Planning, Designing and Making Railway Layouts in Small Spaces

by Richard Bardsley

If you want to build a model railway but feel constricted and frustrated because you only have a very limited amount of space available, then this is the book for you. The author demonstrates that a railway modeller need never be "stuck for space," and shows the reader how to design and construct a rewarding layout in even the smallest of spaces. He emphasizes that once you have found a home for your layout, be it in a garden shed, a spare room, a bookcase or even the top of an ironing board, the same guiding principles apply. These are all fully explained in a very practical way and include the basic layout shapes, the importance of scale, standard and narrow gauges, fiddle yards, train length, curves and turnouts as well as track design elements such as head shunts, kickback sidings and run-round loops.

There are individual chapters on:
potential spaces
design principles
basic layout shapes
the art of compromise
levels, layers and shelves
planning your layout
baseboards
classic designs and micro-layouts.

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

Reviews

[Dave Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for new modellers

Full of useful information that should help to avoid pitfalls when designing your first layout.
I have picked up many useful tips.