computers!
But, as I say, I am probably alone in this these days.
But however much I plan, on paper or computer, I usually change something when it comes to track laying.

I use AnyRail for my track planning. BUT... I must say it is sometimes very annoying when you want to do a slight modification, which you intuitively know will work, but the software just will not allow you modify the plan the way you want to!! Very frustrating.
I guess that you should really treat track planning software as a tool rather than a means to an end. Sometimes it helps to use software sometimes it doesn't.